Variation in origin of the obturator artery and corona mortis in Thai

Objective: To determine the variation in origin of the obturator artery and incidences of arterial and venous corona mortis among Northeast Thais. Methods: Dissection of 204 cadaveric Northeast Thai pelvic halves between 20 and 95 years-old at decease. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The respective origin of the obturator artery was the internal iliac (77.5%) and inferior epigastric arteries (22.5%), while double origins (from both arteries) in one pelvic half and bilateral abnormal origins (from the inferior epigastric arteries) were 5.4 and 9.6 percent, respectively. Sex and side made no significant difference (P>0.05). The occurrence of the arterial corona mortis, venous corona mortis and both structures was 22.5, 70.6 and 17.2 percent, respectively. The arterial corona mortis while crossing over the iliopubic ramus was frequently found anterior to the venous corona mortis. Conclusion: The incidence of an anomalous obturator artery forming the arterial corona mortis among Northeast Thais was 22.5% although a venous corona mortis (70.6%) was more frequent. Seventeen percent had both arterial and venous corona mortis. Nevertheless, both their courses, crossing over the iliopubic rami, would be at risk of damage during an ilioinguinal approach or operation of the anterior ring of the pelvis.

A retrospective study of a skeleton featuring ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

The skeleton of a Thai male teacher who died aged 75 was studied. The skeleton showed severe spinal fusion and deformities. We studied the pathological features and hypothesized a diagnosis through a retrospective study of the case history. Pathological findings showed severe spinal ankylosis due to continuous fusion of the vertebral bodies from T2 to L3 and L4 to L5, the apophyseal joints from T2 to L1, the sacrococcygeal and atlantooccipital joints, and ankylosis of the bilateral sacroiliac joints. Ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligaments from T2 to L3 and the supraspinous ligament from T6 to T12 and L4 to L5 were observed. Kyphosis and costovertebral ankylosis which obliterated the intervertebral foramina were found at T7, T8 and T9. Synostosis of C2 to C3 and ossification of the right sacrotuberous ligament were observed. Enthesopathy was seen in the sternocostal radiate ligaments and also the lower limb ligaments and tendons. These features are characteristic of severe progressive ankylosing spondylitis. The case history recorded no report of clinical manifestations of spinal problems. The patient was healthy until the last 2 to 3 years of his life, when he exhibited difficulty leaning sideways, breathing, and had chest pain. He was diagnosed and treated for ischemic heart disease but suffered from breathing difficulties until he died. He was never diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.