| Summary: | The sagittal split ramus osteotomy is a common procedure used to correct jaw deformities. The lingula is an important anatomical landmark that is used as a reference to position the horizontal osteotomy cut on the medial aspect of the mandible. Knowledge of its position in relation to surrounding anatomical structures is essential in order to prevent complications related to the procedure.
The aim of this study was to provide medical and dental practitioners with useful data regarding the position of the lingula in relation to surrounding anatomical landmarks. Such data may be of clinical relevance when performing surgery on the mandibular ramus and when providing anaesthesia for routine dental procedures.
The study involved anthropometric measurements on adult dry mandibles obtained from the ‘Dart Collection’ at the School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. A total number of 113 adult human dry mandibles were studied. From these specimens, 201 sides were examined.
The most common shape of lingula noted within the study was that of the truncated type which was found in 38.8% of cases, followed by the triangular, nodular and assimilated types which comprised 30.8%, 21.4% and 8.9% respectively. The average distance of the tip of the lingula from the anterior border, posterior border and sigmoid notch the ramus of the mandible was approximately 20.15mm, 16.77mm and 16.3mm respectively. The average distance of the tip of the lingula from the mandibular second molar tooth was found to be 33.3mm. The lingula was above the level of the occlusal plane in 63.7% of cases, by an average distance of 6.5mm. The width and height of the mandibular foramen exhibited great variation. Anatomical differences in Caucasian and Black mandibles were noted, with the
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rami of Caucasian mandibles generally being smaller in dimension compared to black mandibles.
The anatomic data provided by this study may assist surgeons to locate and identify the lingula without difficulty, and avoid intraoperative complications. The data presented has a direct relevance to clinical practice and teaching.
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