European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction:  TCA in craniospinal surgery needs special attention to detailed information on the morphology and morphometry of the occipital condyle and its surrounding structures. Although there is research on the morphometrics of OCs, the literature on their relationship to various foramina and canals is lacking. For neurosurgeons, the relationship between HC and OC is very important. Very sparse information was available on the shape of the OC, its length, and its relationship to HC in the central Indian population. Aims and objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the shape of the occipital condyle, its length, and the proportion of the hypoglossal canal to occipital condyle in the East Indian population. Materials and Method: The length of 160 condyles of 80 adult human skulls was measured as largest antero-posterior distance between anterior and posterior tip of the occipital condyles. This length was measured with the help of manual vernier calliper. Distance of posterior end of occipital condyle from external and internal opening of hypoglossal canal was also measured. Shape of occipital condyles and location of hypoglossal canal in relation to occipital condyle were assessed.  An unpaired t-test was done to compare the morphometric data. The P-value of less than 0.05 was taken as a measure of significance Results: The length of right condyle was slightly more but this difference was not significant. Length of occipital condyles ranged from 15 to 26 with average length of 20.93 on right and 20.52 on left. External and internal opening of hypoglossal canal were more nearer to right occipital condyle. 21.25 % of occipital condyles were of quadrilateral shape followed by S-like (18.12%) and two portioned (16.88%). Triangular and ring like shaped occipital condyles were least common. In 85% of the adult human skulls, hypoglossal canal extent was up to the anterior one-third of the occipital condyle.  Conclusion: The occipital condyle and related structures may exhibit morphometric and morphological changes. The preoperative evaluation, radiological examination and CT imaging are important for each patient who has to undergo a transcondylar approach for craniovertebral surgeries.