PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “SKULL”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1980

[Vivisection studies on the effects of unilateral tooth extraction on growth of the skull and masticatory musculature. I. Overall skull, orbita, zygomatic arch, rear skull (author's transl)].

Skull growth is affected by numerous factors, including dentition. Animal experiments have assumed considerable importance in connection with such studies. This series of publications deals with the response of the skull skeleton and masticatory muscles to extraction of each emerging tooth in the right half of the jaws of Vietnamese belly pigs. The animals were slaughtered at various ages ranging from 6 to 12 months, throughout an important phase of post-natal skull development. Biomathematical methods were used to analyse the macerated skull and the masticatory musculature. Linear differential equations have proved useful for describing growth processes. The 1st report deals with the distances measured for the overall and rear skull, the orbita and the zygomatic arch. Differences between the right and left sides are slight with respect to these distances. Significant differences were found only in the range of the front part of the zygomatic arch during the 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th and 12th month of life.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The contribution of high-resolution multiplanar reformats of the skull base to the detection of skull-base fractures.

AIM: To investigate the contribution of routine review of submillimetric multiplanar reformats to the diagnosis of skull-base fractures. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed of 407 cases referred over a 6-month period for CT of the skull following cranial trauma. The reformatted 5-mm axial sections and subsequently the high-resolution multiplanar reformats (HRMPRs) were viewed on an ADW 4.1 workstation using bone windows and algorithm. All skull-base fractures and related features, recorded by the consensus of two radiologists, were classified as anatomically significant or non-significant on the basis of eight criteria. The clinical features of skull-base injury and any subsequent treatment were noted in all cases of skull-base fracture. RESULTS: HRMPRs detected 80 separate skull-base fractures in 36/407 cases. Of these 80 fractures, 57 were visible on 5-mm axial sections. In 8 of the 36 cases, the significant anatomical features were only evident on review of the HRMPRs. In 6 of the 36 cases, none of the skull-base fractures was visible on 5-mm sections, but these individuals had only minor associated clinical features and no therapeutic requirements. Review of HRMPRs could have been confined to patients with skull-base fractures, abnormal intracranial and extracranial air collections or opacified mastoid air cells revealed by 5-mm axial sections. This policy would have led to the detection of 79/80 (99%) of skull-base fractures and all significant anatomical features. CONCLUSION: The 5-mm axial sections demonstrated 71% of skull-base fractures and 78% of skull-base fractures with significant anatomical features, using HRMPRs as a gold standard. There were no significant clinical sequelae at short-term follow-up of those fractures only evident on HRMPRs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Depressed skull fractures in children secondary to skull clamp fixation devices.

The use of external skull fixation devices (skull clamps) is a common practice in neurosurgery. The insertion of pins into the skull is usually routine and uneventful in adult patients. However, the safety of skull clamp fixation devices in children is not reported. We have examined our complications over the past 6 years, and have encountered 5 children with depressed skull fractures secondary to application of a skull clamp fixation device. There were 3 boys and 2 girls with ages ranging from 3 to 8 years (mean 5.8 years). Two patients had brainstem gliomas, 2 patients had hypothalamic gliomas and 1 patient had a medulloblastoma. Four of the children required separate cranial procedures for exploration and elevation of the depressed fractures. There were no sequelae associated with the depressed fractures. We conclude that skull clamp fixation devices are safe, but should be used with caution in the pediatric patient. In addition, we present several modifications of existing skull clamps which may decrease the risk of depressed skull fractures.

Brain↗
PubMed2004

[Anatomical landmarks of skull base and safety of the skull base surgery].

OBJECTIVE: In order to improve the safety of skull base surgery and to completely resect the skull base tumors, the anatomical landmarks of skull base were studied. METHODS: 29 cases of skull base surgery were performed between 1992 and 2002, and their clinical data were retrospectively analysed. The anatomical landmarks of cranial base, such as comb, pterygoid process, spine of temporal bone, styloid process, and internal caroid artery, were analysed in preoperative diagnosis and operative treatment of various kinds of skull base tumors. RESULTS: In the early stages, because of lacking the knowledge of anatomical landmarks of the skull base, the surgery lasted longer, part of skull base tumors remained and operative blood lose was much more than that in later stage. In the later stage, no operative death and severe complications were found in 26 cases which underwent various kinds of skull base surgery. The survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 72.2% and 35.7% respectively for malignant tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Comb, pterygoid process, spine of temporal bone, styloid process, internal caroid artery and their adjacent structures were important anatomical landmarks for operative treatment of anterior, middle and lateral cranial base tumors. It was important to know the anatomical landmarks to ensure the safety of the skull base surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Geometric morphometrics of the skull of various murid rodents (Mammalia, Rodentia): relation of the skull shape to the trophic specialization].

Presented is a brief overview of basic principles and notions of geometric morphometrics, a new approach to quantitative analysis of shape variations. This approach is applied to analysis of variation of the skull shape in the sample of 18 muroid genera belonging to the families Cricetidae, Arvicolidae and Gerbillidae. The skull shape is described by landmarks, and skulls are compared by resistant fit and superimposition methods. Under consideration is relation of skull shape to the trophic specialization, to family belonging, and to body size. Axial skull reveals more conspicuous relation to each of the factor analyzed as compared to mandible. Zygomatic region and tooth raw are most differentiable, while change of auditory bulla is of secondary effect. Transition from omnivorous through granivorous to grass-eating specialization involves the same trend in each of the family studied in the case of axial skull but not of mandible. Most dependent of trophic specialization appeared to be shape of axial skull rather then of mandible. Arvicolines are most specific in respect to the skull shape. Shape to size relation, although rather slight, also involves the same zygomatic-dental region. The results obtained indicate probably that geometric morphometrics does reveal variations in the skull shape that are free of the size effect.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The 'Skull from Bangkok': a skull of a betel quid chewer in the anthropological collection of Rudolf Virchow (Berlin).

This report describes the 'Skull from Bangkok', collected by Rudolf Virchow (Berlin, Germany) in the late 19th century. The skull is part of an extensive anthropological collection of skeletons and skulls from all over the world. The skull was probably brought to Berlin during the years 1882-1883. An inscription on the frontal bone gives the name of the skull: 'Skull from Bangkok'. The few remaining teeth of the maxilla show brown black stains because of betel quid chewing. In the collection, there is an extensive number of skulls from South- and Southeast Asia with similar betel stains. Virchow himself was aware of this habit and has described some of the skulls in detail often mentioning the black stains because of betel quid chewing. The Skull from Bangkok is a proof that betel quid chewing was prevalent in Siam of the late 19th century.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Skull fractures in children: their assessment in relation to developmental skull changes and acute intracranial hematomas.

Retrospective analysis of 12,072 pediatric head injury cases revealed 1,297 skull fractures. Patients with skull fractures were divided into four age groups according to the fusion of skull sutures and other developmental radiological skull changes. Results revealed that the patients with open skull sutures (aged less than 2 years) and with linear skull fractures alone had a negligible chance of developing intracranial hematomas. With the fusion of metopic and mendosal sutures associated with other skull changes (greater than 2 years), the children became progressively more susceptible to developing intracranial hematomas if they had a skull fracture. The risk of developing intracranial hematomas was the highest among those patients (much greater than 11-15 years) whose paranasal sinuses had reached adult size and spheno-occipital synchondrosis had begun to fuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reconstruction of skull base defects after minimally invasive endoscopic resection of anterior skull base neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: The endoscopic resection of the cribriform plate during minimally invasive endoscopic resection (MIER) of the anterior skull base neoplasms may result in large anterior skull base defects. The objective of this study is to describe techniques for the management of skull base defects after MIER. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing MIER and skull base reconstruction between April 2000 and August 2005. RESULTS: Fourteen patients underwent endoscopic resection of anterior skull base tumors and reconstruction during the study period. The mean age was 57.4 years (range, 26-84 years). The sex distribution was eight men and six women. The specific indications for resection included 11 malignant and 3 benign neoplasms. Ten patients received adjuvant therapy, and in two instances this occurred before surgery. In all instances, the dura was exposed; however, only 10 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks were encountered intraoperatively. Reconstruction of the skull base was successfully performed, most commonly in a multilayer fashion, using an array of materials including cartilage, fat, acellular dermal graft, and mucosal free grafts. Lumbar drain placement was used in seven cases for an average of 5.6 days. No postoperative CSF leaks occurred. The mean follow-up was 18.0 months (range, 1-56 months). CONCLUSION: This report describes methods for the reconstruction of the skull base after MIER. Reconstitution of the skull base barrier can be achieved through application of principles for surgical repair of CSF rhinorrhea.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Functional shape of the skull in vertebrates: which forces determine skull morphology in lower primates and ancestral synapsids?

In order to determine the extent to which the shape of the synapsid skull is adapted for resisting the mechanical loads to which it is subjected, block- or simple plate-shaped finite-element models were constructed and loaded with external muscle and bite forces in locations estimated to resemble points of application of these forces. These 2D or 3D finite-element models were iteratively loaded and modified by removing elements that experience only low stresses, and the resulting morphologies of the models were compared with fossil skulls of synapsids and the skulls of extant mammals. The results suggest that the stress flows in these unspecific models are very similar to the arrangement of bone material in real skulls. Morphological differences between taxa depend on a few a priori conditions: length and position of the tooth rows in relation to the braincase, arrangement of muscles, position of the orbits, and position of the nasal opening. Given these initial conditions, finite-element analysis consistently reveals the close similarity between stress flows and real skulls. The major difference between mammal-like reptiles and primates is the size of the braincase. This difference accounts for most of the morphological divergence. The postorbital bar seems to be a constructional element of the skull, rather than a means to protect the eyes. The skull shapes of higher primates are determined mainly by masticatory forces and less by external forces acting on the head. This study demonstrates the utility of finite-element modeling for testing hypotheses regarding relationships between form and function in vertebrate skulls.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The fronto-orbital osteotomy as plastic-reconstructive approach to the anterior and middle skull base.

Introduction: A combined extra-intracranial access for the operative exploration of tumours of the anterior and middle skull base is indicated when the tumour extends intracranially and simultaneously into the nasal cavity, the paranasal sinuses or the orbit. Methods: Two standardized modifications of the fronto-orbital osteotomy, the fronto-orbito-nasal and the fronto-orbito-zygomatic osteotomy, allow safe removal of skull base tumours in these locations. In extensive skull base tumours, a modified bilateral fronto-orbital-zygomatic osteotomy can be used. Results: Between February 1993 and July 2000 skull base tumours in 111 patients were resected using the presented methods. The most frequent tumour type was meningioma in 29 cases. Complications were encountered in 13 cases (11.7%). Conclusion: The advantages over other approaches are good extra- and intracranial overview and minimal cerebral trauma. Additional transfacial incisions are not usually necessary. Exact repositioning of the fronto-orbital segments leads to optimal aesthetic results. Copyright 2001 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1976

[An infantile skull fracture followed by the enlarging of the fracture line ("enlarging skull fracture") (author's transl)].

We experience sometimes an infantile skull fracture which is followed by the skull fracture line and bulging of the fractured area day by day after the head injury. Since John Howship reported the case of the partial absorption of the right parietal bone, arising from a blow on the head in a child aged 9 month in 1816, this phenomenon was variously described meningocele spuria, traumatic cephalohydrocele, leptomeningeal cyst, fibrosing osteitis, cerebrocranial erosion, traumatic meningocele, die wachsende Schädelfrakture, growing skull fracture, etc. So called "growing skull fracture" has generally the triad of the symptoms which are the parietal skull fracture in infancy or childhood, traumatic dural tears, and subsequent enlargement of the fractures. And it is said that the dural tear is an indispensable condition for the developing of the "growing skull fracture". But we recently had the case of a 14 day old male infant who had neither traumatic dural tear nor subdural hematoma, but the progressive enlarging of the fracture line in the left parietal bone. The authors suggest that there should be the difference between the growing skull fracture (with the dural teat) and the enlarging skull fracture (without the dural tear).

Fractures, Ununited↗
PubMed2006

The size of selected human skull foramina in relation to skull capacity.

An anatomical study was undertaken in order to investigate whether the sizes of selected human skull foramina with significant venous compartments correlated significantly with skull capacity. A total of 100 macerated human skulls were examined to determine the diameter of the foramina and the skull capacity. Measurements of the surface area of the foramina were made using a computerised digital analysis system. Only the size of the hypoglossal canal and jugular foramen were found to correlate significantly with the capacity of the skull. This correlation, together with the considerable size of the hypoglossal canal, indicated its important role in the venous drainage of the brain. There was considerable centralisation of venous outflow from the brain, with 60% of the area of all venous foramina of the skull occupied by jugular foramina. Asymmetry between the right and left jugular foramina was identified, with an average ratio of 1.6 (ranging between 1 and 3.47). In the case of right-sided domination the correlation between the skull capacity and the size of both jugular foramina was negative (the larger the skull cavity, the less the asymmetry), while in the case of left-sided domination the correlation was positive. Perhaps the left-sided domination is less advantageous for the haemodynamics of blood outflow, as the left brachiocephalic vein is longer and is often compressed by the sternum and aortic arch.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Radiosurgery for residual or recurrent nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma.

OBJECT: Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas comprise approximately 30% of all pituitary tumors. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the efficacy and role of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) in the management of residual or recurrent nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. METHODS: A review was conducted of the data obtained in 42 patients who underwent adjuvant GKS at the University of Pittsburgh between 1987 and 2001. Prior treatments included transsphenoidal resection, craniotomy and resection, or conventional radiotherapy. Endocrinological, ophthalmological, and radiological responses were evaluated. The duration of follow-up review varied from 6 to 102 months (mean 31.2 months). Fifteen patients were observed for more than 40 months. The mean radiation dose to the tumor margin was 16 Gy. Conformal radiosurgery planning was used to restrict the dose to the optic nerve and chiasm. Tumor control after GKS was achieved in 100% of patients with microadenomas and 97% of patients with macroadenomas. Gamma knife radiosurgery was equally effective in controlling adenomas with cavernous sinus invasion and suprasellar extension. No patient developed a new endocrinological deficiency following GKS. One patient's tumor enlarged with an associated decline in visual function. Another patient experienced a deterioration of visual fields despite a decrease in tumor size. CONCLUSIONS: Gamma knife radiosurgery can achieve tumor control in virtually all residual or recurrent nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. Dose sparing facilitates tumor management even when the adenoma is close to the optic apparatus or invades the cavernous sinus.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2000

[Institutionalization of skull base surgery. Development, concept and initial experiences of the interdisciplinary center for skull base surgery of the Leipzig University].

The treatment of complex tumorous, inflammatory, traumatic, vascular processes, or developmental disorders of the skull base increasingly needs the interdisciplinary cooperation of specialties involved in diagnostics or treatment. Due to this inevitable cooperation of different hospital specialties, institutionalization of skull base surgery, organized as a center or working group, seems recommendable. Moreover, such a center may have additional effects on the external representation of skull base surgery, which is also important. On the initiative of 11 departments and institutes of the university hospital of Leipzing, the Interdisciplinary Center of Skull Base Surgery (IZSL) was founded in March 1997. The following aims were proclaimed: improvement of the interdisciplinary clinical treatment of patients with skull base diseases, evaluation of the patient's data, advancement of clinical and experimental research on the field of skull base surgery, as well as the organization of meetings for training and teaching and scientific meetings. Structure, concept, and first experiences of the interdisciplinary center of skull base surgery are discussed.

Germany↗
PubMed1981

[Human skull volume in relation to other skull parameters (author's transl)].

Previously we measured volumes of 235 human skulls by use of our newly developed method of water filling. In this report, we analyzed the relation of skull volumes (C) to other main skull parameters such as skull weight (W), skull modulus (M), multiple of three main diameters (V) and main skull indices. 1. Changes in C depending on age and sex were most closely related with those in V. 2. Average M was kept relatively constant independent of age and values of C/M=Q showed a change similar to C. 3. Three skull indices appear to have no relation to C.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Preparation of the human skull for skull base anatomic study.

Human skulls are unsurpassed in the ability to provide three-dimensional instruction in osteology as well as understanding the sites of soft tissue insertion and the intricate course of neurovascular structures in the skull base. Recent geopolitical developments in Asia have led to extreme difficulty in obtaining human skull specimens. The purpose of this article is to present a method for the preparation of dried human skulls from fresh and frozen cadavers using commonly available chemicals. The technique, requiring about 8 weeks total time and basic equipment, consists of maceration accelerated by several enzymes followed by defatting, washing, and bleaching. The skulls produced are of excellent quality and durability with no preparation artifacts. An economical source of skulls has now been reestablished to facilitate learning of the intricate relationships of the skull base.

Journal Article↗