Introduction This experimental study in pigs was aimed at evaluating spinal growth disorders after partial arrest of the vertebral epiphyseal plates (EP) and neurocentral cartilages (NCC). Unilateral and multisegmental single or combined lesions of the physeal structures were performed by electrocogulation throughout a video-assisted thoracoscopical approach. Materials and methods Thirty 4-week-old domestic pigs (mean weight 16 kg) were included in the experiments. The superior and inferior epiphyseal plates of T5 to T9 vertebra were damaged in ten animals by hemicircumferential electrocoagulation (group I). In other ten pigs (group II), right NCC at the same T5-T9 levels were damaged. Ten other animals underwent combined lesions of the ipsilateral hemiepiphyseal plates and NCC at the T5-T9 levels. A total of 26 animals could be evaluated after 12 weeks of followup using conventional X-rays, CT scans and histology. Results The pigs with hemicircumferential EP damage developed very slight concave non-structured scoliotic deformities without vertebral rotation.(mean 12°Cobb; range10-16°). Some of the damaged vertebra showed a marked wedgening with unilateral development alteration of the vertebral body, including the adjacent discs The animals with damage of the NCC developed mild scoliotic curves (mean 19°Cobb; range 16-24°) with convexity opposite to the damaged side and loss of physiological kyphosis. The injured segments showed an asymmetric growth with hypoplasia of the pedicle and costovertebral joints at the damaged side. The pigs undergoing combined EP and NCC lesions developed minimal non-structured curves, ranging from 10 to 12°Cobb. In these animals there was a lack of growth of a vertebral hemibody and disc hypoplasia at the damaged segments. Both damage of the NCC and the EP affect the height of the vertebral body. No spinal stenosis was found in any case. In most cases, the adjacent superior and inferior vertebral EP to damaged segments had a compensatory growth that maintained the straight spinal shape. Conclusions In summary, unilateral direct lesion of the EP by hemicircumferential thoracoscopic electrocoagulation modifies vertebral growth, but is not able to induce true scoliostic curves in pigs. Only animals with damaged NCC developed mild scoliotic curves of lordotic type. This work rediscovers and emphasizes the decisive role of the neurocentral cartilage in the ethiopatogeny of idiopathic scoliosis.

Las fístulas carótido-yugulares son lesiones vasculares poco frecuentes pero muy sintomáticas cuyo tratamiento oportunoevita la aparición de complicaciones regionales y sistémicas. La primera línea de manejo es la oclusión a través de técnicasendovasculares, siendo el balón desprendible la técnica más comúnmente empleada. Recientemente se describió unaalternativa de tratamiento a través de embolización con coils por técnica asistida por balón, con resultados prometedores.Se presenta el caso de un paciente adolescente con un año de evolución de masa pulsátil de volumen creciente en regiónsubmandibular izquierda, asociada a thrill, soplo y voz ronca. Se realizó angiografía con sustracción digital que documentópresencia de una fístula arterio-venosa de alto flujo y gran tamaño entre la arteria carótida externa y la vena yugular interna. Se llevó a embolización con coils por medio de técnica asistida por balón, con oclusión exitosa de la fístula y resolución de la sintomatología presentada, sin eventos adversos asociados.

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