Anatomy of the Dorsal Meningeal Artery Including Its Variations: Application to Skull Base Surgery and Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging.

BACKGROUND: The blood supply to the skull base is important to surgeons and those performing interventional and diagnostic procedures in this region. However, 1 vessel with a vast distribution in this area, the dorsal meningeal artery (DMA), has had few anatomic studies performed to investigate not only its normal anatomy but also its variations. Therefore the current study aimed to analyze the DMA via cadaveric dissection. METHODS: In 10 adults, latex-injected, cadaveric heads (20 sides), the DMA was dissected using a surgical microscope. This artery and its branches were documented and measured. RESULTS: A DMA was identified on all sides. In the majority (85%), it was a branch of the meningohypophysial trunk or common stem with either the inferior hypophysial or tentorial arteries and always had branches that traversed the basilar venous plexus. Multiple branches of the DMA were identified and categorized as bony, dural, neural, and vascular. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons operating at the skull base or clinicians interpreting imaging of this area should have a good working knowledge of the DMA and its typical and variant anatomy.

Segmental and global lordosis changes with two-level axial lumbar interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation.

BACKGROUND: Loss of lumbar lordosis has been reported after lumbar interbody fusion surgery and may portend poor clinical and radiographic outcome. The objective of this research was to measure changes in segmental and global lumbar lordosis in patients treated with presacral axial L4-S1 interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation and to determine if these changes influenced patient outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, multi-center review of prospectively collected data in 58 consecutive patients with disabling lumbar pain and radiculopathy unresponsive to nonsurgical treatment who underwent L4-S1 interbody fusion with the AxiaLIF two-level system (Baxano Surgical, Raleigh NC). Main outcomes included back pain severity, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Odom's outcome criteria, and fusion status using flexion and extension radiographs and computed tomography scans. Segmental (L4-S1) and global (L1-S1) lumbar lordosis measurements were made using standing lateral radiographs. All patients were followed for at least 24 months (mean: 29 months, range 24-56 months). RESULTS: There was no bowel injury, vascular injury, deep infection, neurologic complication or implant failure. Mean back pain severity improved from 7.8±1.7 at baseline to 3.3±2.6 at 2 years (p < 0.001). Mean ODI scores improved from 60±15% at baseline to 34±27% at 2 years (p < 0.001). At final follow-up, 83% of patients were rated as good or excellent using Odom's criteria. Interbody fusion was observed in 111 (96%) of 116 treated interspaces. Maintenance of lordosis, defined as a change in Cobb angle ≤ 5°, was identified in 84% of patients at L4-S1 and 81% of patients at L1-S1. Patients with loss or gain in segmental or global lordosis experienced similar 2-year outcomes versus those with less than a 5° change. CONCLUSIONS/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Two-level axial interbody fusion supplemented with posterior fixation does not alter segmental or global lordosis in most patients. Patients with postoperative change in lordosis greater than 5° have similarly favorable long-term clinical outcomes and fusion rates compared to patients with less than 5° lordosis change.

Clinical and radiographic outcomes with L4-S1 axial lumbar interbody fusion (AxiaLIF) and posterior instrumentation: a multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have confirmed the benefits and limitations of the presacral retroperitoneal approach for L5-S1 interbody fusion. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of the minimally invasive axial lumbar interbody approach (AxiaLIF) for L4-S1 fusion. METHODS: In this retrospective series, 52 patients from four clinical sites underwent L4-S1 interbody fusion with the AxiaLIF two-level system with minimum 2-year clinical and radiographic follow-up (range: 24-51 months). Outcomes included back pain severity (on a 10-point scale), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Odom's criteria. Flexion and extension radiographs, as well as computed tomography scans, were evaluated to determine fusion status. Longitudinal outcomes were assessed with repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Mean subject age was 52 ± 11 years and the male:female ratio was 1:1. Patients sustained no intraoperative bowel or vascular injury, deep infection, or neurologic complication. Median procedural blood loss was 220 cc and median length of hospital stay was 3 days. At 2-year follow-up, mean back pain had improved 56%, from 7.7 ± 1.6 at baseline to 3.4 ± 2.7 (P < 0.001). Back pain clinical success (ie, ≥30% improvement from baseline) was achieved in 39 (75%) patients at 2 years. Mean ODI scores improved 42%, from 60% ± 16% at baseline to 35% ± 27% at 2 years (P < 0.001). ODI clinical success (ie, ≥30% improvement from baseline) was achieved in 26 (50%) patients. At final follow-up, 45 (87%) patients were rated as good or excellent, five as fair, and two as poor by Odom's criteria. Interbody fusion observed on imaging was achieved in 97 (93%) of 104 treated interspaces. During follow-up, five patients underwent reoperation on the lumbar spine, including facet screw removal (two), laminectomy (two), and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (one). CONCLUSION: The AxiaLIF two-level device is a safe, effective treatment adjunct for patients with L4-S1 disc pathology resistant to conservative treatments.

Posterolateral skull base reconstruction using the supraclavicular artery island flap.

The supraclavicular artery island (SAI) flap is a viable fasciocutaneous option for the reconstruction of head and neck defects. Although authors have reported success using SAI flaps for various reconstructive indications, concerns of a tenuous blood supply and distal ischemia have previously limited its use in the posterolateral skull base. This case series reports the outcomes of 5 consecutive patients receiving SAI flaps for posterolateral skull base reconstruction. All flaps were harvested in less than 1 hour with primary closure of all donor sites. A single patient developed superficial necrosis of the distal flap, which was repaired with a full-thickness skin graft. There were no other complications, and no donor site morbidity was observed. The SAI flap is an excellent option for the reconstruction of posterolateral skull base defects. The close color match, easy harvest within 1 hour, lack of microsurgical anastomosis, and absence of donor site morbidity support its continued utilization.

Apnéia do sono associada a obesidade: alguma influência na formação dos aneurismas cerebrais? / May sleep apnea associated with obesity play a role in brain aneurysm grouth?

Os autores selecionaram um grupo de pacientes com apnéia do sono e aneurismas cerebrais e procuraram correlacionar com casos de sobrepeso e obesidade, encontrando 80% de pacientes com obesidade do sexo feminino, com idades entre49 e 72 anos (média de 60,6 anos), todas submetidas a gastroplastia prévia, e tendo sido submetidas a repetidos regimes para emagrecer , com 60% de aneurismas rotos, todos Hunt-Hess entre III e V e Fisher 4 .. Aqueles com sobrepeso, idadeentre 53 e 70 anos ( média 60,5 anos), 50% tabagistas, 75%com aneurismas rotos, com gradação Hunt-Hess 3.3 em média,e Fisher de 3.3 em média. Concluir sobre a correlação é muito incipiente e mais estudos devem ser feitos neste sentido.

The authors have selected a group of patients with sleep apnea and brain aneurysms and sought to correlate with cases of overweight and obesity. They have found a high incidence of bleeding among those patients in both groups of obesity, most of them at computed tomography with Fisher score of III to IV,in patients with ruptured aneurysms (60% of rupture in severe obesity and 75% in overweight), and clinical status of Fisher I Vin obese patients and 3.3 in over weighed patients. Beyond any doubts, further studies should be accomplished to establish a strong correlation between associated obesity and sleep apnea and the patophysiology of brain aneurysms.

Tratamento cirúrgico dos aneurismas intracranianos em idosos / Surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms in elderly

Há cerca de vinte anos, pacientes idosos com diagnóstico de aneurisma cerebral eram excluídos de quaisquer modalidades de intervenção cirúrgica devido ao prognóstico reservado. Com o rápido envelhecimento da população, houve um aumento consistente na prevalência de hemorragia subaracnóide, associada a todas as suas complicações. A deterioração neurológica tardia, advinda do vasoespasmo cerebral, é uma das principais causas de morbi-mortalidade nesse grupo de pacientes. Dessa forma, a estratégia de tratamento específico para aneurismas cerebrais em idosos tem sido aprimorada.

Benefício terapêutico do magnésio na fisiopatologia do vasoespasmo após hemorragia subaracnóide: [revisão] / Magnesium in subarachnoide hemorrhage: useful with benefits?: [review]

O vasoespasmo tem sido causador de grande numero de sequelas e óbitos após o evento da hemorragia subaracnóide.Várias hipóteses fisiopatológicas para seu desenvolvimento vêm sendo estudadas na literatura, todavia o envolvimento do magnésio na gênese e como substância terapêutica vem ganhando destaque cada vez maior. Os autores procuram identificar os pontos de relevância da cadeia de equilíbrio entre o cálcio e magnésio nas bombas de membrana endoteliais e o beneficio do mesmo na terapêutica, baseando-se na literatura revisada. A infusão de sulfato de magnésio endovenosa no período em que o vasoespasmo se instala parece ser um conduta extremamente útil e necessária no relaxamento da musculatura endotelial e faz parte hoje da maior parte dos protocolos de tratamento do vasoespasmo pós hemorragia subaracnóide.

A successful combined endovascular and surgical treatment of a cranial base mucormycosis with an associated internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: We report a rare case of internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm owing to rhinocerebral mucormycosis and review 40 reported cases from 1980 to present. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old Caucasian man presented with a 3-day history of headache, diplopia, and numbness in the distribution of the left ophthalmic and maxillary branches of the trigeminal nerve. A complete left cavernous syndrome was discovered upon neurological examination. Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed an inflammatory process involving the paranasal sinuses with extension into the left cavernous sinus, temporal fossa, and petrous bone. INTERVENTION: The patient was immediately treated with amphotericin B, atorvastatin, and daily hyperbaric oxygen sessions before surgical intervention. The patient underwent endovascular treatment of the associated mycotic pseudoaneurysm after carotid test occlusion in addition to a radical bilateral debridement of the paranasal sinuses and infratemporal and temporal fossa. CONCLUSION: Aggressive multimodal therapy is imperative for late-stage rhinocerebral mucormycosis. Extensive resection of infected tissue combined with amphotericin B, atorvastatin, and hyperbaric oxygen seems to be the best course of management. If the internal carotid artery is involved, endovascular intervention is clearly an option to attain this goal. Further research and longer follow-up periods are required to better understand the long-term implications of endovascular coiling and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for rhinocerebral mucormycosis.

Is exposure of the superior sagittal sinus necessary in the interhemispheric approach?

OBJECTIVE: Techniques for anterior interhemisperic craniotomy vary in respect to the degree of exposure of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). The aim of this anatomic study is to quantify the increase in the angle of view gained by wide exposure and retraction of the SSS. METHODS: The anterior interhemispheric approach was performed in 10 cadaveric specimens with and without complete exposure and retraction of the SSS. Prespecified anatomic targets within the depth of the surgical field were used to calculate the angle of view. RESULTS: Complete exposure of the SSS in the anterior interhemispheric approach, increased the angle of view from 20.6 +/- 3 to 26.8 degrees, using the A4-A5 junction as a deep anatomic target (P = 0.008). When the free edge of the falx was considered as a deep anatomic target, complete exposure of the SSS increased the working angle from 34 +/- 3.14 to 42.1 +/- 4 (P = 0.0004). CONCLUSION: In this study, we demonstrate a significant increase in the angle of view after complete exposure of the SSS, targeting either deep (anterior cerebral artery) or more shallow structures (free falx edge).

Retropharyngeal/anterolateral approach for C2 corpectomy.

Instability of the high cervical spine, particularly C1 and C2, is commonly treated via a posterior approach. Access to this region via transoral approaches is often avoided due to the high risk of wound contamination, limited exposure, and lack of experience on the part of the surgeon. We present a 48-year-old man exhibiting complete C2 vertebral body involvement by multiple myeloma with a pathologic fracture, which we treated via the anterolateral/retropharyngeal approach to the high cervical spine. The anterolateral/retropharyngeal approach provides relatively easy access to the anterior arch of C1 and to the vertebral bodies of C2-4 and can be applied to a variety of different conditions. In addition, this approach may be a viable alternative to the transoral route and its associated morbidities.

Nontraumatic retropharyngeal abscess complicated by cervical osteomyelitis and epidural abscess in post-Katrina New Orleans: four cases.

Most retropharyngeal abscesses, including iatrogenic cases, are caused by trauma. Nontraumatic retropharyngeal abscesses usually occur secondary to infection of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Because these particular nodes usually disappear by the age of 4 or 5 years, a nontraumatic retropharyngeal abscess in an adult is extremely rare. When they do occur in adults, they are generally seen in immunocompromised patients and in intravenous drug abusers. Left untreated, a retropharyngeal abscess can lead to rare and fatal complications such as cervical osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, and discitis. Retropharyngeal abscesses can be diagnosed with a thorough history of risk factors, an examination for neurologic deficits, and radiologic studies, particularly magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment involves intravenous antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage. During follow-up, it is important to closely monitor the results of clinical neurologic examinations and weekly determinations of the C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in order to assess the response to therapy. We report 4 cases of nontraumatic retropharyngeal abscess complicated by cervical osteomyelitis and epidural abscess that were seen in New Orleans within 3 years of Hurricane Katrina, which struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in August 2005.

Cerebral syphilitic gummata: a case presentation and analysis of 156 reported cases.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral syphilitic gummata are rare manifestations of tertiary, meningovascular syphilis. No extensive characterization of these lesions has been published recently, and only a few small reviews containing imaging findings have been published to date. To better characterize cerebral gummata, we present a case seen at Tulane University, followed by an extensive review of the literature. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old man with a history of treated syphilis presented with seizures and confusion. A rapid plasma reagin titer was reactive in serum but Venereal Disease Research Laboratory results were negative in cerebrospinal fluid. Neuroimaging demonstrated an occipital lesion and the patient underwent subtotal resection. The pathological examination demonstrated a syphilitic gumma containing Treponema pallidum visualized by fluorescence immunostaining. METHODS: An extensive literature search was performed for published case reports of cerebral gummata. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-six cases containing 185 lesions were located. Patients presented with signs and symptoms based on location. Lesions are more common in men (64%) and those aged 18 to 39 years. Cerebrospinal fluid syphilis tests were positive in 64%. Lesions are located everywhere but are most common on the convexities (66%). Computed tomography usually reveals a hypodense lesion that enhances. Magnetic resonance imaging usually demonstrates hypointensity on T1, hyperintensity on T2, and enhancement with gadolinium. Most patients are responsive to antiluetic therapy, with the majority demonstrating complete or near-complete imaging and symptom resolution. CONCLUSION: Cerebral gummata are rare lesions. Intravenous penicillin G with imaging follow-up is recommended for most patients. Surgery should be reserved for those unresponsive to antibiotics or those with acutely elevated intracranial pressure.

Vasoespasmo cerebral secundário a subaracnóide: fisiopatologia, diagnóstico e tratamento atual: revisão crítica de literatura / Cerebral vasospasm following subachnoid hemorrhage (SAH): physiopathology, diagnosis and current management: critical review of literature

O vasoespasmo cerebral e isquemia cerebral tardia respondem de maneira substancial para morbidade e mortalidade da hemorragia subaracnóide (HSA) de etiologia aneurismática. A terapia hemodinâmica, como "três-H" é usada rotineiramente no manejo dos pacientes com vasoespasmo secundário à HSA. A razão de se induzir hipertensão relativa, hipervolemia e hemodiluição nestes doentes é melhorar o fluxo sanguíneo cerebral e evitar a esquemia tardia. Atualmente, apenas o bloqueador de canal de cálcio Nimodipina tem benefício comprovado no tratamento do vasoespasmo na HSA. Várias outras alternativas estão sendo estudadas. O Tirilazad não é efetivo, é vários outros tem resultados controversos, tasi como: sulfato de magnésio, estatinas, antagonistas de endotelina, esteróides, antiagregantes plaquetários, e fibrinolíticos intratecais. O objetivo deste trabalho é promover uma revisão sistemática da literatura exixtente acerca do tratamento do vasoespasmo cerebral.

Recurrent lymphocytic hypophysitis and bilateral intracavernous carotid artery occlusion. an observation and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: Bilateral carotid artery occlusion associated with lymphocytic hypophysitis is exceedingly rare. We describe this association and review the literature. METHODS: The authors describe a 38-year-old woman with a history of severe headaches. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed an intrasellar mass with invasion of both cavernous sinuses. Lymphocytic hypophysitis was diagnosed by transphenoidal biopsy. In the course of the disease, she developed symptoms of cerebral ischemia attributable to bilateral occlusion of her internal carotid arteries in both cavernous sinuses. She underwent bilateral superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass surgery. RESULTS: The patient experienced progressive neurological recovery after surgery. A literature search revealed no other cases describing this unique association. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral carotid artery occlusion may develop in the course of lymphocytic hypophysitis with cavernous sinus involvement. If indicated, cerebral revascularization should be performed to reverse cerebral ischemia.

Carotid endarterectomy without shunt: the role of cerebral metabolic protection.

BACKGROUND: The optimal method to protect the brain from hemodynamic ischemia during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains controversial. This study reports our experience with induced arterial hypertension and selective etomidate cerebral protection in a cohort of patients who underwent CEA without shunting and continuous electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 102 consecutive CEAs performed in 102 patients with routine EEG monitoring and general anesthesia between March 1998 and October 2002. There were 65 (66%) symptomatic and 37 (34%) asymptomatic individuals. A protocol of induced arterial hypertension against EEG ischemic changes during carotid artery cross clamping was followed. Only patients with EEG changes refractory to induced hypertension went into etomidate-induced burst suppression. RESULTS: EEG changes were classified as mild, moderate and severe. Twenty patients (19.6%) developed asymmetric EEG changes, of which the great majority were mild and moderate (75%, p< 0.05). Seven patients with moderate (n=3) and severe (n=4) EEG changes needed etomidate cerebral protection. There were no mortalities and only one stroke (0.98%) is reported in the series. The morbidity rate was 6.8% and included transient cranial nerve palsies (n=5) and wound hematoma (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid endarterectomy can be safely performed with EEG monitoring and selective induced arterial hypertension and etomidate cerebral protection. Our results suggest that this method may be a good alternative for shunting and its inherent risks.

Thyrocervical trunk-external carotid artery bypass for positional cerebral ischemia due to common carotid artery occlusion. Technical note.

Medically refractory positional cerebral ischemia (PCI) and concomitant orthostatic hypotension associated with chronic common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion are rare. In this technical report, the authors describe an extracranial bypass in which the thyrocervical trunk was used as a donor vessel to treat three cases of CCA occlusion with PCI. Postoperatively, although orthostatic hypotension remained, ischemia-related symptoms resolved in all three patients and long-term graft patency was demonstrated. It is possible to treat cerebral ischemia due to CCA occlusion with extracranial bypass surgery. In these patients, the thyrocervical trunk proved to be a suitable donor vessel for the reconstitution of blood flow within the external carotid artery.

Postischemic reperfusion: ultrastructural blood-brain barrier and hemodynamic correlative changes in an awake model of transient forebrain ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: In nonrecovery models of cerebral ischemia, blood-brain barrier (BBB) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes are known to occur during reperfusion. It is unknown, however, whether those CBF and BBB alterations occur after brief, transient ischemia with neurological recovery. The purpose of this study was to characterize the time course of CBF and BBB ultrastructural changes during reperfusion in an awake, recovery model of transient global forebrain ischemia (GFI). METHODS: Forty-five adult Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected, while awake, to 10 minutes of GFI by the nine-vessel occlusion method. Thirty-five age-matched animals composed a sham-operated group. Normal control (n = 5), sham-operated (n = 5), and nine-vessel occlusion/reperfusion (n = 15) rats were selected for ultrastructural analysis. Electroencephalography was performed, and CBF, mean arterial blood pressure, and intracranial pressure were measured during ischemia and reperfusion up to 24 hours. Quantitative morphological analysis of cortical BBB capillaries was performed by transmission electron microscopy at the same time points at which specific CBF changes occurred during reperfusion. RESULTS: CBF decreased to 6% of preocclusion values during GFI. This correlated with coma and decerebrate rigidity. During reperfusion, short-lived hyperemia (225 +/- 18%, P < 0.001) was characterized by increased intracranial pressure (28.3 +/- 2.6 mm Hg, P < 0.001) and isoelectric electroencephalogram. This was followed by hypoperfusion, which reached a nadir of 59.7% (59.7 +/- 8.8%, P < 0.01) from baseline by 90 minutes. At this time point, the electroencephalogram recovered, and intracranial pressure and mean arterial blood pressure showed no abnormalities. By 8.5 hours, CBF returned to normal, and this coincided with complete recovery of the animal. Ultrastructural BBB analysis revealed astrocyte end-foot process edema and patent capillaries during hyperemia. Severe interstitial BBB edema and capillary lumen collapse was observed during hypoperfusion. Detachment and migration of pericytes was observed during hypoperfusion and beyond. CONCLUSION: A biphasic CBF response is elicited during reperfusion after brief nonlethal GFI under awake conditions.

Amelogenesis imperfecta: alternativas de tratamiento / Amelogenesis imperfecta: treatment alternatives

La comprensión y entendimiento de trastornos del desarrollo que afectan a las estructuras bucales, se logra mediante el conocimiento de su embriología, histología y la revisión de conceptos genéticos actuales. Estos defectos se pueden presentar desde el nacimiento y algunos de ellos siguen patrones de herencia por lo que se debe de ser cuidadoso al diferenciar trastornos hereditarios de los congénitos. La amelogénesis imperfecta es un desarrollo defectuoso del esmalte, representa el clásico trastorno hereditario que afecta a esta estructura, teniendo presente su no incidencia con cualquier otro trastorno de tipo sindromico, metabólico o sistémico. Actualmente se conocen tres tipos de amelogénesis imperfecta; de tipo hipoplásico, hipomaduración e hipocalcificado, las cuales pueden presentar una variedad de hasta once fenotipos, según el tipo de herencia mendeliana. El aspecto del esmalte afectado puede presentar defectos que van desde los imperceptibles hasta los que afectan muy notablemente la apariencia y función dental. Según David Bixler, este tipo de trastornos ocasionan en el paciente severos daños en su desarrollo psicológico y social, llegando a afectar en la mayoría de los casos la autoestima del niño o adolescente. (David Bixler, 1998). El odontólogo debe conocer alternativas de tratamiento que brinden al paciente una solución estética y funcional a este padecimiento. Antiguamente, la única alternativa de solución que se le ofrecía al paciente era la extracción total o parcial de la dentadura afectada y posteriormente la confección de una prótesis total o parcial, situación que además de drástica resultaba traumática para el paciente. (Dominique Bouvier, 1999). La presente investigación bibliografica describe alternativas de tratamiento que proporcionan soluciones estéticas y funcionales a pacientes que presentan amelogénesis imperfecta; revisando materiales y técnicas antiguas de restauración como lo son las amalgamas de plata y coronas de acero cromado, y materiales mas recientemente desarrollados como cementos de ionómero de vidrio, compomeros, resinas composites y la porcelana dental en sus diferentes aplicaciones clínicas (carillas y coronas); que son esencialmente las mejores alternativas para tratar la amelogénesis imperfecta. Es necesario mencionar la ausencia de referencias documentales en cuanto a los tratamientos y/o técnicas específicas para cada tipo de amelogénesis imperfecta, ya que en cada caso es el odontólogo quien debe decidir el material y la técnica adecuada, según las características clínicas y condiciones bajo las que se presenta el paciente.

The understanding and understanding of developmental disorders that affect oral structures is achieved through knowledge of their embryology, histology and the review of current genetic concepts. These defects can occur from birth and some of them follow inheritance patterns, so care must be taken when differentiating inherited from congenital disorders. Amelogenesis imperfecta is a defective development of the enamel, it represents the classic hereditary disorder that affects this structure, taking into account its non-incidence with any other syndromic, metabolic or systemic disorder. Three types of amelogenesis imperfecta are currently known; hypoplastic, hypomaturated and hypocalcified, which can present a variety of up to eleven phenotypes, depending on the type of Mendelian inheritance. The appearance of the affected enamel can present defects that range from the imperceptible to those that affect the appearance and tooth function in a very noticeable way. According to David Bixler, this type of disorder causes serious damage to the psychological and social development of the patient, affecting in most cases the self-esteem of the child or adolescent. (David Bixler, 1998). The dentist must know treatment alternatives that provide the patient with an aesthetic and functional solution to this condition. In the past, the only alternative solution that was offered to the patient was the total or partial extraction of the affected teeth and later the realization of a total or partial prosthesis, a situation that was also drastic for the patient. (Dominique Bouvier, 1999). The present bibliographic research describes treatment alternatives that provide aesthetic and functional solutions to patients with amelogenesis imperfecta; review old restorative materials and techniques such as silver amalgams and chrome steel crowns, and more recently developed materials such as glass ionomer cements, compomers, composite resins and dental porcelain in their different clinical applications (veneers and crowns); which are essentially the best alternatives for the treatment of amelogenesis imperfecta. It is necessary to mention the absence of documentary references on the treatments and / or specific techniques for each type of amelogenesis imperfecta, since in each case it is the dentist who must decide the appropriate material and technique, according to the clinical characteristics and conditions under those presented by the patient.