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The foramen ovale (FO) of the sphenoid bone is clinically important for the interventional treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Percutaneous procedures applied to treat the chronic pain condition typically involve the cannulation of this oval-like foramen located at the base of the skull. Anatomic variations of the FO have been reported to contribute to difficulties in the cannulation of this structure. Computed tomography (CT) can help the surgeon improve the accuracy and safety of the intervention. However, even with navigation technology, unsuccessful cannulation of the FO has been reported. The aim of this observational anatomic study was to define morphometric and morphologic data of the FO and to investigate for potential differences between measurements taken on dried human crania and digitized measurements of the FO measured on CT images. One hundred eighteen FOs were evaluated. Twenty FOs underwent CT scanning. The mean length of the foramen was 7.41±1.3 mm on the left side and 7.57±1.07 mm on the right. The mean width of the foramen was 4.63±0.86 mm on the left side and 4.33±0.99 on the right. The mean area on the left side was 27.11±7.58 and 25.73±6.64 mm 2 on the right. No significant left-right differences were found for any of these dimensions. The most important conclusion that we can draw is that the measurements can indeed be performed on CT images to obtain an accurate picture of the morphology. Considering the surgical importance of the FO and taking into consideration the limitations this study added to scientific knowledge, this study was constructive as far as neurosurgeons and anatomists are concerned.

Study Design. A cross-sectional observational study of three-dimensional (3D) cervical kinematics in 41 chronic neck pain (CNPs) patients and 156 asymptomatic controls. Objective. The objective was to investigate 3D cervical kinematics by analyzing and comparing quantitative and qualitative parameters in healthy subjects and CNPs. Furthermore, subgroups were formed to explore the influence of pain-location on cervical kinematics. The possible correlation of kinematic parameters with the degree of functional disability was examined as well. Summary of Background Data. In patients with chronic neck pain, a clear pathological cause is frequently not identifiable. Therefore, the need to assess neck pain with a broader view than structure or anatomical-based divergences is desirable. Methods. Movements of the cervical spine were registered using an electromagnetic tracking system. Quantitative and qualitative kinematics were analyzed for active axial rotation, lateral bending, and flexion-extension motion components. Results. During lateral bending, the range of the main motion demonstrated significant higher values (P = 0.001) in the controls (mean: 68.67 degrees +/- 15.17 degrees) than patients (mean: 59.28 degrees +/- 15.41 degrees). Significant differences were demonstrated between subgroups for several kinematic parameters (P