Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
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We present the results of a prospective series of 15 patients treated for neuromuscular spinal deformities with an original spinopelvic construct using two sacral screws and two iliac screws. Results were compared to a prospective cohort of 62 patients treated for neuromuscular spinal deformities by spinopelvic fixation using iliosacral screws. ⋯ Despite a high rate of infectious complications, optimal correction of pelvic obliquity requires extension of spinal instrumentation to the pelvis. Pelvic fixation with the "T-construct" did provide effective and improved spinal stabilization in these patients, while reducing the need for a postoperative cast or brace. As a result, patients had a favorable postoperative course with early mobilization and return to a comfortable sitting position.
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Multicenter Study
Peri-ictal and inter-ictal headache in children and adolescents with idiopathic epilepsy: a multicenter cross-sectional study.
Headache in epileptic population ranges from 8% to 15%. The aim of this paper was to study the clinical and temporal characteristics of primary headache comorbidity in idiopathic epileptic children. ⋯ Post-ictal headaches were most frequent (62%). Pre-ictal headaches were less common (30%). Inter-ictal headaches were described in 57.6%. Clear migrainous features were present in 93% of pre-ictal and 81.4% of post-ictal headaches. Inter-ictal headaches meet criteria for migraines in 87%. The association between partial epilepsy and migraine without aura is most common and reported in 82% of our patients with peri-ictal headache and in 76.5% of patients with post-ictal headache.
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To describe the pathophysiologic response in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and autoregulation after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) ≤8 on admission, in children, defining a baseline for future studies. ⋯ Younger age, early or later low CBF, and CO(2)VR <2%/Torr PaCO(2) were correlated with poorer outcomes in children. This represents the largest experience with XeCT CBF in children and confirms our preliminary report of low early CBF after TBI in children, disturbed CO(2)VR, and relationship of low CBF and unfavorable outcome.
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Case Reports
Absence of MRI soft tissue abnormalities in severe spinal cord injury in children: case-based update.
Occult spinal cord injury should be suspected based not only on the mechanism of trauma but also on the age of the patient. The pediatric spine has unique biomechanical and anatomical properties that must be considered carefully when evaluating spinal cord trauma. For instance, the hypermobility and elasticity of the spinal column in children often lead to self-reducing injuries that can mask spinal cord injury. ⋯ We present a noteworthy example of the inadequacy of MRI in revealing SCIWORA, a term that is antiquated as we combine the latest imaging techniques with a better understanding of the biomechanics of trauma and spine injury. Based on the literature and our case illustration, we believe that the biomechanics of the pediatric spine must be considered when children who may have sustained a SCIWORA are examined.