Background: Synostosis or fusion of atlas with occipital bone is known as occipitocervical synostosis, occipitalization of the atlas, or atlanto-occipital fusion. This is a rare congenital malformation at craniovertebral junction. Its incidence ranges from 0.08%-3% in general population. Occipitocervical synostosis result in narrowing of foramen magnum which may compress the brain stem, vertebral artery and cranial nerves. Knowledge of occipitocervical synostosis is important for the surgeons during the surgeries in the craniovertebral region. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the incidence and to describe the morphology of the occipitocervical synostosis.Material and Methods: Two-hundred dry adult human skulls of Indian origin were studied in the Department of anatomy. The base of these skulls was observed for presence of atlantooccipital fusion. The anteroposterior and transverse diameter of the foramen magnum and diameter of the inferior articular facets were measured in these skulls using digital vernier caliper.

a b s t r a c tMyxofibrosarcoma occurs frequently in the extremities of older individuals and is rarely reported in the head and neck sites. The present case is a rare clinical presentation with respect to site, size and origin of the tumour. Occurring at an intraoral site, the tumour was 8 cm × 7 cm × 5.5 cm in dimensions. Myxofibrosarcoma is known to originate from subcutaneous tissues in the majority of the cases. The origin of the tumour was ambiguous in the current case, as it appeared entirely intraorally.The tumour was resected with adequate margin and following which post-operative adjuvant radiotherapy was given.

The aim of this study is to investigate the position and course of the mandibular canal through the ramus, angle and body of mandible using computed tomographic (CT) imaging pre-operatively and to relate these predetermined values intra-operatively to perform sagittal split ramus osteotomies. Pre-operative CT scans were taken and four points were marked at mandibular foramen, mandibular angle, mandibular body and midpoint and different dimensions of IAN were measured to localize the inferior alveolar nerve. With the obtained values, precise osteotomy cuts were made intra-operatively and intra-operative measurements for position of IAN were noted. Based on the preoperative CT measurements, the chance to encounter IAN bundle, during surgery was evaluated. The present study proved that pre-operative CT imaging prior to BSSO surgical procedure is an effective way to investigate the position and course of the IAN canal through the framework of the mandible and by interpolating these dimensions intra operatively, reduces the risk of direct injury to the IAN bundle.

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Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility of the concordance between skeletal maturity index stages of hand-wrist radiograph (Fishman) and cervical vertebral maturity index stages of lateral cephalogram (Hassel and Farman). Materials and methods:A radiographic hand-wrist bone analysis and cephalometric cervical-vertebral analysis of 48 patients (24 males and 24 females; 7-18 years of age) were examined. The hand-wrist bone analysis was evaluated by the Fishman index, whereas the cervical vertebral analysis was assessed by the Hassel and Farman (CVMI) method. These measurements were then compared with the hand-wrist bone analysis, and the results were statistically analyzed by the Cohen  concordance index. Results:The Cohen  index obtained (mean ± SD) was 0.70 ± 0.02, which is in the good range of agreement. The results also show a correlation of CVMI I with Fishman stages 1-2, CVMI II with Fishman stages 3-4, CVM III with Fishman stages 4-5, CVMI IV with Fishman stages 6-7,CVMI V with Fishman stages 9-10 and CVMI VI with Fishman stage 11. Conclusion:Vertebral analysis on a lateral cephalogram is as valid as the hand-wrist bone analysis with the advantage of reducing the radiation exposure of growing subjects.