Incidence of Ossification of Caroticoclinoid Ligament in Dry Adult Human Skulls with its Surgical Implications: A Cross-sectional Study from Telangana Region, India

Introduction: The caroticoclinoid ligament extends from the Anterior Clinoid Process (ACP) to the Middle Clinoid Process (MCP). Occasionally, it gets ossified and forms the caroticoclinoid foramen. Anterior clinoidectomy is a common surgical procedure to treat internal carotid artery aneurysms or pituitary tumours. Abnormal ossification of the caroticoclinoid ligament may lead to intraoperative or postoperative complications as it is not normally present.

Aim: To find out the incidence of ossification of the caroticoclinoid ligament in adult human skulls.

Materials and Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study that included 100 dry adult human skulls collected from the Department of Anatomy, Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad; Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad; Bhaskar Medical College, Moinabad, Telangana, India, from January 2021 to February 2023. Adult human skulls with open vault were included. All the skulls were observed and skulls damaged in the clinoid regions were excluded from the study. The skulls were observed for the presence of any ossifications of the caroticoclinoid ligaments and the observations were noted. The qualitative data was presented as number and percentage was calculated. The data was recorded in MS excel version 2021.

Results: The incidence of ossification of caroticoclinoid ligament was 8 (8%). The incidence was higher on right-side when compared to the left-side. Bilateral complete ossification of the caroticoclinoid ligament was observed in 2 (2%) skulls; bilateral incomplete ossification was observed in 3 (3%) skulls, unilateral complete ossification was observed in 2 (2%) skulls on the right-side. In one skull 1 (1%), complete ossification was observed on the right-side and incomplete ossification was observed on the left-side.

Conclusion: Knowledge of the ossification of the caroticoclinoid ligament is important for neurosurgeons while performing anterior clinoidectomies or skull base surgeries. Radiological confirmation of the ossification of the caroticoclinoid ligament is essential to avoid complications.