Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
-
Review Historical Article
Neurosurgery for obsessive-compulsive disorder: contemporary approaches.
Surgery for psychiatric disorders has a controversial history. Traditionally, procedures were undertaken to physically disconnect or destroy certain areas of the brain thought to constitute critical components of the limbic pathways. The relatively recent advent of the much safer and non-destructive technique known as deep brain stimulation has coincided with a resurgence in interest in psychosurgery. Contemporary approaches to the surgical management of obsessive-compulsive disorder are discussed, together with our current understanding of its pathophysiology.
-
Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH) is a rare cause of spinal cord compression in adults, especially in the elderly. We report an independent 88-year-old female, on aspirin only for chronic atrial fibrillation, who presented with a 12-hour history of acute lumbar back pain, urinary incontinence and progressive bilateral lower limb paresis. ⋯ The patient made a poor initial post-operative recovery, but four months later had begun to mobilise independently after intensive physiotherapy. The case highlights the significance of clinical suspicion, especially in those patients on anti-platelet therapy, rapid spinal radiography and emergent decompressive surgery in SSEH patients, as well as the importance of ongoing rehabilitation in restoring neurological function.
-
We performed a prospective study to evaluate the intraoperative value of indocyanine green (ICG) video angiography in anterior circulation aneurysms. From January 2007 to April 2008, 42 patients with anterior circulation aneurysms who were to undergo aneurysm clipping were enrolled in the study. Intraoperative ICG video angiography was performed using a fluorescence microscope. ⋯ ICG video angiography after adjustment of the clip position showed a perfect residual elimination with no abnormal findings. Post-operative DSA, CTA and MRA results corresponded to the intraoperative ICG video angiography findings. Therefore, ICG video angiography is an important tool to monitor residual aneurysm, parent artery stenosis or perforating artery occlusion during intracranial aneurysm clipping.
-
In a consecutive series of 26 previously operated patients diagnosed with cerebral glioma, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), 2-((18)F) fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and perfusion MRI (MRP), were performed at follow-up to distinguish recurrence from radiation necrosis, and to identify tumour upgrading. Discrepancy between techniques was observed in 9 cases. ⋯ In the selected group of nine cases studied to differentiate viable tumour from radiation necrosis, MRS and MRP reached a PPV and a NPV of 100%, whereas for FDG-PET, PPV and NPV were 66.6% and 60%, respectively. To distinguish between viable high-grade glioma and radiation necrosis, gadolinium-enhanced MRI gives a high false-positive rate, while MRS and MRP are superior to FDG-PET in discriminating tumour recurrence, grade increase and radiation necrosis.
-
Case Reports
Pedicle subtraction osteotomies for the correction of post-traumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis.
Traumatic compression fractures are usually treated non-surgically. In most patients without osteoporosis, such fractures heal without any sequelae. ⋯ Pedicle subtraction osteotomies have been used in non-traumatic settings to correct kyphotic deformities or restore lordosis in patients in symptomatic positive sagittal balance. We apply this technique in the setting of post-traumatic kyphosis, and we performed the osteotomies at the level of the compression fracture.