Morphometric Study of Occipital Condyles in North Indian Skulls

Abstract

Introduction: Occipital condyles are two bony elevations present on either side of foramen magnum in the base of the skull which articulates with the superior articular facet of the atlas vertebra, connecting the skull with the vertebral column. Objectives: Morphometric analysis of occipital condyles is important for the neuro-surgeons operating for the pathology like degenerative changes of the condyles, neoplasms, and trauma. So the aim of the study was morphometric analysis of the occipital condyles and observe any morphological variations of it. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 60 occipital condyles of 30 dry adult skulls. Length, breadth, height, intercondylar distance were measured. Relations of hypoglossal canal with the condyles were noted. Results: The mean length, width and height of occipital condyle were found to be 1.99± 0.33 (right), 2.23 ± 0.33 (left), 1.31± 0.28(right) 1.37±0.27 (left), 0.62± 0.17(right) and 0.62± 0.14cm (left), respectively. The mean anterior intercondylar distance and posterior intercondylar distance were measured as 1.95± 0.34and 3.66± 0.28 cm, respectively. Variations of shape of occipital condyle were kidney like (30%), S-like (23.33%), triangular (16.67%) oval (10.0%), eight like (16.7%) and bipartite condyles (3.33%) respectively. The hypoglossal canal was present related to anterior 1/3 of the occipital condyles in 73.33% case. Conclusions: The shape and morphometric values of occipital condyles are variable. So the knowledge of these variations may guide neurosurgeons in transcondylar approach in the management of neoplasms and other pathology related to this region.