The prevalence of supracondyloid process in the living: a radiographic study

OBJECTIVE

The spur or the supracondyloid process of the humerus has been of special interest to anatomists, anthropologists and clinicians. Apart from the anthropological research by ancient authors and clinical studies carried out half a century ago, no study of this variation appear in the literature. The aim of the present work is to investigate this variation in the living subjects.

METHODS

The present information was performed on direct radiograms of the elbow obtained from the volunteer individuals. This study was carried out over a 3-year period from 2005-2008.

RESULTS

The spur was found in 9 cases among the 903 persons examined. Bilateral occurrence of the process was higher than that reported in the literature. The cases with the spur reported mild pain in the forearm over a long period.

CONCLUSION

This study showed a higher occurrence of bilateral supracondyloid process than previously reported. It is also suggested that the cases reported as asymptomatic may not be fully free of the complaint of pain which might assist the clinician in their diagnosis.

Local differences in the position of the mental foramen

The mental foramen has been reported to vary in position in different ethnic groups. Repeated failures during injections and operative procedures involving the mental foramen suggest the presence of local differences in a given population. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible local differences of the mental foramen in Eastern Anatolian individuals in the Turkish population. The present investigation is based on the examination of 70 adult mandibles. The study consisted of three measurements, to include the relations of the mental foramen to the following: 1) the lower teeth; 2) the body of mandible; 3) the mandibular symphysis and posterior border of the ramus of the mandible. The most common position of the foramen was in line with the longitudinal axis of the second premolar tooth (relation IV), at the midpoint of the mandibular body height and at 1/3.5 of the distance from the mandibular symphysis to the posterior border of the ramus. Local differences of the mental foramen may occur in a population. Prior to surgery knowledge of the most common location of the foramen peculiar to a local population may enable effective mental block anaesthesia to be provided.

[Total bilateral carpal coalition with carpometacarpal fusion: one case]

Carpal coalition may involve more than two carpal bones which is more common when coalition occurs as part of a syndrome of congenital malformations. We describe an unusual case of congenital complete entire carpal coalition with massive carpometacarpal coalition except the first carpometacarpal joint and abnormal distal radioulnar joint bilaterally. In addition, radiocarpal joint surfaces were slightly irregular but compatible. There were abnormal distal radioulnar joints and ulnar styloids articulated with the ulnar side of the lunate of the both wrists.

Bilateral median nerve compression at the level of Struthers' ligament. Case report

Struthers' ligament syndrome is a rare cause of median nerve entrapment. Bilateral compression of the median nerve is even more rare. It presents with pain, sensory disturbance, and/or motor function loss at the median nerve's dermatomal area. The authors present the case of a 21-year-old woman with bilateral median nerve compression caused by Struthers' ligament. She underwent surgical decompression of the nerve on both sides. To the authors' knowledge, this case is the first reported bilateral compression of the median nerve caused by Struthers' ligament. The presentation and symptomatology of Struthers' ligament syndrome must be differentiated from median nerve compression arising from other causes.

Heights of the lumbar intervertebral discs related to age in Turkish individuals

The present study investigated the changes in the heights and anteroposterior diameters of human intervertebral discs by means of measurements from radiographs, to determine age changes of lumbar intervertebral discs in Turkish people. Measurements of anterior and posterior disc heights and disc depths were made for 200 clinic subjects of different age groups from lateral radiographs. The height of the intervertebral disc increases with aging only in males and the disc depth in both sexes. Our findings generally corroborate previous studies. It is suggested that the different findings from the present study might be peculiar to the society.

Mathematical relations between the lengths of the metacarpal bones and phalanges: surgical significance

The mathematical relationship between the lengths of the metacarpals and phalanges is important in hand surgery because of its role in determining the lengthening of the tubular bone size or the length of a prosthesis. The purpose of the present study is to perform the measurements on the hand radiographs, and to determine possible mathematical relations between the lengths of the metacarpals and phalanges. The lengths and widths of metacarpals and phalanges were measured in millimeters on hand roentgenograms of 100 normal voluntary subjects (50 men, 50 women) and the results were evaluated with a descriptive analysis test. The relations between the lengths of the metacarpals and phalanges were mathematically investigated on several sets of data. Unchangeable proportions between the metacarpals and phalanges lengths were found and formulated. Because any defects or faults of the hand, especially shortness, can corrected with current improved surgical techniques, a knowledge of the morphometric relations between the lengths of metacarpals and phalanges may be useful for such surgical interventions.