Management of Hydromyelia

Neurosurgery ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey H. Wisoff ◽  
Fred Epstein

Abstract The authors review their experience in the management of 22 patients with hydromyelia over a 26-month period. Ten children had Chiari I malformations and hydromyelia; 4 children had myelomeningoceles (3 with large thoracic spinal cord cavitations and 1 with cervical hydromyelia); 6 children had distal hydromyelia associated with tethered cords and occult dysraphism; and 2 patients had cavitation subsequent to arachnoiditis. All patients were investigated preoperatively with MRI and intraoperatively with ultrasound. These neurodiagnostic examinations dictated the type of surgical intervention. Patients with Chiari I or Chiari II malformations, cervical hydromyelia, or basal arachnoiditis underwent decompression of the hindbrain malformations, myelotomy with drainage of the cyst, and placement of a stent. When the area of hydromyelia extended to the obex, as demonstrated by intraoperative ultrasound, the obex was plugged. Cyst-pleural shunts were placed in the children who had myelomeningoceles and thoracic hydromyelia. Patients with distal hydromyelia underwent modified terminal ventriculostomy. The classical presentation of brachial amyotrophy and dissociated sensory loss was present in only 3 patients. Progressive scoliosis without neurological deficit, pain, and Lhermitte's phenomenon were common presentations. The patients with tethered cords were generally asymptomatic from their cysts. The authors discuss operative technique, utilization of intraoperative ultrasound, and surgical outcome.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Hunter J. King ◽  
Rohin Ramchandani ◽  
Christina Maxwell ◽  
Atom Sarkar ◽  
Tina Loven

Background: Intervertebral disc calcification (IVDC) is a rare cause of acute spinal pain in pediatric patients. The most common symptom is back or neck pain, but muscle spasm, muscle weakness, and sensory loss also occur. Many patients have an alarming presentation and radiological findings concerning for spinal cord compression. Case Description: A 10-year-old female presented with 2 weeks of worsening back pain and restricted neck flexion with no history of preceding trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed T4/5 and T5/6 vertebral disc calcification and posterior herniation causing thoracic spinal cord compression. Despite concerning imaging findings, we decided to manage this patient conservatively with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, leading to the improvement of symptoms within 9 days, and resolution of all pain within 1 month after hospital discharge. At 6 months follow-up, MRI showed complete resolution of calcification within the spinal canal. Conclusion: This case report emphasizes IVDC as an important differential diagnosis of pediatric disc disease that does not require surgical intervention. X-ray imaging with PA and lateral views is an adequate screening for these patients. Majority of cases resolve within 6 months with conservative therapy.


Author(s):  
Kiran Narayanrao Wandile ◽  
Girish Balasaheb Mote ◽  
Chandrashekhar Martand Badole

Thoracic spinal cord stab injuries are rare lesions. We report a 32 years old young married female, of a lower middle class, who was stabbed on her back with a sickle by her neighbor after a quarrel. She presented with complete paraplegia with muscle power of zero on all muscle groups, complete sensory loss from thoracic dermatome level 4 and below, acute urinary retention, and a 3-centimeter vertically placed wound on the posterior thoracic region from which cerebrospinal fluid mixed with blood was oozing out. A high-dose methylprednisolone protocol was started (30 mg/kg in one hour and then 5.4 mg/kg over next 23 hours), urinary catheter placed and sterile cleaning and dressing was done. Antibiotics and analgesics were also administered. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan was done urgently and scanning revealed thoracic spinal cord contusion at D5 vertebral level with cord oedema at D4 to D6 vertebral level and fracture spinous process of T4 vertebral body. The case is managed conservatively and she is under follow up. As patient is a young married female, wedge worker by occupation, having lower middle class of socioeconomic status, this condition has high impact considering the socioeconomic issues.


2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Chan Jin ◽  
Seoung Ro Lee ◽  
Dong Woo Park ◽  
Kyung Bin Joo

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (05) ◽  
pp. 323-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nele Ondreka ◽  
Sara Malberg ◽  
Emma Laws ◽  
Martin Schmidt ◽  
Sabine Schulze

SummaryA 2-year-old male neutered mixed breed dog with a body weight of 30 kg was presented for evaluation of a soft subcutaneous mass on the dorsal midline at the level of the caudal thoracic spine. A further clinical sign was intermittent pain on palpation of the area of the subcutaneous mass. The owner also described a prolonged phase of urination with repeated interruption and re-initiation of voiding. The findings of the neurological examination were consistent with a lesion localization between the 3rd thoracic and 3rd lumbar spinal cord segments. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spina bifida with a lipomeningocele and diplomyelia (split cord malformation type I) at the level of thoracic vertebra 11 and 12 and secondary syringomyelia above the aforementioned defects in the caudal thoracic spinal cord. Surgical resection of the lipomeningocele via a hemilaminectomy was performed. After initial deterioration of the neurological status postsurgery with paraplegia and absent deep pain sensation the dog improved within 2 weeks to non-ambulatory paraparesis with voluntary urination. Six weeks postoperatively the dog was ambulatory, according to the owner. Two years after surgery the owner recorded that the dog showed a normal gait, a normal urination and no pain. Histopathological diagnosis of the biopsied material revealed a lipomeningocele which confirmed the radiological diagnosis.


Author(s):  
Fedorova Jana ◽  
Kellerova Erika ◽  
Bimbova Katarina ◽  
Pavel Jaroslav

AbstractSpontaneous recovery of lost motor functions is relative fast in rodent models after inducing a very mild/moderate spinal cord injury (SCI), and this may complicate a reliable evaluation of the effectiveness of potential therapy. Therefore, a severe graded (30 g, 40 g and 50 g) weight-compression SCI at the Th9 spinal segment, involving an acute mechanical impact followed by 15 min of persistent compression, was studied in adult female Wistar rats. Functional parameters, such as spontaneous recovery of motor hind limb and bladder emptying function, and the presence of hematuria were evaluated within 28 days of the post-traumatic period. The disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier, measured by extravasated Evans Blue dye, was examined 24 h after the SCI, when maximum permeability occurs. At the end of the survival period, the degradation of gray and white matter associated with the formation of cystic cavities, and quantitative changes of glial structural proteins, such as GFAP, and integral components of axonal architecture, such as neurofilaments and myelin basic protein, were evaluated in the lesioned area of the spinal cord. Based on these functional and histological parameters, and taking the animal’s welfare into account, the 40 g weight can be considered as an upper limit for severe traumatic injury in this compression model.


2012 ◽  
Vol 312 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 170-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio B. Boncoraglio ◽  
Elena Ballabio ◽  
Alessandra Erbetta ◽  
Francesco Prada ◽  
Mario Savoiardo ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Alexander Younsi ◽  
Guoli Zheng ◽  
Mohamed Tail ◽  
Anna-Kathrin Harms ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway has been associated with a protective role after injury to the central nervous system (CNS). We, therefore, investigated the effects of intrathecal Shh-administration in the subacute phase after thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) on secondary injury processes in rats. Methods Twenty-one Wistar rats were subjected to thoracic clip-contusion/compression SCI at T9. Animals were randomized into three treatment groups (Shh, Vehicle, Sham). Seven days after SCI, osmotic pumps were implanted for seven-day continuous intrathecal administration of Shh. Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) score, Gridwalk test and bodyweight were weekly assessed. Animals were sacrificed six weeks after SCI and immunohistological analyses were conducted. The results were compared between groups and statistical analysis was performed (p < 0.05 was considered significant). Results The intrathecal administration of Shh led to significantly increased polarization of macrophages toward the anti-inflammatory M2-phenotype, significantly decreased T-lymphocytic invasion and significantly reduced resident microglia six weeks after the injury. Reactive astrogliosis was also significantly reduced while changes in size of the posttraumatic cyst as well as the overall macrophagic infiltration, although reduced, remained insignificant. Finally, with the administration of Shh, gain of bodyweight (216.6 ± 3.65 g vs. 230.4 ± 5.477 g; p = 0.0111) and BBB score (8.2 ± 0.2 vs. 5.9 ± 0.7 points; p = 0.0365) were significantly improved compared to untreated animals six weeks after SCI as well. Conclusion Intrathecal Shh-administration showed neuroprotective effects with attenuated neuroinflammation, reduced astrogliosis and improved functional recovery six weeks after severe contusion/compression SCI.


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