Variability in facial-muscle innervation: A comparative study based on electrostimulation and anatomical dissection.

Facial-nerve palsy is the most common complication during facial surgery. However, there are few detailed reports on the distribution of the terminal branches of the facial nerve to the mimetic muscles. This also applies to the communicating branches. The aim of our study was to assess the variability of communicant and terminal branches of the facial nerve in humans. This prospective study involved anatomical dissections and intraoperative electric stimulation of facial nerves. We first performed 30 dissections to define the branching patterns of the extracranial facial nerve, with particular focus on the penetrating points into the mimetic muscles. We then studied and compared these preliminary data with 14 operative facial stimulations conducted during parotidectomies. Each trunk and branch received systematic electrostimulation. The electrostimulation and facial-and-neck movements were analyzed by two independent reviewers. The peripheral branching and intercommunication of the facial branches were highly variable. Combining electrostimulation and dissections, the frontalis muscle, the depressor labii inferioris and the platysma showed little nerve recuperation whereas the sphincter muscles (orbicularis ori and oculi) were anatomically protected. Facial-muscle innervation differed among individuals. We found complex variations in the facial branching mode. Our study highlights the branches and corresponding areas that could be considered anatomically risky. Clin. Anat. 32:169-175, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Anatomical description of the umbilical arteries and impact of their ligation on pelvic and perineal vascular supply after cystectomy in women.

OBJECTIVE: In radical cystectomy, the surgeon generally ligates the umbilical artery at its origin. This artery may give rise to several arteries that supply the sexual organs. Our aim was to evaluate pelvic and perineal devascularisation in women after total cystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective anatomical and radiological study. We performed bilateral pelvic dissections of fresh adult female cadavers to identify the dividing branches of the umbilical artery. In parallel, we examined and compared the pre- and postoperative imaging investigations [magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) angiography] in patients undergoing cystectomy for benign disease to quantify the loss of pelvic vascularisation on the postoperative images by identifying the occluded arteries. RESULTS: The anatomical study together with the radiological study visualised 35 umbilical arteries (n = 70) with their branching patterns and collateral arteries. The uterine artery originated from the umbilical artery in more than 75% of cases (n = 54) of the internal pudendal artery in 34% (n = 24) and the vaginal artery in 43% (n = 30). The postoperative MRI angiograms showed pelvic devascularisation in four patients. Devascularisation was dependent on the level of surgical ligation. In the four patients with loss of pelvic vascular supply, the umbilical artery had been ligated at its origin. CONCLUSION: The umbilical artery gives rise to various branches that supply the pelvis and perineum. If the surgeon ligates the umbilical artery at its origin during total cystectomy, there is a significant risk of pelvic and perineal devascularisation.

Anatomical study of the inferior vesical artery: is it specific to the male sex?

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to clarify the origin of the inferior vesical artery and determine its existence in women. METHODS: This descriptive study is based on 25 dissections (6 male and 19 female cadavers). We dissected the internal iliac artery and its branches from the iliac bifurcation, bilaterally and comparatively. Each arterial branch supplying the bladder was identified and dissected as far as the bladder. RESULTS: In total, 50 topographies of the bladder vascularization were visualised. The inferior vesical artery was observed in 92% of the male subjects and in 47.4% of the female subjects. In the male cadavers, it arose from the internal iliac artery in 72.7% of cases and from the umbilical artery in 27.3% of cases. In the female cadavers, it arose from a common trunk with the umbilical artery and the uterine artery in 33.3% of cases and directly from the umbilical artery in 33.3% with one terminal branch supplying the upper part of the vagina. In two female subjects, the inferior vesical artery arose from the first segment of the uterine artery (22.2%), and in one subject from the obturator artery (11.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The inferior vesical artery is not specific to the male sex. The contradictions found in the literature of this artery are due to the variations observed in pelvic vascularization and to the close connections between vaginal and bladder vascularisation in women. However, surgeons should consider these variations, to prevent bladder devascularization by non-selective ligation.

Intractable epistaxis: which arteries are responsible? An angiographic study.

PURPOSE: Epistaxis constitutes a significant proportion of the Otolaryngologist's emergency workload. Optimal management differs in relation to the anatomic origin of the bleeding. The outcome of our study was to determine which artery(ies) could be considered as the cause of severe bleeding in the context of severe epistaxis. METHODS: Fifty-five procedures of embolization preceded by angiography were reviewed. Medical records of interventionally treated patients were analysed for demographics, medical history, risk factors and clinical data. Angiographic findings were also assessed for active contrast extravasation (blush), vascular abnormality and embolised artery. RESULTS: Previous angiography showed an active contrast extravasation in only 20 procedures. The most common bleeding source was the sphenopalatine artery (SPA) followed by anterior ethmoïdal artery (AEA) and facial artery. Majority of multiple or bilateral extravasations occured in patients with systemic factors. CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of the potential bleeding source might help and limit the risk of treatment failures. Our study confirms that the SPA is the most common cause of severe bleeding. We also emphasise the role of the AEA not only in traumatic context. Others arteries are rarely involved except in patients with comorbidities or frequent recurrences.

Neurostimulation for Parkinson's disease with early motor complications.

BACKGROUND: Subthalamic stimulation reduces motor disability and improves quality of life in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease who have severe levodopa-induced motor complications. We hypothesized that neurostimulation would be beneficial at an earlier stage of Parkinson's disease. METHODS: In this 2-year trial, we randomly assigned 251 patients with Parkinson's disease and early motor complications (mean age, 52 years; mean duration of disease, 7.5 years) to undergo neurostimulation plus medical therapy or medical therapy alone. The primary end point was quality of life, as assessed with the use of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) summary index (with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher scores indicating worse function). Major secondary outcomes included parkinsonian motor disability, activities of daily living, levodopa-induced motor complications (as assessed with the use of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, parts III, II, and IV, respectively), and time with good mobility and no dyskinesia. RESULTS: For the primary outcome of quality of life, the mean score for the neurostimulation group improved by 7.8 points, and that for the medical-therapy group worsened by 0.2 points (between-group difference in mean change from baseline to 2 years, 8.0 points; P=0.002). Neurostimulation was superior to medical therapy with respect to motor disability (P<0.001), activities of daily living (P<0.001), levodopa-induced motor complications (P<0.001), and time with good mobility and no dyskinesia (P=0.01). Serious adverse events occurred in 54.8% of the patients in the neurostimulation group and in 44.1% of those in the medical-therapy group. Serious adverse events related to surgical implantation or the neurostimulation device occurred in 17.7% of patients. An expert panel confirmed that medical therapy was consistent with practice guidelines for 96.8% of the patients in the neurostimulation group and for 94.5% of those in the medical-therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: Subthalamic stimulation was superior to medical therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease and early motor complications. (Funded by the German Ministry of Research and others; EARLYSTIM ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00354133.).

Morphological concordance between CBCT and MDCT: a paranasal sinus-imaging anatomical study.

PURPOSE: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is an imaging technique, first developed for use during oral and pre-implant surgery. In sinonasal surgery, CBCT might represent a valuable tool for anatomical research given its high spatial resolution and low irradiation dose. However, clinical and anatomical evidence pertaining to its efficacy is lacking. This study assessed the morphological concordance between CBCT and multislice detector computed tomography (MDCT) in the context of sinonasal anatomy. METHODS: We performed an anatomical study using 15 fresh cadaver heads. Each head underwent both CBCT and MDCT. Two independent reviewers evaluated 26 notable anatomical landmarks. The primary outcome was the overall morphological concordance between the two imaging techniques. Secondary objectives included assessment of inter-rater agreement and comparison of the radiation doses received by different parts of the anatomy. RESULTS: Overall morphological concordance between the two imaging techniques was excellent (>98 %); the inter-rater agreement for CBCT was approximately 97 %, which is highly similar to MDCT, but achieved using a significantly decreased irradiation dose. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study indicates that CBCT represents a valid, reproducible, and safe technique for the identification of relevant sinonasal anatomical structures. Further research, particularly in pathological contexts, is required.

The frontal branch of the facial nerve: can we define a safety zone?

PURPOSE: The temporal branch of the facial nerve, a particularly important branch in facial expression, is commonly exposed to surgical trauma. The frontal branch is the most important branch of the temporal branch in the clinical point of view. However, it does not really define in the international nomenclature. The objective of this study was to clearly identify this branch, to perform a cartography of the crossing areas of this branch; and therefore to define statistically a zone of safety within the fronto-temporal region. METHOD: We used 12 fresh cadavers to perform 24 facial nerve dissections. After the identification of the facial nerve, the branches of the temporofacial trunk were identified, dissected and followed till their penetration. We measured the relationship of the frontal branch with the zygomatic arch, temporal vessels and lateral border of the orbit. We conducted a statistical study to assess the risk of injury of this branch within the temporal region. RESULTS: We observed an important variability in the distribution of this branch in the temporal region. We defined three zones of decreasing safety at the level of three interest landmarks: at the level of the inferior part of the zygomatic arch, we estimated an elevated risk of nerve injury (>85%) from 22.6 to 26.06 mm in front of the tragus; at the level of the superior part of the zygomatic arch, we estimated an elevated risk of nerve injury (>85%) from 27.46 to 30.43 mm in front of the tragus; at the level of the lateral border of the orbit, we estimated an elevated risk of nerve injury (>85%) from 16.20 to 19.17 mm behind this landmark. CONCLUSIONS: There exists no real area of anatomical safety in the temporal region. It seems, however, possible to define areas of relative safety that would be of great help for the surgeon or the morphologist wishing to approach pathologies of this region.

Radiological anatomical study of the origin of the uterine artery.

PURPOSE: To clarify the origin of the uterine artery and quantify its anatomical variants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a study based on dissections, intraoperative findings and retrospective analysis of arteriograms. Thirty female cadavers were dissected and bilaterally observed, with a total of 60 origins visualised. Fifty laparotomies were carried out during the treatment for pelvic neoplasms (100 origins observed) and 34 arteriograms performed for uterine fibroid embolisation were studied (58 origins visualised). RESULTS: In total, 218 origins of the uterine artery were visualised. The uterine artery originated from a common trunk with the umbilical artery in 80.7% of cases. It arose separately from the internal iliac artery in 13.16% of cases and directly from the superior gluteal artery in 3.51% of cases. It branched from a common trunk with the internal pudendal artery in 1.75% of cases, whereas arose separately from the obturator artery in 0.88% of cases. CONCLUSION: The uterine artery arose from a common trunk with the umbilical artery in the majority of the Caucasian population. Surgeons and radiologists should be aware of this mode of branching to facilitate surgery and interventional radiology and improve the safety of these procedures.

[Retrotracheal left pulmonary artery: case report with an embryologic and anatomic update]. / Artère pulmonaire gauche rétrotrachéale : mise au point embryologique et anatomique.

The accidental discovery of a retrotracheal left pulmonary artery in a 4-month-old infant encouraged us to review the various embryologic theories concerning this very rare anomaly and perform an anatomic update in order to better define surgical treatment. Nathan underwent surgery for a bilateral inguinal hernia at the age of 4 months. The postoperative period was marked by malaise associated with dyspnoea, stridor, tachycardia and sweating. A X-ray of the thorax, oesophageal transit and angio scan presented an intertracheo-oesophageal left pulmonary artery and a reimplantation of the left pulmonary artery was successfully performed. A retrotracheal left pulmonary artery is a very rare malformation. From development of pulmonary vascularisation, three embryologic theories have been advanced to explain this anomaly. From an anatomic point of view, Landing et al. proposed in 1982 a classification system of retrotracheal left pulmonary artery. Today, current radiological techniques not only provide a precise diagnosis but also make it possible to define appropriate care for the different types of this malformation.

Quality of life predicts outcome of deep brain stimulation in early Parkinson disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate predictors for improvement of disease-specific quality of life (QOL) after deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) for Parkinson disease (PD) with early motor complications. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data from the previously published EARLYSTIM study, a prospective randomized trial comparing STN-DBS (n = 124) to best medical treatment (n = 127) after 2 years follow-up with disease-specific QOL (39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire summary index [PDQ-39-SI]) as the primary endpoint. Linear regression analyses of the baseline characteristics age, disease duration, duration of motor complications, and disease severity measured at baseline with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) (UPDRS-III "off" and "on" medications, UPDRS-IV) were conducted to determine predictors of change in PDQ-39-SI. RESULTS: PDQ-39-SI at baseline was correlated to the change in PDQ-39-SI after 24 months in both treatment groups (p < 0.05). The higher the baseline score (worse QOL) the larger the improvement in QOL after 24 months. No correlation was found for any of the other baseline characteristics analyzed in either treatment group. CONCLUSION: Impaired QOL as subjectively evaluated by the patient is the most important predictor of benefit in patients with PD and early motor complications, fulfilling objective gold standard inclusion criteria for STN-DBS. Our results prompt systematically including evaluation of disease-specific QOL when selecting patients with PD for STN-DBS. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT00354133.

Intrathecal grafting of porcine chromaffin cells reduces formalin-evoked c-Fos expression in the rat spinal cord.

Chromaffin cells from the adrenal gland secrete a combination of neuroactive compounds including catecholamines, opioid peptides, and growth factors that have strong analgesic effects, especially when administered intrathecally. Preclinical studies of intrathecal implantation with xenogeneic bovine chromaffin cells in rats have provided conflicting data with regard to analgesic effects, and recent concern over risk of prion transmission has precluded their use in human clinical trials. We previously developed a new, safer source of adult adrenal chromaffin cells of porcine origin and demonstrated an in vivo antinociceptive effect in the formalin test, a rodent model of tonic pain. The goal of the present study was to confirm porcine chromaffin cell analgesic effects at the molecular level by evaluating neural activity as reflected by spinal cord c-Fos protein expression. To this end, the expression of c-Fos in response to intraplantar formalin injection was evaluated in animals following intrathecal grafting of 10(6) porcine or bovine chromaffin cells. For the two species, adrenal chromaffin cells significantly reduced the tonic phases of the formalin response. Similarly, c-Fos-like immunoreactive neurons were markedly reduced in the dorsal horns of animals that had received injections of xenogeneic chromaffin cells. This reduction was observed in both the superficial (I-II) and deep (V-VI) lamina of the dorsal horn. The present study demonstrates that both xenogeneic porcine and bovine chromaffin cells transplanted into the spinal subarachnoid space of the rat can suppress formalin-evoked c-Fos expression equally, in parallel with suppression of nociceptive behaviors in the tonic phase of the test. These findings confirm previous reports that adrenal chromaffin cells may produce antinociception by inhibiting activation of nociceptive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn. Taken together these results support the concept that porcine chromaffin cells may offer an alternative xenogeneic cell source for transplants delivering pain-reducing neuroactive substances.

Endoscopic anatomy of the cerebellopontine angle: a study in cadaver brains.

The increasing trend toward performing minimally invasive neurosurgery may benefit from recent progress in using neuroendoscopic techniques to reduce trauma in patients who have undergone operations. Arterial and venous vessels, especially loops, may compress the central segment and cause hyperactive dysfunction of the nerves. Relationships of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery to the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves and the anterior inferior, and superior cerebellar arteries to the trigeminal nerve were studied. The authors report findings from an endoscopic study performed in cadaver heads via the retrosigmoid and retrolabyrinthine approaches. Arteries and veins were colored by injection of red and blue silicon rubber. The cerebellopontine angle (CPA) was examined using 2.7-mm and 4-mm-diameter rigid endoscopes at viewing angles of 0s degrees , 30s degrees , and 70s degrees . Well-known structures could be identified endoscopically without prior dissection, and the entire CPA could be explored. However, with a retrosigmoid or a retrolabyrinthine approach, the cerebellum had to be retracted to some extent to view the CPA. Moreover, wide dural exposure was required to maneuver the endoscope freely in the CPA. Use of the rigid fiberoptic endoscope is not yet superior to standard surgical techniques for approaching and exploring the CPA.

[Comparative study of disk surgery with or without microscopy. A prospective study of 80 cases]. / Etude comparative de la chirurgie discale avec et sans microscope. Analyse prospective de 80 cas.

The authors report a randomized prospective study of 80 patients operated for lumbar disc herniation. In one group of patients, the operator used a microscopic discectomy, in the other group, the surgery was performed through an interlaminar approach without microscopic magnification. All patients were operated on by the same surgeon. The results have been evaluated by a blind neurosurgeon after 12 to 18 months. 90% patients of the two groups have an excellent or a good outcome following the criteria of Mac Nab. There is no difference, regarding the outcome, between microscopic and non-microscopic removal of disc herniation. Using the microscope does not influence the operating time, the post operative inpatient stay and the time off-work. The authors conclude that the use of the microscope, can facilitate the operation and give a better visual comfort, but does not improve the final results.

[Utilization of thermosettable compounds in anatomic research]. / Utilisation des thermodurcissables en recherche anatomique.

The authors described a method of vascular injection with a coloured silicon rubber. The injected material was a biocomponent silicon elastomer, with ambiant temperature room vulcanizing. It was supple, easily dissequable and diffuse well into all small caliber vessels. The soft pressure injection did not cause neither material collection by vessels rupture nor anatomic structure distortion. This material could constitute an excellent alternative to coloured latex injection.

Bilateral ophthalmic origin of the middle meningeal artery.

The origin of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) may vary although it can arise from the ophthalmic artery (OA) with a 0.5% prevalence. We report the exceptional bilateral asymmetric origin from the OAs that has not previously been reported in the literature. Surgeons should be aware of this variation as it could be crucial in the setting of an endovascular approach for meningeal lesions, as in our observation. A 50-year-old male underwent a preoperative cerebral digital subtracted angiography that incidentally revealed MMAs arising from the OA on both sides. In fact, the origin was asymmetric because it was complete on the right side with the anterior and posterior branches of the MMA arising from the OA, whereas it was partial on the left side, with only the anterior branch arising from the OA. The CT scan showed the absence of the foramen spinosum only on the right side. This paper discusses the unique anatomic variation in the light of MMA embryology and its different origins. Knowledge of this variation may have a practical impact in cases of cerebral embolization.

Basal ganglia dysfunction in OCD: subthalamic neuronal activity correlates with symptoms severity and predicts high-frequency stimulation efficacy.

Functional and connectivity changes in corticostriatal systems have been reported in the brains of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); however, the relationship between basal ganglia activity and OCD severity has never been adequately established. We recently showed that deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), a central basal ganglia nucleus, improves OCD. Here, single-unit subthalamic neuronal activity was analysed in 12 OCD patients, in relation to the severity of obsessions and compulsions and response to STN stimulation, and compared with that obtained in 12 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). STN neurons in OCD patients had lower discharge frequency than those in PD patients, with a similar proportion of burst-type activity (69 vs 67%). Oscillatory activity was present in 46 and 68% of neurons in OCD and PD patients, respectively, predominantly in the low-frequency band (1-8 Hz). In OCD patients, the bursty and oscillatory subthalamic neuronal activity was mainly located in the associative-limbic part. Both OCD severity and clinical improvement following STN stimulation were related to the STN neuronal activity. In patients with the most severe OCD, STN neurons exhibited bursts with shorter duration and interburst interval, but higher intraburst frequency, and more oscillations in the low-frequency bands. In patients with best clinical outcome with STN stimulation, STN neurons displayed higher mean discharge, burst and intraburst frequencies, and lower interburst interval. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis of a dysfunction in the associative-limbic subdivision of the basal ganglia circuitry in OCD's pathophysiology.

Analysis of commercial plastination agents.

S3, S6 and S10 are the most commonly used agents for tissue plastination. Surprisingly, their chemical structures are not known. We therefore decided to fully characterize these products by standard analytical methods: multinucleus magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. These experiments have shown that Biodur S10 is a polydimethylsiloxane with a molecular weight of 27,200 and silanol functionalities, Biodur S6 is tetraethoxysilane, and Biodur S3 is a mixture the main component of which is dibutyltindilaurate.

Relationships of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve: a morphometric study.

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome consists in decompression of the median nerve by section of the flexor retinaculum. Usually, this surgery improves the disease with disappearance of the symptoms. However, some painful sequelae may remain such as painful discharges, paresthesiae or permanent anesthesia of the base of the thumb or of the scar related to an injury of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve (PCBm). This study was performed to define the accurate emergence and the anatomic characteristics of this nerve in relation to stable landmarks. Moreover, it assessed the importance of the visual identification of the branch during section of the flexor retinaculum. Thirty-five hands were dissected under macroscopic examination and under magnification of the thinnest branches. Measurements were performed with a caliper and the forearm in supination. Determination of the bistyloid line showed variability in the location of the distal wrist crease. Thus, it could not be used as a landmark to locate the PCBm. The palmar cutaneous branch is the distal collateral branch of the median nerve in the forearm. It emerges on its radial side, on average 44.3 mm before the bistyloid line. It courses in line with the third finger and perforates the antebrachial aponeurosis about 5.7 mm from the bistyloid line. This emergence can be located in the palm, where it can be injured if the incision is performed in line with the third finger. The PCBm usually ends in the palm by division into two or three branches. The lateral branch supplies the skin of the thenar eminence while the medial, usually shorter branch supplies the midline part of the palm. This study has shown the importance of performing the cutaneous incision in line with the fourth finger to avoid injury to the PCBm.

Recurrent intracranial neurenteric cysts.

Neurenteric cysts are cystic lesions lined by a columnar epithelium of endodermal derivation. They are rarely located in the central nervous system. We describe the case history of two recurrent neurenteric cysts located within the posterior fossa: one in the 4th ventricle and the second in the cerebellopontine angle. The literature is reviewed and the follow-up and recurrence of such cysts are discussed.