Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
-
Neuromuscular disorders in the background of critical illness are under diagnosed. Standardized screening for weakness in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting is uncommon and persistent weakness as a sequel of critical illness is usually not recognized by physicians in the ICU for whom survival from acute illness is the primary outcome. The spectrum of illness ranges from isolated nerve entrapment with focal pain or weakness, to disuse muscle atrophy with mild weakness, and to severe myopathy or neuropathy with associated severe, prolonged weakness. This update focuses on neuromuscular disorders occurring in the critical care set up associated with diffuse and severe weakness.
-
Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Oct 2006
Case ReportsBilateral C5 motor paralysis following anterior cervical surgery--a case report.
Numerous authors have reported C5 root palsies following posterior cervical surgery, and several mechanisms of injury have been proposed. Similar deficits after anterior cervical procedures are considered to occur less commonly. We report on a 48-year-old male who underwent multi-level anterior discectomy and fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. ⋯ The patient returned to his preoperative occupation as an operating room nurse 6 months following surgery, with complete neurologic recovery occurring over an 11-month period. C5 deficits following anterior cervical surgery occur more frequently than generally assumed. Improved lordosis and longitudinal lengthening of the cervical spinal column in multilevel anterior decompression and interbody fusion can paradoxically result in a traction injury to the spinal cord and C5 nerve roots.
-
Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Oct 2006
Medically refractory epilepsy associated with temporal lobe ganglioglioma: characteristics and postoperative outcome.
To define the postoperative seizure outcome and its predictors in patients with ganglioglioma-related temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). ⋯ We emphasize that, in patients with temporal lobe ganglioglioma, when the seizures are medically refractory, surgery offers potential for cure of epilepsy in the majority.