Management of an Anophthalmic Patient by the Fabrication of Custom Made Ocular Prosthesis

The loss or disfigurement of a body parts specially that pertaining to the face has a deep psychological and social impact on the patient. After enucleation, evisceration or exteneration of the eye, the aim of an ocular prosthesis should be to restore the natural appearance, install confidence and a sense social acceptability in the patient. Custom made prosthesis has several advantages over the stock eye prosthesis. This article illustrates rehabilitation of the enucleated right eye of a patient with a custom made ocular prosthesis.

Anomalous Bilateral Communication between the Inferior Alveolar Nerve and the Auriculotemporal Nerve: A Rare Variation

Branches of the posterior division of the mandibular nerve show various anomalous communications in the infratemporal region. Understanding such communication has relevance in the management of neuropathies and surgical procedures in this region. This study was conducted to explore such communicating branches, anticipating that they might provide information of clinical significance. A total of 15 human cadavers (30 infratemporal regions) were studied to explore such communicating branches in infratemporal region. The branches of the posterior division of the mandibular nerve were carefully dissected, and these branches were studied and analysed for any abnormal course. In one case, a rare type of bilateral communication between the auriculotemporal nerve and the inferior alveolar nerve, forming a loop with no association with any structure, was observed. It is possible that such communicating branches may be associated with delayed regression of the first arch vessels. The clinical implications of these anomalous communications require further detailed study for improved management of neuropathies and surgical procedures.