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Background: Spinal instrumentation using rods and screws have become procedure of choice for posterior fixation. Vertebral artery anatomy is highly variable in this region posing challenges during surgery. Our study used 3D printer model to understand the anatomy and variations in vertebral artery in live patients thereby providing an accurate idea about vertebral artery injury risk in these patients preoperatively and to rehearse the whole procedure. Methods: Ten patients of developmental craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies who were planned for operative intervention in the Department of Neurosurgery at SMS Hospital from February 2016 to December 2016 were analysed using a 3D printer model. Results: Out of twenty vertebral arteries studied in ten patients, two were hypoplastic and out of these one could not be appreciated on 3D printer model .Out of remaining nineteen, thirteen arteries were found to lie outside the joint, three were in lateral third, one traversed the middle third of joint and one lied in medial third. In one patient, the vertebral artery was stretched and it traversed horizontally over the joint. Out of ten patients studied, nine were having occipitalised atlas and so entry of these vertebral arteries into cranium were classified as given by Wang et al. into four types. Conclusions: By our study, 3D printer model was extremely helpful in analyzing joints and vertebral artery preoperatively and making the surgeon acquainted about the placement and trajectory of the screws accordingly. In our opinion, these models should be included as a basic investigation tool in these patients.

Spontaneous onset extradural hematoma (EDH) is a very rare entity and has been seen mostly to be associated with adjacent infective pathologies, dural vascular malformations, extradural metastasis, or coagulopathies. We report a series of two such cases and review the literature. One case presented with spontaneous EDH that was managed conservatively and was diagnosed to have chronic kidney disease later; the other had deranged coagulation profile and liver function secondary to drug induced hepatitis and was operated. Both patients were discharged in a stable condition and were improving on follow up.

BACKGROUND: Flexible intramedullary nails have gained widespread popularity for stabilization of pediatric fractures of long bones of lower extremity. AIMS: Purpose of our study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of titanium elastic nailing system (TENS) for paediatric lower extremity long bone fractures. METHODS: All children operated for lower extremity long bone fractures at our tertiary care centre (Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore) between Jan 2012 to Dec 2013 who underwent fixation with TENS were reviewed. Out of 57 cases identified, 4 cases were lost to follow-up. Of the 53 cases, 58.49 per cent were males (boys 31 and girls 22). The average age of patients was 10.8 years (range 6- 14 years). The mean weight was 28.8 kg (range 16 kg - 42 kg). All fractures were reduced by closed manipulation. Outcomes were classified as excellent, satisfactory or poor according to Flynn flexible nail fixation classification. RESULTS: As per Flynn classification, we had 36 excellent, 14 good and 1 poor result. All patients attained complete healing at mean of 11.2 weeks (Range 7 - 16 weeks). Mean duration of hospital stay was of 5 days (Range 3 - 16 days). CONCLUSION: On the basis of results obtained TENS is an effective method for management of unstable paediatric fractures of long bones of lower extremity allowing rapid

Purpose To evaluate the biologic effect of subconjunctival recombinant interferon α2b (IFNα2b) for the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). Design Retrospective study. Participants Patients with primary or recurrent OSSN treated with subconjunctival injections of recombinant IFNα2b were studied retrospectively. Intervention Patients were given perilesional subconjunctival injections of 3 million international units in 0.5 ml of IFNα2b (Intron; Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ) until tumor resolution. Main Outcome Measures Patients were followed up clinically and photographically for evidence of tumor resolution and were monitored for evidence of tumor recurrence. Results The authors present a series of 15 eyes (14 patients) that were treated with perilesional, subconjunctival, recombinant IFNα2b. Clinical resolution of the tumor occurred in 13 of 15 eyes. The median time to resolution was 1.4 months (range, 0.6–5.7). In the time of follow-up after lesion resolution (median, 55 months), only 1 of the 15 eyes in the study exhibited disease recurrence, and this occurred 4 months after clinical resolution. Conclusions Perilesional subconjunctival recombinant IFNα2b may be a viable medical alternative for the treatment of OSSN. Future studies will be needed to evaluate the ideal treatment regimen of IFNα2b. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To compare the effectiveness and side-effect profile of two doses of interferon alpha2b (IFNalpha2b) eye-drops (1 million international units (IU)/ml versus 3 million IU/ml) in the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). METHODS Retrospective case series. RESULTS Thirty-five eyes were identified over an 11-year period (1996-2007). Twenty-one eyes (19 patients) with conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were treated with 1 million IU/ml of topical IFN-alpha2b; 12 eyes (nine patients) with CIN were treated with 3 million IU/ml. Two patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were treated with topical interferon, one with 1 million IU/ml and one with 3 million IU/ml. Baseline demographic information was not statistically different between the two groups. In patients with CIN, topical therapy eliminated disease in 81% of eyes in the 1 million IU/ml group versus 92%, in the 3 million IU/ml group, p=0.41. The median time to OSSN resolution was 2.8 months in the 1 million IU/ml group and 1.9 months in the 3 million IU/ml group, p=0.55. Neither eye with SCC responded to interferon therapy. Topical therapy was well tolerated. After a median follow-up of 24 months, three recurrences were seen in eyes successfully treated with topical therapy. CONCLUSION In our study, there were no significant differences between the 1 million IU/ml group and the 3 million IU/ml group for the treatment of CIN.

Chondroblastoma was first described as calcified giant cell tumor by Ewing. Chondroblastoma is a rare primary benign tumor of bone with a relatively high incidence in older children. Ninety percent of patients are between the ages of 5 and 25 years; males predominate with a ratio of 3 to 2. Metastasis of a histologically benign chondroblastoma is rare. The suggested treatment for aggressive chondroblastoma ranges from simple curettage to resection with a margin of surrounding normal tissue and structural reconstruction. In this report, our aim was to present a rare tumor chondroblastoma which was localized in the distal femoral epiphysis.