Craniovertebral junction malformation in Northeastern Brazil: the myth of the Dutch colonization Malformação da junção craniovertebral no Nordeste do Brasil: o mito da colonização Holandesa

<p id="para1">The high prevalence of craniovertebral junction malformation in Northeastern Brazil is historically associated with brachycephalic biotype (flat head), also common in this region. It has been postulated that this trait was introduced to this region by the Dutch during the colonial period in Brazil's history. Based on the confrontation of this paradigm against some historical facts, the authors concluded that the brachycephalic phenotype was inherited from prehistoric ancestors (Amerindians) who were already living in this region when white European men arrived.</p><br><p id="para2">A alta preval&#234;ncia de malforma&#231;&#227;o da jun&#231;&#227;o craniovertebral no Nordeste do Brasil &#233; historicamente associada ao bi&#243;tipo braquicef&#225;lico (cabe&#231;a chata), tamb&#233;m comum nessa regi&#227;o. Postula-se que essa caracter&#237;stica tenha sido introduzida na regi&#227;o pelos holandeses durante o per&#237;odo colonial da hist&#243;ria do Brasil. Com base na confronta&#231;&#227;o desse paradigma com alguns fatos hist&#243;ricos, os autores concluem que o fen&#243;tipo braquicef&#225;lico foi herdado de ancestrais pr&#233;-hist&#243;ricos (amer&#237;ndios) que j&#225; habitavam a regi&#227;o no momento da chegada do homem branco europeu.</p