Incidence of Accessory Optic Canal in Dry Human Skulls of Rajasthan State

Abstract

Introduction: Duplication of optic canal is very rare anomaly which has been seen in both sexes, at various ages and in a number of races. Duplications may be unilateral or bilateral out of which the bilateral duplications is a very rare phenomenon. The present study was undertaken with the aim to determine the incidence of accessory optic canal in dry human skulls of Rajasthan State. The present Materials and Methods: study was conducted using 400 dried human skulls which were thoroughly examined for the presence of unilateral or bilateral accessory optic canals. It was found that out of 400 skulls studied, the incidences of Accessory Results: Optic Canal (AOC) were present in 14 (3.5%) skulls. The AOCs were present unilaterally on the right side in 6 (1.5%), unilaterally on the left side in 5 (1.25%) and bilaterally in 3 (0.75%) skulls. Conclusion: The clinical awareness of duplication of optic canal increases the success rate of surgical procedure of optic canal like decompression, tumour excision, approaching sella turcica, cavernous sinus approach, pneumatization procedures.