scholarly journals Surgical removal of a spinal intrathecal projectile led to a significant improvement of cauda equina syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 227
Author(s):  
Zaid Aljuboori
Keyword(s):  
Cauda Equina Syndrome ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Gunshot Wounds ◽  
Foot Drop ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Surgical Removal ◽  
Neurological Outcomes ◽  
Burning Pain ◽  
The Right

Background: Penetrating gunshot wounds of the spine are common and can cause severe neurological deficits. However, there are no guidelines as to their optimal treatment. Here, we present a penetrating injury to the lower thoracic spine at the T12 level that lodged within the canal at L1, resulting in a cauda equina syndrome. Notably, the patient’s deficit resolved following bullet removal. Case Description: A 29-year-old male sustained a gunshot injury. The bullet entered the right lower chest, went through the liver, entered the spinal canal at T12, fractured the right T12/L1 facet, and settled within the canal at the L1 level. The patient presented with severe burning pain in the right leg, and perineum. On exam, he had right-sided moderate weakness of the iliopsoas and quadriceps femoris muscles, a right-sided foot drop, decreased sensation throughout the right leg, and urinary retention. Computed tomography myelography showed the bullet located intrathecally at the L1 level causing compression of the cauda equina. The patient underwent an L1 laminectomy with durotomy for bullet removal. Immediately postoperatively, the patient improved; motor power returned to normal, the sensory exam significantly improved; and he was left with only mild residual numbness and burning pain in the right leg. Conclusion: With gunshot injuries, there is a direct correlation between the location/severity of the neurological injury and the potential for recovery. In patients with incomplete cauda equina syndromes, bullet extraction may prove beneficial to neurological outcomes.

scholarly journals Resolution of cauda equina syndrome after surgical extraction of lumbar intrathecal bullet

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Zaid Aljuboori ◽  
Emily Sieg
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Urinary Retention ◽  
Cauda Equina Syndrome ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Spinal Column ◽  
Neurological Damage ◽  
Burning Pain ◽  
Extensor Hallucis Longus ◽  
Surgical Extraction ◽  
The Right

Background: Gunshot wound (GSW) injuries to the spinal column are correlated with potentially severe neurological damage. Here, we describe a GSW to the thoracolumbar junction (e.g., T12/L1 level) which resulted in a cauda equina syndrome that resolved once the bullet was removed. Case Description: A 29-year-old male presented with a T12-L1 GSW; the bullet traversed the right chest and liver, entered the spinal canal at T12, and then settled at L1. He experienced excruciating burning pain in the right lower extremity/perineum and had urinary retention. On neurological examination, he exhibited severe weakness of the right iliopsoas/quadriceps (2/5) and extensor hallucis longus (1/5) which had decreased sensation in the right lower extremity in all dermatomes and urinary retention. The myelogram showed the bullet lodged intrathecally at L1; it compressed the cauda equina. Immediately after, the bullet was extracted and at 8 weeks follow-up, the patient’s right-sided motor function normalized, the sensory findings improved, and the sphincteric dysfunction resolved; the only residual deficit was minimal residual numbness in the L2-L5 distributions. Conclusion: Twenty percent of penetrating spinal column injuries are attributed to GSW s. The location of these injuries best determines the neurological damage and degree of recovery. Since patients with incomplete cauda equina syndromes have favorable prognoses, removal of bullets involving the T12-S1 levels may prove beneficial.

scholarly journals Spinal cord ischemia/infarct after cauda equina syndrome from disc herniation – A case study and literature review

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
David C. Kramer ◽  
Adela Aguirre-Alarcon ◽  
Reza Yassari ◽  
Allan L. Brook ◽  
Merritt D. Kinon
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Disc Herniation ◽  
Cauda Equina Syndrome ◽  
Spinal Cord Ischemia ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Conus Medullaris ◽  
Foot Drop ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Vascular Lesions ◽  
Spinal Cord Infarction

Background: Spinal cord infarction is rare and occurs in 12/100,000; it represents 0.3%–2% of central nervous system infarcts. Here, we present a patient who developed recurrent bilateral lower extremity paraplegia secondary to spinal cord infarction 1 day after a successful L4-5 microdiscectomy in a patient who originally presented with a cauda equina syndrome. Case Description: A 56-year-old patient presented with an acute cauda equina syndrome characterized by severe lower back pain, a right foot drop, saddle anesthesia, and acute urinary retention. When the lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large right paracentral lumbar disc herniation at the L4-L5 level, the patient underwent an emergency minimally invasive right-sided L4-5 discectomy. Immediately, postoperatively, the patient regained normal function. However, 1 day later, while having a bowel movement, he immediately developed the recurrent paraplegia. The new lumbar MRI revealed acute ischemia and an infarct involving the distal conus medullaris. Further, workup was negative for a spinal cord vascular malformation, thus leaving an inflammatory postsurgical vasculitis as the primary etiology of delayed the conus medullaris infarction. Conclusions: Acute neurologic deterioration after spinal surgery which does not neurologically correlate with the operative level or procedure performed should prompt the performance of follow-up MR studies of the neuraxis to rule out other etiologies, including vascular lesions versus infarctions, as causes of new neurological deficits.

scholarly journals Surgical removal of a migrating intraspinal bullet: illustrative case

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel de los Cobos ◽  
Alexa Powers ◽  
Jonathan P. Behrens ◽  
Tobias A. Mattei ◽  
Pooria Salari
Keyword(s):  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Lead Toxicity ◽  
Gunshot Wounds ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Spinal Instability ◽  
Surgical Removal ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Patient Reported

BACKGROUND Management of gunshot wounds to the spine with subsequent spinal cord injury is a controversial topic among spine surgeons. Possible complications of retained intradural bullets include delayed neurological deficits, spinal instability, and lead toxicity. The authors’ purpose is to review the potential complications of retained intraspinal bullets and the surgical indications for intraspinal bullet removal. OBSERVATIONS The authors describe a case of a patient who developed cauda equina symptoms following a gunshot wound to the lumbar spine with a migrating retained intraspinal bullet. Because of neurological changes, the patient underwent surgical removal of the bullet. At the postoperative clinic visit 2 weeks following bullet removal, the patient reported resolution of her symptoms. LESSONS Gunshot wounds to the spine are challenging cases. The decision to proceed with surgical management in the event of retained bullet fragments is multifactorial and relies heavily on the patient’s neurological status. A current review of the literature suggests that, in cases of cauda equina injuries and the development of neurological deficits in patients with retained intraspinal fragments, there is benefit from surgical decompression and bullet removal. Careful preoperative planning is required, and consideration of spinal alignment with positional changes is crucial.

scholarly journals Acute bilateral foot drop with or without cauda equina syndrome—a case series

2021 ◽  
Vol 163 (4) ◽  
pp. 1191-1198
Author(s):  
Andreas K. Demetriades ◽  
Marco Mancuso-Marcello ◽  
Asfand Baig Mirza ◽  
Joseph Frantzias ◽  
David A. Bell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cauda Equina Syndrome ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Foot Drop ◽  
Spinal Disease ◽  
Full Resolution ◽  
Degenerative Spinal Disease ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The One

Abstract Introduction Isolated acute bilateral foot drop due to degenerative spine disease is an extremely rare neurosurgical presentation, whilst the literature is rich with accounts of chronic bilateral foot drop occurring as a sequela of systemic illnesses. We present, to our knowledge, the largest case series of acute bilateral foot drop, with trauma and relevant systemic illness excluded. Methods Data from three different centres had been collected at the time of historic treatment, and records were subsequently reviewed retrospectively, documenting the clinical presentation, radiological level of compression, timing of surgery, and degree of neurological recovery. Results Seven patients are presented. The mean age at presentation was 52.1 years (range 41–66). All patients but one were male. All had a painful radiculopathic presentation. Relevant discopathy was observed from L2/3 to L5/S1, the commonest level being L3/4. Five were treated within 24 h of presentation, and two within 48 h. Three had concomitant cauda equina syndrome; of these, the first two made a full motor recovery, one by 6 weeks follow-up and the second on the same-day post-op evaluation. Overall, five out of seven cases had full resolution of their ankle dorsiflexion pareses. One patient with 1/5 power has not improved. Another with 1/5 weakness improved to normal on the one side and to 3/5 on the other. Conclusion When bilateral foot drop occurs acutely, we encourage the consideration of degenerative spinal disease. Relevant discopathy was observed from L2/3 to L5/S1; aberrant innervation may be at play. Cauda equina syndrome is not necessarily associated with acute bilateral foot drop. The prognosis seems to be pretty good with respect to recovery of the foot drop, especially if partial at presentation and if treated within 48 h.

Neurosurgical intervention in penetrating spinal trauma with associated visceral injury

1989 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 514-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin H. Venger ◽  
Richard K. Simpson ◽  
Raj K. Narayan
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Outcome ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Infection Prophylaxis ◽  
Associated Injuries ◽  
Visceral Injury ◽  
Surgical Exploration ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Neurosurgical Intervention

✓ Associated injuries to the neck, chest, or abdomen are found in approximately one-quarter of all civilians with penetrating spinal cord or cauda equina injuries. While the value of and indications for general surgical exploration and repair of these injuries are fairly self-evident, the value of neurosurgical intervention in terms of neurological outcome and infection prophylaxis remains the subject of debate. To study this issue, 160 civilian patients with penetrating spinal injuries and neurological deficits were retrospectively reviewed. Associated injuries of the esophagus, trachea, bronchi, or bowel were seen in 107 individuals (67%); 33 (31%) of these patients had abdominal injuries, 25 (23%) had neck injuries, 23 (21%) had thoracic injuries, and 26 (24%) had injuries occurring at multiple sites. Of these 107 patients, 67 (63%) had complete neurological injuries and the remaining 40 (37%) demonstrated incomplete deficits. All 107 patients underwent surgical exploration and repair of their visceral injuries; in 19 of them a neurosurgical procedure was also performed for decompression of the neural elements and/or debridement of the wound. Regardless of the presence of associated visceral injuries, the mechanism of injury, and the extent of the neurological deficit, no statistically significant difference in neurological outcome was found in patients with or without neurosurgical intervention. Complications associated with neurological injury were reported in 17 (11%) of the total group of 160 patients. Four (21%) of the 19 patients who had neurosurgical intervention suffered a related complication, compared to only six (7%) of the 88 patients who were managed conservatively (p < 0.05). Within the limitations of a retrospective review, the results of this study do not clearly support the value of routine neurosurgical intervention as an adjunct to general surgical repair in cases of spinal injury associated with penetrating visceral trauma.

Contralateral Supracerebellar-Infratentorial Approach for Resection of Thalamic Cavernous Malformations

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Mascitelli ◽  
Jan-Karl Burkhardt ◽  
Sirin Gandhi ◽  
Michael T Lawton
Keyword(s):  
Intraoperative Complications ◽  
Occipital Lobe ◽  
Senior Author ◽  
Pineal Region ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Cavernous Malformations ◽  
Posterior Thalamus ◽  
Neurological Outcomes ◽  
The Right ◽  
Brain Retraction

Abstract BACKGROUND Surgical resection of cavernous malformations (CM) in the posterior thalamus, pineal region, and midbrain tectum is technically challenging owing to the presence of adjacent eloquent cortex and critical neurovascular structures. Various supracerebellar infratentorial (SCIT) approaches have been used in the surgical armamentarium targeting lesions in this region, including the median, paramedian, and extreme lateral variants. Surgical view of a posterior thalamic CM from the traditional ipsilateral vantage point may be obscured by occipital lobe and tentorium. OBJECTIVE To describe a novel surgical approach via a contralateral SCIT (cSCIT) trajectory for resecting posterior thalamic CMs. METHODS From 1997 to 2017, 75 patients underwent the SCIT approach for cerebrovascular/oncologic pathology by the senior author. Of these, 30 patients underwent the SCIT approach for CM resection, and 3 patients underwent the cSCIT approach. Historical patient data, radiographic features, surgical technique, and postoperative neurological outcomes were evaluated in each patient. RESULTS All 3 patients presented with symptomatic CMs within the right posterior thalamus with radiographic evidence of hemorrhage. All surgeries were performed in the sitting position. There were no intraoperative complications. Neuroimaging demonstrated complete CM resection in all cases. There were no new or worsening neurological deficits or evidence of rebleeding/recurrence noted postoperatively. CONCLUSION This study establishes the surgical feasibility of a contralateral SCIT approach in resection of symptomatic thalamic CMs It demonstrates the application for this procedure in extending the surgical trajectory superiorly and laterally and maximizing safe resectability of these deep CMs with gravity-assisted brain retraction.

Acute cauda equina syndrome from a ruptured aneurysm in the sacral canal

1992 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 945-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Schmidt ◽  
M. Sean Grady ◽  
Wendy Cohen ◽  
Sanford Wright ◽  
H. Richard Winn
Keyword(s):  
Cauda Equina Syndrome ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Vascular Supply ◽  
Ruptured Aneurysm ◽  
Collateral Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Iliac ◽  
The Right ◽  
Sacral Canal

✓ The case is presented of a young woman with acute cauda equina syndrome from a ruptured aneurysm in the sacral canal. The lesion was associated with pathological enlargement of the lateral sacral arteries bilaterally, which presumably occurred to provide cross-pelvic collateral flow in response to the diversion of the right internal iliac artery for renal transplantation. The patient presented with signs and symptoms of spontaneous spinal epidural hemorrhage. The radiographic features of this lesion are described. In addition to angiography and partial embolization of the vascular supply, contrast-enhanced high-resolution computerized tomography was essential in the diagnosis and treatment of this unique aneurysm.

scholarly journals Unilateral Cauda Equina Syndrome Due to Cancer Metastasis Diagnosed with Electromyography: A Case Report

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1370
Author(s):  
Chan-Hee Park ◽  
Eunhee Park ◽  
Tae-Du Jung
Keyword(s):  
Lumbar Spine ◽  
Cauda Equina Syndrome ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Proper Time ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Leg Pain ◽  
Muscle Membrane ◽  
The Right ◽  
Hands And Feet

Background: Typical cauda equina syndrome (CES) presents as low back pain, bilateral leg pain with motor and sensory deficits, genitourinary dysfunction, saddle anesthesia and fecal incontinence. In addition, it is a neurosurgical emergency, which is essential to diagnose as soon as possible, and needs prompt intervention. However, unilateral CES is rare. Here, we report a unique case of a patient who had unilateral symptoms of CES due to cancer metastasis and was diagnosed through electromyography. Methods: A 71-year-old man with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) suffered from severe pain, motor weakness in the right lower limb and urinary incontinence, and hemi-saddle anesthesia. It was easy to be confused with lumbar radiculopathy due to the unilateral symptoms. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed suspected multifocal bone metastasis in the TL spine, including T11-L5, the bilateral sacrum and iliac bones, and suspected epidural metastasis at L4/5, L5/S1 and the sacrum. PET CT conducted after the third R-CHOP showed residual hypermetabolic lesions in L5, the sacrum, and the right presacral area. Results: Nerve conduction studies (NCS) revealed peripheral neuropathy in both hands and feet. Electromyography (EMG) presented abnormal results indicating development of muscle membrane instability following neural injury, not only on the right symptomatic side, but also on the other side which was considered intact. Overall, he was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome caused by DLBCL metastasis, and referred to neurosurgical department. Conclusions: Early diagnosis of unilateral CES may go unnoticed due to its unilateral symptoms. Failure to perform the intervention at the proper time can impede recovery and leave permanent complications. Therefore, physicians need to know not only the typical CES, but also the clinical features of atypical CES when encountering a patient, and further evaluation such as electrodiagnostic study or lumbar spine MRI have to be considered.

scholarly journals Cauda Equina Syndrome after Sequestered Disc Herniation Migrating to the Dorsal Epidural Space: Case Report and Review of the Literature

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Abdullah Alshammari ◽  
Abdullah Alshammari ◽  
Michael Weber ◽  
Rodrigo Navarro-Ramirez ◽  
Susan Ge
Keyword(s):  
Epidural Space ◽  
Cauda Equina Syndrome ◽  
Lumbar Disc ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Foot Drop ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Decompressive Laminectomy ◽  
Safe Management ◽  
Disc Herniations ◽  
Space Case

Background: Posteriorly migrated epidural disc fragments (PMEDF) presenting with cauda equina syndrome are relatively common. These cases are sometimes inaccurately identified on MRI as; epidural tumors, abscesses, hematomas and or facet cysts. Proper description and identification are key to be able to provide effective and safe management. Currently we are presenting the case of a patient with cauda equina syndrome secondary to a posterior mass compression intraoperatively identified as a PMEDF. Case Description: 45-years-old male presenting with insidious low back pain that progressed to urinary retention and bilateral foot drop. An MRI of the lumbar spine showed a posteriorly located epidural lesion. That appeared to be dependent on a left facet cyst. The patient was treated with a decompressive laminectomy and multiple disc fragments were identified under the ligamentum flavum and over the posterior epidural space. Conclusion: Posterior epidural migration of a lumbar disc fragments (PEMLDF) are not a common presentation of intervertebral disc herniations and their differential diagnosis and treatment might require a different surgical approach; fusion vs decompression. PEMLDFs should be suspected on those patients presenting with sudden cauda equina syndrome and posteriorly located epidural lesions on MRI.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document