Neurologia medico-chirurgica
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Comparative StudyDecompression only versus fusion surgery for lumbar stenosis in elderly patients over 75 years old: which is reasonable?
As the population ages, more elderly patients suffer from spinal stenosis requiring lumbar fusion. However, there are few and conflicting results regarding the clinical outcome of lumbar fusion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficiency of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in over 75-year-old patients and analyze the relative effectiveness of lumbar spinal fusion surgery compared with decompression surgery for spinal stenosis. ⋯ The decrease in back pain score after treatment was greater in the PLIF group compared to the DLF group (P < 0.01) with a statistically significant difference in the trend in the two groups over time (P < 0.01). Even in elderly patients, lumbar surgery appears to be a safe and justifiable treatment for spinal stenosis. Lumbar fusion surgery rather than decompressive surgery was recommended for those patients who mainly complained of back pain.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Case ReportsCharacteristics of intraoperative abnormal hemodynamics during resection of an intra-fourth ventricular tumor located on the dorsal medulla oblongata.
Abnormal hemodynamics during extirpation of a para-medulla oblongata (MO) tumor is common and may be associated with direct vagal stimulation of the medullary circuit. However, resection of tumors on the dorsal MO may also induce hemodynamic instability without direct vagal stimulus. The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of hemodynamic instability unrelated to vagal stimulus during dissection of an intra-fourth ventricular tumor with attachment to the dorsal MO. ⋯ The preoperative volume of the MO in these patients was 1.11 cc less than that in patients with normal hemodynamics, but the volume after tumor resection was similar in the two groups (5.23 cc and 5.12 cc). This suggests that the MO was compressed by the conglutinate tumor bulk, with resultant fluctuation of hemodynamics. Recognition of and preparation for this phenomenon are important for surgery on a tumor located on the dorsal MO.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Case ReportsTraumatic cerebrovascular injury following severe head injury: proper diagnostic timetable and examination methods.
Traumatic cerebrovascular injury (TCVI) is a serious complication of severe head injury, with a high mortality rate. To establish a proper treatment strategy for TCVI, we investigated patients with a high risk of TCVI according to the Guidelines for the Management of Severe Head Injury (hereafter "the Guidelines") to elucidate the validity of the criteria for TCVI in the Guidelines and the appropriate screening timing and methods. Of those transported to our facility between December 2008 and June 2012, 67 individuals with a high risk of TCVI were evaluated to reveal the proper timing and methods of vascular evaluation. ⋯ In addition, according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), outcomes were three deaths due to primary brain injury, six cases of persistent vegetative state, five cases of severe disability, three cases of moderate disability, and four cases of good recovery. Although 3DCTA is a simple and convenient diagnostic method, cerebral angiography is necessary to evaluate dissecting lesions. If patients have any signs or symptoms of TCVI, as described in the Guidelines, cerebral angiography or 3DCTA should be performed as an initial screening method within 72 hours of admission, followed by cerebral angiography on postadmission Day 14 ± 2 to prevent failed diagnosis.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Validity of single tract microelectrode recording in subthalamic nucleus stimulation.
In surgery for subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS), precise implantation of the lead into the STN is essential. Physiological refinement with microelectrode recording (MER) is the gold standard for identifying STN. We studied single tract MER findings and surgical outcomes and verified our surgical method using single tract MER. ⋯ In 18 patients, posterior moves were required due to significant brain shift with intracranial air caused by outflow of CSF during the second side procedure. Sufficient STN activity is obtained with minimum trajectories by proper targeting and precise interpretation of MER findings even in the single tract method. Anterior-posterior moves rather than medial-lateral moves should be attempted first in cases with insufficient recording of STN activity.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2013
Surgical management of minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusion with stand-alone interbody cage for L4-5 degenerative disorders: clinical and radiographic findings.
Surgical treatment for degenerative spinal disorders is controversial, although lumbar fusion is considered an acceptable option for disabling lower back pain. Patients underwent instrumented minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusion (mini-ALIF) using a retroperitoneal approach except for requiring multilevel fusions, severe spinal canal stenosis, high-grade spondylolisthesis, and a adjacent segments disorders. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and radiographs of 142 patients who received mini-ALIF for L4-5 degenerative lumbar disorders between 1998 and 2010. ⋯ The 2.8% complication rate included cases of wound infection, liquorrhea, vertebral body fractures, and a misplaced cage that required revision. Mini-ALIF was found to be associated with improved clinical results and radiographic findings for L4-5 disorders. A retroperitoneal approach might therefore be a valuable treatment option.