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A study of 285 cases of cranial vault suture closure in Chinese adults

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Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the presence and characteristics of cranial vault suture closure in Chinese adults and to explore whether craniosacral therapy (CST) manipulation is rational from the anatomical perspective.

Methods

Anthropological non-metric observation and craniometry were used to study 285 dry skull specimens of Chinese adults.

Results

A total of 91 specimens with closed extracranial sutures were observed, with an occurrence rate of 31.93%. Based on the mode of closure, there were 32 cases of single type closure, with sagittal suture closure predominating with 20 cases (21.98%); 59 cases of composite closure, with a partial closure of coronal suture + sagittal suture + lambdoid suture predominating with 26 cases (28.57%). In terms of the degree of closure, there were 13 cases (14.28%) of sagittal suture grade 0 closure and 78 cases (85.72%) of grade 1 – 4 closure; 34 cases (37.36%) of coronal suture grade 0 closure and 57 cases (62.64%) of grade 1 – 4 closure; 47 cases (51.65%) of lambdoid suture grade 0 closure and 44 cases (48.35%) of grade 1 – 4 closure. The segment and degree of coronal suture closure (46, 80.7%) and lambdoid suture (31, 70.45%) were mostly left–right symmetrical. The bone surfaces on either side of the cranial vault sutures are embedded in each other, forming a rough, complex and interlocking bone–suture–bone structure.

Conclusion

This study observed the closure of the cranial vault suture, summarized its characteristics, and explored the irrationality of the CST manipulation. The anatomical characteristics of the cranial suture dictate that manipulation cannot push the cranial suture at will.

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Availability of data and material

The data sets supporting the results of this article are included within the article and its additional files.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

CST:

Craniosacral therapy

S1:

Pars bregmatica

S2:

Pars vertis

S3:

Pars obelica

S4:

Pars lambdica

C1:

Pars bregmatica

C2:

Pars complicate

C3:

Pars pterica

L1:

Pars lambdica

L2:

Pars media

L3:

Pars asterica

b:

Brebma

l:

Lambda

sph:

Sphenion

ast:

Asterion

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind's overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude.

Funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China

    JunHua Li, ZuJiang Chen, WeiXing Zhong, Han Yang & YiKai Li

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  1. JunHua Li
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  2. ZuJiang Chen
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  3. WeiXing Zhong
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  4. Han Yang
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  5. YiKai Li
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Contributions

JHL: Project development, Data Collection, Manuscript writing; ZJC: Project development, Data Collection; WXZ: Project development, Data Collection; HY: Data analysis; YKL: Review and double check.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to YiKai Li.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts to disclose.

Consent to participate

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Chinese Ethics Committee of Registering Clinical Trials (Reference Number: ChiECRCT20210191). All methods in the study were carried out in accordance with the Helsinki Guidelines and Declaration.

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Not applicable.

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Li, J., Chen, Z., Zhong, W. et al. A study of 285 cases of cranial vault suture closure in Chinese adults. Surg Radiol Anat 44, 361–368 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02854-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02854-y

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