Morphometric evaluations of intercondylar distances using computed tomographic scan images in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Knowledge of the anatomy of the occipital condyle (OC) and the structures around it is significant in sex determination and in surgical operations involving the basicranium. The present study attempts to evaluate the anterior occipital intercondylar distance (AOID) and posterior occipital intercondylar distance (POID) in the sample population as well as its variability in different populations. The sample population for the present study comprised of computed tomographic (CT) images of 110 patients (60 males and 50 females) aged 18–65 years obtained from the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State-Nigeria. Males presented significantly higher mean values for both the parameters measured (p<0.001). Mean values of AOID in males and females are respectively 24.15 mm and 22.31 mm, while the POID mean values are 26.83 mm and 23.79 mm. The ratio of POID to AOID is 1.1:1.0 in both males and females in the sample. This ratio varies from population to population.