Incidence, Anatomy and Clinical Significance of Carotico-clinoid Foramen and Interclinoid Osseous Bridge in Human Skulls in Gujarat Region

Abstract

Introduction: Carotico-clinoid foramen is an ossified carotico-clinoid ligament or a dural fold between anterior and middle clinoid processes situated in the middle cranial cavity. It is related to cavernous sinus, pituitary gland and sphenoidal air sinus. Interclinoid osseous bridge is the ossification of ligament or dural fold between anterior, middle and posterior clinoid processes. Aim: To observe incidence, anatomy and clinical significance of carotico-clinoid foramen and interclinoid osseous bridge in the Gujarat region. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, total 200 dry adult human skulls were examined to observe incidence, size, shape and various types of carotico-clinoid foramen (complete, contact, incomplete). The incidence of interclinoid osseous bridge was observed bilaterally and divided into four types. Result: The incidence of carotico-clinoid foramen was 10.5% (21 skulls out of 200). The foramen was bilaterally present in six (3%) and unilateral in 15 (7.5%). The incidence of complete and incomplete foramen was 11 (5.5%) and 10 (5%), respectively. The mean of maximum dimensions of carotico-clinoid foramen was 5.432±1.043 mm on right side and 5.623±0.651 mm on left side. The Type II interclinoid osseous bridge was found in four (2%) skulls. Type I bridge suggests carotico-clinoid foramen itself, while Type III and Type IV bridges were not found in the current study. Conclusion: The study of carotico-clinoid foramen has clinical importance as its presence can cause compression of internal carotid artery which may result into insufficient blood supply to brain. Further, the presence of this foramen and interclinoid osseous bridge can complicate neurosurgery in this region. Therefore, the detailed anatomical knowledge is very important for clinicians to increase success rate in the regional surgery

Keywords

• internal carotid artery
• lesser wing of sphenoid
• middle cranial cavity