1/48. Cervical and thoracic juxtafacet cysts causing neurologic deficits.STUDY DESIGN: case reports and review of the literature. OBJECTIVES: To review the clinical features, treatment, and outcome of juxtafacet cysts. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There have previously been 4 reported cases of thoracic juxtafacet cysts and 19 cases of cervical juxtafacet cysts. Cervical cysts have usually originated from the cruciate ligament and caused myelopathy. Thoracic cysts are usually signaled by myelopathy. methods: The records of the neurosurgery Department of Royal Adelaide Hospital from 1980 through 1995 were reviewed for cases of intraspinal juxtafacet cysts. RESULTS: Eight cases of intraspinal juxtafacet cysts were identified; six were in the lumbar spine. One patient had a cervical cyst related to a facet joint and had unilateral radiculopathy. A second patient with a thoracic cyst had the gradual onset of myelopathy. Both patients had surgical excision of the cyst without resection of the adherent dura. The symptoms and neurologic signs improved in each case. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical and thoracic juxtafacet cysts are rare lesions that are usually signaled by myelopathy. Results of surgery are excellent in most cases, even if the cyst is not completely excised.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/48. Enlargement of a chronic aseptic lumbar epidural abscess by intraspinal injections--a rare cause of progressive paraparesis.The frequent use of invasive procedures at the spinal cord such as epidural injections has led to an increased incidence of iatrogenic abscesses. We report the case of a patient who suffered from low back pain. During epidural lumbar injections of steroids the patient developed severe radicular symptoms, resulting in severe paraparesis. We demonstrate the rare cause of this progressive deterioration, being a combination of a preexisting chronic aseptic epidural abscess and an iatrogenic enlargement by repeated epidural injections. MR-Scans demonstrated a mass lesion at the L4/5 vertebral level, which was surgically removed. Histological evaluation revealed the presence of a chronic aseptic spinal epidural abscess with acute bleedings. histology and MR-Data disclosed multiple deposits of the applied drug within the abscess and in the surrounding paravertebral soft tissue. The authors prove that the cause of the neurological deterioration was due to epidural injections into a preexisting lumbar chronic aseptic epidural abscess. Harmful and unpleasant complications may occur following epidural injections. Though we present a very rare cause of such complications, a careful monitoring of the neurological status of the patient is necessary as well as the early application of MR imaging in the case of deterioration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/48. Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis. A case report.This 54-year-old patient with a breast carcinoma of one year's evolution presented a progressive paraparesis and sphincter disregulation of a week evolution; MRI image showed a tumor in the medullary conus. She improved after removal of the conus mass. The histologic diagnosis was metastasis of adenocarcinoma. Metastasis at this level is infrequent and represents less than 1% of all spinal metastases. When the patients' general condition is good, surgery can relieve the neurologic deficit produced by the medullary mass.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/48. lower extremity paraparesis or paraplegia subsequent to endovascular management of abdominal aortic aneurysms.lower extremity paraplegia or paraparesis is an extremely rare event after operative repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAS). We report two such cases that occurred after endovascular repair or attempted endovascular repair of routine AAAS. To our knowledge, these are the first two cases reported specifically in the literature. These cases may have significant implications with regard to the endovascular management of AAAS, because atheroembolization to the spinal cord appears to be the underlying cause.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/48. A case of reversible paraparesis following celiac plexus block.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Permanent and acute reversible paraplegia following celiac plexus block (CPB) have been reported. We report a case of prolonged reversible paraparesis after alcohol celiac plexus block. CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old man with primary multicentric pancreatic tumor and multiple hepatic metastases underwent alcohol celiac plexus neurolysis for severe abdominal pain radiating to the back. The patient had complete pain relief after the block but developed paresthesia of the left leg, which then spread to the right leg. Subsequently, loss of flexion and extension of the muscles supplying the left hip, knee, and foot developed. Deep tendon reflexes were brisk on the left compared to the right, and both plantar reflexes gave flexor responses. Magnetic resonance imaging and myelography were normal. Motor-evoked potential recordings showed a spinal cord lesion with involvement of the pyramidal and spinothalamic tracts. Somatosensory-evoked potentials indicated a relative sparing of dorsal column pathways. Physiotherapy was started, the sensory changes gradually subsided, and the patient was discharged 30 days after the block with clinically insignificant neurological deficit. CONCLUSIONS: paraparesis following alcohol celiac plexus block may be reversible over an extended period of time.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/48. spinal cord compression due to extramedullary haematopoiesis in two patients with thalassaemia: complete regression with blood transfusion therapy.Extramedullary haematopoiesis, a common finding in thalassaemia, is rarely localized in the spinal cord and even more rarely has neurological manifestations. We present two patients suffering from thalassaemia (intermedia and beta homozygous) and paraparesis due to spinal cord compression from intrathoracic extramedullary haematopoietic masses. diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance imaging findings, and treatment consisted of blood hypertransfusions. The majority of published cases have been successfully treated by radiation and in some cases by blood transfusions. Our two patients completely recovered, and there has been no recurrence during the 4 years since their treatment. diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/48. Longitudinal myelitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging of six cases.Myelopathy is a rare central nervous system (CNS) complication associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is the most frequent form of SLE-related myelopathy. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) typically shows increased signal intensity in T2-weighted images and cord swelling. In the present paper, we describe six cases of SLE-related myelopathy with multiple increased signals in the T2-weighted images involving continuous levels of the cervical and thoracic spinal cord, a distinctive feature recently named 'longitudinal myelitis'. The clinical and laboratory findings are similar to those presented by ATM patients, including paraparesis, sensory level and sphincter disturbances. Four patients had positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) suggesting that this could be a characteristic of longitudinal myelitis. Treatment in all cases included high doses of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents (intravenous (i.v.) cyclophosphamide). Anticoagulation therapy was given to one patient and two others received low doses of aspirin. The outcome was mainly unfavorable with slow improvement in only one case, no improvement in two and relapse of the myelopathy in the remaining three. In conclusion, longitudinal myelitis is an unusual form of SLE-related myelopathy, it might be associated with aPL and it has a poor prognosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/48. paraparesis after excision of intrathoracic meningoceles in a patient with neurofibromatosis.Intrathoracic meningocele associated with neurofibromatosis is a rarity. We treated a 16-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis, marked kyphoscoliosis, and two right-sided intrathoracic meningoceles. Because his chief complaints of cough and chest pain were thought to be caused by the meningoceles, resection of these lesions was performed prior to correction of the spinal deformity. On the day after the resection, complete paraplegia developed, followed by recovery to paraparesis. Decompressive lumbar puncture was performed, but intraspinal pressure was normal. Postoperative spinal cord damage and consequent paresis may have resulted from a loss of pressure buffering by the meningocele, which rendered the cord vulnerable to injury. The possibility of a similar unusual complication should be borne in mind when treating patients with intrathoracic meningocele associated with neurofibromatosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/48. Early recovery after retropleural approach in a paraparesis thoracic disc patient.A 56 years old Thai male developed acute paraparesis 2 days before admission. The investigation showed T6-7 thoracic disc herniation on the left side with thoracic cord compression. A lateral retropleural (extracavity) approach from the left side without penetrating the pleural cavity was performed. He was able to sit up and start the rehabilitation program within the first day after the operation on the bed and neurological status was gradually recovered within 2 months after continue home program for rehabilitation. Finally he can walk with gait aids. The motor power of his legs were grade IV according to Frankel classification and he can well control the uro-genital function.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/48. Sacral origin of a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: case report and review.STUDY DESIGN: A case of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula arising from a branch of the internal iliac artery is reported. OBJECTIVE: To report a rare case of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula supplied by a lateral sacral artery and treated with endovascular therapy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas usually occur in the thoracic and lumbosacral regions and arise from the intercostal and lumbar arteries. Rarely, they may occur in the sacral region, as in the reported case. methods: A 60-year-old man presented with progressive lower extremity paresis and decreased sensation below the waist of 6 months duration, which had progressed to paraparesis. diagnostic imaging included magnetic resonance imaging and spinal angiography. RESULTS: A sacral spinal dural arteriovenous fistula was diagnosed with spinal angiography, which showed the spinal dural arteriovenous fistula arising from the right lateral sacral artery branches at S2, and magnetic resonance imaging, which showed enlarged pial vessels along the surface of the spinal cord and central cord hyperintensity, with peripheral hypointensity on T2-weighted images. The patient was definitively treated with endovascular therapy using polyvinyl alcohol particles and Tornado coils. His symptoms almost completely resolved within 6 months of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Although surgical ligation is the treatment of choice, endovascular therapy may be an effective treatment for patients with sacral region spinal dural arteriovenous fistula in cases of high surgical risk. Spinal angiography remains the definitive diagnostic examination for pinpointing the site of the dural arteriovenous fistula.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = cord (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |