Condylus Occipitalis’in Morfometrik-Topografik Özelliklerinin ve Klinik Öneminin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Aim: To reduce morbidity and mortality in surgical operations to be applied to the craniovertebral junction, it is important to know the anatomical structures in the skull base and the topographical relationship between these structures. Lateral suboccipital craniotomy and occipital condyle resection are among the preferred methods. Surrounding neurovascular structures may be damaged during occipital condyle resection. The aim of study was to develop regression formulas that will determine the precise location of the occipital condyle and estimate the distances to the surrounding anatomical structures, based on the skull morphometry of the person. Material and Methods: The study was carried out on 22 condylus occipitalis (11 skulls) at Harran University, Medical Faculty Anatomy Laboratory. The determined 27 parameters were measured via the Image J program on the skulls’ inferior, anterior, lateral and posterior aspect photographs. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed. Results: To determine the morphometric and topographic features of the occipital condyle, the equations have been developed such as; The occipital condyle length= -2.142 + (0.330 x P15) – (0.468 x P19) – (0.748 x P20) + (0.807 x P21); Adjusted R2= 0.911, Standard Error of the Estimation= 0.938. Conclusion: Considering the difference between the minimum and the maximum values observed in descriptive statistics, the distribution between these values, the different findings in the studies in the literature, there may be erroneous applications in the attempts to be made over the mean values. We believe that the formulas we have developed will be beneficial in personal-specific approaches.