Incomplete petrosphenoidal foramen: morphological and morphometric analysis and the proposal of a classification study in Brazilian dry skulls / Foramen petrosfenoidal incompleto: análisis morfológico y morfométrico y propuesta de clasificación: estudio en cráneos secos brasileños

SUMMARY: The complete petrosphenoidal foramen, or canal, is an eventual and atavistic bony formation at the boundary between the posterior and middle cranial fossa, by occurrence of ossification of the superior petrosphenoidal ligament. This ligament ossification, which has important clinical and surgical significance, can be complete or incomplete, in variable degrees, and is associated with the passageway of neurovascular structures, such as the abducens nerve and the inferior petrosal sinus. This study, conducted with 175 dry skulls that belong to the University of São Paulo's collection (USP), São Paulo, Brazil, established criteria for a morphological classification of the incomplete petrosphenoid foramen in nine types. In addition, anatomical parameters were established for the morphometric determination of two diameters: the Oblique Diameter (ObDi) and the Maximum Transverse Diameter (MTD). Thus, of the 175 skulls, 146 (83.42 %) presented some of the incomplete forms of the petrosphenoid foramen, and 43 skulls (29.45 %), due to their conservation characteristics, were habilitated to the morphological study, in the classification and in the morphometry (the types I and II of our classification). The type II (incomplete foramen with bony projections of the petrosal tubercle, of the margin of the dorsum of the hypophyseal fossa or of the posterior clinoid process with a distance between them greater than 1mm) and type V (incomplete foramen with a bony projection only in one of the referential structures - posterior clinoid process) were the most common in this study (50 % of the 86 hemiskulls). Morphometry was attributed only to the types: I selar (incomplete foramen with bony projections from the petrosal tubercle and the margin of the dorsum of the hypophyseal fossa with a distance between them less than or equal to 1mm) and to the type II of this classification. The type I selar (9.3 % of the 43 skulls) resulted in an average of 3.25 mm of MTD and 4.63 mm, on average, of ObDi. The type II (25.58 % of the 43 skulls) showed, on average, 4.93 mm of MTD and 7.01 mm of ObDi.

RESUMEN: El foramen o canal petroesfenoidal completo es una formación ósea eventual y atávica en el límite entre las fosas craneal posterior y media, por osificación del ligamento petroesfenoidal superior. Esta osificación del ligamento, que tiene un importante significado clínico y quirúrgico, puede ser completa o incompleta, en grados variables, y está asociada al paso de estructuras neurovasculares, como el nervio abducente y el seno petroso inferior. Este estudio se realizó en 175 cráneos secos pertenecientes a la colección de la Universidad de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brasil. Se establecieron criterios para una clasificación morfológica del foramen petrosfenoidal incompleto en nueve tipos. Además, se establecieron parámetros anatómicos para la determinación morfométrica de dos diámetros: el Diámetro Oblicuo (ObDi) y el Diámetro Transversal Máximo (MTD). Así, de los 175 cráneos, 146 (83,42 %) presentaron alguna de las formas incompletas del foramen petrosfenoidal, y 43 cráneos (29,45 %), por sus características de conservación, fueron habilitados para el estudio morfológico, en la clasificación y en la morfometría (los tipos I y II de nuestra clasificación). El Tipo II (foramen incompleto con proyecciones óseas del tubérculo petroso, del margen del dorso de la fosa hipofisaria o del proceso clinoides posterior con una distancia entre ellos mayor de 1 mm) y el Tipo V (foramen incompleto con proyección ósea solamente en una de las estructuras referenciales - proceso clinoides posterior) fueron los más comunes en este estudio (50 % de los 86 hemiscráneos). La morfometría se atribuyó únicamente al Tipo I selar (foramen incompleto con proyecciones óseas desde el tubérculo petroso y el margen del dorso de la fosa hipofisaria con una distancia entre ellos menor o igual a 1mm) y al Tipo II de esta clasificación. El Tipo I selar (9,3 % de los 43 cráneos) resultó en un promedio de 3,25 mm de MTD y 4,63 mm, en promedio, de ObDi. El Tipo II (25,58 % de los 43 cráneos) mostró, en promedio, 4,93 mm de MTD y 7,01 mm de ObDi.

Morphometric analyses of the caroticoclinoid and interclinoid foramina: a study in Brazilian dry skulls / Análisis morfométricos del foramen caroticoclinoideo e interclinoideo: un estudio en cráneos secos brasileños

SUMMARY: The caroticoclinoid (CF) and the interclinoid (IF) foramina are variant formations of the middle cranial fossa, which result from idiopathic and possibly atavistic ossifications of the caroticoclinoid and interclinoid ligaments, respectively. Topographically, these foramina are intimately associated, to varying degrees, depending on their conformations, with the neurovascular elements of the paraclinoid region and have important clinical and surgical significance. Thus, this study, conducted from 38 dry skulls belonging to the shared collection of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares campus, revealed 11 skulls (28.95 %) with one of the two complete formations - the caroticoclinoid or the interclinoid, and in 6 skulls the caroticoclinoid foramen occurred uni or bilaterally. As a result, 50 % of these skulls presented the CF exclusively on the right (or 62.5 % of the total number of variant foramina), with an average transverse diameter of 4.91 mm and 5.8 mm AP (anteroposterior) diameter and an average area of 22.5 mm2. Concerning the IF, the findings occurred in 5 skulls with variable distributions between the clinoid processes and lateralities. The average length of the bone bridges in the IF was 7.7 mm. In conclusion, detailed anatomical knowledge of the caroticoclinoid and the interclinoid foramina is fundamental to the practice of neurosurgical procedures, since they have intimate relationships at a location of high structural complexity.

RESUMEN: El foramen caroticoclinoideo (FC) y el foramen interclinoideo (IC) son formaciones variables de la fosa craneal media, que resultan de osificaciones idiopáticas y posiblemente atávicas de los ligamentos caroticoclinoideo e interclinoideo, respectivamente. Estos forámenes están íntimamente asociados topográficamente en diversos grados, dependiendo de sus conformaciones, con los elementos neurovasculares de la región paraclinoidea y tienen importancia clínica y quirúrgica. Así, este estudio, realizado a partir de 38 cráneos secos pertenecientes a la colección compartida de la Universidad Federal de Juiz de Fora, campus Governador Valadares, reveló 11 cráneos (28,95 %) con una de las dos formaciones completas: el FC o el IC, y en 6 cráneos el FC se presentó uni o bilateralmente. Como resultado, el 50 % de estos cráneos presentaba el FC exclusivamente a la derecha (o el 62,5 % del total de forámenes variantes), con un diámetro transversal medio de 4,91 mm y un diámetro anteroposterior medio de 5,8 mm y un área promedio de 22,5 mm2. En cuanto a la FI, los hallazgos se presentaban en 5 cráneos con distribuciones variables entre los procesos clinoides y lateralidades. La longitud media de los puentes óseos en el FI fue de 7,7 mm. En conclusión, el conocimiento anatómico detallado de los forámenes caroticoclinoideo e interclinoideo resulta fundamental para la práctica de procedimientos neuroquirúrgicos, ya que presentan relaciones íntimas en un lugar de alta complejidad estructural.

Hypoglossal Nerve Schwannoma: Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Hypoglossal schwannomas are rare, benign intracranial neoplasms; they represent 5% of all nonvestibular schwannomas. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 22-year-old male patient had presented 4 months before admission with left-sided hearing loss, an increase in the base of support with lateralization to the left, and dysphagia to solids. Physical examination on admission showed hypotrophy of the tongue and deviation to the left. Magnetic resonance imaging showed evidence of an extraaxial lesion compressing the medulla oblongata and pons, which protruded through the hypoglossal canal. The patient was prepared for surgical treatment in 2 stages: in the first surgery, a left retrosigmoidal approach with total resection of the intracranial lesion was performed. The biopsy reported a schwannoma, and correlating the signs, symptoms, and imaging, the diagnosis of a hypoglossal nerve schwannoma was established. In the second surgery, a lateral cervical approach was performed, with subtotal resection of the lesion, leaving a remnant adhered to the nerve in the hypoglossal canal. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoglossal schwannomas are a rare entity, in which surgery is the most viable option with high cure rates. However, its complete resection, without leaving permanent neurologic sequels, is a challenge.

Suicidality among pregnant women in Brazil: prevalence and risk factors.

Suicide is one of the major causes of preventable death. We evaluated suicidality among pregnant women who participated in prenatal care in Brazil. A total of 255 patients were assessed using semi-structured interviews as well as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) Plus. Thereafter, Stata 12 was used to identify the significant predictors of current suicide risk (CSR) among participants using univariate and multivariate analyses (p < 0.05). According to MINI Plus module C, the lifetime suicide attempt rate was 12.55%. The overall CSR was 23.53%, distributed across risk levels of low (12.55%), moderate (1.18%), and high (9.80%). Our rates approximate those found in another Brazilian study (18.4%). Antenatal depression (AD), lifetime bipolar disorder, and any current anxiety disorder (as measured using the MINI) as well as BDI scores ≥15 and EPDS scores ≥11 were identified as positive risk factors in a univariate analysis (p < 0.001). These factors changed after a multivariate analysis was employed, and only years of education [odds ratio (OR) = 0.45; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 0.21-0.99], AD (OR = 3.42; 95% CIs = 1.37-8.53), and EPDS scores ≥11 (OR = 4.44; 95% CIs = 1.97-9.97) remained independent risk factors. AD and other psychiatric disorders were the primary risk factors for suicidality, although only the former remained an independent factor after a multivariate analysis. More than 10 years of education and EPDS scores ≥11 were also independent factors; the latter can be used as a screening tool for suicide risk.

Estudo prospectivo randomizado comparativo entre os tratamentos cirúrgico utilizando placa anterior e o não cirúrgico das fraturas do terço médio da clavícula / Prospective randomized study comparing surgical treatment using anterior plate to non-surgical treatment of midshaft clavicle fractures

OBJETIVO: Comparar os tratamentos não cirúrgico e cirúrgico com placa anterior, através da avaliação funcional dos pacientes portadores de fraturas do terço médio de clavícula após 12 meses de seguimento. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se estudo prospectivo, durante o período de agosto de 2005 a janeiro de 2007; 50 pacientes portadores de fratura do terço médio de clavícula com desvio foram aleatoriamente divididos em dois grupos. Entre os pacientes 10 foram excluídos da amostra devido à perda de seguimento. O grupo 1 foi submetido ao tratamento cirúrgico por meio de redução e fixação da clavícula com placa anterior. Já o grupo 2 foi tratado com uso de tipóia. Após o período mínimo de 12 meses de seguimento, foi realizada análise comparativa, utilizando-se como parâmetros funcionais as escalas da AAOS e da UCLA. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de aproximadamente 30 anos (variando de 18 a 58 anos), com 77,5 por cento dos pacientes do sexo masculino. O lado mais freqüentemente acometido foi o direito (55 por cento), sendo nestes pacientes o ombro dominante. O mecanismo de trauma encontrado com maior freqüência foi o acidente de trânsito (75 por cento dos casos). Pelos critérios da UCLA, o grupo 1 teve 91,5 por cento dos pacientes com resultado considerado satisfatório (bom e excelente), enquanto que o grupo 2 apresentou 81,25 por cento. O retorno ao trabalho e às atividades cotidianas foi mais rápido no grupo 1, com média de 8,67 semanas, comparando-se com 15,13 semanas no grupo 2. Como complicações podemos citar no grupo 1: cicatriz hipertrófica (12,5 por cento), pseudartrose (8,3 por cento), dor residual (8,3 por cento), soltura de material (4,1 por cento). Já no grupo 2: deformidade estética (43,75 por cento), capsulite adesiva (12,5 por cento) e pseudartrose (6,25 por cento). CONCLUSÕES: O tratamento cirúrgico proporcionou, após 12 meses de acompanhamento, retorno mais rápido às atividades cotidianas, com resultados funcionais pela escala da UCLA...

OBJECTIVE: To compare non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment using an anterior plate through a functional evaluation of patients with midshaft clavicle fractures after 12 months of follow-up. METHODS: A prospective study was performed from August 2005 to January 2007, when 50 patients with midshaft clavicle fracture with displacement were randomly divided into two groups. 10 of the patients were excluded from the series because they were lost in follow-up. Group 1 was submitted to surgical treatment with reduction and fixation of the clavicle with an anterior plate. Group 2 was treated using a sling. After the minimum follow-up period of 12 months, a comparative analysis was performed using the AAOS and the UCLA scales as parameters. RESULTS: Mean age was approximately 30 years (ranging from 18 to 58 years), and 77.5 percent of the patients were male. The right side was most often involved (55 percent) and it was the dominant shoulder in those patients. The trauma mechanisms found most often were traffic accidents (75 percent of the cases). According to UCLA criteria, group 1 had 91.5 percent of the patients with results considered satisfactory (good and excellent), whereas group 2 presented 81.25 percent. Return to work and to daily-life activities was faster in group 1, with a mean of 8.67 weeks, whereas group 2 took 15.13 weeks. As to complications, the authors mention, for group 1, hypertrophic scarring (12.5 percent), pseudoarthrosis (8.3 percent), residual pain (8.3 percent), loosening of the material (4.1 percent). In group 2, complications were: esthetic deformity (43.75 percent), adhesive capsulitis (12.5 percent), and pseudoarthrosis (6.25 percent). CONCLUSION: After 12 months of follow-up, surgical treatment provided faster return to daily-life activities, with higher percentage of functional results according to the UCLA scale, but this was not statistically significant, compared to the non-surgical treatment.

Grau de incapacidade: indicador de prevalência oculta e qualidade do programa de controle da hanseníase em um Centro de Saúde-Escola no município de Uberlândia - MG / Degree of incapacity: an indicator for hidden prevalence and program quality of leprosy control in a University Health Center in the Uberlândia District

O longo período de incubaçäo da hanseníase, seus sintomas e sinais insidiosos, assim como as deficiências operacionais no Programa de Controle, produzem dificuldades em seu diagnóstico. Essa situaçäo cria condições para considerar que existe uma prevalência oculta que leva incapacidade ao doente e influi na cadeia de transmissäo. Este trabalho objetivou aplicar indicadores para análises epidemiológica e operacional do Programa de Controle da Hanseníase no Distrito Sanitário Oeste, Uberlândia-MG, avaliando as incapacidades físicas dos pacientes como medida da qualidade do programa e estimativa de prevalência oculta. Foram analisados 138 prontuários de hansenianos diagnosticados no Centro de Saúde Escola da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (CSE-UFU), de janeiro de 1995 a julho de 2000. No diagnóstico, 24 por cento dos pacientes apresentaram algum grau de incapacidade, inclusive grau I, evidenciando diagnóstico tardio. Na alta, 68 por cento dos pacientes que iniciaram o tratamento com grau zero permaneceram nesse grau e, entre aqueles que iniciaram com grau I, 61,5 por cento mantiveram a condiçäo, 23,1 por cento regrediram para zero e 15,4 por cento näo tiveram registro. Os indicadores operacionais refletiram um atendimento de boa qualidade no CSE-UFU. A prevelência oculta estimada foi de 27 casos para o ano 2000, elevando a taxa de prevelência conhecida de 10,22/10.000 habitantes para a taxa de prevalência real de 13,67/10.000, evidenciando uma endemia muito alta de hanseníase no Distrito Oeste. Discute-se a necessidade de adotar a avaliaçäo do grau de incapacidades como indicador de morbidade e controle da doença nos vários níveis de atençäo a fim de planejar ações para detectar os focos de endemia oculta nas comunidades