rare variation of profunda femoris vein directly communicating with popliteal vein

During dissection of the posterior compartment of the thigh of a female formalin-fixed cadaver, a variation of profunda femoris vein directly communicating with the popliteal vein was encountered on the right side. The profunda femoris vein was 18 cm long with a diameter of 0.5 cm. Such a direct communication between the profunda femoris vein and popliteal vein is known to be rare. The site of the thrombosis that develops in the lower limbs is of importance in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Proximal or distal placement of such a thrombosis leads to diversity of diagnosis and treatment. Thus variations related with the veins of the lower limb should be well known. Furthermore awareness of such variations may be important to avoid unexpected complications during surgery of this region

Influence of testing posture and elbow position on grop strength

This study was designed to determine the effect of testing posture and elbow position on grip strength in individuals aged between 9 and 18 years. A hand dynamometer [Takei, Tokyo, Japan] was used to measure grip strength of 546 subjects [213 girls, 333 boys] in two positions: [1] standing with elbow in full extension, forearm in full supination [anatomical position] and [2] sitting with elbow in 90[degree sign] flexion, forearm in semipronation lying on an arm rest. The subjects were asked to squeeze the dynamometer three times with each hand and for each testing positions with 1-minute resting period between each trial in order to overcome fatigue. Paired samples t test was used to evaluate the two testing positions. Only the right grip strength was significantly higher in anatomical position in girls [p<0.05]. Besides this result, no statistically significant differences were reported for the left grip strength of girls, and for both hands of boys [p>0.05] when the two testing positions were considered. The testing posture and elbow position had mostly little effect on grip strength of the young age group contrary to adults, which may somewhat be explained with the still ongoing process of the individuals participated in the study

Assessment of the atlanto-occipital junction in the MRI of subjects with cervical disc herniation

To demonstrate the normal limits of Powers ratio and basion dens interval in patients with disc herniations. The MRI of patients were retrospectively evaluated by 2 radiologists. Four hundred and forty-five patients who were admitted to Duzce University Hospital with neck pain without history of trauma were chosen between January 2004 and July 2006 in this retrospective study. The patients were between the ages of 14-80 years. Four group were identified according to the number of disc herniations The normal of Powers ratio and dens interval were 0.77 +/- 0.15 and 0.80 +/- 0.66 in group 0, 0.76 +/- 0.14 and 0.81 +/- 0.76 in group one, 0.75 +/- .013 and 0.80 +/- 0.71 in group 2, 0.76 +/- .014 and 0.81 +/- 0.74 in group 3, and 0.77 +/- 0.16 and 0.81 +/- 0.66 in group 4. The relationship between the number of disc herniations and Powers ratio and basion dens interval was not statistically significant. Our results were in concordance with the previous studies concerning the Powers ratio and basion dens interval. These 2 methods can be used in the MRI of atlantooccipital dislocation suspected patients with disc herniations

Sagittal alignment of the lumbar spine in a Turkish population

To understand the normal lumbar spine in the sagittal plane, and the range of lumbar lordosis. This study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Duzce University, Duzce, Turkey in the year 2005. We retrospectively reviewed T1-weighed sagittal spin-echo MRIs of the lumbar spine in 413 individuals [188 male, 225 female] aged between 13-82 years, and evaluated the angle of lumbar lordosis [ALL], sacrohorizontal angle [SHA], and lumbosacral angle [LSA]. The ALL and SHA were significantly greater in females than in males [p<0.05]. Weak, but significant correlations were detected between age and ALL, SHA, and LSA for females [p<0.05]. The LSA was significantly greater for individuals over 41 years [p<0.05] when the entire study group was considered, and it was also significantly greater for individuals over 51 years in females [p<0.05]. The LSA was significantly greater in the 7th decade than in the 3rd decade [p<0.05]. The results of this study provide insight into the sagittal alignment of the lumbar region for a Turkish population, and can serve as a reference for further clinical studies to improve the planning of spinal surgery

Evaluation of muscle activities during locking-unlocking movements

To investigate muscle activities during locking-unlocking movements. Thirty right-handed healthy volunteers, aged between 18-23 years, without any orthopedic or neurological disorders participated in the study. We choose the clavicular part of the deltoid muscle, biceps brachii, pronator teres, extensor digitorum, pronator quadratus, first dorsal interosseous muscles and muscles of the thenar eminence for the study. We adjusted the height of the lock at 80 cm, 100 cm and 120 cm from the ground surface. We recorded the activities of the chosen muscles electromyographically using surface electrodes. We obtained the electromyography recordings between September 2000-January 2001 in the Electrophysiology Laboratory of Gazi University School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. There was a statistically significant increase in area [mVms] and amplitude [micro V] values obtained from the EMG recordings of the clavicular part of the deltoid muscle and biceps brachii during locking and unlocking movements as the height of the lock increased [p<0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference in the activities of the other muscles chosen for the study during locking and unlocking movements with the increase in height of the lock [p>0.05]. When we considered the total activity recorded from the muscles chosen for this study, there was a statistically significant difference in the area values with the increase in height of the lock during locking and unlocking movements [p<0.05]. This means that the activity recorded from the entire upper limb increased with the increase of the height. The recorded muscle activity obtained with the lock at 80 cm from the ground surface was lower compared with the activities recorded at 100 cm and 120 cm. For this reason, we suggest that it could be better to locate the lock at 80 cm from the ground surface