World Neurosurg
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Initial clinical presentation of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) with predominantly thalamic symptoms is rare and has not been reported until now. ⋯ DAVF presenting with recurrent predominantly thalamic symptoms is rare. Atypical transcortical aphasia rather than fluent aphasia is an unusual clinical manifestation of thalamic pathology and could result from the involvement of specific thalamic nuclei. Preferential high flow into BVR in the presence of venous anomalies could potentially induce architectural weakness of the venous wall and precipitate aneurysm formation. Embolization of the DAVF can potentially reverse this unusual neurologic condition.
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Hypoglossal nerve injury may result in swallowing and speech problems. To reduce this morbidity and allow the performance of the hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis bilaterally, a technique that includes partial splitting of the hypoglossal nerve and skeletonization of the facial nerve within the mastoid process has been applied. The aim of this study is to present clinical results regarding the facial and hypoglossal nerves after the procedure. ⋯ HHFA is an effective technique for facial nerve reanimation with acceptable morbidity related to tongue function. Patients with a longer duration of facial palsy still have a good chance for restoration of facial movement but require longer recovery periods.
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Case Reports
Rare Complication of Percutaneous Technique: Intradural Cement Leakage and Its Surgical Treatment.
Popularity of percutaneous vertebroplasty and vertebral augmentation to treat vertebral compression fractures is increasing. Cement leakages are relatively common, but intradural cement leakage is rare. Few cases of intradural cement leakage have been reported in the literature, and emergency surgery has been reported to be <1%. ⋯ The laminectomy showed that insertion of a needle through the pedicle had breached the dura and had caused intradural cement leakage. As shown in the Supplementary Video, the piece of intradural cement was finally removed after posterior durotomy. This case demonstrates that even if percutaneous vertebroplasty is a relatively safe technique, it should be performed by well-trained physicians and with great care to prevent disabling complications.
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Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a more recently recognized syndrome. It is characterized by increasing IgG4-positive plasma cells and lymphocyte infiltration. Reports of intracranial pseudotumors associated with IgG4-related disease are very rare. We report a rare case of clivus pseudotumor associated with IgG4-related disease mimicking meningioma. ⋯ Although several cases of intrasellar hypophysitis have been reported, reports of intracranial pseudotumors associated with IgG4-related disease are rare. Special attention is required when the differential diagnosis includes meningioma. Preoperative diagnosis is very important because inflammatory pseudotumors associated with IgG4-related disease could be treated with steroid therapy, avoiding surgery.
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Embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) has recently been proposed as an alternative to surgery for treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (SDH). There is increasing evidence that fragile neovasculature arising from distal branches of the MMA found within the membrane that forms around a chronic SDH is responsible for high recurrence rates due to chronic, repeated rebleeding. Embolization of the MMA could thus potentially eliminate the blood supply to this membrane and prevent further rebleeding. ⋯ In this case series of 6 patients harboring 7 recurrent, chronic SDHs, 6 of the 7 were successfully treated with MMA embolization and able to avoid surgery for reevacuation, suggesting that this minimally invasive technique may represent an effective alternative to surgery.