Foramen magnum - Dry bone study and review of studies from India

Abstract

Background and Aims: Of late, there is heightened interest in foramen magnum morphology and morphometry as evidenced by innumerable publications in most of the Indian and foreign research journals publishing anatomical studies.The main objective of our study was to report the morphometric data of foramen magnum from Indian population as evidenced by dry bone study. The objective of the review was to report morphometric studies from India and to compare the data between two regions. Methodology: Forty adult dry skulls were studied for morphometric data of foramen magnum. Antero-posterior diameter and width of the foramen were considered. An extensive search for articles with foramen magnum either in the title or keywords was done using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, SciELO, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases was carried out in December 2017. Search terms restricted to foramen magnum morphometry in dry bones and CT scan studies. Results: The mean AP length and width of foramen magnum was 31.5 ± 3.4 mm and 27.1 ± 3 mm respectively. The mean of foramen magnum index was 1.2±0.2. Out of 37 records, 28 dry bone studies, 8 CT scan studies and one autopsy study was reviewed. A total of 2635 dry bones and 1165 CT scans were studied in 37 studies. Conclusions: There is unprecedented surge in published reports on morphometry of foramen magnum, both dry bone studies and radiological studies. There is no difference between morphometric data between dry bone studies and radiological studies. There is no significant difference between data from two states of India.

Keywords

• foramen magnum; morphometry; dry bone study; ctscan study