This study is to evaluate whether it is possible to predict living stature from sacral and coccygeal vertebral dimensions. Individual vertebral body heights, sacral height(SH), and sacrococcygeal height (SCH) were recorded from the magnetic resonance images of 42 adult males. Sum of the heights of five sacral vertebrae (ΣS), the first four coccygeal vertebrae (ΣC), and the total height of the sacral and the first four coccygeal vertebrae together (ΣSC) were also recorded. Linear regression equations for stature estimation were produced using the above mentioned variables. The regression equations were constructed and tested by using jack-knife procedure. Statistical analyses indicated that the combined variables (SH, SCH, ΣS, ΣC, ΣSC) were more accurate predictors of stature than the heights of individual vertebrae. The results of the study pointed out that the equations derived from sacrococcygeal dimensions perform somewhat better than ones based on foot and head variables, but worse than those based on long-bone length. As a conclusion, the dimensions of sacral and coccygeal vertebrae could be used for stature estimation when long bones are not available.

Degenerative changes in the posterior paraspinal structures were found in a higher percentage of subjects with lower back pain than in controls. Use of a STIR sequence with homogeneous fat suppression facilitates visualization of these changes.

Neurological disorders may be seen in end-stage renal disease patients due to uraemia or to complications of dialysis. A dysequilibrium syndrome may be seen, usually soon after or towards the end of haemodialysis. This group of patients has no particular findings on MRI. On the other hand, the osmotic demyelination syndrome has definitive MRI findings, not to date reported with the dysequilibrium syndrome. We report a patient with end-stage renal disease and the dysequilibrium syndrome who showed findings of osmotic demyelination on MRI. The patient had a convulsion after a first haemodialysis, with quadriparesis and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes and bilateral Babinski signs. The upper motor neurone signs lasted for a week. Meanwhile, he was also dysarthric and had dysphagia. He recovered neurologically without any residuum following appropriate treatment and there was improvement on MRI.

Hydatid cysts rarely involve the musculoskeletal system. We present the case of a 23-year-old man with a primary hydatid cyst between the femur and the quadriceps muscle in his left thigh. No cysts were located in the adjacent femur or quadriceps muscle. Cyst resection with sparing of the surrounding muscles, combined with anthelmintic therapy, was curative. In regions where hydatidosis is endemic, hydatid cysts should be included in the differential diagnosis of any unusual soft-tissue swelling.