Morphometric Parameters of the Ear and Their Sexual Dimorphism in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Background The human ear is a distinctive facial feature, revealing valuable information about ethnicity, gender, and age. Anthropometric measures play a crucial role in fields such as forensic medicine, prosthetics, and plastic surgery. The external ear, known for its diversity in structure and individual characteristics, has become a subject of interest in various populations. This study aims to determine the mean values of morphometric measurements for both right and left ears while exploring sexual dimorphism in ear dimensions. Methodology A prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 volunteers from the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, comprising 98 males and 102 females, at the Department of Anatomy, Institute of Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. Participants were randomly selected from King Fahad University Hospital workers and patients. Using a Vernier caliper and after obtaining consent, various aspects of ear morphology were measured. The study employed statistical analyses such as the volunteers' t-test, Pearson's coefficient of correlation, and linear regression equations. Results In males, the mean total height of the right and left ears was 6.054 ± 0.5394 and 6.044 ± 0.5235 cm, respectively, while for females, it was 5.489 ± 0.4481 and 5.763 ± 4.8446 cm, respectively. The mean widths, heights, and other dimensions of the ears exhibited variations between genders. Conclusions The study provides comprehensive insights into the dimensions and indices of the pinna among the population of the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The findings confirmed the presence of sexual dimorphism in the ear measurements, consistent with observations in other ethnic groups.

Incidentally Found Cholecystoduodenal Fistula and an Unusual Case of Gallstone Ileus After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Gallstone ileus, a rare and potentially fatal complication of cholelithiasis, occurs when gallstones breach the gastrointestinal tract through a fistula, causing an obstruction and potentially leading to severe complications. This case report details the experience of a 44-year-old woman with gallstone ileus stemming from an unnoticed cholecystoduodenal fistula following a routine cholecystectomy. The fistula was only discovered during surgery despite advanced imaging, revealing extensive adhesions. The discovery led to a subtotal cholecystectomy and fistula repair. Postoperatively, complications arose, prompting a computed tomography scan to rule out further issues. However, she later returned with gallstone ileus, necessitating a second operation. This case underscores the importance of thorough intraoperative exploration for biliary enteric fistulas during cholecystectomy, potentially averting the need for subsequent interventions. The case also highlights the diagnostic challenges of gallstone ileus and the significance of clinical suspicion.