Khamanarong Kimaporn, Woraputtaporn Worawut, Ratanasuwan Somsiri, Namking Malivalaya, Chaijaroonkhanarak Wunnee, Sae-Jung Surachai
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Acta Med Acad. 2013;42(1):41-5. doi: 10.5644/ama2006-124.69.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of occipitalization of the atlas among Thai dried skulls, in order to contribute to baseline awareness of this condition.
The skulls of 633 adult Thais from the collection maintained in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, were examined for evidence of occipitalization of the atlas. The skulls were well-preserved and did not show any traits of craniofacial deformation. The skulls for which the age and sex were unknown were excluded from the analysis. From the cadaveric records on each individual, we learned that the skulls belonged to 373 men (age of decease between 25 and 90 years), and 260 women (age of decease between 28 and 92 years).
Occipitalization of the atlas was detected in 2 skulls (0.32%). The first case was a male skull (54 years of age at decease), where the atlas was partially fused to the occipital bone. The second case was also a male skull (59 years of age at decease) showing complete fusion of the anterior arch of the atlas.
The incidence of occipitalization of the atlas is low; however, if present this abnormality may cause a wide range of neurological problems. Knowledge of occipitalization of the atlas may be of substantial importance to orthopedists, neurosurgeons, physiotherapists and radiologists dealing with abnormalities of the cervical spine. Mistaken diagnoses have led to delayed treatment and at times adverse results.
本研究旨在调查泰国干燥颅骨中寰椎枕化的发生率，以提高对这种情况的基线认识。
对泰国孔敬大学医学院解剖学系收藏的633例成年泰国人的颅骨进行检查，以寻找寰椎枕化的证据。这些颅骨保存完好，未显示出任何颅面变形特征。年龄和性别未知的颅骨被排除在分析之外。从每个个体的尸体记录中，我们了解到这些颅骨属于373名男性（死亡年龄在25至90岁之间）和260名女性（死亡年龄在28至92岁之间）。
在2例颅骨（0.32%）中检测到寰椎枕化。第一例是男性颅骨（死亡时54岁），寰椎部分与枕骨融合。第二例也是男性颅骨（死亡时59岁），显示寰椎前弓完全融合。
寰椎枕化的发生率较低；然而，如果存在这种异常可能会导致广泛的神经问题。对于处理颈椎异常的骨科医生、神经外科医生、物理治疗师和放射科医生来说，了解寰椎枕化可能非常重要。错误的诊断会导致治疗延迟，有时还会产生不良后果。
