Morphometry of the Occipital Condyles in Adult Nigerians

Abstract

Objective: To determine the morphometric parameters of the occipital condyle (OC) in adult Nigerians using computed tomography (CT). Methods: Following ethical approval, the morphometric parameters of the OC of 336 adult Nigerians (199 males, 137 females) aged ≥20 years were measured on brain CT images stored at the Radiology Department of a tertiary hospital. Results: Males had significantly larger metric parameters than females. The measurements showed significant differences in the various 10 years' age groups. The width, and distance from anterior tips to basion, and opisthion showed significant side differences. There was a significant positive correlation between the right, and left OC morphometric parameters (P<0.05). Conclusion: The morphometry of the OC in the studied population differed from previous literature reports. Therefore, consideration of population specific morphometry is paramount for safe craniovertebral junction surgeries and in the design of customised OC implants.

Keywords

• occipital condyles
• dimensions
• craniovertebral
• surgery
• foramen magnum