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ABSTRACT: Background: Hyponatremia is a common complication occurring in one third of patients after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). One mechanism that likely mediates the development of hyponatremia in SAH is cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS), which induces natriuresis and reduces total blood volume, resulting in a risk of symptomatic vasospasm (SVS). The mineral corticoid fludrocortisone acetate enhances sodium reabsorption in the renal distal tubules and may help prevent post-SAH hyponatremia. However, management with fludrocortisone acetate is ineffective if hyponatremia is advanced, because CSWS and subsequent SVS develop rapidly. Therefore, an additional earlier marker is required to predict the development of hyponatremia for the initiation of immediate treatment in select patients. However, no conclusive evidence exists showing that hyponatremia influences the risk of SVS, and no standard treatment protocol exists for treating hyponatremia in patients with SAH. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether selective early treatment of hyponatremia prevents SVS in patients with increased urinary sodium excretion in the early phase following SAH. Methods: A total of 103 patients with aneurysmal SAH were managed for a postoperative electrolyte disorder after aneurysmal clipping or coil embolization. Between 2004 and 2007 (period 1), 54 patients started treatment to correct the electrolyte disorder after hyponatremia had occurred. Between 2007 and 2011 (period 2), 49 patients were prospectively subjected to sodium replacement treatment according to their daily sodium balance, and inhibition of natriuresis with fludrocortisone acetate was initiated just after an increase in urinary sodium excretion >300 mEq/day. The occurrence of hyponatremia, SVS, and outcomes were compared between the two periods. Results: Hyponatremia was observed in 14 patients (26%) in period 1 and 7 patients (14%) in period 2. The incidence of fludrocortisone acetate administration was significantly higher, and initiation of electrolyte correction was significantly earlier, in period 2 patients. We observed a significant difference in the frequency of SVS, which occurred in 10 patients (18.5%) in period 1 and 3 patients (6.1%) in period 2. Both urinary sodium excretion and urine volume at day 7 were significantly different between the two periods. However, no significant difference was observed in overall outcome between the two periods. Conclusions: Early inhibition of natriuresis with fludrocortisone acetate before the occurrence of hyponatremia prevented SVS after aneurysmal SAH. Increased urinary sodium excretion in the early phase of SAH is a good indicator for the initiation of electrolyte correction with fludrocortisone acetate.
Cerebrovascular Diseases 02/2013; 35(2):131-137. · 2.72 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cerebral venous ischemia can result in severe brain edema. Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activity by a neutralizing antibody can completely block the hypoxia-induced increase in vascular permeability. VEGF, which induces angiogenesis, also acts as a vascular permeability (VP) factor. We previously showed that inhibition of VEGF attenuates VP and reduces cerebral venous infarction (CVI) in the acute stage. The present study investigated the therapeutic time window during which inhibition of VEGF can reduce CVI in a rat two-vein occlusion (2-VO) model. A 2-VO model was created by photochemically occluding two adjacent cortical veins. Male Wistar rats (n = 42) were assigned to one of four groups: Group 1 was treated with a VEGF antagonist at 24 hours after 2-VO (n = 11); Group 2 was treated with phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) at 24 hours after 2-VO (n = 11); Group 3 was treated with a VEGF antagonist at 48 hours after 2-VO (n = 10); and Group 4 was treated with PBS at 48 hours after 2-VO (n = 10). The developing ischemic infarct was evaluated histologically at 7 days after 2-VO. CVI areas were significantly smaller in Group 1 than in Groups 2, 3, and 4 (p <0.05) but were similar when comparing Groups 3 and 4. Anti-VEGF therapy was effective in reducing CVI in rats if started within 24 hours after 2-VO.
Neurologia medico-chirurgica 01/2013; 53(3):135-40. · 0.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:: Retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage (RLVD) in dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) is associated with intracerebral hemorrhage and nonhemorrhagic neurological deficits or death. Angiographic evidence of RLVD is a definite indication for treatment, but less-invasive methods of identifying RLVD are required. OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the efficacy of susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SWI) in detecting RLVD in DAVFs. METHODS:: We retrospectively identified 17 DAVF patients who had angiographic evidence of RLVD and received treatment. Conventional angiography and SWI were assessed at pre- and post-treatment time points. The presence of RLVD on SWI was defined as cortical venous hyperintensity, and the presence of venous congestion on SWI venograms was defined as increased caliber of cortical or medullary veins. RESULTS:: Cortical venous hyperintensity was identified in pre-treatment SWI of 15 patients. Cortical venous hyperintensity was absent in early post-treatment SWI, consistent with the absence of RLVD in post-treatment angiography, in all but one of these patients. In two patients, cortical venous hyperintensity was identified during follow-up, indicating recurrence of RLVD. Cortical venous hyperintensity was not identified in pre-treatment SWI of two patients, despite angiographic evidence of RLVD. Venous congestion was identified in pre-treatment SWI venograms of 11 patients, and was of similar appearance to that identified from angiography. Venous congestive signs improved over the follow-up period. CONCLUSION:: The presence of SWI hyperintensity within the venous structure could be a useful indicator of RLVD in DAVF patients. SWI offers a noninvasive alternative to angiography for identification of RLVD in pre- and post-treated DAVF patients.
Neurosurgery 10/2012; · 2.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) results in neuronal death due to mitochondrial dysfunction and a subsequent cascade of apoptotic and necrotic events. We previously demonstrated that mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium (mitoK(ATP)) channels have a major role in cerebral ischemic preconditioning in vivo and in vitro. However, the role of the mitoK(ATP) channel has not been investigated in the context of ASDH. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the mitoK(ATP) channel mediates neuroprotection in a rat model of ASDH. Male Wistar rats were subjected to subdural infusion of 400μL autologous venous blood. The rats were assigned to four experimental groups pretreated intraventricularly 15 minutes before ASDH with (1) vehicle (n=10); (2) the mitoK(ATP) channel agonist diazoxide (n=9); (3) diazoxide plus the selective mitoK(ATP) channel antagonist 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) (n=6); or (4) 5-HD alone (n=6). Infarct volume was assessed at 4days after ASDH. Brain edema formation was also measured. Pretreatment with diazoxide significantly reduced infarct volume and brain edema formation after ASDH. However, the effects of diazoxide were abolished by co-treatment with 5-HD. 5-HD alone increased infarct volume. These data suggest that the mitoK(ATP) channel is an important mediator of the neuroprotective effects of cerebral preconditioning in a rat model of ASDH.
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 10/2012; · 1.25 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: Central nervous system germinomas often extend or disseminate into the ventricular and subarachnoid space. We present a case of primary central nervous system germinoma consisting mainly of meningeal dissemination, which is extremely unusual. CASE REPORT: A 16-year-old boy presented with pure germinoma, manifesting as anorexia and headache for 10 days. Radiological examinations revealed a large mass lesion in the posterior fossa and a small mass lesion on the pineal lobule with thickening of the tentorium cerebelli and falx. The patient underwent partial removal of the infratentorial tumor via open surgery. Intraoperative findings indicated extension of the dural and supracerebellar mass lesions into the epiarachnoid space. Three chemotherapy courses comprising ifosfamide, etoposide, and cisplatin were administered after the surgery. Craniospinal irradiation was administered subsequently. The adjuvant therapy had a complete response. CONCLUSION: Central nervous system germinoma cells may have similar compatibility to meningeal components as they do to cerebrospinal fluid or the ventricular system. If there is a possibility of the tumor extending into the subdural space during surgical intervention or other events, a range of postdiagnostic irradiation should be considered to cover a wider range.
Child s Nervous System 08/2012; · 1.54 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Carnitine is essential for lipid metabolism in cells and is known to possess antioxidant properties. Previous reports have suggested that antioxidants are able to induce senescence in glioblastoma cells, consequently, in the present study, we investigated the effect of carnitine on glioblastoma cells. Under conditions of hyponutrition (undernutrition), the proliferation of glioblastoma cells was attenuated and the level of intracellular carnitine was increased. Glioblastoma cell proliferation was also attenuated in cultures that were supplemented with exogenous carnitine, where the induction of senescence was detected by senescence-associated β-gal (SA-β-gal) staining. However, there was no evidence of the induction of apoptosis. These effects were not detected when cells were cultured with carnitine plus an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). It, therefore, appears that carnitine has antioxidant actions in normal cells but induces senescence, which may be regarded as an opposite phenomenon, in glioblastoma cells. Senescence has been reported in cells exposed to temozolomide, which is a standard drug used for the treatment of glioblastoma. Carnitine could, therefore, represent an attractive alternative therapy for glioblastoma.
Experimental and therapeutic medicine 07/2012; 4(1):21-25.
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ABSTRACT: The authors report the rare case of a 58-year-old man with segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) with associated intracranial and intraabdominal aneurysms, who suffered subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to rupture of an intracranial aneurysm. This disease primarily involves the intraabdominal arterial system, resulting in intraabdominal and retroperitoneal hemorrhage in most cases. The patient presented with severe headache and vomiting. The CT scans of the head revealed SAH. Cerebral angiography revealed 3 aneurysms: 1 in the right distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA), 1 in the distal portion of the A(1) segment of the right ACA, and 1 in the left vertebral artery. The patient had a history of multiple intraabdominal aneurysms involving the splenic, gastroepiploic, gastroduodenal, and bilateral renal arteries. He underwent a right frontotemporal craniotomy and fibrin coating of the dissecting aneurysm in the distal portion of the A(1) segment of the right ACA, which was the cause of the hemorrhage. Follow-up revealed no significant changes in the residual intracranial and intraabdominal aneurysms. An SAH due to SAM with associated multiple intraabdominal aneurysms is extremely rare. The authors describe their particular case and review the literature pertaining to SAM with associated intracranial and intraabdominal aneurysms.
Journal of Neurosurgery 03/2012; 116(5):948-51. · 2.96 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A 32-year-old woman, gravida 0, para 0, was admitted to the obstetrics department of our hospital after a cesarean section at 35 weeks of gestation. The cesarean section was performed because pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) had worsened. The next day, she suddenly became drowsy and developed right hemiparesis and anisocoria. Computed tomography of the brain showed intracerebral hemorrhage in the parietal lobe with uncal herniation. She underwent an urgent craniotomy and removal of the hematoma. Five days later, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the brain showed vasospasm of the bilateral intracranial internal carotid arteries, middle cerebral arteries, and anterior cerebral arteries. Thirteen days later, cerebral angiography showed cessation of vasospasm and vascular abnormalities such as moyamoya disease, arteriovenous malformation and cerebral aneurysm were not observed. Twenty-one days later, MRA showed the absence of vasospasm in those arteries, but her right hemiparesis and sensory aphasia persisted. Twenty-six days later, she was transferred to another hospital for further rehabilitation. Neurosurgeons should be aware of the possibility of intracerebral hemorrhage caused by PIH. In this manuscript, we provide a case presentation and review of the literature.
No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery 12/2011; 39(12):1159-64. · 0.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Destructive spondyloarthropathy may occur in long-term hemodialysis patients, but focal amyloid deposits in the spine are rare. We present a case of upper cervical extradural amyloidoma with a history of long-term hemodialysis presenting with progressive and intractable radiculopathy.
We describe a 51-year-old female with a long-term history of hemodialysis treatment. She suffered progressive and intolerable right occipital headache. Neurological examination revealed right C2 radiculopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine showed a solid focal extradural mass lesion at the C2 level. She underwent subtotal resection of the extradural mass lesion and decompression of the right C2 nerve root by a posterior approach. Histological examination revealed amyloid deposits. The occipital headache immediately disappeared after surgery. Follow-up MRI 10 months after surgery demonstrated no recurrence of the extradural amyloidoma.
Development of an upper cervical extradural amyloidoma after long-term hemodialysis is extremely rare. Prompt evaluation of long-term hemodialysis patients suffering from progressive cervical pain should be recommended, and treatment is required if there are signs or symptoms of compression of a nerve root or the spinal cord.
European Spine Journal 11/2011; 21 Suppl 4:S463-6. · 1.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The pre- and postoperative radiological predictive factors for the regrowth of residual benign meningiomas were investigated in 80 of 327 patients who underwent first surgery for intracranial meningioma, who met the following conditions: residual tumor observed on postoperative imaging, follow up for more than 5 years or until regrowth of the residual tumor, histological diagnosis of World Health Organization grade I, and no additional therapy performed within 1 month after surgery. These 80 patients were divided into those with no regrowth during the follow-up period (Group A, n = 54) and those with regrowth (Group B, n = 26), and the clinical characteristics and pre- and postoperative imaging findings were compared. Univariate analysis of factors influencing regrowth showed 6 factors were significant: tumor size ≥4 cm (p = 0.043), tumor volume ≥30 cm(3) (p = 0.026), presence of edema (p = 0.036), unclear brain-tumor interface (p < 0.001), presence of a pial-cortical blood supply (p = 0.031), and residual tumor volume ≥3.0 cm(3) (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed only residual tumor volume ≥3.0 cm(3) was significant (p = 0.001). Generally, the significant imaging findings on univariate analysis suggest malignant meningioma. Similar findings may be observed even in grade I cases, and residual tumors may regrow in such cases. The possibility is particularly high if the residual tumor volume exceeds 3.0 cm(3), so early radiotherapy should be performed to prevent regrowth.
Neurologia medico-chirurgica 01/2011; 51(6):415-22. · 0.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Shunt operations have conventionally been performed to deal with normal-pressure hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The indication and timing of shunt operations are often based on clinical symptoms and head computed tomography findings, and the early identification of the need for such surgery would be advantageous. The present study examined whether this need could be predicted solely on the basis of data collected on patient admission. A total of 120 consecutive patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage who underwent radical surgery for aneurysm were analyzed for potential risk factors for the onset of hydrocephalus that could be investigated on admission. Statistically significant differences between those patients who required a shunt operation and those who did not were found in terms of age, Hunt and Kosnik grade on first visit, Glasgow Coma Scale score on first visit, Fisher group, presence/absence of hydrocephalus, presence/absence of intraventricular hemorrhage, and transverse dimension of the third ventricle and distance between lateral ventricles measured by head computed tomography scan on first visit. Discriminant analysis performed on these 8 variables yielded a single discriminant function with a high sensitivity of 85.3% and a high specificity of 87.2%. Our findings indicate that the discriminant function is capable of predicting the need for the shunt operation soon after patient admission and can shorten the waiting time for the operation, and hence can be expected to contribute to decreasing the length of hospital stay in these patients.
Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases: the official journal of National Stroke Association 01/2011; 21(6):493-7.
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ABSTRACT: The feasibility and reliability of combined use of transcranial and direct cortical motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring during unruptured aneurysm surgery were evaluated. Forty-eight patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms underwent craniotomy and neck clipping accompanied by muscle MEP monitoring. MEPs were elicited successfully by transcranial electrical stimulation in all patients. Direct cortical stimulation elicited MEPs in 44 patients. Reduction in MEP amplitude to less than 50% of baseline was considered significant. No postoperative motor paresis occurred in 39 patients in whom transcranial and direct MEPs remained unchanged. Four patients in whom direct MEPs could not be recorded had no intraoperative abnormality in transcranial MEPs and no postoperative motor dysfunction. Four of the other 5 patients manifested significant transient direct MEP changes without transcranial MEP changes. The transient MEP changes were observed in 3 patients during temporary clipping of the parent artery and in one patient with inadequate clipping of an middle cerebral artery aneurysm, and were considered due to insufficiency of blood flow. Decrease or disappearance of direct MEP waves recovered immediately after re-application of the clip and release of the temporary clip. Direct MEP waves disappeared and did not recover until the end of microsurgical procedures in one patient, although transcranial MEP amplitude remained at less than 50% of baseline. She developed hemiparesis postoperatively, which recovered within 6 hours. The duration of temporary occlusion in patients with direct MEP changes was significantly longer than that in patients without (p < 0.05). Direct MEP was sensitive in detecting ischemic stress to descending motor pathways during aneurysm surgery. Transcranial MEPs could be elicited in patients in whom direct MEPs could not be obtained, and during periods such as craniotomy or after dural closure, in which direct MEPs could not be recorded. These findings suggest that combined transcranial and direct cortical MEP recording may improve the feasibility and reliability of MEP monitoring during unruptured aneurysm surgery.
Neurologia medico-chirurgica 01/2011; 51(1):15-22. · 0.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A 58-year-old man presented with a rare orbitocavernous sinus schwannoma that originated from the orbital opthalmic nerve, and manifested as slowly progressive hypesthesia of the right side of the forehead, proptosis, and ocular pain with rapidly worsening visual acuity. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a huge orbital tumor extending to the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus through the superior orbital fissure. Microsurgical total resection of the tumor was achieved using an epidural orbitofrontal approach with orbito-fronto-zygomatic craniotomy. The histological diagnosis was schwannoma with Antoni type A formation. The postoperative course was uneventful except for the hypesthesia on the right side of the forehead and transient oculomotor paralysis. Surgery was effective to relieve the symptoms and improve the activities of daily living.
Neurologia medico-chirurgica 01/2010; 50(2):154-7. · 0.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report a pediatric case of intrathecal baclofen therapy for severe spasticity following traumatic brain injury. A 14-year-old boy suffered from traumatic brain injury by traffic accident in 2005. Subsequently, he experienced tetraparesis and severe spasticity with spontaneous spasms. He underwent baclofen screening test, and his spasticity was improved. Thereafter intrathecal baclofen therapy was performed. Following baclofen pump implantation, Ashworth Score decreased from 4.0 points to 3.0 in lower limbs, and from 3.0 to 1.5 in upper limbs. His muscle tone was reduced and occurrence of spontaneous spasms stopped. Intrathecal baclofen therapy was observed to be an effective treatment for severe spasticity in childhood. Since children receiving the therapy demonstrated longer survival period than adults, long-term follow-up of this therapy is warranted.
Brain and nerve = Shinkei kenkyū no shinpo 04/2009; 61(3):313-5.
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Ryosuke Matsuda,
Yasushi Motoyama,
Yasuhiro Takeshima,
Ryota Kimura,
Junichi Iida,
Mitsutoshi Nakamura,
Hideaki Mishima, Young-Su Park,
Hidehiro Hirabayashi,
Hiroyuki Nakase,
Toshisuke Sakai
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ABSTRACT: A 68-year-old woman was referred t o our urological department with the complaint of hematuria and right abdominal mass. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed renal tumor and multiple lung metastases. Right nephroureterectomy was performed. Pathological examination was transitional cell carcinoma. After nephroureterectomy, combination chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, doxorubicin and cisplatin was performed. Oral administration of tegafur was continued outside the hospital. Eight months after the nephroureterectomy, she suffered from left hemiconvulsion and was transferred to our hospital. Contrast-enhanced CT of the head revealed a heterogeneous enhancement tumor in the parietal lobe. Surgical resection was performed by right parietal craniotomy. Because the tumor was invasive in the superior sagittal sinus, subtotal removal of the tumor was performed. Pathological examination indicated transitional cell carcinoma the same feature as in the renal pelvis. After surgical resection, she was treated by gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery. She returned to ordinary life, but 7 months later tumor recurrence took place. Repeated surgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery was performed, but she died 44 months after the initial nephroureterectomy due to the relapse of brain metastasis. Brain metastasis of renal pelvic carcinoma is extremely rare, and we have found only three case reports. We describe the course of our patient, and review the three cases of brain metastasis of renal pelvic carcinoma that are in the literature.
No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery 03/2009; 37(2):179-82. · 0.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The incidence of the complications and long-term outcome with a minimum 2-year follow-up of anterior cervical reconstruction using titanium mesh cage is evaluated. Relevant literature was also reviewed to discuss the potential risk factors of the complications of this procedure.
From 1999 to 2003, 26 patients with cervical spine disorders, (12 patients with OPLL, 7 with cervical spondylosis, 3 with vertebral tumors, 2 with osteomyelitis, and 2 with traumatic lesions) were operated on by this procedure. The series included 14 males and 12 females with a mean age of 60.9 years. Corpectomy was performed on 1 (14 cases), 2 (12 cases). Autologous bone fragments were taken from the excised vertebra.
The average improvement rate as scored on the neurosurgical cervical spine scale was 67.4%. The average follow-up period was 54.3 months (range, 24 to 72 months) in 21 who were followed up, and bone union was observed in all cases (22/22 cases) that could be followed up for more than 6 months postoperatively. The average time required for fusion was 6.7 months. Postoperative complications included dyspnea (1 case) and cerebrospinal fluid leakage (2 cases), which was treated by lumbar drainage, without any additional repair operation. No hardware-related complications or adjacent segment degenerative changes were encountered during the follow-up periods.
This reconstruction technique yielded good clinical results and helped to avoid complications associated with harvesting bone from the iliac crest donor site. However, risk factors related to the method should be carefully considered.
Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques 08/2006; 19(5):353-7. · 1.50 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The incidence of spinal infections has increased in recent years, and vertebral osteomyelitis and epidural abscess are issues of great concern for spine surgeons. We retrospectively reviewed our cases treated by two-stage management for vertebral osteomyelitis and epidural abscess.
The series consisted of nine patients (five men and four women); their ages ranged from 49 to 77 years (mean age, 60.6 yr). Coexisting medical conditions were diabetes mellitus in one case and long-term steroid intake in another. Myelopathy or radicular pain was caused by osteomyelitis and an epidural abscess in all patients. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar osteomyelitis was detected in three, four, and two patients, respectively; epidural abscess was pyogenic in four patients, tuberculous in three, and unknown in two patients. Our surgical strategy involved anterior debridement or drainage and application of an external orthosis postoperatively during the first stage. After clinical control of the infection by using organism-specific intravenous antibiotics as far as possible, as confirmed by normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate and/or C-reactive protein, second stage surgery was performed. This included complete debridement of all necrotic bone and soft tissues, and stable reconstruction with or without instrumentation (six and three patients, respectively).
The postoperative course was uneventful with relief of the symptoms after the second surgery. No evidence of recurrence or residual infection was observed in any patient, as shown by erythrocyte sedimentation rate and/or C-reactive protein levels during a follow-up period averaging 26.6 months (range, 2-56 mo).
Without denying the efficacy of the single-stage surgery, two-stage management can be a reasonable alternative for carefully selected patients who have spinal infection.
Neurosurgery 07/2006; 58(6):E1219; discussion E1219. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The outcomes of surgical treatment in 80 patients with cervical compressive myelopathy were retrospectively reviewed to examined the correlations between surgical outcomes and the following seven predictive factors: age at surgery, duration of symptoms, severity of myelopathy, number of compressed segments, intramedullary high intensity segments on T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, surgical method, and the type of disease. The recovery rates were evaluated at 3 months after the surgery. Significant correlations were observed between recovery rate and duration of symptoms, severity of myelopathy, and high intensity segments on T(2)-weighted MR imaging. No statistical correlation was observed with the other factors. Multivariate analysis revealed significant correlations between recovery rate and duration of symptoms and number of high intensity segments on T(2)-weighted MR imaging. The multiple regression equation was expressed as follows: recovery rate = 82.981 + 0.101 x (age) - 0.675 x (duration) - 1.452 x (number of compressed segments) - 1.451 x (preoperative Neurosurgical Cervical Spine Scale) - 13.826 x (number of high intensity segments). Based on this predicted formula, we compared the predicted and actual recovery rates for 17 patients treated recently. The two values were similar except in two patients with long duration of symptoms. We conclude that the surgical outcome can be predicted to a certain extent and this information could be provided to patients considering surgery for cervical compressive myelopathy.
Neurologia medico-chirurgica 06/2006; 46(5):231-8; discussion 238-9. · 0.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Use of instrumentation in spinal osteomyelitis remains controversial because of the perceived risk of persistent infection related to a devitalized graft and spinal hardware. Particularly, limited information is available regarding the long-term follow-up of patients. We retrospectively reviewed the use of titanium mesh-bone graft composite after corpectomy in pyogenic spinal infection with a minimum 3-year follow-up outcome.
Four patients, two men and two women, with cervical and thoracic myelopathy caused by cervical (two cases) and thoracic (two cases) osteomyelitis and epidural abscess, were treated. Their age ranged from 49 to 74 years (mean age 58 years). In one case, the coexisting medical condition was diabetes. Neurologic deficits caused by direct spinal cord compression due to epidural abscess, segmental deformity, and instability were observed in all cases. After infection was clinically controlled by intravenous antibiotics, anterior debridement and fusion using titanium mesh cage along with anterior plate were performed. Two-stage treatment was performed in two cases.
The postoperative course was uneventful; all patients experienced relief of symptoms. No evidence of recurrence or residual infection was observed in any patient during the average follow-up period of 42-56 months (average 49.0 months).
Once infection is clinically controlled, a titanium mesh-bone graft composite and plate in combination with aggressive debridement might provide an effective therapy for spinal osteomyelitis requiring surgery. Despite studying a small number of patients, we can conclude that titanium mesh reconstruction can be useful as a surgical method in selected low-risk patients with vertebral osteomyelitis.
Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques 03/2006; 19(1):48-54. · 1.50 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare condition with potentially devastating consequences and more aggressive diseases than previously recognized. We report a case with cervical epidural abscess treated successfully by emergent neural decompression. A 49-year-old man presented with fever and cervical pain. An magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an epidural abscess at C5-6. His condition deteriorated with the development of complete sensory loss and tetraparesis. Emergent anterior neural decompression was performed, and pus was aspirated which grew Staphylococcus aureus. Adequate antibiotics were administered, and the patient showed remarkable improvement of neurological signs and symptoms. He underwent reconstruction surgery 3 weeks after the first operation, and returned to his original job 3 months after the operation. Prompt diagnosis and satisfactory surgical decompression are essential to avoid irreversible neurological sequelae in epidural abscess of the cervical spine.
Nō to shinkei = Brain and nerve 01/2006; 57(12):1089-93.
