A new foramen on posterior aspect of ala of first sacral vertebra*

A new foramen on posterior part of ala of sacrum was found during routine osteology class of MBBS students in the Department of Anatomy, CSM Medical University Lucknow, UP, India. As no literature was available on this virgin foramen, therefore, study has been carried out. Foramen was located at 8 mm from sacral canal, 20 mm from posterior tip of ala of sacrum and 5 mm from posterior border of body of first sacral vertebra. It was oval in shape, having its horizontal and vertical dimensions as 6 mm and 4 mm, respectively. It communicated with the first sacral foramina and sacral canal. One of the structures, common iliac vessels, lumbar branch of iliolumbar artery, lumbosacral trunk and sympathetic chain is likely to pass through the “foramen Rajani”. The structure confined in this foramen may be damaged during pedicle screw fixation or instrumentation. Thus, knowledge of this foramen is of paramount importance to orthopaedic surgeon, neurosurgeons and anatomists.