What is occipital spur?

Occipital spur is an abnormal bony outgrowth of the external occipital protuberance (EOP). We describe an interesting and previously unreported case of fracture of an occipital spur following trauma. Our 20-year-old male patient was treated in the emergency department (ED) and discharged home without complication.

How do you get rid of occipital Spurs?

Occipital spurs, if symptomatic, can be managed conservatively with the use of soft pillows and analgesics before embarking on surgical procedures. If symptoms persist, surgical recontouring of the protuberance can be carried out with minimal risk of intracranial penetration.

Why is my external occipital protuberance so big?

Larger bone spike at back of head in young adults possibly due to poor posture from tech, study says. The bony growth, which is known as an “external occipital protuberance,” can be found at the back of the skull, just above the base of the neck.

Is occipital protuberance normal?

External Occipital Protuberance (EOP) is a normal anatomical structure located on the posterior surface of the occipital bone, at the level of the superior nuchal line.

Is occipital neuralgia serious?

Occipital neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition. Most people get good pain relief by resting and taking medication.

How does occipital neuralgia start?

Occipital neuralgia may occur spontaneously, or as the result of a pinched nerve root in the neck (from arthritis, for example), or because of prior injury or surgery to the scalp or skull. Sometimes “tight” muscles at the back of the head can entrap the nerves.

Can you feel external occipital protuberance?

The bony skull bump — known as an external occipital protuberance — is sometimes so large, you can feel it by pressing your fingers on the base of your skull.

Is external occipital protuberance bad?

Besides, the aforementioned “horns” are actually bone spurs on the external occipital protuberance at the base of the skull, which we all have to some degree. While bone spurs on the external occipital protuberance are unlikely to cause symptoms, poor posture is known to contribute to neck and back pain in many people.

What is the bump on the back of my skull?

An occipital bun, also called occipital spurs, occipital knob, chignon hooks, PBS head or inion hooks, is a prominent bulge or projection of the occipital bone at the back of the skull.

How do you know if you have occipital neuralgia?

Symptoms of occipital neuralgia include continuous aching, burning and throbbing, with intermittent shocking or shooting pain that generally starts at the base of the head and goes to the scalp on one or both sides of the head. Patients often have pain behind the eye of the affected side of the head.

Is there such thing as a normal occipital spur?

Occipital spurs, also called as occipital knob, occipital bun, chignon or inion hook, is an exaggerated external occipital protuberance (EOP). It is frequently discussed in anthropological literature as a Neanderthal trait but hardly reported and considered as a normal variant in medical literature.

Which is a normal variant of the occipital protuberance?

Images in… Occipital spurs, also called as occipital knob, occipital bun, chignon or inion hook, is an exaggerated external occipital protuberance (EOP). It is frequently discussed in anthropological literature as a Neanderthal trait but hardly reported and considered as a normal variant in medical literature.

Is the occipital spur used in gender determination?

It is a frequent finding among males and hence a prominent occipital spur is often used in gender determination in forensic investigations. 1 EOP can be of three different types: type I, smooth; type II, crest form; type III, spine form. Even though a normal variant, such hyperostoses can become symptomatic and cause much concern to patients.

How is the occipital spur used in forensic investigation?

It is common in males and hence is often used in forensic investigations for gender determination 1. It is an anatomical variant which is usually noticed incidentally radiographically, although it can become symptomatic with affected patients describing a tender bony swelling at the back of the neck causing pain especially while lying down 1.