European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Systematic review. ⋯ The grading system based on 2 mm increments seems to be the most widely accepted method for determining pedicle screw placement accuracy. All grading systems were based on imaging alone without taking into account the direction of the breach or patient's symptoms.
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Spinal metastases are common in patients with cancer. Following lung and liver, spine is the most common site for cancers to metastasize. Many of them are hypervascularized. These cases are a particular challenge for the surgeon and represent a significant danger of massive blood loss during surgery. Hypervascularized metastases of the cervical spine also include the risk of postoperative bleeding with severe neurological impairment. We report a case of a 67-year-old women with breast cancer (BC) metastasis within the vertebral bodies of C3 and C4 with nearly complete bony destruction of the ventral column and intraspinal tumor masses compressing the spinal cord at level C3 and C4. The hypervascularized tumor was supplied by multiple minor vessels from both vertebral arteries, too small to be coiled individually. Due to an allergy to aspirin, intravascular stenting of the vertebral arteries was not an option. We decided to perform a preoperative direct injection of onyx-18 for embolization of the tumor. ⋯ Presurgical direct injection of Onyx-18 for treating hypervascular spinal metastases of breast cancer seems to be an effective and safe technique and reduces intraoperative bleeding to a minimum.
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Traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) are among the most devastating conditions in developed and developing countries, which can be prevented. The situation of TSCI around the world is not well understood which complicates the preventive policy decision making in fight against TSCI. This study was aimed to gather the available information about incidence of TSCI around the world. ⋯ Data of epidemiologic information in TSCI are available for 41 countries of the world, which are mostly European and high-income countries. Researches and efforts should be made to gather information in developing and low-income countries to plan appropriate cost-effective preventive strategies in fight against TSCI.
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Review Case Reports
Spinal hemangiopericytoma: an institutional experience and review of literature.
Hemangiopericytoma is a rare tumor of CNS with potential for recurrence and widespread metastasis, even outside CNS with even rare involvement of spinal cord. This case series presents five patients to evaluate the clinical presentation, radiological features, management, pathology and outcome of spinal hemangiopericytomas. ⋯ Spinal hemangiopericytoma is a rare tumor. Strong clinical suspicion is required to diagnose it pre-operatively. Gross total resection is the goal and radiotherapy should be given in case of residual tumor or high-grade tumors.
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Case Reports
Hyperplasia of rib and vertebra, associated with infiltrating lipoma: a rare case of focal overgrowth.
Syndromes with focal overgrowth are rare and diagnosis is difficult because manifestations are highly variable and symptoms overlap between syndromes. Diagnosis depends on clinical history, physical examination, and radiologic and histologic findings. This report describes a case of focal overgrowth of the left seventh rib and half of the adjacent thoracic vertebra, with overlying infiltrating lipoma. ⋯ We report on a second case of focal overgrowth of a rib and half of the adjacent vertebra, and overlying lipoma. In addition to the first case, we present MR images demonstrating infiltration of the adipose tissue.