Cranial Deformation Research Articles

Population-level assessment of atlas occipitalization in artificially modified crania from pre-Hispanic Peru.

Atlas occipitalization (AO) is a spinal anomaly, characterized by the fusion of the first cervical vertebra and occipital bone, with a complex etiology that can arise from congenital and environmental causes. AO has been reported in three regions of pre-Hispanic Peru in skeletal remains with artificial cranial modification (ACM), which involves the use of compression devices to permanently alter cranial shape and may have affected the fusion of the atlas and occipital bone. The aims of this study were to gain insights into AO’s etiology by testing correlations between AO and ACM presence/type and geographic region as well as to characterize morphological variation associated with AO. We investigated the geographic distribution of AO and its potential relationship to ACM in a large sample of human crania from eight coastal and highland regions of pre-Hispanic Peru, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (n = 608, 1300–1500 CE). Eleven cases of AO were observed in three coastal regions—including two previously unreported regions—at an overall frequency of 1.8%. The frequency of AO did not differ significantly between crania with and without ACM, in general or by type, suggesting that ACM is not an etiological factor that influences AO in this sample. AO was observed at a significantly higher rate in the southern coastal region of Arequipa than in any other region. Genetic, dietary, and epidemiological conditions are evaluated as factors possibly shaping the geographic distribution of AO along the central and southern coasts of Peru.

"고대 동북아시아 편두 고인골의 연구 현황"

"고대 동북아시아 편두 고인골의 연구 현황"

Effects of continued positioning pillow use until a corrected age of six months on cranial deformation and neurodevelopment in preterm infants: A prospective case-control study

BackgroundPreterm infants have a high risk of cranial deformity resulting from external pressures. Such deformity is associated with delayed neurodevelopment. AimsWe aimed to clarify the effects of continuous use of positioning pillows on cranial deformity and neurodevelopment in preterm infants. MethodsThis prospective case-control study was conducted between November 2018 and August 2019. The continuous use of a pillow was initiated after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit, up to a corrected age of six months. Preterm infants weighing less than 1800 g without neurological abnormalities were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: non-pillow group (NP-group) and pillow group (P-group). The primary outcome was the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (BSID-III) score. We compared asymmetrical cranial deformity and the BSID-III scores in the two groups at a corrected age of six months using the Fisher's exact test and unpaired t-test, respectively. ResultsThere were 19 preterm infants (mean gestational age 32.5 ± 1.9 weeks, birth weight 1461.3 ± 244.7) eligible during the study period. The P-group (n = 11) showed asymmetrical cranial deformity at six months less frequently than the NP-group (n = 8) (p = 0.001, Fisher's exact test). Infants in the P-group had significantly higher scores on the BSID-III cognitive scales (95.0 ± 8.4 vs. 86.9 ± 2.6; p = 0.02, unpaired t-test) and fine motor scores on the motor scales (8.6 ± 2.2 vs. 6.6 ± 0.7, p = 0.02, unpaired t-test). ConclusionsContinuous pillow use in preterm infants is effective in reducing cranial deformity and improved cognitive and fine motor skills. Trial registrationUMIN Clinical Trials Registry, trial no. UMIN000034400 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm).

Áreas de entierro en cazadores-recolectores del Noroeste de Patagonia: sitio Hermanos Lazcano (Chos Malal, Neuquén)

This paper aims to characterize the findings at Hermanos Lazcano site and to discuss the results in relation to the regional bioarchaeological record. We analyze bone preservation, sex and age profile of the sample, its chronology and the presence of intentional cranial modifications. Hermanos Lazcano is a multiple burial site dated at 3780 years B.P. and composed of a minimum of 4 subadults and 8 adults of both sexes whose remains were highly fragmented and poorly preserved. We determined the presence of intentional cranial modification of circular and pseudocircular type. The cultural material associated with the burials comprised grinding stones, shell beads, a pendant made of shell, trapezoidal rocks and a lithic sphere. Available evidence suggests that the emergence of burial areas with high concentration of individuals would have occurred in northern Neuquen earlier than other regions of Patagonia, where the oldest chronologies do not surpass 3,000 years B.P.

The Anthropological Analysis of Skeletal Material from Tefenni Salvage Excavation and an Example of Artificial Cranial Deformation

Burdur ili, Pisidia bölgesinin önemli antik kentlerini barındırmaktadır. Yerleşimi Neolitik döneme kadar giden Burdur ilinde yapılmış ve halen yapılmakta olan kazılar, kentin geçmişine dair önemli veriler sunmaktadır. Buna rağmen, kentin geçmişini aydınlatacak antropolojik çalışmaların sayısı oldukça azdır. Bu çalışmada, Burdur ili Tefenni ilçesinde bir okul inşaatı esnasında tespit edilen ve Bizans dönemine tarihlendirilen nekropol alanından çıkartılan insan iskeletlerinin antropolojik analizi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kurtarma kazısı olarak yürütülen çalışmada nekropol alanının sadece küçük bir kısmında mezar açma işlemleri gerçekleştirilebilmiştir. İskeletler üzerinde yapılan antropolojik analizler sonucunda, 8’i yetişkin ve 8’i çocuk olmak üzere toplam 16 birey tespit edilmiştir. Bu bireylerin yaşları ve boy uzunlukları belirlenmiş, ayrıca iskelet üzerindeki patoloji ve varyasyonlar da incelenmiştir. Bir bireyin femur ve coxae kemiklerinde ileri derecede artrit tespit edilmiştir. İskelet serisi içerisinde karşılaşılan en önemli durum, 11-12 yaşlarında bir çocukta görülen kültürel kafatası deformasyonudur. İnsan etkisi ile kafatasının şeklinin değişmesine yol açan bu duruma ait bu örnek, antik dönem insanları için Burdur ilindeki ilk örnek durumundadır. Her ne kadar büyük bir iskelet serisi üzerinde gerçekleşmemiş olsa da, bu çalışma, az sayıda antropolojik çalışma ile temsil edilen Burdur ilinin antik geçmişine ait yeni bilgileri ortaya koymaktadır. Ayrıca, Tefenni ilçesinde Bizans dönemine ait çok fazla bilginin olmaması da bu çalışmanın önemini arttırmaktadır.

Fully automatic smartphone-based photogrammetric 3D modelling of infant’s heads for cranial deformation analysis

Image-based and range-based solutions can be used for the acquisition of valuable data in medicine. However, most of these methods are not valid for non-static patients. Cranial deformation is a problem with high prevalence among infants and image-based solutions can be used to assess the degree of deformation and monitor the evolution of patients. However, it is required to deal with infants normal movement during the assessment in order to avoid sedation. Some high-end multiple-sensor image-based solutions allow the achievement of accurate 3D data for medical applications under unpredicted dynamic conditions in consultation. In this paper, a novel, single photogrammetric smartphone-based solution for cranial deformation assessment is presented. A coded cap is placed on the infant’s head and a guided smartphone app is used by the user to acquire the information, that is later processed on a server to obtain the 3D model. The smartphone app is designed to guide users with no knowledge of photogrammetry, computer vision or 3D modelling. The processing is fully automatic offline. The photogrammetric tool is also non-invasive, reacting well with quick and sudden infant’s movements. Therefore, it does not require sedation. This paper tackles the accuracy and repeatability analysis tested both for a single user (intrauser) and multiple non-expert user (interuser) on 3D printed head models. The results allow us to confirm an accuracy below 1.5 mm, which makes the system suitable for clinical practice by medical staff. The basic automatically-derived anthropometric linear magnitudes are also tested obtaining a mean variability of 0.6 ± 0.6 mm for the longitudinal and transversal distances and 1.4 ± 1.3 mm for the maximum perimeter.

Alterations to vestibular morphology in highly bred domestic dogs may affect balance.

The modern domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) provides an excellent model to examine the effects of cranial modification. Extreme variation in skull length among dog breeds due to high levels of selective breeding is known to be linked to disorders of the head and neck. Such alteration may also influence sensory organs including those of the vestibular system (VS), one of the most fundamental sense organs, essential in maintaining balance. Studies in mammals have shown that orientation of ipsilateral semicircular canals (SCCs) of the VS at right angles (orthogonality) is related to angular acceleration sensitivity. Due to their considerable variation in craniofacial form while exhibiting similar locomotion, domestic dogs provide an excellent natural experiment to examine if cranial alteration influences VS functional morphology. Our methods examine how change in cranial base length across dog breeds relates to SCC orthogonality using linear modeling and analyses of variance. The sample studied (29 bony labyrinths of 17 dog breeds) was obtained from a previous study on canid inner ear metrics. Results support the hypothesis that orthogonality between the anterior and posterior SCC + ampulla significantly correlates with cranial base length. This suggests a close relationship between the orientations of SCCs with their ampullae and cranial structure among dog breeds. Specifically, highly derived breeds, such as the brachycephalic pug, have anterior and posterior SCCs and ampullae that deviate the most from orthogonality. Therefore, such highly bred domestic dogs may also have altered vestibular function due to compressed cranial form.

Pediatric cranial deformations: demographic associations.

No study has established a relationship between cranial deformations and demographic factors. While the connection between the Back to Sleep campaign and cranial deformation has been outlined, considerations toward cultural or anthropological differences should also be investigated. The authors conducted a retrospective review of 1499 patients (age range 2 months to less than 19 years) who presented for possible trauma in 2018 and had a negative CT scan. The cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) and cranial index (CI) were used to evaluate potential cranial deformations. The cohort was evaluated for differences between sex, race, and ethnicity among 1) all patients and 2) patients within the clinical treatment window (2-24 months of age). Patients categorized as "other" and those for whom data were missing were excluded from analysis. In the CVAI cohort with available data (n = 1499, although data were missing for each variable), 800 (56.7%) of 1411 patients were male, 1024 (79%) of 1304 patients were Caucasian, 253 (19.4%) of 1304 patients were African American, and 127 (10.3%) of 1236 patients were of Hispanic/Latin American descent. The mean CVAI values were significantly different between sex (p < 0.001) and race (p < 0.001). However, only race was associated with differences in positional posterior plagiocephaly (PPP) diagnosis (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in CVAI measurements for ethnicity (p = 0.968). Of the 520 patients in the treatment window cohort, 307 (59%) were male. Of the 421 patients with data for race, 334 were Caucasian and 80 were African American; 47 of the 483 patients with ethnicity data were of Hispanic/Latin American descent. There were no differences between mean CVAI values for sex (p = 0.404) or ethnicity (p = 0.600). There were significant differences between the mean CVAI values for Caucasian and African American patients (p < 0.001) and rate of PPP diagnosis (p = 0.02). In the CI cohort with available data (n = 1429, although data were missing for each variable), 849 (56.8%) of 1494 patients were male, 1007 (67.4%) of 1283 were Caucasian, 248 (16.6%) of 1283 were African American, and 138 patients with ethnicity data (n = 1320) of Hispanic/Latin American descent. Within the clinical treatment window cohort with available data, 373 (59.2%) of 630 patients were male, 403 were Caucasian (81.9%), 84 were African American (17.1%), and 55 (10.5%) of 528 patients were of Hispanic/Latin American descent. The mean CI values were not significantly different between sexes (p = 0.450) in either cohort. However, there were significant differences between CI measurements for Caucasian and African American patients (p < 0.001) as well as patients of Hispanic/Latin American descent (p < 0.001) in both cohorts. The authors found no significant associations between cranial deformations and sex. However, significant differences exist between Caucasian and African American patients as well as patients with Hispanic/Latin American heritage. These findings suggest cultural or anthropological influences on defining skull deformations. Further investigation into the factors contributing to these differences should be undertaken.

Cranial osteology of the Early Cretaceous Sapeornis chaoyangensis (Aves: Pygostylia)

We describe the detailed cranial osteology of Sapeornis chaoyangensis based on information from previously described specimens and IVPP V19058, a specimen that was recently reported with regards to the palatal elements but not fully described. The skull in this specimen is entirely preserved in disarticulation, providing the most comprehensive glimpse into the morphology of the cranial bones and their articulations for this taxon. Based on the new information extracted from this specimen, we revise some interpretations of cranial elements in previously published Sapeornis specimens and provide a comprehensive description of the cranial osteology for this basal pygostylian. The results of this study demonstrate that the postorbital bar, jugal bar, nasal, quadrate, and palate in Sapeornis show the plesiomorphic rigid articulations among birds. The comparison of cranial features across Paraves suggests that major cranial modifications evolved at the base of Ornithothoraces, and primarily in the ornithuromorph lineage.

Earliest-known intentionally deformed human cranium from Asia

Hereditary hierarchy is one of the major features of complex societies. Without a written record, prehistoric evidence for hereditary hierarchy is rare. Intentional cranial deformation (ICD) is a ritualized and cross-generational cultural practice that embodies social identity and cultural beliefs in adults through the behavior of permanently and immutably altering infant head shape. Therefore, ICD is usually regarded as an archeological clue for the occurrence of hereditary hierarchy. With a calibrated radiocarbon age of 11,245–11,200 years BP, a fossil skull of an adult male discovered in Northeastern China is among the oldest-known ICD in the world. The fossil demonstrates the oldest application of the more sophisticated tabular deformation methodology that requires securing hard flat surfaces to the forehead and back of the skull of infants, differing from the other earliest-known records of ICD that used other processes. Along with the other earliest global occurrences of ICD, this discovery points to the early initiation of complex societies among the non-agricultural local societies in Northeastern Asia in the early Holocene. A population increase among previously more isolated terminal Pleistocene/early Holocene hunter-gatherer groups likely increased their interactions, possibly fueling the formation of the first complex societies.

Population of the Armenian Higlands in the age of Antiquity (according of anthropological materials of urban and rural settlements)

Article is devoted to studying of bone remains from antique burial grounds from the territory of the Armenian Highland. Anthropological materials of burials consist of 322 skeletons and dated I–III c. AD. The article analyzes the differences in anthropological characteristics of urban and rural population of Armenia of Antiquity period. The work is based on classical craniometric and statistical research methods. Artificial cranial deformationare and unintended deformation of a cradle-type found among urban and rural populations. As an intragroup analysis showed, the main differences between male urban and rural population across the size of the width of the frontal bone and face. If the villagers face orthognatic, angle of horizontal profiling at the top level enters the category of averages, in urban women face mezognatik, the angle of horizontal profiling is characterized by small values. Intergroup analysis showed, closest to urban male groups it turned out the tribes of Chernyakhov culture and the population of the Middle East. A male part of the villagers shows intimacy with Scythians of Crimea, Ukraine and Transnistria. The female part of the towns’ people is close with the Scythians of Ukraine and Crim; villagers are morphologically similar to the carriers of the Middle Sarmatian cultures of the Don region, with a population of the first centuries AD from Tanais, European and Asian Bosporus. Morphological analogies with the population of Northern Turkmenistan (Tumek-Kichidzhik), Western Ukraine (Chernyakhov culture), Middle Dnieper and Moldova (Scythians) were also revealed. This circumstance confirms the fact of sustainable, constant migration flow to the territory of the Armenian Highlands.

A re-description of Sandownia harrisi (Testudinata: Sandownidae) from the Aptian of the Isle of Wight based on computed tomography scans.

Sandownidae is an enigmatic group of Cretaceous–Paleogene turtles with highly derived cranial anatomy. Although sandownid monophyly is not debated, relationships with other turtles remain unclear. Sandownids have been recovered in significantly different parts of the turtle tree: as stem-turtles, stem-cryptodires and stem-chelonioid sea turtles. Latest phylogenetic studies find sandownids as the sister-group of the Late Jurassic thalassochelydians and as stem-turtles. Here, we provide a detailed study of the cranial and mandibular anatomy of Sandownia harrisi from the Aptian of the Isle of Wight, based on high resolution computed tomography scanning of the holotype. Our results confirm a high number of anatomical similarities with thalassochelydians and particularly Solnhofia parsonsi, which is interpreted as an early member of the sandownid lineage. Sandownids + Solnhofia show many cranial modifications related to the secondary palate and a durophagous diet. Sandownia is additionally highly derived in features related to its arterial circulation and neuroanatomy, including the endosseous labyrinth. Our results imply rapid morphological evolution during the early history of sandownids. Sandownids likely evolved in central Europe from thalassochelydian ancestors during the Late Jurassic. The durophagous diet of sandownids possibly facilitated their survival of the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction.

Morphological consequences of artificial cranial deformation: Modularity and integration.

The cranium is an anatomically complex structure. One source of its complexity is due to its modular organization. Cranial modules are distinct and partially independent units that interact substantially during ontogeny thus generating morphological integration. Artificial Cranial Deformation (ACD) occurs when the human skull is intentionally deformed, through the use of different deforming devices applied to the head while it is developing. Hence, ACD provides an interesting example to assess the degree to which biomechanical perturbations of the developing neurocranium impact on the degree of morphological integration in the skull as a whole. The main objective of this study was to assess how ACD affects the morphological integration of the skull. This was accomplished by comparing a sample of non-deformed crania and two sets of deformed crania (i.e. antero-posterior and oblique). Both developmental and static modularity and integration were assessed through Generalized Procrustes Analysis by considering the symmetric and asymmetric components of variation in adults, using 3D landmark coordinates as raw data. The presence of two developmental modules (i.e. viscero and neurocranium) in the skull was tested. Then, in order to understand how ACD affects morphological integration, the covariation pattern between the neuro and viscerocranium was examined in antero-posterior, oblique and non-deformed cranial categories using Partial Least-Squares. The main objective of this study was to assess how ACD affects the morphological integration of the skull. This was accomplished by comparing a sample of deformed (i.e. antero-posterior and oblique) and non-deformed crania. Hence, differences in integration patterns were compared between groups. The obtained results support the modular organization of the human skull in the two analyzed modules. The integration analyses show that the oblique ACD style differentially affects the static morphological integration of the skull by increasing the covariance between neuro and viscerocranium in a more constrained way than in antero-posterior and non-deformed skulls. In addition, the antero-posterior ACD style seems to affect the developmental integration of the skull by directing the covariation pattern in a more defined manner as compared to the other cranial categories.

Positional cranial deformation in children: A plea for the efficacy of the cranial helmet in children

BackgroundCranial deformations have historically aroused the interest of people worldwide. One of the more debated points about positional plagiocephaly is the choice of the treatment. In this article, the senior author (CM) shares his experience on almost 30 years of use of the helmet molding therapy in children with deformation plagiocephaly. Methods and populationWe retrospectively and systematically reviewed the cases of 2188 patients (75% males and 25% females) presenting positional head deformity and treated between 1991 and 2013 with a cranial helmet. To assess the effectiveness of the helmet, we compared the cranial index in bilateral plagiocephaly and the Cranial Diagonals Difference (CDD) in unilateral plagiocephaly at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. ResultsThe cranial indexes ranged between 94.4% and 124.2% before the treatment and decreased significantly between 86.8% and 121.4% after the treatment (P<0.01). The CDD ranged between 0.3 cm and 4.5 cm with an average of 1.50±0.54 cm before the treatment and decreased significantly between 0.1 cm and 2.5 cm with an average of 0.72±0.37 cm after the treatment (P<0.01). For unilateral plagiocephaly, at the beginning of the treatment, 2.5% children presented a mild plagiocephaly, 19.6% a moderate plagiocephaly and 77.9% a severe plagiocephaly. At the end of the treatment, the deformation was classified as mild in 40.2% children, moderate in 44.3% children and severe in 15.5% children with significantly less children in the most severe subgroups (P<0.01) Facial symmetry pre-existed before the treatment in 13.7% of children. This rate was significantly increased at the end of the treatment to 66.7% (P<0.01). In only 8 cases (0.2%), the helmet therapy did not allow to obtain correct clinical results and a surgical posterior cranial remodeling was performed. ConclusionsThe results observed in this series confirms that cranial helmet is a simple and well tolerated alternative which bring satisfying results. Its success implies a good collaboration with parents and a management both by orthoptist, physiotherapist and doctor. Nevertheless, it remains many controversies in the literature concerning in particular long-term cosmetic and functional outcomes. A long-term multicentric prospective study could enable to remove doubts.

Correction to: Does the shape make a difference? Evaluating the ethnic role of cranial modification in the Pampa-Patagonia region (Argentina) during the late Holocene

The original version of this article, unfortunately, contained errors. Authors’ first and last names were interchanged. Given in this article is the correct presentation of author names.

Relationship between facial asymmetry and positional plagiocephaly analyzed by three-dimensional computed tomography

PurposeA relationship between positional cranial deformation and facial asymmetry has been suggested; however, details regarding this relationship remain to be clarified. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between facial asymmetry and positional plagiocephaly using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). MethodsOne-hundred-and-twenty-nine patients were included, and cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) and cephalic index (CI) were used as indicators of positional cranial deformation. Temporal muscle was constructed using 3D-CT data, and its volume was measured. VRL, Me (vertical reference line (VRL)-anterior nasal spine (ANS) and menton (Me) line) angle and the frontal occlusal plane (FOP) angle were measured. ResultsCVAI and VRL, Me angle (R2 = 0.31, P < 0.0001), VRL, Me angle and temporal muscle volume (R2 = 0.13, P < 0.0001), and FOP angle and VRL, Me angle were significantly correlated (R2 = 0.32, P < 0.0001), but CVAI and FOP angle were not (R2 = 0.08). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that CVAI, FOP angle, and variable temporal muscle volume were significant predictors of VRL, Me angle [(F (5, 123) = 14.94, P < .0001, R2 = 0.38)]. ConclusionsOur results revealed that mandibular deviation was associated with contralateral head slant and ipsilateral increase in temporal muscle volume. Positional plagiocephaly may be a cause of facial asymmetry, and such deviations may occur in the temporal muscle.

Functional Significance of Anatomical Accommodation in the Skull of Common Hoopoe, Upupa Epops (Bucerotiformes, Upupidae)

Abstract The present study aims to supplement anatomical data about the cranial skeleton and describe some cranial modifications of the common hoopoe, Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758, by using several techniques. The common hoopoe has small skull and characterized by presence of air space (pneumatization) within their bones. The degree of pneumatization increased especially within the temporal region. The skull of the common hoopoe possesses different types of kinetic hinges; one hinge locates between frontal and nasal region (frontonasal hinge) allows depression/elevation of upper beak relative to brain case. The other one exhibits between the upper beak and jugal bar (maxilla-jugal hinge). The skull of the common hoopoe characterizes by presence of powerful jaw ligamentous system. One of these ligaments exhibits ossification (Lig. Jugomandibularis medialis). In addition, a long mandibular symphysis observes between the two rami of the anterior third of the lower beak. This mandibular symphysis seems longer in the dorsal surface than the ventral one form ventral gap between the two rami of mandible. These modifications of the cranial skeleton of common hoopoe and jaw ligaments consider features of adaptation for probe mechanism, as well as exhibit its phylogenetic relationship with other avian species.

CRANIOPLASTY FOR PROSTHETIC CRANIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF SKULL DEFECTS USING PRE-FABRICATED POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE GRAFTS REINFORCED BY HYDROXYAPATITE PARTICLES INTRAOPERATIVELY IN RURAL POPULATION OF CENTRAL INDIA REGION: A PILOT STUDY

Cranioplasty involves the repair of a cranial defect or deformation. The commoner causes of skull defects include trauma, neurosurgical procedures and infections. Rehabilitation of the deformities related to the cranial vault, as a sequelto trauma is very high and poses a definite challenge to the neurosurgeon

A new species of Ungla (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) that exhibits remarkable homoplasy in male secondary sexual characters.

A new and very unusual species of green lacewings, Ungla pseudomeleoma sp. nov. is described from Peru. Males of this species exhibit a remarkable example of generic-level homoplasy with Meleoma. Its abdominal and genitalic features are completely consistent with the genus Ungla. However, its external sexually dimorphic features resemble those of both Ungla and Meleoma. Females of the new species also express cranial modifications that resemble those of some female Meleoma species.

Chiffonniers in the Periphery: Émile Bernard’s Ragpickers of Clichy and Nineteenth-Century Artificial Cranial Modification

Founded in 2002, Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide is a scholarly, refereed e-journal devoted to the study of nineteenth-century painting, sculpture, graphic arts, photography, architecture, and decorative arts across the globe.