Symptomatic Retethering of the Spinal Cord After Section of a Tight Filum Terminale

Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1594-1602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymund L. Yong ◽  
Tracey Habrock-Bach ◽  
Mariko Vaughan ◽  
John R. Kestle ◽  
Paul Steinbok
Keyword(s):  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Invasive Procedure ◽  
Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽  
Filum Terminale ◽  
Initial Surgery ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Initial Procedure ◽  
Tight Filum Terminale

Abstract BACKGROUND: Section of a tight filum terminale is a minimally invasive procedure compared with cord untethering procedures used for more complex spinal abnormalities. Anecdotal evidence suggests, however, that the risk of symptomatic retethering resulting from scarring might be higher than previously thought. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of symptomatic retethering after section of a tight filum terminale and to explore possible risk factors. METHODS: We reviewed databases at 2 pediatric neurosurgery centers for all patients who had surgery for a suspected tight filum terminale between January 1982 and June 2009. RESULTS: We identified 152 patients. The median length of follow-up was 78 months. Thirteen patients (8.6%) went on to retether symptomatically at a median time of 23.4 months after the initial procedure. Eight had early retethering (within 2 years) and 5 had late retethering (after 7 years). Compared with late retetherers, early retetherers were older at initial surgery (median, 9.4 vs 0.9 years of age), had a higher level of the conus (median, L1/L2 vs L3/L4), had more arachnoiditis after initial surgery, and required more repeat untethering procedures. Late retetherers were younger at initial surgery than those who did not retether (median, 0.9 vs 4.5 years of age). CONCLUSION: Symptomatic retethering is not uncommon after a simple filum snip, and long-term follow-up is warranted. Two distinct patterns of retethering were observed. Arachnoiditis caused by infection or a cerebrospinal fluid fistula may predispose to early retethering, whereas early surgery for prevention of tethered cord symptoms may predispose to late retethering.

Abstract 165: Pial Synangiosis in Patients with Moyamoya less than 2 Years of Age

Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M Jackson ◽  
Ning Lin ◽  
Lissa Baird ◽  
R. Michael Scott ◽  
Edward R Smith
Keyword(s):  
Late Complications ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Ischemic Change ◽  
Initial Surgery ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Progression Of Disease ◽  
Long Term Prognosis

Introduction: Moyamoya patients under two years of age represent a therapeutic challenge because of their frequent neurologic instability and concomitant anesthetic risks. We report our experience with pial synangiosis revascularization in this population. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and radiographic records of all patients with moyamoya syndrome in a consecutive series of patients under 2 years of age, who underwent cerebral revascularization surgery using pial synangiosis at a single institution. Results: During a 12-year period (1994-2005), thirty-four procedures (15 bilateral, 4 unilateral) were performed in 19 patients under two years of age (out of a total of 456 procedures in 240 patients). Eighteen of these patients presented with either stroke or TIA. Average age at first surgery was 1.4 years (range 6 months to 1.9 years). Unanticipated staged operations occurred in three patients, two due to persistent EEG changes during the initial surgery and one due to brain swelling during the procedure requiring ventriculostomy. There were two perioperative strokes; both patients had post-operative seizures but made clinical recoveries. The average follow-up was 7 years (range 1-14). In long term follow-up, 13 patients (68%) were clinically independent for their age, with 8 (42%) having no significant deficit. Late complications included subdural hygroma evacuation (1), additional revascularization procedures years later for frontal lobe ischemia (2), late infarction (1) and asymptomatic ischemic change on routine follow-up MRI studies (1). All patients who had both pre and post-operative angiography demonstrated progression of disease. Conclusions: Despite the challenges inherent to this population, the majority of children with moyamoya under 2 years of age have a good long-term prognosis. Our data support the use of pial synangiosis as a safe, effective and durable method for treatment of moyamoya for most children in this potentially high-risk population.

scholarly journals Gamma Knife surgery for incidental cerebral arteriovenous malformations

2014 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 1015-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Po Yen ◽  
Dale Ding ◽  
Ching-Hsiao Cheng ◽  
Robert M. Starke ◽  
Mark Shaffrey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Invasive Procedure ◽  
Gamma Knife Surgery ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Object A relatively benign natural course of unruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has recently been recognized, and the decision to treat incidentally found AVMs has been questioned. This study aims to evaluate the long-term imaging and clinical outcomes of patients with asymptomatic, incidentally discovered AVMs treated with Gamma Knife surgery (GKS). Methods Thirty-one patients, each with an incidentally diagnosed AVM, underwent GKS between 1989 and 2009. The nidus volumes ranged from 0.3 to 11.1 cm3 (median 3.2 cm3). A margin dose between 15 and 26 Gy (median 20 Gy) was used to treat the AVMs. Four patients underwent repeat GKS for still-patent AVM residuals after the initial GKS procedure. Clinical follow-up ranged from 24 to 196 months, with a mean of 78 months (median 51 months) after the initial GKS. Results Following GKS, 19 patients (61.3%) had a total AVM obliteration on angiography. In 7 patients (22.6%), no flow voids were observed on MRI but angiographic confirmation was not available. In 5 patients (16.1%), the AVMs remained patent. A small nidus volume was significantly associated with increased AVM obliteration rate. Thirteen patients (41.9%) developed radiation-induced imaging changes: 11 were asymptomatic (35.5%), 1 had only headache (3.2%), and 1 developed seizure and neurological deficits (3.2%). Two patients each had 1 hemorrhage during the latency period (116.5 risk years), yielding an annual hemorrhage rate of 1.7% before AVM obliteration. Conclusions The decision to treat asymptomatic AVMs, and if so, which treatment approach to use, remain the subject of debate. GKS as a minimally invasive procedure appears to achieve a reasonable outcome with low procedure-related morbidity. In those patients with incidental AVMs, the benefits as well as the risks of radiosurgical intervention will only be fully defined with long-term follow-up.

scholarly journals Endovascular treatment of intractable epistaxis - results of a 4-year local audit

2004 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian C Duncan ◽  
P.A. Fourie ◽  
C.E. Le Grange ◽  
H.A. Van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia ◽  
Artery Ligation ◽  
Endovascular Embolisation ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Initial Procedure ◽  
Intractable Epistaxis

A total of 57 endovascular embolisation procedures were performed for intractable epistaxis in 51 patients over a 4-year period at the Unitas Interventional Unit near Pretoria. Long-term follow-up was possible in 36 patients. Three cases were due to trauma and 2 directly related to previous facial surgery, 1 patient had hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), and the remaining 45 cases (88.2%) were classed as idiopathic. Eight patients (15.7%) had a rebleed between 1 and 33 days after the initial embolisation. Four were re-embolised once, 1 was re-embolised twice (the HHT patient), and 2 underwent additional ethmoid artery ligation (with no further bleeding). This gives a primary short-term success rate (in all 51 cases) of 86.3% and a secondary assisted success rate of 94.1% for embolisation alone. Long-term follow- up was obtained in 36 patients, with 35 (97.2%) reporting no further bleeding after the initial procedure(s). Only the patient with HHT developed multiple recurrent bleeds. The mortality rate was 0%, the major morbidity rate 2% (1 stroke), and the minor morbidity rate 25% (N = 36), which included transient facial pain, headaches and femoral problems related to access. Our results compare favourably with other published series. In conclusion, endovascular embolisation for intractable epistaxis is available locally as an alternative technique for the treatment

Long-term follow-up results of selective VIM-thalamotomy

1986 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshishige Nagaseki ◽  
Tohru Shibazaki ◽  
Tatsuo Hirai ◽  
Yasuhiro Kawashima ◽  
Masafumi Hirato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Essential Tremor ◽  
The Other ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Early Results ◽  
Initial Surgery ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

✓ The authors report the results of a long-term follow-up study of the effects of the physiologically defined selective VIM (nucleus ventralis intermedius)-thalamotomy on tremor of Parkinson's disease in 27 patients and essential tremor in 16 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 3.25 to 10 years (mean 6.58 years). In 43 patients a total of 50 operations (including four bilateral operations and three reoperations) were carried out. The early (2 to 4 weeks after surgery) and late effects on the tremors were determined clinically and electromyographically. Fourteen parkinsonian cases were treated with minimal lesions (about 40 cu mm). Their late results were very similar to the early results: in 10, the tremors were completely abolished, three had a slight residual tremor, and one underwent reoperation 3 months after the first surgery. Eleven essential tremor cases were treated with minimal lesions. Six of these tremors were completely abolished, four patients had slight residual tremors, and one patient with a recurrence underwent reoperation 2 years after the initial surgery. In these 23 successful operations with minimal lesions (excluding two cases with reoperation), the tremor was abolished without discernible long-lasting side effects. The other 23 operations on 16 patients with Parkinson's disease (including one reoperation) and on seven with essential tremor (one of whom also had a minimal lesion on the other side) involved relatively large lesions. In this group, the surgery was successful in almost every case. It was concluded that radiographically and physiologically monitored selective VIM-thalamotomy for parkinsonian and essential tremor is effective even when lesioning is minimal. Moreover, the beneficial effect is maintained over a long period of time.

Long-term follow up of surgical outcomes in patients with cervical disorders undergoing hemodialysis

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideki Sudo ◽  
Manabu Ito ◽  
Kuniyoshi Abumi ◽  
Yoshihisa Kotani ◽  
Tatsuto Takeuchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Spinal Fusion ◽  
Posterior Instrumentation ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Spinal Instability ◽  
Initial Surgery ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Spine Disorders

Object As increasing numbers of patients receive long-term hemodialysis, the number of reports regarding hemodialysis-related cervical spine disorders has also increased. However, there have been few reports summarizing the surgical results in patients with these disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term follow up and clinical results after surgical treatment of cervical disorders in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods Seventeen patients in whom surgery was performed for cervical spine disorders while they received long-term hemodialysis therapy were enrolled in this study. Of these, 15 underwent follow-up review for more than 3 years after surgery, and these represent the study population. The remaining two patients died of postoperative sepsis. The average follow-up period was 120 months. Five patients without spinal instability underwent spinal cord decompression in which bilateral open-door laminoplasty was performed. Ten patients with destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) underwent reconstructive surgery involving pedicle screw (PS) fixation. In eight patients in whom posterior instrumentation was placed, anterior strut bone grafting was performed with autologous iliac bone to treat anterior-column destruction. Marked neurological recovery was obtained in all patients after the initial surgery. In the mobile segments adjacent to the site of previous spinal fusion, the authors observed progressive destructive changes with significant instability in four patients (40%) who underwent circumferential spinal fusion. No patients required a second surgery after laminoplasty for spinal canal stenosis without DSA changes. Conclusions Cervical PS-assisted reconstruction provided an excellent fusion rate and good spinal alignment. During the long-term follow-up period, however, some cases required extension of the spinal fusion due to the destructive changes in the adjacent vertebral levels. Guidelines or recommendations to overcome these problems should be produced to further increase the survival rates of patients undergoing hemodialysis.

scholarly journals Long-term Follow-up of MEN1 Patients Who Do Not Have Initial Surgery for Small ≤2 cm Nonfunctioning Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors, an AFCE and GTE Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 268 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic Triponez ◽  
Samira M. Sadowski ◽  
François Pattou ◽  
Catherine Cardot-Bauters ◽  
Eric Mirallié ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Initial Surgery ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Tethered Cord and Anorectal Malformations: A Case Series

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (06) ◽  
pp. 484-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena Canazza ◽  
Milena Meroni ◽  
Giorgio Selvaggio ◽  
Cecilia Parazzini ◽  
Laura Valentini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Data ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Tethered Cord ◽  
Anorectal Malformations ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Clean Intermittent Catheterization ◽  
Critical Elements ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Introduction The clinical manifestation of a stretched low-lying cone (LLC) is represented by the tethered cord syndrome (TCS) with cutaneous, urologic, neurologic, and orthopaedic dysfunctions. TC is frequently found in patients with anorectal malformations (ARMs). The aim of our article is to report a series of patients affected by LLC and ARMs and evaluate their management and long-term follow-up results. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective analysis over a period of 15 years including patients with ARM and TC and excluding those with severe polymalformations. We collected information related to the types of malformations and demographic data. We analyzed their management (perinatal protocol, radiological investigations, surgery, and multidisciplinary follow-up). QOL was assessed through the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY). Results Thirty-three patients among 210 ARM cases had TC (16%). Eleven of them underwent neurosurgery. One patient had retethering; out of 11 patients, 4 remained stable and 6 improved after surgery (UDS normalization and resolution of symptoms). At a mean follow-up of 10 years, four patients were on clean intermittent catheterization and five on the Peristeen transanal irrigation. The majority of patients were defined as 3 (from 1-bad to 5-excellent) for their physical and mental state. Conclusion The use of MRI is considered to complete the ARM screening in detecting TC. The multidisciplinary approach is crucial and helps in defining the management of patients. In fact, it is not clear how the features of ARM and TC affect each other. The selection of cases for surgery should take into account the critical elements.

scholarly journals Long-term follow-up of intraocular pressure and pressure-lowering medication in patients following Excimer laser trabeculotomy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Deubel ◽  
D. Böhringer ◽  
A. Anton ◽  
T. Reinhard ◽  
J. Lübke
Keyword(s):  
Intraocular Pressure ◽  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Cataract Surgery ◽  
Excimer Laser ◽  
Invasive Procedure ◽  
Minimally Invasive Procedure ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Excimer Laser Trabeculotomy

Abstract Background Excimer laser trabeculotomy (ELT) is a minimally invasive procedure to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) via a photo-ablative laser that is applied to the trabecular meshwork. With this procedure, it is possible to improve the outflow of the aqueous humor. Until now, a limited number of studies examining mostly relatively small sample sizes with midterm follow-up exist. We therefore present the analysis of a large ELT cohort in a long-term follow-up. Methods We recorded data from 580 patients who underwent ELT or combined ELT with cataract surgery at our institution from November 2000 until March 2011. A total of 512 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEX), and ocular hypertension (OHT) were included in the analysis. At every follow-up examination, the usage of IOP-lowering medication and the IOP were recorded. Failure criteria were defined as the need for another surgical glaucoma procedure, when the IOP was not 21 mmHg or less and a reduction of 20% from the baseline was not achieved with (qualified success) or without (absolute success) additional medication. Statistical analysis was done using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression. Results Four hundred twenty-eight patients underwent combined cataract and ELT surgery, and 84 underwent solitary ELT surgery. After a median follow-up time of 656 days, 87% (combined surgery) and 66% (ELT) of the patients did not have to undergo another IOP-lowering intervention; 47/31% were classified as a qualified success and 31/11% as a complete success. The IOP-lowering medication, however, could not be significantly reduced within that time period. Conclusion Especially when combined with cataract surgery, ELT is a feasible minimally invasive procedure to lower the IOP on a mid- to long-term basis. Over the long term, however, IOP-lowering medication could not be reduced.

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