Neurosurgery
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Case Reports
Virtual movements activate primary sensorimotor areas in amputees: report of three cases.
In our multidisciplinary pain clinic, three patients with amputated limbs and with surgical indications for chronic motor cortex stimulation for phantom limb pain were selected for their ability to voluntarily move the missing limb. The sensation of being able to move a missing limb at will occurs quite frequently among traumatic amputees, but the ability to control it sufficiently to perform a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examination is more rarely encountered. We used motor fMRI to study these virtual movements. ⋯ Cortical areas devoted to the missing limb seem to persist for several years after amputation. The precentral activations found in our patients are in agreement with the statement that the neural mechanisms involved in the mental representation of an action and in its execution are the same. Data from fMRI can be used to evaluate phantom limb virtual movements and to study cortical reorganization phenomena that can appear with time or as a result of some therapies. In these patients, fMRI data may be useful in assisting the neurosurgeon in the placement of chronic motor cortex electrodes.
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Except for its role in shunt infections, Propionibacterium acnes has been of little interest to neurosurgeons. The rarity and indolent nature of focal intracranial infections by P. acnes limit their recognition. Three cases of serious intracranial infection due to this organism are described. CLINCAL PRESENTATION: Three patients with histories of immunosuppression and neurosurgical procedures developed nonspecific, delayed presentations (5 wk to 5 yr after surgery) of intracranial infections. In two patients, radiological investigations showed enhancing lesions that were later found to be brain abscesses. A subdural empyema was found in the third patient. ⋯ P. acnes is an indolent organism that may rarely cause severe intracranial infections. This organism should be suspected when an intracranial purulent collection is discovered in a patient with a history of neurosurgical procedures. Immunosuppressed patients may be susceptible to this otherwise benign organism. Surgical drainage and treatment with intravenous penicillin should be considered standard therapy.
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The senior author (REH) has changed his technique for performing carotid endarterectomy from the use of general anesthesia to the use of cervical block anesthesia. Because a randomized study was not performed, it is difficult to separate effects of increased surgical experience from those caused by a change in anesthetic regimen. ⋯ The use of cervical block anesthesia has practically eliminated the non-stroke-related complications associated with carotid endarterectomy in our practice. The technique for performing carotid endarterectomy under cervical block anesthesia is described in detail.
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Patients with chronically implanted deep brain stimulator (DBS) electrodes can encounter complications requiring hardware removal. We assessed the safety and efficacy of using implanted DBS electrodes to create a therapeutic lesion before their removal. ⋯ Lesions can be made through chronically implanted DBS electrodes in a safe, graded fashion and can produce therapeutic benefit.