Gradenigo's Syndrome: Beyond the Classical Triad of Diplopia, Facial Pain and Otorrhea

We report a case of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a young woman presenting with an abdominal mass and an unusual instance of cranial nerve palsies mimicking Gradenigo's syndrome. This condition is characterized by a triad of otorrhea, facial pain and diplopia, related to otitis media in the pre-antibiotic era. Incomplete and atypical clinical features of Gradenigo's syndrome have been described and noninfectious causes may mimic this condition. Careful clinical history and physical examination, including neuroimaging, are necessary to make a differential diagnosis

Asymmetric optic nerve sheath diameter as an outcome factor following cranioplasty in patients harboring the 'syndrome of the trephined'

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is gaining an increasing role in the neurosurgical treatment of intractable intracranial hypertension, but not without complications. A rare complication is the “syndrome of the trephined” (ST). It occurs when the forces of gravity overwhelm intracranial pressures, leading the brain to become sunken. Objective To determine the usefulness of asymmetric optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) as an outcome factor after cranioplasty. Method We followed-up 5 patients submitted to DC and diagnosed with ST. All were submitted to brain MRI to calculate the ONSD. Results Only two patients presented an asymmetric ONSD, being ONSD larger at the site of craniectomy. Surprisingly these patients had a marked neurological improvement after cranioplasty. They became independent a week after and statistically earlier than others. Conclusion It is presumed that the presence of an asymmetric ONSD in trephined patients is an independent factor of good outcome after cranioplasty

Fratura de mandíbula: análise de 293 pacientes tratados no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Mandibular fracture: analysis of 293 patients treated in the Hospital of Clinics, Federal University of Uberlândia

A fratura de mandíbula ocupa o segundo lugar entre as fraturas dos ossos da face, tendo havido aumento significativo de casos nos últimos anos. A não-identificação e o tratamento inadequado podem levar à deformidade estética ou funcional permanente. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os casos submetidos à redução de fratura de mandíbula no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, entre janeiro de 1974 e dezembro de 2002. FORMA DE ESTUDO: coorte historica. PACIENTES E MÉTODO: Duzentos e noventa e três pacientes foram submetidos à redução de fratura de mandíbula e retrospectivamente foram avaliados segundo fatores relacionados a: paciente, trauma, quadro clínico e tratamento cirúrgico. RESULTADOS: Houve uma clara tendência de aumento do número de fraturas de mandíbula ao longo dos anos. Houve um predomínio no sexo masculino (4:1), com pico de ocorrência entre 20 a 29 anos. As principais causas de fratura da mandíbula neste estudo foram acidentes de trânsito e violência, perfazendo juntas 72,4%. Cento e trinta e cinco pacientes apresentavam fratura única. Os sítios mais acometidos foram, em ordem decrescente, sínfise, côndilo, ângulo, corpo, ramo e processo coronóide. Foram realizadas redução incruenta (28), cruenta (213) e associação das duas (11 pacientes), sendo que 56,8% dos pacientes foram tratados nos primeiros 3 dias e 50,4% recebeu a alta hospitalar até o primeiro pós-operatório. Cerca de 10% dos pacientes apresentaram complicações, sendo osteomielite a mais freqüente. CONCLUSÃO: A incidência de fraturas de mandíbula foi marcadamente maior no sexo masculino, durante a terceira década de vida. A causa mais comum foi o acidente de trânsito e as regiões mais atingidas foram sínfise e côndilo. As fraturas isoladas de mandíbula ocorreram em mais de metade dos casos. A maioria dos pacientes foi tratada nos primeiros três dias e recebeu alta até o primeiro pós-operatório. A redução cruenta foi tratamento mais comumente empregado. A complicação mais freqüente foi a osteomielite.<br>Mandibular fracture is the second most common facial fracture and there has been a significant increase in number of cases in the last years. Misidentification and inadequate treatment can take to permanent aesthetic or functional deformity. AIM: Evaluate cases of mandibular fracture reduction in the Hospital of Clinics of the Federal University of Uberlândia, from January of 1974 to December of 2002. STUDY DESIGN: historical cohort. PATIENT AND METHOD: Two hundred and ninety-three cases of reduction of mandibular fractures were retrospectively analyzed according to factors related to: patient, trauma, signs and symptoms, and surgical treatment. RESULTS: There has been a clear tendency of increase of the number of mandibular fractures along the years. There was higher prevalence in male (4:1), with occurrence peak between 20 to 29 years old. The principal causes of fracture in this study were traffic accidents and violence, representing 72.4%. One hundred and thirty-five patients presented only one fracture. The most injured sites were, in decreasing order, symphysis, condyle, angle, body, ramus, and coronoid. We performed closed reduction (28), open reduction (213) and association of the two (11 patients); 56.8% of the patients were treated within the first 3 days; and, 50.4% were discharged from the hospital until the first postoperative day. About 10% of the patients presented complications, being osteomyelitis the most frequent one. CONCLUSION: The incidence of mandibular fractures was remarkably larger in the male sex, during the third decade of life. The most common cause was traffic accident, and symphysis and condyle were the most injured sites. Isolated fractures occurred in over half of the cases. Most of the patients were treated in the first three days and were discharged until the first postoperative visit. Closed reduction was the treatment most commonly employed. The most frequent complication was osteomyelitis