Neurosurgery
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The authors report a series of 16 hemiplegic patients suffering from harmful spasticity in the upper limb and treated with selective posterior rhizotomy (SPR) in the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ). This severe spasticity was associated with irreducible abnormal postures in flexion in 11 cases and painful manifestations in 12. The method was introduced in 1972 on the basis of anatomical studies of the DREZ in humans, in which a topographical segregation of the root afferents, according to their anatomicofunctional destinations, has been shown. ⋯ In 1 case only, a marked tendency for spasticity to return was observed. Of the 12 patients with painful manifestations, 9 were completely relieved and 3 improved. These beneficial effects on both spasticity and pain led to a gain in functional status in 93% of cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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The authors present a retrospective analysis of 128 cases of odontoid process injury treated at the University of Minnesota and affiliated hospitals between the years 1967 and 1983. Of these 128 cases, 110 were acute fractures, while 18 patients suffered from old, unstable odontoid injuries. Motor vehicle accident was the leading cause of injury, and the largest group of patients was in their second decade. ⋯ An analysis of the results in these groups led to the elucidation of certain factors that likely are important in determining the treatment of each individual patient. These factors include age of the patient, type of odontoid fracture, direction and degree of fracture displacement, and diagnostic delay. Fracture reduction and halo immobilization are the treatments preferred for patients who are diagnosed within 1 week of injury, who are less than 65 years of age and who have anteriorly, nondisplaced, or minimally posteriorly subluxed (less than 2 mm) Type II fractures, or who have any Type III injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Lethargy, hyperpyrexia, tremor, and rigidity associated with leukocytosis and elevation of the creatine kinase level occurred in a patient with a closed head injury who was being treated with haloperidol for control of agitation. This constellation of symptoms, known as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), partially improved when the neuroleptic medication was stopped, but complete resolution of the syndrome did not occur until the patient was treated with bromocriptine. ⋯ The NMS is caused by neuroleptic medications and may initially present with unexplained hyperpyrexia, leukocytosis, and elevated creatine kinase levels. Halting the neuroleptic, supportive care, and the use of dantrolene sodium and bromocriptine are the treatment modalities of choice for this syndrome, which has a mortality rate of 20 to 30% and may be linked to malignant hyperthermia.