Surg Neurol
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Subdural tension pneumocephalus in a 80-year-old man following nasal polypectomy, presenting clinically with progressive weakness of both legs, is reported and the pathogenesis is discussed. The diagnosis of tension pneumocephalus and the options of management are considered.
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Comparative Study
Effect of alternating current stimulation of the spinal cord on recovery from acute spinal cord injury in rats.
The therapeutic value of electrical stimulation of the spinal cord was studied in rats injured by acute compression of the spinal cord. Twenty adult Wistar rats underwent cord compression at T6-7 by the extradural clip compression technique at a force of 125 g for 1 minute. After injury and group randomization, stimulating electrodes were placed extradurally, proximal and distal to the injury site, and attached to a small, implantable receiver-stimulator. ⋯ After 15 weeks of continuous spinal cord stimulation, the inclined plane performance was not significantly different between the two groups (treatment group mean, 44.4 +/- 5.4; control group mean, 41.7 +/- 7.9). This is the first experimental study of the effect of long-term continuous electrical stimulation on spinal cord recovery in mammals. The methods required and the technical aspects involved in achieving continuous stimulation, and the guidelines for future study of this modality are discussed.