OBJECTIVE: To study the causes of false-positive hyoid fractures and forensic identification. METHODS: Twelve cases of false-positive hyoid fractures were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Improper dissection technique (4 cases) and congenital separation (8 cases) were the main reasons for false-positive hyoid fractures. CONCLUSION True fractures can be differentiated from false-positive hyoid fractures. False-positive hyoid fracture caused by improper dissection technique can be identified through examination of peripheral muscle, soft tissue hemorrhage, and the characteristics of fracture end.
Autopsy ; Cell Differentiation ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fractures, Bone/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone/injuries* ; Muscles

OBJECTIVES: The interforminal region, between the mandibular foramen, is known as a relatively safe area that is free of anatomic structures, such as inferior alveolar nerve, submandibular fossa, and lingual side of the mandible is occasionally neglected for its low clinical importance. Even in the case of a severely constricted alveolus, perforation of the lingual cortical bone had been intended. However, anterior extension of the inferior alveolar canal, important anatomic structure, such as concavity of lingual bone, lingual foramina, and lingual canal, has recently been reported through various studies, and untypical bleeding by perforation of the lingual plate on implantation has also been reported. Therefore, in this study, we performed radiographic and statistical analysis on distribution and appearance frequencies of the lingual foramina that causes perforation of the mandibular lingual cortical bone to prevent complications, such as untypical bleeding, during surgical procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the horizontal length from a midline of the mandible to the lingual foramina, as well as the horizontal length from the alveolar crest to the lingual foramina and from the lingual foramina to the mandibular border by multi-detector computed tomography of 187 patients, who visited Dankook University Dental Hospital for various reasons from January 1, 2008 to August 31, 2012. RESULTS: From a total of 187 human mandibles, 110 (58.8%) mandibles had lingual foramina; 39 (20.9%) had bilateral lingual foramen; 34 (18.2%) had the only left lingual foramen; and 37 (19.8%) had the only right lingual foramen. CONCLUSION: When there is consistent bleeding during a surgical procedure, clinicians must consider damages on the branches of the sublingual artery, which penetrate the lingual foramina. Also, when there is a lingual foramina larger than 1 mm in diameter on a pre-implantation computed tomography, clinicians must beware of vessel damage. In order to prevent these complications and progress with a safe surgical procedure, a thorough radiographic examination before the surgery is indispensable. Further, clinicians should retract lingual flap definitely to confirm the shape of the lingual bone and existence of the lingual foramina.
Arteries ; Dental Implants ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Mandible ; Mandibular Nerve ; Trigeminal Nerve Injuries

Hypoglossal nerve injury is an uncommon complication following endotracheal intubation. A transoral procedure including endotracheal intubation may result in hypoglossal nerve compression at the lateral margin on the hyoid bone and inner mandibular margin at the tongue base. A 50-year-old patient undergoing rotator cuff repair developed a transient unilateral postoperative hypoglossal nerve injury following uncomplicated endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia. The following day the patient complained of difficulty with tongue movement and buccal manipulation of food, and had slurred speech. An electrophysiologic assessment confirmed a diagnosis of unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy. The symptoms resolved spontaneously and completely by 6 weeks. The possible etiology of the injury is discussed, and related literatures are reviewed.
Anesthesia, General ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases ; Hypoglossal Nerve Injuries ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Middle Aged ; Rotator Cuff ; Tongue

We present the case of a 23-year-old man who suddenly collapsed during a physical altercation with his friends while in a drunken state. The post-mortem computed tomography (CT) with angiography revealed acute basal subarachnoid hemorrhage with rupture of the left middle cerebral artery. On autopsy, the head, face, mandible and neck showed multifocal hemorrhages with fracture of the hyoid bone, and the pathologic findings of the brain was consistent with CT findings. However, the vascular rupture site was not observed macroscopically. On histologic examination, a microscopic focal rupture was identified at the proximal portion of the middle cerebral artery, and possibility of arteriopathy was considered. This case illustrates that other parts of intracerebral arteries (other than the vertebral arteries) can be the culprit of rupture in the case of traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the post-mortem angiographic findings can be helpful in targeting the site of vascular injury. Furthermore, meticulous sampling of intracranial vessels could help find the vascular rupture site and identify any histologic findings suspicious of arteriopathy. Therefore, we suggest that post-mortem angiography can be an effective and adjunctive tool for a tailored approach in finding the vascular injury, and that histologic examination of both the intracranial and extracranial arteries be important to medicolegally ensure the death of traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage and to examine presence of arteriopathy as a predisposing factor.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Autopsy ; Brain ; Causality ; Forensic Pathology ; Friends ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Mandible ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neck ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Traumatic ; Vascular System Injuries ; Young Adult