Introduction: We report a rare case of a ganglion cyst at the elbow causing neurological symptoms by stretching the superficial radial nerve alone. Ganglia associated with radial nerve palsy at the elbow have been reported previously involving the deep branch of the posterior interosseous nerve and the superficial radial nerve, but not the superficial radial nerve alone.

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A 23-year-old Brazilian man, a farmer in a rural area of Minas Gerais State, complained of an 8-month history of neck pain and upper-limb weakness. Flaccid tetraparesis, global hyperreflexia, and pyramidal signs were present. Cranial CT and brain MRI were normal. Spinal cord MRI showed an intramedullary tumoral lesion, extending from C3 to C5 vertebral bodies, with a cystic appearance (figure 1). With a presumptive diagnosis of spinal cord tumor, the lesion was completely removed. Microscopy revealed the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (figure 2). The patient was started on corticosteroids and albendazole with good functional recovery after 4 months. MRI showed only residual alterations caused by the surgical procedure.CSF eosinophilia or a positive ELISA test to cysticerci are useful tools in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis and unfortunately were not performed in our patient. Isolated cervical intramedullary spinal neurocysticercosis is extremely rare and not considered by most physicians.

In aesthetic otoplasty, it is widely known that only techniques that disassemble the resilient cartilaginous architecture in cases of protruding ears coupled with anchoring sutures can achieve good and stable results. All surgical otoplasty procedures aim to achieve a new, shapely, and aesthetic antihelix fold that shapes and beautifies the outer ear. In this article, we describe our 10-year experience with the use of a new instrument for auricular cartilage striation -the traditional crochet needle. Moreover, we describe the manner in which the new instrument can be prepared in order to have a lower bevel cutting edge as well as the technical management of this instrument in small buttonholes in the auricular helix. After molding the antihelix complex, the new form is fixed with absorbable and non-absorbable sutures. With this technique, there is a low complication rate due to narrow cutaneous detachment tunnels in the anterior surface of the ear. In the article, we also describe the successful clinical use of the new instrument.Keywords: External ear/surgery. Needles. Plastic surgery/methods. RESUMOUm consenso atual em otoplastia estética apregoa que somente as técnicas que desmontem a resiliente arquitetura cartilaginosa das orelhas protrusas, aliadas à fixação da nova forma com suturas, podem alcançar resultados bons e estáveis. O alvo cirúrgico de toda otoplastia é a nova dobra da antélice torneada e estética: uma roliça dobra afunilada que dá forma e beleza à orelha externa. Neste artigo é descrita a experiência de 10 anos com o uso de um novo instrumental no estriamento da cartilagem auricular: as tradicionais agulhas de crochê. Além disso, são demonstrados o modo de aparelhar o novo dispositivo, para ter uma borda inferior em bisel cortante, e a técnica de manejo desse dispositivo por pequenas botoeiras sob a hélice auricular. Após a moldagem do complexo antelical, é assegurada a nova forma com suturas, absorvível e não-absorvível. Com essa técnica, é observado baixo índice de complicações, em decorrência de estreitos túneis de descolamento cutâneo da face anterior do pavilhão auricular. No artigo, é também apresentado um caso clínico bem-sucedido com o uso do novo instrumental.Descritores: Orelha externa/cirurgia. Agulhas. Cirurgia plástica/métodos.1. Plastic surgeon, full memberof the Sociedade Brasileira