Comparative Craniometrics Study of the Lateral Skull Base in the Adult and Pediatric Population

JOURNAL TITLE: Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, Education and Research

Author
1. Archana Srivastava
2. Archana Rani
3. Ravi Sankar Manogaran
4. Arulalan Mathialagan
ISSN
2277-8969
DOI
10.5005/jp-journals-10028-1372
Volume
55
Issue
3
Publishing Year
2021
Pages
7
  • Article keywords
    Anthropometry lateral skull base, Carotid canal, Foramen lacerum, Foramen ovale, Foramen spinosum, Styloid foramen

    Abstract

    Background: Lateral skull base has a complex anatomy and has numerous foramina that transmit neurovascular structure between intracranial and extracranial compartments. The pediatric skull has significant variation in anatomical dimensions with the adult counterpart and poses challenges to the otolaryngorhinologists and neurosurgeons. It is therefore important to know these anatomical surgical landmarks to perform safe surgery and give a safer outcome and also to prevent complications. Although many studies on the lateral skull base anatomy have been published, a comparative study of the anthropometric difference between adult and pediatric lateral skull base is still lacking. Aims and objective: To compare the anthropometry of the carotid canal, jugular foramen, styloid foramen, foramen ovale, foramen spinosum, foramen lacerum between adult and pediatric dry skulls. Materials and methods: A systematic measure of the anthropometric parameters of the lateral cranial base in the adult and pediatric dry skulls were performed using standardized digital callipers. The data were recorded and analyzed using SPSS. Results: The result showed that mean distances were higher in the adult patients as compared to pediatrics and the differences were statistically significant for the variables—mastoid base to stylomastoid foramen, stylomastoid foramen to foramen spinosum, foramen spinosum diameter, foramen spinosum to foramen ovale, foramen ovale width, mastoid base to base of lateral pterygoid, lateral end of bony EAC to stylomastoid foramen, stylomastoid foramen to jugular foramen, jugular foramen longitudinal diameter, jugular foramen anterior, posterior diameter, carotid canal diameter, infratemporal crest to base of lateral pterygoid, root of zygoma to foramen ovale and root of zygoma to foramen spinosum except, foramen ovale to the base of lateral pterygoid and, jugular foramen to the hypoglossal canal. Conclusion: Measures of the anthropometric parameters of the skull base have provided a profound and precise understanding of the topography of the various landmarks in the lateral skull base. Because of the presence of the landmarks in close vicinity to one another, millimeter level error in identifying them can be detrimental in the outcome of surgical procedure.

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