Open AccessA rare case of persistent metopic suture in an elderly individual: Incidental autopsy finding with clinical implications
Author(s) -
Surya Vikram,
Jagadish Rao Padubidri,
Aswini Dutt
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
archives of medicine and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2321-6085
pISSN - 2321-4848
DOI - 10.4103/2321-4848.133817
Subject(s) - medicine , nasion , trigonocephaly , fibrous joint , skull fracture , skull , neurosurgery , surgery , sagittal suture , craniotomy , craniosynostoses , orthodontics , craniosynostosis
Metopic suture is a dense fibrous joint extending from the nasion to the bregma. Normally, closure of this suture takes place between 1-8 years of age. Failure of this closure beyond 8 years leads to persistent metopic suture. A rare case of persistent metopic suture in a 60-year-old male is documented, who committed suicide by alleged consumption of organophosphorous compound at District Govt. Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Metopic suture may mimic skull fracture and may mislead an inexperienced forensic expert. Neurosurgeon should also be aware of this anatomical variation while performing frontal craniotomy, as the persistent metopic suture may mimic vertical fracture of the skull. Hence, in this case report, the clinical and medico-legal implications of the persistent metopic sutures have been discussed