A Review Study of Vaikalyakara Marma with Ref...

A Review Study of Vaikalyakara Marma with Reference to Krikatika Marma and Modern Correlation

Author Name : Dr. Reenu A. Sahani , Dr. Gopal B. Sharma

ABSTRACT Ayurveda is mother of all medical sciences and has been authentic source of knowledge covering its different aspects. Acharya Suhsruta has contributed to the field of surgery by introducing the concept of Marmai.e., vulnerable areas of body which we can regard as ancient traumatology. There are 107 Marma points over the body and KrikatikaMarma is one among them. As being a SandhiMarma, it is mainly constituted by joints, located at cranio-cervical junction. Extent of vulnerable area is approximately half Angula (1cm). Injury of this Marma exhibits the Chalmaridharai.e., instability of cranio-cervical joint. Actually, cranio-cervical joint is further constituted by Atlanto-occipital and Atalanto-axial joints. Cranio- cervical junction has unique kinematic properties enabling it to perform complex motions. In this article we will discuss about causes, mechanism and outcome of cranio-cervical injury rendering it unstable and also about the elements like occipital condyles, lateral masses, alar ligament, odontoid process, anterior, posterior arches of atlas and ligaments etc which gets involved in the trauma thus disrupting the stability of Cranio-cervical junction. This systematic review will help us to establish vulnerability and anatomico-surgical importance of KrikatikaMarma once again proving relevance of Sushruta's ancientconcept of Marma in this modern age.