1/321. Postoperative gas bubble foot drop. A case report.STUDY DESIGN: An unusual case of foot drop occurring 10 days after disc surgery is reported. Imaging studies identified a gas bubble compressing the nerve root. OBJECTIVE: To describe the origin and management of a radiculopathy caused by an intraspinal gas bubble. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A recurrent lumbar disc herniation was diagnosed by clinical and imaging studies. A vacuum disc also was noted at the same level. These are common and not considered to be of pathologic significance. methods: The patient underwent a microdiscectomy for a lumbar disc extrusion. The postoperative course was excellent, with relief of symptoms and no neurologic deficit. Ten days later, the awoke with a foot drop and pain in the leg. Imaging studies showed a 4-mm gas bubble compressing the nerve root. Oral steroids were given for 10 days. RESULTS: Progressive improvement occurred, and the patient was asymptomatic 6 weeks later. Although in some instances it may be necessary to evacuate intraspinal gas, an initial period of observation is warranted, because the gas and its resulting symptoms may disappear spontaneously. CONCLUSION: Intradiscal gas accumulation, better known as vacuum disc, is considered to be a benign indication of degenerative disc disease. On occasion it can be a cause of symptoms. A case is reported in which gas leaked after surgery into the spinal canal, causing a foot drop. The symptoms and gas disappeared spontaneously without further treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal canal, canal, spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/321. Lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts of different etiologies: diagnosis by CT and MR imaging.Intraspinal synovial cysts arises from a facet joint and may cause radicular symptoms due to nerve root compression. In the present study, three surgically and histologically proved cases of synovial cyst of the lumbar spine with different etiology are described. The purpose of this report is to illustrate the imaging features of various etiologies of intraspinal synovial cysts allowing a correct preoperative diagnosis. review of the literature enables us to say that to our knowledge, there is no reported article collecting the imaging findings of intraspinal synovial cysts with different etiologies. Only single cases with rheumatoid arthritic or traumatic origin have been reported to date. We believe that computed tomography and particularly magnetic resonance imaging are the methods of choice which provide the most valuable diagnostic information.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.67611630732759keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/321. Traumatic L5-S1 spondylolisthesis.We report a case of traumatic spondylolisthesis in a 31-year-old man struck by a steel I-beam. Although most reported traumatic spondylolisthesis cases are from low-energy trauma, this was a high-energy trauma case. The initial examination revealed no signs of cauda equina syndrome, and the patient's spinal injury was primarily capsuloligamentous. We present this rare case, with a review of pertinent literature and treatment mechanisms for traumatic spondylolisthesis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.096588043903941keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/321. cauda equina syndrome after spinal anaesthesia with hyperbaric 5% lignocaine: a review of six cases of cauda equina syndrome reported to the Swedish Pharmaceutical insurance 1993-1997.Six cases of cauda equina syndrome with varying severity were reported to the Swedish Pharmaceutical insurance during the period 1993-1997. All were associated with spinal anaesthesia using hyperbaric 5% lignocaine. Five cases had single-shot spinal anaesthesia and one had a repeat spinal anaesthetic due to inadequate block. The dose of hyperbaric 5% lignocaine administered ranged from 60 to 120 mg. Three of the cases were most likely caused by direct neurotoxicity of hyperbaric 5% lignocaine. In the other 3 cases, direct neurotoxicity was also probable, but unfortunately radiological investigations were not done to definitely exclude a compressive aetiology. All cases sustained permanent neurological deficits. We recommend that hyperbaric lignocaine should be administered in concentrations not greater than 2% and at a total dose preferably not exceeding 60 mg.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.67611630732759keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/321. Nerve root herniation secondary to lumbar puncture in the patient with lumbar canal stenosis. A case report.STUDY DESIGN: A very rare case of nerve root herniation secondary to lumbar puncture is reported. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristic clinical features of this case and to discuss a mechanism of the nerve root herniation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There has been no previous report of nerve root herniation secondary to lumbar puncture. methods: A 66-year-old woman who experienced intermittent claudication as a result of sciatic pain on her right side was evaluated by radiography and magnetic resonance imaging, the results of which demonstrated central-type canal stenosis at L4-L5. The right sciatic pain was exacerbated after lumbar puncture. myelography and subsequent computed tomography showed marked stenosis of the thecal sac that was eccentric to the left, unlike the previous magnetic resonance imaging finding. RESULTS: At surgery, a herniated nerve root was found through a small rent of the dorsocentral portion of the thecal sac at L4-L5, presenting a loop with epineural bleeding. The herniated nerve root was put back into the intrathecal space, and the dural tear was repaired. CONCLUSION: Lumbar puncture can be a cause of nerve root herniation in cases of lumbar canal stenosis. The puncture should not be carried out at an area of stenosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.66371265644518keywords = canal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/321. Lumbar spinal subdural hematoma following craniotomy--case report.A 52-year-old female complained of lumbago and weakness in the lower extremities 6 days after craniotomy for clipping an aneurysm. Neurological examination revealed symptoms consistent with lumbosacral cauda equina compression. The symptoms affecting the lower extremities spontaneously disappeared within 3 days. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging 10 days after the operation demonstrated a lumbar spinal subdural hematoma (SSH). She had no risk factor for bleeding at this site, the symptoms appeared after she began to walk, and MR imaging suggested the SSH was subacute. Therefore, the SSH was probably due to downward movement of blood from the cranial subdural space under the influence of gravity. SSH as a complication of cranial surgery is rare, but should be considered if a patient develops symptoms consistent with a lumbar SSH after craniotomy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.48294021951971keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/321. Laminar and arch fractures with dural tear and nerve root entrapment in patients operated upon for thoracic and lumbar spine injuries.OBJECTIVE: To determine the neurological outcome in patients with laminar fractures associated with dural tears and nerve root entrapment, operated upon for thoracic and lumbar spine injuries. PATIENT population: Out of 103 patients operated upon consecutively for thoracic and lumbar spine injuries during the period 1990 to 1994 inclusive, 24 (23.3%) patients had laminar fractures out of whom 3 (2.9%) had an associated dural tear and an other 17 (16.5% or 70.8% of the total patients with laminar fractures) had an associated dural tear and nerve root entrapment. RESULTS: Twelve (70.5%) patients had injury at the thoraculumbar junction, 13 (76.5%) had Magerl's type A3 or above, 10 (58.8%) had a kyphotic angle deformity greater than 5 degrees. Seven (41.1%) had their spinal canal's sagittal diameter reduced by at least 50% and two had dislocations. Nine (52.9%) had initial neurological deficits. Four (50%) out of 8 patients with no initial neurological deficits (Frankel E) worsened to Frankel D. However, one patient among the 3 with initial Frankel A improved to Frankel C while both patients with initial Frankel C usefully improved to final Frankel grades D and E respectively. Two of the four patients with initial Frankel D improved to Frankel E, the other 2 remaining unchanged. All in all five patients neurological status improved, 4 worsened and 8 remained unchanged after neurosurgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Vertical laminar fractures with dural tears and nerve root entrapment represent a special group of thoracic and lumbar spine injuries that carry a poor prognosis. However, special operative precautions lead to significant improvement in some of them although a majority remain unchanged or even worsened.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.80682391219212keywords = spinal canal, canal, spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/321. Percutaneous treatment of gas-containing lumbar disc herniation. Report of two cases.A limited number of cases have been reported in which gas-containing lumbar disc herniation caused compression of nerve roots. The authors describe two patients in whom computerized tomography scanning revealed a large intraspinal gas collection that appeared to be causing nerve root compression and that was successfully evacuated by percutaneous needle aspiration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.096588043903941keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/321. Nontraumatic acute spinal subdural hematoma: report of five cases and review of the literature.Acute subdural spinal hematoma occurs rarely; however, when it does occur, it may have disastrous consequences. The authors assessed the outcome of surgery for this lesion in relation to causative factors and diagnostic imaging (computerized tomography [CT], CT myelography), as well as eventual preservation of the subarachnoid space. The authors reviewed 106 cases of nontraumatic acute subdural spinal hematoma (101 published cases and five of their own) in terms of cause, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcome. Fifty-one patients (49%) were men and 55 (51%) were women. In 70% of patients the spinal segment involved was in the lumbar or thoracolumbar spine. In 57 cases (54%) there was a defect in the hemostatic mechanism. spinal puncture was performed in 50 patients (47%). Late surgical treatment was performed in 59 cases (56%): outcome was good in 25 cases (42%) (in 20 of these patients preoperative neurological evaluation had shown mild deficits or paraparesis, and three patients had presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]). The outcome was poor in 34 cases (58%; 23 patients with paraplegia and 11 with SAH). The formation of nontraumatic acute spinal subdural hematomas may result from coagulation abnormalities and iatrogenic causes such as spinal puncture. Their effect on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots may be limited to a mere compressive mechanism when the subarachnoid space is preserved and the hematoma is confined between the dura and the arachnoid. It seems likely that the theory regarding the opening of the dural compartment, verified at the cerebral level, is applicable to the spinal level too. Early surgical treatment is always indicated when the patient's neurological status progressively deteriorates. The best results can be obtained in patients who do not experience SAH. In a few selected patients in whom neurological impairment is minimal, conservative treatment is possible.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.0624684829434keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/321. Adhesive arachnoiditis causing cauda equina syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis: CT and MRI demonstration of dural calcification and a dorsal dural diverticulum.We present the radiological features of a 42-year-old man with long-standing inactive ankylosing spondylitis (AS), demonstrating that arachnoiditis is a cause of a cauda equina syndrome (CES) in this disease. CT showed a dorsal arachnoid diverticulum causing scalloped erosion of the laminae, and punctate and curvilinear dural calcification. MRI revealed adhesion and convergence of the cauda equina dorsally into the arachnoid pouch, causing the dural sac to appear empty canal. To the best of our knowledge, dural calcification on CT is a new finding in AS, which may be related to the CES. Our findings support the hypothesis that chronic adhesive arachnoiditis with subsequent loss of meningeal elasticity may be the main cause of CES in AS.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.1106187760742keywords = canal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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