World Neurosurg
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Observational Study
Normal Atlanto-Occipital Interval In Adults Of South-East Nigeria: An evaluation of the effect of age, gender and race.
Imaging of the craniocervical junction (CCJ) after trauma is crucial for injury detection and description. Of all the anatomic measurements of the CCJ, the normal value of atlanto-occipital interval (AOI) is not yet well established in adults. The aim of our study is to determine the normal values of the AOI in Nigerians aged between 21 and 60 years using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scan and to determine racial, age, and sex differences. ⋯ AOI values in this study were higher than previous MDCT-based values in non-African populations. The AOI decreased linearly with age and did not show any sex difference.
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Intramedullary glial neoplasms affecting the entire spinal cord from the cervicomedullary junction to conus medullaris are termed holocord tumors. Pilocytic astrocytomas are relatively uncommon tumors forming holocord involvement. Hitherto 24 holocord astrocytoma cases were reported in the literature. Here, a case of an adult holocord pilocytic astrocytoma was presented. ⋯ Reported holocord pilocytic astrocytomas in the relevant literature cases were reviewed. When evaluating magnetic resonance imaging scans of adult patients with various neurologic symptoms, i.e., weakness and fecal and urinary incontinence, pilocytic astrocytoma should be considered among differential diagnoses of intramedullary mass lesions.
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Spinal cord and neuron injury result in loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the body. Tet1 produces 5-hydroxymethylcytosin. The conversion was proposed as the initial step of deoxyribonucleic acid demethylation in mammals. However, effects of Tet1 expression and hydroxymethylation status on neuron injury remain unclear. Therefore the current study was designed to explore effects of Tet1 expression and hydroxymethylation status on cell survival and gene expression after neuron injury. ⋯ Tet1 overexpression and demethylation caused by azacytidine protect neurons against cell death after injury by increasing expression of genes involved in cell survival.
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Spinal surgery is a procedure that causes intense and severe pain in the postoperative period. Erector spinae plane (ESP) block can target the dorsal-ventral rami of thoracolumbar nerves, but its effect on lumbar surgery is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the ESP block on postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores in patients undergoing spinal surgery. ⋯ ESP block can be used in multimodal analgesia practice to reduce opioid consumption and relieve acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing open lumbar decompression surgery.