Purpose: Sella turcica bridging (STB) has significant implications during neurosurgery, since it alters regional anatomy; however, no studies have investigated the global prevalence of STB. Our systematic review aimed to establish the global prevalence of STB, in specimens/individuals with and without comorbidities, in males and females, and of partial, complete, unilateral, and bilateral bridging.
Methods: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar with various key words relating to Sella turcica bridging. Quantitative data were extracted and statistically analysed.
Results: Eighty-two studies satisfied our inclusion criteria. The mean prevalence of STB was 26.54%, and most prevalent in Europe. STB was detected more frequently using radiological investigations. STB was less prevalent in healthy individuals (21.12%) when compared to individuals with comorbidities (33.31%). Partial STB was found to be the more prevalent in both individuals with (41.06%) and without (21.55%) comorbidities. The prevalence of unilateral and bilateral STB was only studied in healthy individuals, with unilateral bridging being the more prevalent (6.26% vs 3.84%).
Conclusion: The global overall prevalence of Sella turcica bridging in the general population was found to be higher than previously thought. Anatomical and embryological textbooks should consider including information on STB in their texts, due to its considerable prevalence and effects to the regional anatomy.
Keywords: Embryology; Neuroanatomy; Neurosurgery; Sella turcica.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.