World Neurosurg
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Review Case Reports Historical Article
Life and death in Italian prehistory: the case of the sailor from Spina.
There are few reported cases in the literature of spinal injuries from the past, and all of them resulted in the death of the individual or led to severe health consequences. From the historical record, it is well known there were no cures or treatments for spinal lesions in the past. Given the paucity of historical documents focused on this topic, anthropological research on spinal injuries can contribute with important information regarding the medical history of this kind of trauma. Moreover, skeletal trauma and occupational markers may be crucial for the reconstruction of habitual behaviors and the identification of causes and timing of death. We report results of an anthropological study of a case of vertebral injury discovered in an individual from the Italian Iron Age that highlights this important topic. The aim of this study was to assess the habitual activity pattern and manner of death of an ancient inhabitant of Spina in Padanian Etruria (northeastern Italy). ⋯ This Etruscan, in all likelihood a sailor according to the occupational markers, did not survive a stabbing attack with a bladed weapon.
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Review Case Reports
A case of Cowden's syndrome with 15 spinal arteriovenous fistulas.
Spinal vascular malformations are rarely multiple: fewer than 50 observations have been documented so far, with a maximum of 4 coexisting lesions per patient, always restricted to a single vertebral region (e.g., cervical or thoracic). ⋯ This multiplicity of AVFs appears to result from a combination of various factors including local regional hemodynamic changes, growth factor-mediated alterations involving notably vascular endothelial growth factor pathways, and the prothrombotic state associated with abnormalities in blood vessel structure.