Sunday 2 December 2018

Monday 5 November 2018

Identifying the Motor Strip


1. Surface anatomy

Taylor-Haughton Lines

Image result for taylor haughton lines
EAM just behind condylar process of mandible
Sylvian Fissure line starts at orbitotemporal angle- where the eyebrow ends.

  • The superior aspect of the motor cortex is almost straight up from the EAM near midline.  
  • 4-5cm posterior to coronal suture in adults. 
  • Or 2cm behind midpoint of nasion to inion. 
2. Radiological anatomy 

Surface anatomy of  the brain
The hand knob representing the hand motor area is in the pre-central gyrus. Looks like upside down omega. Delineates motor strip. 

Surface anatomy of  the brain


The motor strip typically terminates in the paracentral lobule, the pars bracket sign (arrowed) demarcates the posterior margin of the paracentral lobule.

Surface anatomy of  the brain

The thickness sign is simply that pre-central sulcus is thicker than post central- usually by 1.5:1. 

The postcentral sulcus is also usually bifid. 

The L sign- the superior frontal sulcus and precentral sulcus form an L shape. (See image at bottom) 

The IFG demonstrates an M shape - this is useful for Broca's area. It also follows that the pre-central gyrus is behind this. 

The hook sign represents the hand knob in sagittal plane and so indicates the motor strip. 

The pars marginalis sign follow the cingulate sulcus in midline sagittal view. The marginal sulcus (PM) is an extension of this. The post-central gyrus is in front of it.  

Image result for central sulcus sagittal

This is easy to use. Central sulcus is in red. Use it! 






Sunday 7 October 2018

Trigeminal Ganglion Balloon Rhizotomy Procedure 

Background: 

WITHIN CRANIUMï‚—Middle meningeal nerve- travels with middle meningeal artery- supplies duramater


FO: foramen Ovale. TI Trigeminal impression (Meckel's gave is a dural recess which resides within this along the petrous apex). 

Position: Supine, neck hyper-extended (20 degrees) and rotated 20 degrees to contralateral side. Gel roll seldom necessary.  

Modified submental XR (draw trajectory vectors 2.5cm in front of tragus at inferior border of zygoma and mid pupilary line. Connect vectors to incision mark. Vectors also guide XR direction though there is a radiographers protocol) 

Entry Point: c. 3cm lateral to mouth

trigeminal nerve block

Ensure no penetration into mouth (double gloves)

Trajectory/Target: Aim for middle of FO

trigeminal nerve block

Will feel give on puncturing foramen ovale and should see CSF in primary cases. Caution- too lateral may enter temporal lobe and too medial lacerum (carotid). Don't plunge too deep either- just penetrate. 

trigeminal nerve block

Can also identify petrous bone on submentatal XR (key XR landmarks are mandible, maxillary sinus, zygoma and petrous ridge). 

Once in, switch to lateral view. 

Submental View (With a 5 °Oblique Tilt) of the Foramen Ovale and Lateral View to Confirm the Depth of Needle Insertion


Inflate balloon slowly with approximately 0.8mls of dye. Radiograph should look pear shaped (by 0.5-0.7mls) and bradycardia expected. Don't inflate more than 0.8mls or ballon will burst. 
Dumbbell also acceptable, but sphere or irregular not (deflate and reposition). 
NB distance from needle tip to mid balloon 14-17mm (use a steristrip as a safety guard). 



A is incorrect (too high- up against sellar floor) B is correct and pear shaped. 

 Image result for lateral skull radiograph anatomy



1 and 6 pear shapes, 4 dumbbell. Others unacceptable. 

Complication avoidance: 
Diplopia most likely if balloon is too cranial (up towards sellar floor) or outside Meckel's cave (not pear shaped). 

Regional anatomy: coronal section

Image result for trigeminal balloon pear







Wednesday 28 February 2018

CSF Cisterns

Quadrageminal is Supratentorial
Ambient is Supra and infra-tentorial
Inter-peduncular (between cerebral peduncles of midbrain) and Pre-pontine are infratentorial