Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
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The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the most universally accepted system for grading level of consciousness. Predicting outcome is particularly difficult in poor grade aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) patients. We hypothesised that the GCS and individual examination components would correlate with long-term outcome and have varying prognostic value depending on assessment time points. ⋯ Long-term follow-up is necessary when evaluating recovery after aSAH, as outcomes improve significantly during the first year. The GCS and its individual components correlate well with long-term outcome. Admission motor examination and spontaneous eye opening during hospitalisation are most predictive of favourable recovery.
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A 49-year-old man presented with progressive cervical myelopathy caused by a retro-odontoid mass, with associated developmental canal stenosis at C1, and C1-C2 instability. Surgery was scheduled for a dome-like laminotomy at C1, posterior C1-C2 fixation using C1 lateral mass screws and C2 pedicle screws, and structural bone grafting between C1 and C2. Prior to surgery, we produced a 3-dimensional full-scale model of the patient's cervical spine and performed a simulation of the scheduled surgery. ⋯ During the actual surgery, all procedures were successful. After surgery, the patient's neurological deficits markedly improved. Successful C1-C2 fusion, adequate decompression of the spinal cord, and spontaneous regression of the retro-odontoid mass were achieved by this procedure without any apparent restriction in neck movement.
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Case Reports
Fatal intratumoral hemorrhage in posterior fossa tumors following ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
We report on two patients with rare major intratumoral hemorrhage following ventriculoperitoneal shunt in posterior fossa tumors. A 28-year-old woman with a midline posterior fossa lesion, whose imaging features suggested a fourth ventricular ependymoma with obstructive hydrocephalus, was subjected to a right ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Her consciousness deteriorated, and she experienced massive intratumoral hemorrhage and later died. ⋯ She also developed a massive tumor bleed following a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and was subjected to emergency decompression of the tumor with the bleeding. She remained vegetative at discharge and died 18 months later. Intratumoral hemorrhage is a rare but important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with posterior fossa tumors who undergo ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
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Posterior communicating artery (PCoA) hypoplasia is a fetal variant of the Circle of Willis. According to angiograms and autopsy reports, this congenital variation is found in 6-21% of the general population. PCoA hypoplasia only becomes a risk factor for ischemic stroke in the presence of ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. ⋯ The most common ischemic event was ipsilateral thalamic lacunar infarctions with or without occipital lobe involvement. Based on our results, PCoA hypoplasia appears to be a contributor to the risk of ischemic stroke, even in the absence of ICA occlusion. This risk is especially pronounced for strokes involving arteries that penetrate the thalamus.
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Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is a rare disorder characterized by overgrowth of fat in the extradural space, causing compression of the neural elements. It is frequently associated with the administration of exogenous steroids or elevation of endogenous steroids. We present two patients, both with epidural lipamotosis of idiopathic origin. ⋯ An MRI revealed stenosis at L4-S1 and diffuse anterior lipomatosis. A literature review revealed 49 cases of idiopathic SEL and 62 of secondary SEL. We aimed to delineate the differences between these two relatively distinct entities including their anatomical distribution, clinical presentation and prognostic implications.