Topography of the orbital part of the lacrimal gland for treating epiphora using botulinum toxin injection

The purpose of this study is to identify the location of the orbital part of the lacrimal gland using external landmarks to facilitate effective botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections for epiphora treatment. Dissections were performed on 45 hemifaces from 27 cadavers. The length, anterior protrusion, and thickness of the orbital part of the lacrimal gland were measured directly. The midpoint of the line running horizontal through the medial and lateral canthus was used as the horizontal reference point. Vertical lines perpendicular to the midpoint of the horizontal reference line were the vertical reference lines. The angles from the horizontal reference line to the lacrimal gland center and to the frontal tubercle were also measured. The length and thickness of the lacrimal gland were 12.8 and 2.4 mm, respectively. The lacrimal gland had an anterior protrusion of 4.1 mm from the superolateral orbital margin. The superior and inferior margins of the lacrimal gland were located 35.7 degrees and 15.8 degrees from the two reference lines, respectively. The angle from the horizontal reference line to the lacrimal gland center was 35.1 degrees, which was similar to that to the frontal tubercle (34.4 degrees). The orbital part of the lacrimal gland was more inferior in elderly subjects and the angle between the horizontal reference line and its center was 35.1 degrees, which was similar to the location of the frontal tubercle. The location of this tubercle can help clinicians to perform BTX-A injections into the lacrimal gland, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of epiphora treatment.