Cribra Orbitalia is Vascular in Nature and is Dependent on the Meningo‐Orbital Foramen

Abstract

The etiology of cribra orbitalia is obscure; however, a recent study has proposed that this anatomical variation is of a vascular nature. This study assessed the relationship between cribra orbitalia and vascular variation by determining the presence of meningo-orbital foramina and cribra orbitalia. Of the 150 human orbits in this study, cribra orbitalia was found in 35:150 (23.3%) with 32:35 (91.4%) having a concurrent finding of the meningo-orbital foramen. Further, 3:76 (2.0%) orbits with cribra orbitalia had an absence of the meningo-orbital foramen. A Fisher's exact test was performed to determine the statistical significance and found that the two anatomical variants are dependent (p=0.0002). This study demonstrates a predisposition for cribra orbitalia in the presence of a meningo-orbital foramen and provides further evidence of the vascular nature of cribra orbitalia. Clinically, a surgeon should be aware of vascular anastomoses in individuals with cribra orbitalia.