Study of pterion and incidence of epipteric bones in dry human skulls of Gujarat.

ABSTRACT

Background: Pterion is present in floor of temporal fossa which is a meeting point of four bones, frontal and parietal bone superiorly and the greater wing of sphenoid and squamous temporal bone inferiorly. It is ‘H-shaped’ in most of the skulls. The most common variation is in its shape and presence of epipteric bone. Aim: To report the various types of pterion and incidence of epipteric bones in the human skulls and to compare with other racial groups from previous study. Methods: The present study was conducted using 311 dry, grossly normal human skulls from sources in Gujarat. Different types of pterion and the presence of epipteric bones were observed. Results: In the present study sphenoparietal variety of pterion was predominant and the incidence of epipteric bone was 11.73%. Conclusion: Knowledge of the presence of epipteric bones are important to prevent complications during burr hole surgery and to prevent misdiagnosis of fracture skull at the site of pterion.