Study of landmarks in dried skulls in a Brazil population

ABSTRACT

Craniofacial bone variations, considered to be radiological landmarks, have been studied since the beginningof the century using dried skulls and cadavers. These pitfalls are important bone landmarks used in theplanning and execution of anesthetic and surgical procedures. The present study analyzed craniofacial bonevariations in dried skulls in terms of gender and laterality. Supraorbital foramen (SOF), mastoid foramen(MF), parietal foramen (PF), accessory oval foramen (aOF), anterior ethmoidal foramen (AEF), intermediateethmoidal foramen (iEF), posterior ethmoidal foramen (PEF), precondylar tubercle (PCT), metopism andsutural bones were assessed in male (n=20) and female (n=11) dried skulls by direct observation and using aMitutoyo caliper. No statistically significant differences were observed between genders as to SOF distancesto the medial nasal prominence and to superior orbital ridge, in both sides of skulls. The same was observedfor distances between FP and sagittal line and between FP and lambdoid suture. No multiple foramina weredetected. aOF was observed in 80.96% of skulls. Right aEF, iEF and PEF prevailed in female skulls. PCT wereseen in 35.5% of female skulls and in 64.5% of male skulls. MF occurrence was higher in right male skulls,and multiple foramina were present in 60% of male skulls (both sides), and in 36.4% of female skulls (bothsides). Only one skull presented sutural bone. No metopism was observed. The identification and recordingof craniofacial variations is important in the preparation of anesthetic blocks in surgical procedures and in theevaluation of regional neurovascular anatomy, to avoid misinterpretations in planning. This study confirms theexistence of significant morphological variations in terms of gender and side in a given population.