Orbit Dimensions and Bony Interorbital Distance in Southeast Nigerians: A radiologic study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to obtain the orbit dimensions and bony interorbital distance in Southeast Nigerians. 350 pairs (217 males 133 females) of plain films of the skull were used. Measurements were taken on films of healthy subjects using a pair of dividers and a meter rule calibrated in millimeters. The parameters include orbital height, width, depth and interobital distance. Data analysis was done using Microsoft excel version 2000. This work shows orbital height to the 26.62+0.27mm; orbital width to be 39.39+0.17mm, orbital depth to be 54.95+0.35mm and bony interorbital distance to be 36.84+0.20mm. There was a steady increase in orbit height and width up to 30-39 years age group and 40-49 years age group in males and females respectively. The depth increased up to 40-49 years age group and 20-29 years age group and in males and females respectively. The bony interorbital distance increased up to 20-29 years age group and 40-49 years age group in males and females respectively. Thereafter, declines were observed. We found no statistically significant difference in all the parameters studied between males and females. Symmetry was also observed between left and right orbits. These agree so much with the findings of other workers. The interorbital distance for this work (36.84±0.26mm) is significantly higher than that of the Americans (2.67 cm). More so the orbital depth from this work (54.95+0.35mm) is greater than that of the Greece population (4.96 2cm). The differences may be attributed to genetic, racial and environmental factors and this explains the variation in the faces of these different populations.