Journal of neurosurgery
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2002
Case ReportsVascular complications in anterior thoracolumbar spinal reconstruction.
Anterior approaches in thoracic and lumbar spinal surgery have potentially serious vascular injury-related complications. In this study the authors evaluate the incidence of vascular complications in anterior approaches to the thoracic and lumbar spine in cases requiring reconstructive surgery. ⋯ Vascular injury to the great vessels is a known and potentially serious complication associated with anterior spinal reconstructive procedures. The authors found, however, that the incidence is relatively low in cases in which venous injuries occurred acutely and arterial injuries presented in a delayed fashion.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2002
ReviewCervical spinal stenosis: outcome after anterior corpectomy, allograft reconstruction, and instrumentation.
The authors undertook a retrospective single-institution review of 261 patients who underwent anterior cervical corpectomy, reconstruction with allograft fibula, and placement of an anterior plating system for the treatment of cervical spinal stenosis to assess fusion rates and procedure-related complications. ⋯ Cervical corpectomy with fibular allograft reconstruction and anterior plating is an effective means of achieving spinal decompression and stabilization in cases of anterior cervical disease. Symptomatic improvement was achieved in 99.2% of patients. In their series the authors found a fusion rate of 86.6% and rates of permanent hoarseness of 3.4%, dysphagia of 0.7%, and an instrumentation failure rate of 5.4%.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2002
Comparative StudyComparative study of traumatic and spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) and traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (TICH) are common disorders. The authors planned to study how these two types of hemorrhage behave pathologically and clinically to gain further insight into their causes, pathogeneses, indications for surgical intervention, and prognoses. ⋯ On the basis of these data the authors suggest that TICH and SICH have different features: TICH affects a slightly younger age group and carries a much better prognosis compared with SICH. In addition, indications for surgical intervention are not well defined for either type of hemorrhage. Practice is subjective and inconsistent. The International Surgical Trial in Intracerebral Haemorrhage may resolve the dilemma for SICH. A similar trial in which surgery is compared with conservative management should be considered for cases of TICH.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2002
Case ReportsProgressive hemorrhage after head trauma: predictors and consequences of the evolving injury.
Progressive intracranial hemorrhage after head injury is often observed on serial computerized tomography (CT) scans but its significance is uncertain. In this study, patients in whom two CT scans were obtained within 24 hours of injury were analyzed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and clinical significance of progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI). ⋯ Early progressive hemorrhage occurs in almost 50% of head-injured patients who undergo CT scanning within 2 hours of injury, it occurs most frequently in cerebral contusions, and it is associated with ICP elevations. Male sex, older age, time from injury to first CT scan, and PTT appear to be key determinants of PHI. Early repeated CT scanning is indicated in patients with nonsurgically treated hemorrhage revealed on the first CT scan.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2002
Prospective multiple outcomes study of outpatient lumbar microdiscectomy: should 75 to 80% success rates be the norm?
The authors assessed the efficacy and outcomes of lumbar microdiscectomy performed on an outpatient basis by administering six questionnaires before and at five time points after surgery. The results were compared with those reported in literature in which the success rates vary between 70% and 80% and in excess of 90%. The authors use the methodology and data derived from their study to evaluate critically the relevance of these two categories of success rates. ⋯ The findings of this study support the evidence that lumbar microdiscectomy performed on an outpatient basis is a very safe and effective means of treating sciatic pain due to disc herniation. The authors believe that their outcome success rates of 75 to 80% are more realistic than those of 90% or more found in some reports.