The Relationship between the Marginal Tubercle and the Sphenozygomatic Suture: Implications for Neurosurgery

Abstract

The marginal tubercle, otherwise known as the processus marginalis, is an inconsistent structure that exists along the posterior aspect of the frontal process of the zygomatic bone. The marginal tubercle can be drilled in standard mini‐pterional craniotomy to enhance exposure. Surgical difficulty has been reported to occur when encountering tubercles greater than 13 mm wide (anterior‐to‐posterior dimension), in which case drilling of the tubercle is required for adequate surgical exposure. Despite the surgical importance of the marginal tubercle, few studies have assessed its anatomy. This study analyzed 744 frontal processes, classifying them by the presence of a marginal tubercle and the relationship with the sphenozygomatic suture into four categories based (A, B, C, and D, respectively). Type A had an average width of 11.18±2.27 mm (mean±SD), type B averaged 12.85±2.10 mm, type C averaged 12.09±2.19 mm, and type D averaged 13.51±2.40 mm. There were statistically significant differences in width between all types. In the context of mini‐pterional craniotomies, type D marginal tubercles are implicated as the most likely bony obstacle in the region. Moreover, type D marginal tubercles were found to exist in 31.2% of zygomatic bones. The information from this study will help with the preoperative planning of mini‐pterional craniotomies.Support or Funding InformationWV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.17.06] and [HEPC.dsr.14.13]This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.