| OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We report the case of a 73-year-old patient who presented a right motor deficit caused by an ipsilateral acute subdural hematoma. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstration of Kernohan-Woltman notch phenomenon was obtained. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The woman sustained a major head injury at home, followed by loss of consciousness. On admission to the emergency room, she was comatose, anisochoric (left > right), and showed a reaction to pain with decerebrating movements of left limbs (glasgow coma scale (GCS) 4/15). A right severe hemiparesis was observed. Cerebral computed tomography scan showed a large right hemispheric subdural hematoma. INTERVENTION AND POST-OPERATIVE COURSE: A wide right craniotomy was performed and the subdural hematoma evacuated. During the post-operative period, the level of consciousness gradually improved. A MRI performed about 2 weeks after operation showed a small area of abnormal signal intensity in the left cerebral peduncle. On discharge, the woman was able to communicate with others, but her right hemiparesis was still severe. ( info) |
2/70. Acute subdural hematoma due to near-drowning--case report. A 46-year-old male was transferred to our hospital after near-drowning when swimming. Examination found no subcutaneous hematoma or abrasion on his head. cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started immediately. Emergent computed tomography (CT) revealed no abnormalities. The next day, his consciousness level improved and repeat CT suggested an acute spontaneous subdural hematoma in the parieto-occipital region. The acute subdural hematoma was evacuated. The source of bleeding was probably an abnormally large vein located in the center of the hematoma. The patient was discharged without neurological deficit. Repeat CT is needed even if there were no abnormality on initial CT after drowning. ( info) |
3/70. Hyperacute spinal subdural haematoma as a complication of lumbar spinal anaesthesia: MRI. We report two cases of hyperacute spinal subdural haematoma secondary to lumbar spinal anaesthesia, identified with MRI. Prompt diagnosis of this infrequent, potentially serious complication of spinal anaesthesia is essential, as early surgical evacuation may be needed. Suggestive MRI findings in this early phase include diffuse occupation filling of the spinal canal with poor delineation of the spinal cord on T1-weighted images, and a poorly-defined high-signal lesion with a low-signal rim on T2-weighted images. ( info) |
4/70. Cranial nerve palsy and intracranial subdural hematoma following implantation of intrathecal drug delivery device. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Complications related to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and low CSF pressure can occur following placement of an intrathecal drug delivery device. methods: A 58-year-old man with chronic, intractable lower back pain underwent implantation of an intrathecal drug delivery device. On the fourth postoperative day, he developed a postural headache and diplopia with findings compatible with left sixth cranial nerve palsy. The headache subsequently became constant and nonpostural. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging was obtained that showed the presence of a posterior subdural intracranial hematoma. Conservative treatment for postdural puncture headache did not improve the symptomatology. Therefore, an epidural blood patch was performed that produced rapid improvement and eventual resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal catheter implantation can result in CSF loss that might not resolve promptly with conservative therapy. In this case, epidural blood patch proved to be a safe and effective form of treatment. ( info) |
5/70. Cranial subdural haematoma associated with dural puncture in labour. A 23-yr-old primagravida sustained a dural puncture during epidural catheter insertion and developed a headache that settled with oral diclofenac and codydramol. On the third day after delivery, she convulsed twice without warning. As plasma urate was increased, the putative diagnosis of an eclamptic fit was made, and magnesium therapy was started. A contrast CT scan revealed that the cause of the patient's symptoms was a subdural haematoma with raised intracranial pressure. A coincidental arteriovenous malformation was noted. This case emphasises the need to consider the differential diagnoses of post-partum headache. The management of acute intracranial haematoma is described. ( info) |
6/70. cocaine-related acute subdural hematoma: an emergent cause of cerebrovascular accident. A case of "spontaneous" acute subdural hematoma caused by cocaine abuse is described. As an isolated cerebrovascular event, related to cocaine abuse, this is the first report in the literature. It also represents a new differential diagnosis for nontraumatic acute subdural haematomas. The putative pathophysiology of the lesion is discussed. ( info) |
| A diagnostic lumbar puncture was performed in a 12-year-old male with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Because of thrombocytopenia (platelet count 42,000/mm(3)), a platelet transfusion was given immediately before the lumbar puncture. However, the platelet count was not re-examined. The patient developed progressive paraparesis shortly after the lumbar puncture. magnetic resonance imaging revealed an extensive spinal subdural hematoma from the T2 to S2 level. This case report illustrates the sometimes dramatic consequences of lumbar puncture in patients with childhood leukemia. Guidelines for the examination of the platelet count and correction of thrombocytopenia before lumbar puncture are discussed. ( info) |
8/70. An unusual case of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage caused by wakeboarding. Wakeboarding is a relatively new and exciting sporting activity which is similar to water-skiing. While there have been several reports of water-skiing-related injuries, there has been nothing reported in the literature so far concerning injuries in wakeboarding. We present the case of a 14-year-old male who sustained an unusual intracranial subdural hemorrhage while wakeboarding and postulate on the mechanisms which could have resulted in the injury. ( info) |
9/70. Acute spontaneous spinal subdural haematoma: MRI features. We present MRI findings in three patients with acute spontaneous subdural haematomas of the spine. Acute haematomas (1-3 days) were isointense or gave slightly high signal on T1-and heterogeneous signal on T2-weighted images. MRI precisely defined the level and extent of the haematoma preoperatively. The MRI was prospectively correctly interpreted as acute subdural haematomas in all patients. As a specific, noninvasive modality, MRI is the preferred imaging technique in this rare clinical entity. ( info) |
10/70. Successful surgical treatment of a large mixed pial-dural arteriovenous malformation. A large mixed pial-dural arteriovenous malformation was successfully treated by surgical resection and occlusion of the draining veins. Treatment of this type of malformation is discussed. ( info) |