A Rare Variant of the Ulnar Artery with Important Clinical Implications: a Case Report

BACKGROUND: Variations in the major arteries of the upper limb are estimated to be present in up to one fifth of people, and may have significant clinical implications. CASE PRESENTATION: During routine cadaveric dissection of a 69-year-old fresh female cadaver, a superficial brachioulnar artery with an aberrant path was found bilaterally. The superficial brachioulnar artery originated at midarm level from the brachial artery, pierced the brachial fascia immediately proximal to the elbow, crossed superficial to the muscles that originated from the medial epicondyle, and ran over the pronator teres muscle in a doubling of the antebrachial fascia. It then dipped into the forearm fascia, in the gap between the flexor carpi radialis and the palmaris longus. Subsequently, it ran deep to the palmaris longus muscle belly, and superficially to the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle, reaching the gap between the latter and the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, where it assumed is usual position lateral to the ulnar nerve. CONCLUSION: As far as the authors could determine, this variant of the superficial brachioulnar artery has only been described twice before in the literature. The existence of such a variant is of particular clinical significance, as these arteries are more susceptible to trauma, and can be easily confused with superficial veins during medical and surgical procedures, potentially leading to iatrogenic distal limb ischemia.

Falsos Negativos em Citologia Cervical. A Propósito de um Caso Clínico

A redução na incidência e morbimortalidade do cancro do colo invasivo deveu-se, e deve-se, ao diagnóstico e terapêutica das lesões precursoras do cancro cervical, contribuindo para este objectivo a implementação de métodos e programas de rastreio eficazes com citologia cervical. É do conhecimento geral que a citologia cervical é um método de rastreio eficaz mas apresenta limitações. Os falso negativos podem atingir mais de 50%, uma taxa de 5 a 10% é considerada aceitável pela maioria dos autores. Taxas inferiores a 5% são apresentados nas melhores séries. Como a citologia é um exame de rastreio e não um teste diagnóstico, se a sintomatologia e/ou a clínica sugerirem patologia, a investigação deverá prosseguir, mesmo na presença de citologia negativa. O caso clínico que se apresenta ilustra e pede atenção para a problemática dos resultados falsamente negativos da citologia cervical.

Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Associated with Cervical Rib

A true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) associated with a cervical rib is considered extremely rare. The authors present their experience with 5 cases of true neurogenic TOS associated with a cervical rib. All patients were female and had a cervical rib confirmed radiographically pre-operatively. Average age was 34,8 years. Although all patients had been treated with several combinations of diverse drugs and a rehabilitation program before referral to surgery, all described their pain as intense and debilitating before surgical treatment. All patients had pre-operative electromyographic abnormalities. Patients were operated on via a supraclavicular approach and the cervical rib was resected. No intra-operative or postoperative complications were noted. Two years postoperatively, all patients mentioned improvement. However, only 2 were symptomless, and on no medication. In one patient there was significant improvement, and in the remaining 2 patients some residual pain persisted that had to be dealt with pharmacologically. All patients were able to resume their daily life activities. Recovery was poorer in the 2 patients that had been referred to surgery after a longer period of time since the beginning of symptoms.

Cerclage Cervical na Gravidez

Os autores efectuam uma revisão de 78 cerclages do colo uterino realizadas na Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, num período de oito anos (1991-1998). A técnica utilizada foi a de Mc Donald, com excepção de um caso em que se utilizou a técnica de Shirodkar. No passado obstétrico destas 78 grávidas houve 181 gravidezes anteriores com uma sobrevida fetal de 17%. Após a cerclage, a sobrevida fetal foi de 83%, com um prolongamento médio da gestação de 17 semanas. O resultado final da gravidez foi de 8% de abortos, 37% partos pré-termo (PPT) e 55% de partos de termo (PT).

Salvage Flexor Hallucis Longus Transfer for a Failed Achilles Repair: Endoscopic Technique

Flexor hallucis longus (FHL) transfer is a well-established treatment option in failed Achilles tendon (AT) repair and has been routinely performed as an open procedure. We detail the surgical steps needed to perform an arthroscopic transfer of the FHL for a chronic AT rupture. The FHL tendon is harvested as it enters in its tunnel beneath the sustentaculum tali; a tunnel is then drilled in the calcaneus as near to the AT footprint as possible. By use of a suture-passing device, the free end of the FHL is advanced to the plantar aspect of the foot. After adequate tension is applied to the construct, the tendon is fixed in place with an interference screw in an inside-out fashion. This minimally invasive approach is a safe and valid alternative to classic open procedures with the obvious advantages of preserving the soft-tissue envelope and using a biologically intact tendon.