Trigeminal neuralgia: literature review

The trigeminal nerve, fifth equal of cranial nerves, a mixed nerve is considered by possessing motor and sensitive components. The sensitive portion takes to the Nervous System Central somesthesics information from the skin and mucous membrane of great area of the face, being responsible also for a neural disease, known as the Trigeminal Neuralgia. The aim of this study was to review the literature on the main characteristics of Trigeminal Neuralgia, the relevant aspects for the diagnosis and treatment options for this pathology. This neuralgia is characterized by hard pains and sudden, similar to electric discharges, with duration between a few seconds to two minutes, in the trigeminal nerve sensorial distribution. The pain is unchained by light touches in specific points in the skin of the face or for movements of the facial muscles, it can be caused by traumatic sequels or physiologic processes degenerative associate the vascular compression. Prevails in the senior population, frequently in the woman. In a unilateral way it attacks more the maxillary and mandibular divisions, rarely happens in a simultaneous way in the three branches of trigeminal nerve three branches.

Morphological characteristics of foramen of Vesaliusand its relationship with clinical implications

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence as well morphometry of the foramen of Vesalius in humanskulls and analyzing their clinical importance. Dry human skulls (n = 80) and with gender distinction wereused (40 male and 40 female). The results demonstrates an total incidence of 40%, 13.75% skulls with thebilateral presence of the foramen, 26.25% skulls with the unilateral presence of the foramen, 31.25% skullswith foramen only of the right side, 22.50% skulls with foramen only of the left side, 25% masculine skulls withat least 1 foramen and 52.25% skulls with at least 1 foramen. The morphometry showed an average diameterof 1.457 ± 1.043 mm on the right and 1592 ± 0938 mm to the left. The average distance to the foramenovale was 1.853 ± 0.303 mm on the right side and 2.464 ± 0.311 mm on the left. It can be concluded that adeepened anatomical study of the foramen of Vesalius collaborates not only for anatomical knowledge of thisstructure, but also in clinical situations involving this foramen.

Incidence of the ossified pterygoalar ligamentin Brazilian human skulls and its clinical implications

The ossified pterygoalar ligament is formed between the lateral lamina of the pterygoid process and theinfratemporal surface of the sphenoid bone or its greater wing and was not connected to the sphenoid spine.The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of the ossified pterygoalar ligament in Brazilian humanskulls and analyzing its clinical importance. 183 Brazilian adult (between 30 to 60 years old) dry human skullswere evaluated. Was evaluated the incidence of skulls with complete or partial ossification of the pterygoalarligament, bilaterally and unilaterally and in the presence on the right and left sides. Were found 5 skulls had theossified pterygoalar ligament, resulting in an overall incidence of 2.73%. There was 1 skull in the presence ofthe incomplete ossification of the pterygoalar ligament, unilaterally and on the left side resulting in incidence of0.54%. There were 4 skulls in the presence of the complete ossification of the pterygoalar ligament, unilaterallyand on the right side resulting in incidence of 2.18%. The ossified pterygoalar ligament is a major cause of theentrapment of the lingual nerve or a branch of the mandibular nerve and may cause mandibular neuralgia. Theincidence of the ossified pterygoalar ligament and the pterygoalar foramen is low in the Brazilian population.However, these structures have clinical significance as this ligament establish relationships with the ovaleforamen and difficulty in accessing in this foramen in a therapeutic approach.