Variable Morphology of the Hyoid Bone in Anatolian Population: Clinical Implications - A Cadaveric Study

Abstract

SUMMARY:The variations of the hyoid bone has a great significance for surgical procedures of neck region, and in forensic medicine for evidence of strangulation or hanging, which causes fractures. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological and morphometrical variations of the hyoid bone in Anatolian population. A total of 60 adult larynx specimens (46 male, 14 female) were dissected to identify morphological and morphometrical variations of hyoid. The infrahyoid muscles and thyrohyoid membrane were cut and ligamentous structures of bone were removed. The variations of shape of the hyoid were classified into six types: A (U-shaped) hyoid bone observed in 31.7 % (19 bones), a horseshoe-H-type in 10 % (6 bones), a B-type hyoid in 31.7 % (19 bones), a D-type hyoid in % 15 (9 bones), a V-type bone in % 5 (3 bones) and HK-type bone in 6.7 % (4 bones) of all necks. The breadth, width and major transverse axis were approximately measured as 40.4 mm, 28.4 mm and 33.5 mm, repectively. It has been found that the hyoid bones of Anatolian population had morphologically important differences than in other populations.To understand the anatomical variations and measurements of this bone is of valuable importance with regard to clinical practice and forensic medicine.

Morphometric Determination of Sex of Hyoid Bone

“…For major transverse axis, that is, the distance between interior contours of greater horns (parameter "c") the mean value is 37.41 ± 6.79 in males and 35.69 ± 6.70 in females, which is more than the mean values of other studies. 1,[8][9][10] For the length of hyoid body (parameter "d") the mean value is 21.09 ± 3.21 in males and 19.18 ± 2.52 in females, which is similar to the studies done by Ramagalla 9 in 2014 and Santhi Priya et al 1 in 2015; it is very less than the mean values of other studies done by Kopuz 8 and Harjeeth and Jit. 10 For total left hyoid length (parameter "g") and total right hyoid length (parameter "h") the mean values of the present study is very less than the mean values of study done by Kopuz et al 8 In the present study, it is observed that the male hyoid bone values are more (10.09 ± 1.40) when compared with female (9.55 ± 1.03) regarding the distance between the upper and lower margins of the body in the middle (height).…”

“…Santhipriya et al 1 Kopuz et al 8 Ramagalla et al 9 Harjeeth et al 10 Present study Abbreviations: M, male; F, female. Note: Parameters 1-9 are in millimeters and parameter 10 is in grams.…”

“…The male hyoid bones were found to be larger compared with female hyoid bone under all parameters; this finding was similar when compared with other studies (►Table 2). 1,[8][9][10] Some authors have previously studied the width of hyoid bone (parameter "a"), that is, the transverse distance between the tubercles of greater cornua. 1,[8][9][10] In our study the mean value for parameter "a" was 39.08 ± 7.74 in males and 36.10 ± 7.21 in females, which is almost similar to the study done by Kopuz 8 et al in 2016; it is lesser than other studies 1,9,10 in both sexes.…”

“…The present study is in correlation with previous reports. 1,[8][9][10] The mean weight was found to be more in males than in females.…”

Comparison of hyoid bone morphology between obstructive sleep apnea patients and healthy individuals

“…[16][17][18] In more comprehensive classification studies, the hyoid bone has been divided into 5 types based on its symmetry, isometry, width, and two-dimensional measurements. 19 In addition to this classification, Kopuz & Ortug 20 added Type-HK as another variation.…”