Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
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Prognostic factors of hearing preservation after gamma knife radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma.
We conducted a prospective study to identify prognostic factors of hearing preservation after gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for vestibular schwannoma (VS). Twenty-seven patients with unilateral VS and serviceable hearing underwent GKRS. The mean lesion diameter was 17.3mm (range 6.1-30.0mm), the median marginal dose was 12 Gy (11-15 Gy), and the mean follow-up duration was 35.7 months (9-81 months). ⋯ A normal auditory brainstem response (ABR) (p = 0.008) and Gardner-Robertson class I hearing (p = 0.012) before GKRS were found to be significant prognostic factors of a favorable outcome. Our findings suggest that a normal pre GKRS ABR strongly predicts hearing preservation after GKRS. Accordingly, we advise that ABR should be considered with other prognostic factors when GKRS is considered in patients with VS.
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We report a patient with McCune Albright syndrome with acromegaly and features predictive of difficult airway except a class I upper lip bite (ULB) test. Our patient, a 33-year-old woman, had a history of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia. ⋯ Our report suggests that the ULB test in people with acromegaly may act as an indicator of easy intubation in spite of other poor predictive signs. However, this finding needs further corroboration by a large study to evaluate the role of the ULB test in people with acromegaly.
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Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) who have deformities and vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis may require surgery. Spinal surgeons must become familiar with the vertebral morphometry of patients with SCD and to that aim we have examined the morphometry of the thoracolumbar spine in these patients. A cohort of 100 patients with SCD was examined using plain thoraco lumbar anteroposterior/lateral radiographs and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). ⋯ Our data highlight the differences in vertebral bone mineral density, anatomy and deformities in patients with SCD compared to healthy individuals. When considering surgical intervention for patients with SCD, it is important that pre-operative radiography and planning is undertaken, and that the surgeon is familiar with the geometry of the pedicles of the thoracolumbar vertebrae necessary for the safe insertion of pedicle screws. Osteoporosis must be considered when planning surgical interventions in these patients.
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Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to augment vertebral body strength. This technique has been commonly used to treat osteoporotic, vertebral body compression fractures. The technique was also used to augment painful metastatic vertebral fractures. ⋯ It can restore VBH and correct the kyphosis angle. While the increased amount of the injected PMMA led to its leakage, it did not contribute to restoration of the VBH or kyphosis correction. Therefore, one should avoid injection of excessive amounts of PMMA.
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Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a syndrome caused by low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure due to leakage of CSF. Clinically, orthostatic headache, neck pain, nausea, emesis, interscapular pain, diplopia, dizziness, changes in hearing, visual blurring and radicular upper extremity symptoms are most frequently observed. ⋯ Lumbar puncture identified low CSF pressure and intrathecal gadolinium enhanced MR cisternography showed diffuse CSF leakage in the thoracolumbar region. The patient underwent epidural blood patching, which resulted in complete resolution of postural tremor within 2 months.