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The anterior clinoid process (ACP) is proximal to vital structures, such as the optic nerve, internal carotid artery and ophthalmic artery; therefore, study of its anatomy is important in guiding and defining surgery. We studied the anatomical structure of the ACP, including the angle formed by the apex of the ACP triangle, and its orientation, to provide information for easier and safer surgery. The measurement was performed on the axial planes of 242 cranial computerized tomography (CT) scans and 27 adult Turkish skulls of both sexes. The length of the ACP, width of the ACP at its base, the angle formed by the apical angle of the ACP triangle and the orientation of the ACP defined according to the sagittal midline were examined. In the Turkish skulls, the length and width of the ACP were similar to previous studies. Our study was the first to measure the angle and orientation of the ACP. The mean angle was 39.67±12.64 (16.6-89.5) and 135 posterior (55 %) and 107 medial (45 %) orientations. Surgical complications can be avoided by pre-operative radiological planning using axial CT scans and by determining whether the morphology is Type 2 (long, narrow, acute-angled), which requires total resection.

El proceso clinoide anterior (PCA) está próximo a estructuras vitales, como el nervio óptico, la arteria carótida interna y la arteria oftálmica, por tanto el estudio de su anatomía es importante en la orientación y la definición de la cirugía de base de cráneo. Se estudió la estructura anatómica de la PCA, incluyendo el ángulo formado por el vértice del triángulo PCA, y su orientación, para proporcionar información para una cirugía más fácil y más segura. La medición se realizó en los planos axiales de 242 exploraciones craneales de tomografía computarizada (TC) y 27 cráneos de individuos adultos turcos de ambos sexos. Se examinó la longitud del PCA, el ancho del PCA en su base, el ángulo formado por el ángulo apical del triángulo PCA y la orientación del PCA definido de acuerdo con la línea mediana sagital. En cráneos turcos, la longitud y el ancho del PCA fueron similares a estudios anteriores. Nuestro estudio fue el primero en medir el ángulo y la orientación del PCA. El ángulo promedio fue de 39,67 ± 12,64 (16,6 a 89,5) y, la orientación fue posterior en 135 cráneos (55 %) y medial en 107 cráneos (45 %). Las complicaciones quirúrgicas pueden evitarse mediante la planificación radiológica preoperatoria através de cortes axiales de tomografía computarizada y determinando si la morfología del PCA es de tipo 2 (larga, estrecha y aguda en ángulo recto), lo que requiere la resección total.

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BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess the degree of apical vertebral rotation values in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) that were obtained on CT scans, and to analyze the influence of patient position (supine versus prone) on the degree of rotation. METHODS: The study included 50 apical vertebra rotation measurements of 34 patients with Type 1A and Type 3C curvature according to the Lenke classification. CT imaging was applied to the patients in supine and prone positions to measure the apical vertebral rotation (AVR). The average AVR angles were measured using the Aaro-Dahlborn method and the results were compared. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the vertebral rotation measured in the prone and supine positions for the Lenke 1A subgroup and the Lenke 3C thoracic group (p = 0.848; p = 0.659, respectively). In the Lenke 3C lumbar group, however, the vertebral rotation in the supine position was found to be significantly lesser than that in the prone position (difference -1.40° ± 1.79°, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The assessment of the apical vertebra rotation is crucial in AIS. Even though the vertebral rotation in the supine position was found to be significantly lesser than that in the prone position, CT imaging in a prone position could not be considered clinically more relevant than the CT images in a supine position as there was less than 3° difference.

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BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to compare the results of surgical decompression of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in patients with diabetes mellitus with those with idiopathic CTS. METHODS: The results of surgical decompression of CTS in 27 patients with diabetes mellitus were compared with 42 patients with idiopathic CTS. All patients underwent surgical release of transverse carpal ligament by the mini-incision of palm technique. Patient self-administered Boston Questionnaire (BQ) for the assessment of severity of CTS symptoms and hand functional status was evaluated before and 6 months and 10 years after surgery. RESULTS: After surgical release, all the patients of both groups reported an absence of pain, disappearance or reduction of paresthesia, and improvement in hand function. Six months after surgery, there was a significant improvement of symptomatic and functional BQ scores compared with preoperative state in both groups. Ten years after surgery, there was statistical difference in preoperative and postoperative 10th year functional BQ score between DM (-) and DM (+) (p < 0.01). DM status affected statistically functional BQ score between preoperative and postoperative 10th year. CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus was a risk factor for poor outcome of surgical decompression of CTS. Patients with diabetes had worse surgical outcome compared with patients with idiopathic CTS in long-term follow-up.

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Surgical approaches to far lateral disc herniation are challenging because of the anatomical limitations in the region. We describe an extraforaminal approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation (FLLDH) in a group of patients and discuss the results in patients with far lateral disc protrusion or extrusion operated on by an approach to the extraforaminal region via an intertransverse route with median or paramedian incisions. The two methods are compared in terms of the pre- and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, duration of the operation, amount of bleeding, and long-term functional recovery. In addition, data on age, incidence, radiological features and clinical signs and symptoms are compared with reported series. Between January 2006 and January 2011, 33 patients (18 females, 15 males; mean age, 51.2 years) underwent surgery for FLLDH. The majority of patients had herniation at disc levels L3-4 (12 patients) or L4-5 (15 patients). All patients were operated on via either median-paramuscular (20 patients, 61%) or paramedian-intermuscular (13 patients, 39%) approaches. Overall, the mean VAS score improved from 7.3 preoperatively to 2.8 in the short-term. Analyzing the long-term functional outcome of surgery according to the MacNab Criteria, the recovery was excellent, good, fair, and poor in 18, 11, 4, and 0 patients, respectively. The far-lateral approach for FLLDH is a safe, effective procedure that avoids the risk of secondary spinal instability. In treating FLLDH, the use of a long median incision together with an extraforaminal approach is safer and less invasive than a laminectomy together with a medial or total facetectomy.

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Primary spinal hydatid disease is rare. Spinal hydatid disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord compression syndrome in endemic countries and evaluated with imaging and serology. Our case was a 34- year-old man. The patient presented with progressive back pain for 8 months and lower extremity weakness for 3 months. Neurological examination was suggestive of upper motor neuron type of paraperesis. Magnetic resonance images of the thoracal region showed an intradural multicystic lesion. The mass was explored with T 10-11 laminectomy. It had displaced the cord to the right side. The fluid was clear and did not contain pus. The lesion was easily dissected from the cord and was resected totally. The pathological diagnosis was hydatid disease.

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BACKGROUND: Patients with civil cranial gunshot injuries who were treated in our hospital were statistically analyzed for the factors acting on 7 days survival and prognosis without regarding treatment modalities. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients were divided into two groups according to the mortality rates in 7 days following the trauma without regarding treatment modalities. Initial GCS score, pupillary response to light, coagulopathy, ventricular penetration and number of hemispheres affected are 5 differentials evaluated separately and in combination for their effects on mortality rates within 7 days posttraumatically and their statistical significance. RESULTS: Thirty six male (75%) and 12 female (25%) patients included in the study. Total and 7 day- survival rates were 27% (13/48), and 31% (15/48) respectively. Among GCS scores, pupillary defects, coagulopathy, intraventricular penetration, the number of hemispheres affected, the most important prognostic factors of the patients living less than 7 days were found to be primarily coagulopathy and then pupillary defects. The other variables were not significantly effective and the results were in accordance with the literature. CONCLUSION: In civilian patients with cranial gunshot injuries pupillary defect and coagulopathy were statistically significant prognostic factors. We think that aggressive medical and surgical treatment will be beneficial even if the patients' neurological status is deteriorating.

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The most superior part of the superficial layer of the supinator muscle is named as the arcade of Frohse (AF). The deep branch of the radial nerve runs under this arch. The AF is reported to be the most common structure causing entrapment neuropathy of the deep branch of the radial nerve. The aim of our study was to reveal the anatomical properties and especially morphometric measurements of the AF in cadavers. This study was performed on 55 cadaver upper extremities. The AF was classified macroscopically as either tendinous or membranous. The width, length and thickness of the AF were measured as the dimensions of the AF. The "distance AF" between the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and the AF was measured. The "forearm length" between the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and the styloid process of the radius was measured. The distance AF was divided by the forearm length to find the "ratio AF". In 87% of the extremities the AF was tendinous, and in 13% it was membranous. The mean width, length and thickness of the AF were 10.13, 8.60 and 0.77 mm, respectively. The mean distance AF and forearm length were 46.23 and 233.17 mm, respectively. The mean ratio AF was 0.199 (approximately 1/5). These measurements of the dimensions of the AF may contribute to the anatomy of the AF. The surgeon may find the predicted distance AF of any upper extremity by dividing its forearm length by 5.

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The nerves entering into the coracobrachialis muscle are the musculocutaneous nerve (MC) and the nerve (usually consists of several thin branches) branches to the coracobrachialis. These thin branches enter the coracobrachialis proximal to the MC. The thin branches and the MC are susceptible to injury during coracoid process transfer. The purpose of this study is (1) to reveal the number and origin of the thin branches and (2) especially to report the morphometric information about the two distances between the coracoid process and the points where the first thin branch and the MC enter the coracobrachialis. These distances were named as the "distance T1" and the "distance D," respectively. Forty-two cadaver upper extremities were used and the distance between the coracoid process and the medial epicondyle of the humerus as the "arm length" was measured. The "ratio T1" was calculated by dividing the distance T1 by the arm length. The "ratio D" was calculated by dividing the distance D by the arm length. The number of the thin branches varied between one and four. In the most common type, there were two thin branches (45%). All of the thin branches originated from the MC. The mean distance T1, distance D and arm length were found as 41.5, 62 and 304.5 mm, respectively. The mean ratio T1 and ratio D were determined as 0.13 (approximately 1/8) and 0.20 (=1/5), respectively. The findings about the number and origin of the thin branches may contribute to the anatomy of the nerve to the coracobrachialis. The shoulder surgeon may calculate the predicted distance T1 and distance D of any upper extremity, dividing its arm length by eight and five, respectively.

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STUDY DESIGN: A morphometric evaluation of pedicle projections in 29 cervical spinal columns (C3-C7) for three-dimensional surgical anatomy for safe surgery was proposed. OBJECTIVE: In this study, pedicles and intimate structures of the subaxial vertebrae from C3 to C7 were evaluated to provide some morphometric data for cervical transpedicular screw fixation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Detailed knowledge of surgical anatomy and variation of the subaxial vertebrae is a must for safe and effective surgery of the region. Although there are several clinical studies of transpedicular fixation, few studies have been performed on cervical pedicle measurements and their projection. METHODS: In 29 dried bone cervical spinal columns (C3-C7), pedicle dimensions (pedicle height, width, length), measurements of lateral mass and pedicle length distance and pedicle axis length, investigation of distances of superior facet-midpedicle axis and inferior facet-midpedicle axis, and transverse and sagittal angles of the pedicles were performed in linear and angular measurements. RESULTS: The obtained data from the series revealed that the mean values were approximately ranging from 6.7 to 7.2 mm for pedicle height, 4.4 to 4.9 mm for pedicle width, 5.3 to 6.2 mm for pedicle length, 15.3 to 16.0 mm for lateral mass and pedicle length, 22.2 to 27.7 mm for pedicle axis length, 3.8 to 5.3 mm for superior facet-midpedicle axis distance, 9.9 to 12.0 mm for inferior facet-midpedicle axis distance, 42.3 degrees to 51.5 degrees for transverse angle, and 5.2 degrees to 14.1 degrees for sagittal angle. CONCLUSIONS: Linear measurements of pedicle dimensions and also axial angles from horizontal and vertical planes may provide some anatomic limitations for subaxial cervical transpedicular screw fixation, and also contribute to the safety of the surgical procedure. One should also rely on tomographic data and computer-assisted guidance systems.

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We report herein two patients in whom bullets migrated into adjacent lateral ventricles in the brain and moved freely as a consequence of gravity. A rewiew ofthe literature suggests that spontaneous migration ofintracerebral bullets is being eased by cerebral softness, specific gravity of the bullet compared with brain tissue. ln patients undergoing the surgical removal of intracerebral or intraventricular bullets, an x-ray is recommended after final positioning.

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The rapid spontaneous resolution of an acute epidural hematoma within a one hour is reported in a 8 year-old boy. The literature is reviewed and the potential communication between intracranial and epicranial spaces through a fracture is emphasized in very rapid spontaneous resolution of epidural hematomas.

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