The Ph.D. thesis enclosed focuses on various implications of scavenging by generalist predators on invertebrate cadavers. Comparison of the retention time for invertebrate cadavers in the field, with the detection period for decaying slug material in the guts of the predators is presented and indicates that PCR-based techniques are not able to distinguish between predated and scavenged food items. Disappearance rates for invertebrate cadavers in the field, together with generealist predator preference for dead prey were estimated and their implication on survival strategies of entomopathogenic and molluscicidal nematodes in the cadavers is discussed. Two different strategies were investigated and are presentd in the thesis.

No description available.

Post-mortem human surrogate (PMHS) head specimens were subjected to two different angular speed pulses. Each pulse was approximately a half-sine with either a peak angular speed of either 40 or 20 rad/s and duration of either 30 or 60 milliseconds. High-speed biplane x-ray was used to record the motion of the brain and skull via radio-opaque markers implanted at specified locations in the brain, and lead markers on the skull. Specimens were perfused to physiologic conditions throughout preparation and testing to maintain the integrity of the brain tissue and ensure coupling of the brain and skull. Intracranial pressure was measured anteriorly and posteriorly. The test event was controlled by a cam-follower-flywheel mechanism, which facilitated control of pulse parameters and provided a form of "infinite energy" so that the device and therefore the test input would not be influenced by the characteristics of the object under test. This approach kept the independent and dependent variables separated. The brain targets were also deployed in a prescribed manner with two methodologies that were scalable to different specimens. The repeatable input and target deployment schemes helped reduce experimental variation (between tests and subjects) to produce consistent response data. Displacement of the brain was calculated with respect to a body-fixed basis on the skull. The relative motion of the brain with respect to the skull was shown to be dependent on the location of the target in the brain. The major deformation axis of each target followed the contour of the skull or bony landmark to which it was closest. Intracranial pressure was relatively low because the changes were due to inertial effects in the absence of impact. Tests with lower speeds and longer durations produced less deformation, lower intracranial pressures, and longer pressure durations than the tests that were high-speed, short-duration. The response of the brain to rotation of the head was quantified at two test levels and on two PMHS specimens. / Master of Science / Motor-vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the second leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States and the leading cause of TBI-related death [1a]. Regulations are in place for vehicle design to reduce the occurrence and severity of head injuries during MVCs. The metric used is based on the resultant linear acceleration at the center of gravity of the occupant’s head. However, TBI are still occurring despite the current regulations. This suggests the importance of using additional injury metrics to predict TBI in MVCs. In automotive impact biomechanics, a combination of real world, experimental, and simulation data is used to determine how the human body responds during MVCs. While computer (finite element) simulations can provide extensive information about the kinematic and kinetic response of the human body, these models require experimental data to validate and evaluate their responses. This study focuses on determining the response of the human cadaver brain to angular speed loading without contact of the head. High-speed biplane x-ray and radiopaque markers were used to quantify the displacement of the brain with respect to the skull throughout rotational events. Two angular speed profiles with different peak angular speeds and durations were used. The methods were determined to reduce experimental variation to obtain data that is useful for finite element model validation. The average peak angular speed for the high-speed tests was 41.8 rad/s and the average peak angular speed for the low-speed tests was 22.0 rad/s. The peak angular speed only varied by 10% between similar tests. The motion of the brain lagged behind that of the skull, producing a relative displacement of the brain with respect to the skull. The magnitude and primary direction of the relative displacement was dependent on the location at which it was measured. The location of the radiopaque target with respect the anatomical coordinate system and bony landmarks of the skull are both important in determining the characteristics of the relative displacement profiles. The high-speed tests produced an average displacement of +/-5 mm, while the low-speed tests had an average displacement of +/-2.5 mm in the X-direction. Intracranial pressure (ICP) was also measured at two points in the cranial cavity, and showed the delayed response of the brain to the rotational loading of the head.

Submitted by Edileide Reis (leyde-landy@hotmail.com) on 2015-04-11T01:22:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Hugo Fabiano Fernandes de Novaes.pdf: 538652 bytes, checksum: 783adecb7d1066d3ec1f2807d7abe6d5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-11T01:22:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Hugo Fabiano Fernandes de Novaes.pdf: 538652 bytes, checksum: 783adecb7d1066d3ec1f2807d7abe6d5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Em algumas situações, correlações entre diferentes estruturas do corpo humano poderiam auxiliar no planejamento de cirurgias intra-abdominais. O conhecimento do comprimento do ureter permitiria um planejamento cirúrgico pré-operatório, reduzindo gastos com exames; auxiliaria também na escolha do cateter duplo-J, reduzindo sintomatologia e morbidade, aumentando a aderência ao tratamento. Objetivo: Avaliar o comprimento ureteral em cadáveres adultos e analisar suas correlações com determinadas medidas antropométricas. Desenho do estudo: estudo transversal, descritivo e analítico. Materiais e métodos: realizamos mensuração do comprimento ureteral de cadáveres adultos, encaminhados para necropsia entre abril de 2009 e janeiro de 2012. Adicionalmente, coletamos as seguintes medidas: altura, distância ombro-punho, cotovelo-punho, xifo-umbilical, distância umbigo-púbis, distância xifo-púbica e distância entre espinhas ilíacas. Analisamos as correlações entre o comprimento ureteral e as demais medidas antropométricas. Resultados: Foram dissecados os ureteres de 115 cadáveres adultos no período entre abril/2009 e janeiro/2012. O comprimento ureteral médio não variou o gênero, nem com a estatura. Não foi encontrada correlação entre o comprimento ureteral e as medidas antropométricas pesquisadas na população geral analisada, bem como nos subgrupos analisados. Não se evidenciou diferenças significantes entre as medidas dos ureteres direito e esquerdo. Conclusões: Não há diferença no comprimento ureteral médio entre as diferentes faixas de altura e entre os gêneros masculino e feminino. Não há correlação significante entre o comprimento ureteral e as demais medidas antropométricas.

One of the aims of forensic sciences is to determine the identities of victims of crime. In some cases the investigators may have ideas as to the identities of the victims and in these situations, ante mortem photographs of the victims could be used and identities established through skull-photo superimposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a newly developed digital photographic superimposition technique on a South African sample of cadaver photographs and skulls, from the Pretoria Bone Collection. Forty facial photographs were selected and for each photograph, 10 skulls (including the skull corresponding to the photograph) were used for superimposition. The investigator did not know which of the 10 skulls corresponded to the photograph in question. The skulls were scanned 3-dimensionally, using a Cyberware™ Model 3030 Colour-3D Scanhead scanner. Once scanned, the raw data for the skulls were ‘cleaned’ using Cysurf™ programme. The photographs were also scanned for superimposition in the 3D Studio Max programme. Superimposition in 3D Studio Max involves a morphological superimposition, whereby a skull is superimposed over the photograph and assessed for a morphological match. Superimposition using selected anatomical landmarks was also performed to assess the match. A total of 400 skull-photo superimpositions were carried out using the morphological assessment and another 400 using the anatomical landmarks. In 85% of cases the correct skull was included in the possible matches for a particular photograph using morphological assessment. However, in all of these cases, between zero and three other skulls out of 10 possibilities could also match a specific photograph. In the landmark based assessment, the correct skull was included in 80% of cases. Once again, however, between one and seven other skulls out of 10 possibilities also matched the photograph. When using the morphological and landmark assessments combined, 97.5% of correct skulls were included in the list of possibilities, but between one and seven false positives per case were found. This study indicates that skull-photo superimposition has limited use in the identification of human skeletal remains, but may be useful as an initial screening tool. Corroborative techniques should also be used in the identification process. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Anatomy / unrestricted

Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a leading cause of injuries and injury-related fatalities in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported over 21,250 vehicle occupant fatalities in 2011, with 1,240,000 injuries sustained by passenger car occupants alone. MVCs are a common cause of blunt abdominal injuries. It has been reported that approximately 9,000 front seat occupants sustain moderate to severe abdominal injuries in frontal MVCs in the United States each year. A detailed understanding of the occurrence and mechanisms of abdominal injuries, as well as knowledge of the biomechanical response and tolerance of the abdomen in crash-specific loading modes, could benefit the reduction of abdominal organ injury incidence in MVCs. Therefore, the objective of the research presented in this dissertation was to characterize abdominal injury mechanisms, tissue failure thresholds, and internal organ response to blunt impacts of the abdomen. Field accident data from the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) database were analyzed to determine the occupant and crash characteristics associated with crash-induced hollow abdominal organ injuries. Dynamic equibiaxial tension tests were conducted on tissue samples obtained from the human post-mortem stomach, small intestine, and colon to characterize the material properties and failure tolerance of these tissues. The effects of cadaver orientation on the relative position of the abdominal organs of two cadavers were quantified, and high-speed biplane x-ray imaging was used to investigate the relative kinematics of the thoracic and abdominal organs of four cadavers in response to crash-specific loading modes. Test configurations included blunt abdominal and thoracic impacts and driver-shoulder seatbelt loading. The motivation for this research was to advance efforts toward abdominal organ injury mitigation in MVCs, with each aspect of this research generating novel injury biomechanics data with applications for future experimental testing and finite element modeling. / Ph. D.

O objetivo desta dissertação foi avaliar biomecanicamente o papel da aplicação de uma técnica cirúrgica utilizando os tendões dos músculos semitendíneo e grácil na reconstrução anatômica de lesão criada no canto póstero-lateral do joelho. Foram estudados 10 joelhos de cadáveres nas situações intacto, lesado, parcialmente reconstruído e reconstruído. As principais estruturas do canto póstero-lateral do joelho foram seccionadas para criar o padrão de lesão. Os momentos de força aplicados foram 2 N.m e 5 N.m, com o joelho a 0º, 30º, 60º ou 90º de flexão. Foi também calculada a rigidez do joelho em cada uma das situações nas diferentes posições testadas. Os ensaios foram realizados em dispositivo criado no Laboratório de Biomecânica LIM-41 da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, e os dados de deformação angular foram obtidos através de programa de fotogoniometria. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos a análise estatística pela Análise de Variância para Experimento em Blocos Aleatorizados e os tratamentos foram comparados entre si pelo método de Scheffé. Foi possível concluir que: 1) A técnica empregada não corrigiu completamente o aumento da rotação externa. 2)A técnica empregada restaurou a estabilidade em varo. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of a surgical technique for anatomical reconstruction of the structures from the posterolateral corner of the knee. We tested 10 cadaver knees with intact, ruptured, partially reconstructed and reconstructed ligaments. The main posterolatreal structures were cut to produce a lesion pattern. The applied force moments were of 2 N.m and 5 N.m with the knee flexed to 0, 30, 60 and 90 degrees. The stiffness of the knee in each of these situations at the studied angles was also determined. The assays were carried through in a device created at the Laboratory of Biomechanics LIM-41 from of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine. Data from the angular deformation were obtained through a photographic measurement aided by computer software. The results were submitted to ANOVA and the treatments had been compared using statistical method of Scheffé. It was possible to conclude that: 1) The technique employed wasn?t able to restore normal external rotation. 2) The technique employed restored varus stability.

O objetivo desta dissertação foi avaliar biomecanicamente o papel da aplicação de uma técnica cirúrgica utilizando os tendões dos músculos semitendíneo e grácil na reconstrução anatômica de lesão criada no canto póstero-lateral do joelho. Foram estudados 10 joelhos de cadáveres nas situações intacto, lesado, parcialmente reconstruído e reconstruído. As principais estruturas do canto póstero-lateral do joelho foram seccionadas para criar o padrão de lesão. Os momentos de força aplicados foram 2 N.m e 5 N.m, com o joelho a 0º, 30º, 60º ou 90º de flexão. Foi também calculada a rigidez do joelho em cada uma das situações nas diferentes posições testadas. Os ensaios foram realizados em dispositivo criado no Laboratório de Biomecânica LIM-41 da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, e os dados de deformação angular foram obtidos através de programa de fotogoniometria. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos a análise estatística pela Análise de Variância para Experimento em Blocos Aleatorizados e os tratamentos foram comparados entre si pelo método de Scheffé. Foi possível concluir que: 1) A técnica empregada não corrigiu completamente o aumento da rotação externa. 2)A técnica empregada restaurou a estabilidade em varo. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of a surgical technique for anatomical reconstruction of the structures from the posterolateral corner of the knee. We tested 10 cadaver knees with intact, ruptured, partially reconstructed and reconstructed ligaments. The main posterolatreal structures were cut to produce a lesion pattern. The applied force moments were of 2 N.m and 5 N.m with the knee flexed to 0, 30, 60 and 90 degrees. The stiffness of the knee in each of these situations at the studied angles was also determined. The assays were carried through in a device created at the Laboratory of Biomechanics LIM-41 from of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine. Data from the angular deformation were obtained through a photographic measurement aided by computer software. The results were submitted to ANOVA and the treatments had been compared using statistical method of Scheffé. It was possible to conclude that: 1) The technique employed wasn?t able to restore normal external rotation. 2) The technique employed restored varus stability.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic pulmonary infection characterized by granulomatous inflammation, caseating necrosis and a propensity to develop fibrosis and cavitations. Pulmonary TB (PTB) lesions may develop in a variety of ways and can be grouped into primary, secondary, progressive primary and miliary TB based on their pathogenesis and morphological appearance. The Western Cape Province, South Africa, has a high TB burden with increasing TB notification rates. At Stellenbosch University (SU), approximately 90% of cadavers used for medical dissections come from impoverished communities where TB is a major health problem in terms of morbidity. The aim of the present study was to assess the health status of a cadaver population (n=127) at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), SU, with special reference to TB lesion distribution and prevalence. For this study, full-body digital X-rays of 127 cadavers (87 males; 40 females; average age, 47.1 years) were obtained with the Lodox® Statscan® Imaging System after embalming and prior to dissection. A complete pathology report of six organ systems including the skeletal system was used in combination with histological examination, molecular analysis and radiological findings to investigate the prevalence and association between TB and systemic pathology. Samples for histological purposes were removed from organs with pathology lesions. For molecular studies, five different nucleic acid extraction methods were used to extract DNA from the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cadaver samples. Pulmonary samples were subjected to a line probe assay (LPA) and polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to determine mycobacterial genotypic distribution. Two independent radiologists examined the chest X-rays and their findings were compared with the pulmonary findings. PTB was a common finding in the cadaver population (76.4%) with males more commonly affected. A female predilection was observed for extrapulmonary TB. Statistically, TB was associated with pulmonary pathology, including pneumonia and bronchiectasis. Systemic pathology commonly encountered in the present study included neoplasms, coronary artery disease, colonic diverticula, hepatic triaditis, cirrhosis, glomerulosclerosis, pyelonephritis and a variety of healed maxillofacial and appendicular skeletal fractures. Extracted nucleic acid concentrations, as determined with the NanoDrop® spectrophotometer, ranged between 10ng/μl and 1000ng/μl. The standard salting-out method was found to be the most cost-effective and therefore the preferred method for nucleic acid extraction. The HAIN® MTBDRplus® kit was effective in determining the presence of mycobacterial species belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). The sensitivity to first-line drugs could not be determined as a result of DNA degradation. Spoligotyping was unsuccessful, as incomplete and unidentifiable hybridization of the 43 spacers occurred. The RD105 and MUB02/RD105 PCR results were non-reproducible and non-specific. Pulmonary cavitation and pleural thickening were the only findings that were positively correlated with the radiological findings (p<0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first study to extensively investigate TB and systemic pathology including histopathology, molecular techniques and postmortem radiology in cadavers from low socio-economic backgrounds from a high TB burden area. This study therefore provides a more complete and thorough understanding of the prevalence, distribution and morphology of TB lesions as well as the association between TB and systemic pathology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tuberkulose (TB) is a kroniese, pulmonêre infeksie gekenmerk deur granulomateuse ontsteking, verkasende nekrose en ’n neiging om fibrose en kavitasies te ontwikkel. Pulmonêre TB (PTB) letsels kan op verskeie wyses ontwikkel en kan, gebaseer op patogenese en morfologiese voorkoms, geklassifiseer word as primêre, sekondêre, progressiewe primêre of miliêre TB. Die Wes-Kaap provinsie, Suid-Afrika, het ’n hoë TB las met toenemende TB aanmeldingskoerse. Ongeveer 90% van die kadawers wat by die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) gebruik word vir mediese disseksies kom van verarmde gemeenskappe waar TB ’n groot gesondheidsprobleem is in terme van die siektesyfer. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die gesondheidstoestand te bepaal van ’n kadawerpopulasie (n=127) by die Fakulteit Geneeskunde en Gesondheidswetenskappe (FGG), US, met spesifieke verwysing na die verspreiding en voorkoms van TB letsels. Digitale X-strale van die hele liggaam van 127 kadawers (87 manlik; 40 vroulik; gemiddelde ouderdom, 47.1 jaar) na balseming en voor disseksie is met behulp van die Lodox® Statscan® Imaging System bekom. ’n Volledige patologie-verslag van ses orgaanstelsels, die skeletstelsel ingesluit, is in kombinasie met histologiese ondersoeke, molekulêre ontleding en radiologiese bevindinge gebruik om die voorkoms van en assosiasie tussen TB en sistemiese patologie te ondersoek. Monsters vir histologiese studie is van organe met patologiese letsels geneem. Vir molekulêre studies is vyf verskillende nukleïensuur ekstraksie-metodes gebruik om DNS uit die formalien-gefikseerde paraffien-ingebed kadawermonsters te ekstraheer. Pulmonêre monsters is onderwerp aan ’n lyn-ondersoek-toets (“line probe assay”) en polimerase-kettingreaksies (PKR) om mikobakteriële genotipiese verspreiding te bepaal. Twee onafhanklike radioloë het die bors X-strale ondersoek en hulle bevindinge is vergelyk met die pulmonêre bevindinge. PTB is ’n algemene bevinding in die kadawerpopulasie (76.4%) met mans wat meer dikwels geaffekteer is. ’n Vroulike voorkeur vir ekstrapulmonêre TB is waargeneem. TB is statisties geassosieër met pulmonêre patologie, longontsteking en brongiëktase. Sistemiese patologie wat algemeen gevind is in die huidige studie sluit in neoplasmas, koronêre hartsiekte, kolon divertikula, lewer triaditis, sirrose, glomerulosklerose, piëlonefritis en ’n verskeidenheid geneesde maksillofasiale en appendikulêre skeletale frakture. Geëkstraheerde nukleïensuur-konsentrasies, soos bepaal met die NanoDrop® spektrofotometer, het gewissel tussen10ng/μl en 1000ng/μl. Daar is gevind dat die standaard uitsoutings-metode die mees koste-effektief en dus die voorkeur-metode nukleïensuur ekstraksie-metode was. Die HAIN® MTBDRplus® toets was effektief om die aanwesigheid van mikobakteriële spesies wat aan die Mycobacterium tuberculosis kompleks behoort, te bepaal. Sensitiwiteit vir eerste-linie middels kon nie bepaal word nie as gevolg van DNS degradasie. Spoligotipering was onsuksesvol omdat onvoltooide en onidentifiseerbare hibridisasie van die 43 merkers plaasgevind het. Die RD105 en MUB02/RD105 PCR resultate was nie-herhaalbaar en nie-spesifiek. Pulmonêre kavitasie en pleurale verdikking was die enigste bevindinge wat positief gekorreleer is met die radiologiese bevindinge (p<0.05). Na ons wete is hierdie studie die eerste een wat TB en sistemiese patologie ekstensief ondersoek en gebruik maak van histopatologie, molekulêre tegnieke en nadoodse radiologie in kadawers van lae sosio-ekonomiese agtergronde vanaf ’n area met ’n hoë TB las. Hierdie studie verskaf dus ’n meer volledige en deeglike begrip van die voorkoms, verspreiding en morfologie van TB letsels sowel as die assosiasie tussen TB en sistemiese patologie.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / O desenvolvimento do artroscÃpio possibilitou ao cirurgiÃo ortopÃdico o acesso a diversas articulaÃÃes. O quadril, que apresenta complexa anatomia e topografia, permaneceu por muito tempo como uma barreira para os artroscopistas. Com os avanÃos ocorridos ao longo da Ãltima dÃcada, as indicaÃÃes vÃm crescendo a cada ano. Isto fez da artroscopia do quadril uma valiosa tÃcnica que preencheu uma lacuna no esclarecimento diagnÃstico, freqÃentemente pouco elucidativos mesmo com utilizaÃÃo de modernos mÃtodos; possibilitando o tratamento de um nÃmero cada vez maior de afecÃÃes desta articulaÃÃo. Em adultos o mÃtodo à ainda pouco utilizado e em crianÃas apresenta indicaÃÃes muito restritas. Assim, foi decidido realizar um trabalho que propiciasse o desenvolvimento de um modelo experimental de treinamento do mÃtodo artroscÃpico, e atravÃs deste, observar aspectos histomorfolÃgicos de estruturas intra-articulares submetidas à traÃÃo axial. Utilizando quadris de 20 cadÃveres de recÃm-nascidos foi testada a possibilidade de realizar o procedimento. Seis fetos (A1 a A6), representaram o projeto piloto, servindo para desenvolver o modelo de pesquisa e catorze o estudo principal (B1 a B14), seguindo critÃrios estabelecidos com o projeto piloto. Em todos os fetos realizou-se o procedimento utilizando Ãtica de 2,2 mm de espessura com 30 de angulaÃÃo e em todos aplicada traÃÃo axial que variou de 68 a 88 N. Foram utilizados dois portais: antero-lateral e lateral, e no final feito artrotomia e anÃlise histomorfolÃgica das estruturas: pulvinar, labrum acetabular e ligamento redondo do quadril. Ficou estabelecido com o estudo piloto que o procedimento somente à possÃvel realizar com fetos maiores, pois nos quatro fetos em que o peso era abaixo de 1500 g, o procedimento foi tecnicamente impossÃvel. A traÃÃo Foi necessÃria para uma completa inspeÃÃo da articulaÃÃo. Constatou-se ainda que atravÃs de um sà acesso nÃo foi possÃvel visualizar toda a articulaÃÃo, mas, que a utilizaÃÃo de dois acessos, os portais lateral e antero-lateral, oferecem boa seguranÃa sendo possÃvel reproduzir o mÃtodo artroscÃpico e identificar a maior parte das estruturas anatÃmicas intra-articulares. Concluiu-se que a artroscopia do quadril tem tÃcnica difÃcil, mas factÃvel em cadÃveres de recÃm-nascidos com peso superior a 1700 g e nÃo foram encontradas lesÃes macroscÃpicas ou histolÃgicas sobre as estruturas estudadas em fetos submetidos a uma traÃÃo de atà 88 N. / Surgical access to different joints was made possible due to the development of the arthroscope. On account of its complex anatomy and topography the endoscopic access to the hip joint seemed to be an unattainable goal by many specialists for a long period of time. Last decade progress turned arthroscopic examination indications an ever growing need. The procedure helped to fill out the gap in the diagnostic area of hip joint diseases making possible the treatment of many illnesses affecting the joint. Despite this progress the exam is not widely performed in adult patients. Also, usage in children presents very restricted limitations. This paper was aimed at developing an experimental model of hip arthroscopy and to study the histomorphological damages resulted from its use in structures subjected to traction. Twenty newborn cadavers were used. Six fetuses use used during the pilot project (A1-A6). The remainder fourteen fetuses were used during the main study (B1-B14). Optical system (2.2 mm diameter) and 30o angulation were used. Axial traction was applied to all cases (68-88 N). Antero-lateral and lateral ports were used for surgical access to the hip. Histomorphological studies of pulvinar, labrum acetabulare and hip round ligament were carried out in each case. A pilot study has demonstrated that the application of this technique is not feasible in fetuses weighing less than 1500g. The traction was required to secure a complete inspection of the articulation. Using just one port was not possible to visualize all structures. The simultaneous use of lateral and anterolateral ports provided adequate exposure to all joint structures. It is concluded that hip arthroscopy is not an easy procedure although feasible in newborn cadavers weighing more than 1700 g. No macroscopic or histological lesions were identified in fetuses submitted to traction of up to 88 N