Anatomical Characteristics of the Tibial Medullary Canal and Their Implications for Intramedullary Fixation

The use of intramedullary fixation methods in the tibia is limited by the anatomical characteristics of this bone. In this study, the shape and degree of axial lateral rotation of the medullary canal were determined in 45 human dry cadaver bones using X-ray and computed tomography examinations and direct measurement of rotation in inserted nails. Forty bones (88.8%) had slight and five bones (11.1%) had excessive anterior bowing along the tibial shaft. Six of the 45 bones (13.3%) had an extremely narrow medullary canal. Axial lateral rotation was demonstrated in the middle third of the medullary canal, being on average (± SD) 32.35 ± 16.25° (range 10-75°). This study revealed that extreme narrowing of the medullary canal, axial lateral rotation of the medullary canal, and extreme anterior bowing of the tibial shaft are the anatomical characteristics most likely to cause difficulties when using intermedullary fixation in the tibia.

Foramen jugulare: a local investigation and a review of the literature

The jugular foramen varies in size and shape. Because of the variations and the surrounding structures, successful surgery is difficult in this region. For this reason, numerous studies have investigate the detailed anatomy of the foramen. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the possible local variations of the foramen jugulare. In this work, Eastern Anatolian skulls were examined in order to investigate the local variety. Extracranial opening of the foramen was only measured in diameters as maximum anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral diameter (ML) of both right and left foramen. The height of the jugular fossa was taken as the dome height (DH). The results were in mm (right-left) as: AP (12.2-10.9); ML (13.7-12.3); DH (14-13.7). The present study suggested that local differences of the jugular foramen in relative size and shape might occur. These differences are probably peculiar to the region or probably the result of some particular clinical situation.

A rare insertion site for abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis muscles

During an investigation performed on cadaver forearms in the anatomy department, an unusual insertion of the abductor pollicis longus (APL) muscle together with the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) muscle was encountered unilaterally in a 40-year-old male cadaver forearm. APL originated from the posterior ulnar surface distal to the anconeus, the adjoining interosseous membrane and middle third of the posterior radial surface. It lay distal to the supinator muscle and close to the EPB, while the EPB arose from the posterior radial surface and from the adjacent interosseous membrane. These muscles were inserted to the palmar side of the base of the first metacarpal bone together. To our knowledge, this variation has not been cited in recent medical literature.

Sex differences in dog corpus callosum

Human studies reported sex differences in size and shape of the corpus callosum. These observations have been contested. The purpose of the present study is to investigate possible sex differences in the corpus callosum of dogs. The entire brains including the medulla from 12 female and 9 male adult mongrel dogs were removed and weighed. Total and partial area measurements of the callosum were made from photographic tracings of its outline. The callosum was partitioned into 3 regions; anterior half, posterior half, posterior one-fifth. The total corpus callosum, anterior half, posterior half, and posterior fifth or splenium areas were measured. Sex differences were found. The anterior half, the posterior half, the posterior fifth, and the total callosum were significantly greater in absolute area in males than in females.

[Symptomatic triangular bone. A case report]

Os triangulare is an accessory bone found in the triangular cartilage of the wrist just distal to the end of the ulna and is generally asymptomatic. A case report of symptomatic Os triangulare is reported. Treatment associated immobilization and anti-inflammatory medication.

A morphological study in broiler chick hearts

The normally developing cardiovascular system of the chicken resembles that of the human. The purpose of the present study is to investigate some macroscopic and microscopic similarities between the chick and the human heart. For this study 20 adult and 10 newborn Broiler chickens were used. The heart and great vessels were routinely fixed in 10% formaldehyde in a phosphate buffer. Five adult and five newborn chicks hearts were embedded in paraffin. All section were examined by light microscopy. The atrioventricular valve of 15 adult chick hearts were examined macroscopically. While some structures previously reported were determined, two different properties of the mural leaf which are chordae tendineae in its posterolateral region anchoring at the right ventricle and its widening from the anterior to posterior commissure was also observed.

Anatomic variations of the paranasal sinuses: CT examination for endoscopic sinus surgery

Chronic rhinosinusitis endoscopic surgery requires an accurate evaluation of diseases and paranasal sinus anatomic variations. This study aims to show the main anatomical variations in the ostiomeatal complex and paranasal sinuses which are usually depicted by computed tomography (CT). CT scans obtained 2 mm thickness in axial and coronal plane from a series of 200 patients with chronic sinusitis were examined to determine the prevalence of anatomic variants. Anatomical variations determined were supraorbital recess in 6%, concha bullosa in 30%, sphenomaxillary plate in 17%, infra-orbital ethmoid cells (Haller's cells) in 6%, spheno-ethmoid cells (Onodi's cells) in 12%, pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process in 6%, carotid artery bulging into the sphenoid sinus in 8%, pneumatization of the uncinate process in 2%, paradoxical curvature of the middle turbinate in 3% and septal deviation in 36%. Level difference between the ethmoid roof and nasal vault was an average of 8 mm in right side and 9.5 mm in left side. Awareness of these different variations will help the rhinologic surgeon in his orientation during endoscopic surgical procedures.

New drainage technique in the ureteropelvic junction obstructions. Side-to-side ureterocalicostomy (or ureterocaliceal by-pass) preserving renal pelvis and ureteropelvic junction

We present a new ureterocalicostomy technique in a patient with intrarenal pelvis together with renal artery compression on the pelvis and ureteropelvic junction (UPJ). The patient had grade 4 hydronephrosis in the left kidney and angulation at the ureteropelvic junction. We performed side-to-side ureterocalicostomy between the ureter and lower calyx of the kidney.

Variations of abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis muscles: surgical significance

To investigate variations of the abductor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis brevis muscles, an anatomic study was performed on 15 cadaver forearms. Some variations were observed as reported in previous studies. An unusual insertion of the abductor pollicis longus muscle and the extensor pollicis brevis muscle also was encountered during the dissection. Both tendons of these muscles were found to have inserted into the inferior side of the base of the first metcarpal bone together, instead of dorsal side. Our study suggested that the extensor pollicis brevis muscle and the abductor pollicis longus muscle differentiate from a common muscle.