Anatomic variations of Calvarial intrasutural bones: An autopsy study

Abstract

Calvarial intrasutural bones (CIB) incidences are known to vary in different populations. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency,  location, number and gender difference if any, of CIB in Nigerian skulls. This descriptive observational study included 96 adult skulls. Out of 96  subjects, 58 were males and 38 were females (M:F=1.5:1). The mean age was 50.2±16.5 years (19-83 years). Most of the skulls studied (56%) had CIB.  Sixty percent of the males and 50% of the females had CIB (p=0.318). The lambdoid suture (33.3%) and lambda (20.8%) area were the most common  sites for CIB. When present, CIB were mainly on the right (43.8%). The bregma, pterion and coronal suture were rare sites for CIB in this study population. These results established that CIB are common in adult Nigerian skulls and that there is no significant association between presence of  CIB with gender or age. This variation should be taken into consideration in patient evaluation and surgical planning.