Symptomatic hydrocephalus and reversible spinal cord compression in Listeria monocytogenes meningitis

1989 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 620-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric C. Raps ◽  
David H. Gutmann ◽  
James R. Brorson ◽  
Michael O'Connor ◽  
Howard I. Hurtig
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Communicating Hydrocephalus ◽  
Ventricular Drainage ◽  
Central Nervous System Infections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clinical Syndromes ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Central nervous system infections with Listeria monocytogenes result in varied clinical syndromes ranging from meningitis to rhomboencephalitis. A case of Listeria meningitis complicated by symptomatic communicating hydrocephalus and hydrostatic cervical cord compression is presented which clinically and radiographically improved with aggressive ventricular drainage.

Acute cervical cord injury without fracture or dislocation of the spinal column

2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izumi Koyanagi ◽  
Yoshinobu Iwasaki ◽  
Kazutoshi Hida ◽  
Minoru Akino ◽  
Hiroyuki Imamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Spinal Canal ◽  
Spinal Column ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Cervical Cord Injury ◽  
Fine Print

Object. It is known that the spinal cord can sustain traumatic injury without associated injury of the spinal column in some conditions, such as a flexible spinal column or preexisting narrowed spinal canal. The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical features and to understand the mechanisms in cases of acute cervical cord injury in which fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine has not occurred. Methods. Eighty-nine patients who sustained an acute cervical cord injury were treated in our hospitals between 1990 and 1998. In 42 patients (47%) no bone injuries of the cervical spine were demonstrated, and this group was retrospectively analyzed. There were 35 men and seven women, aged 19 to 81 years (mean 58.9 years). The initial neurological examination indicated complete injury in five patients, whereas incomplete injury was demonstrated in 37. In the majority of the patients (90%) the authors found degenerative changes of the cervical spine such as spondylosis (22 cases) or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (16 cases). The mean sagittal diameter of the cervical spinal canal, as measured on computerized tomography scans, was significantly narrower than that obtained in the control patients. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed spinal cord compression in 93% and paravertebral soft-tissue injuries in 58% of the patients. Conclusions. Degenerative changes of the cervical spine and developmental narrowing of the spinal canal are important preexisting factors. In the acute stage MR imaging is useful to understand the level and mechanisms of spinal cord injury. The fact that a significant number of the patients were found to have spinal cord compression despite the absence of bone injuries of the spinal column indicates that future investigations into surgical treatment of this type of injury are necessary.

Anomalous vertebral artery—induced cervical cord compression causing severe nape pain

2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kei Watanabe ◽  
Kazuhiro Hasegawa ◽  
Kou Takano
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Rare Case ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cervical Cord Compression ◽  
Vertebral Arteries ◽  
Signal Void ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors describe a very rare case of cervical cord compression caused by anomalous bilateral vertebral arteries (VAs). A 65-year-old woman had been suffering from intractable nape pain and torticollis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a signal void region in which spinal cord compression was present. Angiography demonstrated anomalous bilateral VAs compressing the spinal cord. Microvascular decompressive surgery was successfully performed. Neuroradiological and intraoperative findings are presented.

Benign osteoblastoma of a thoracic vertebra

1980 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 710-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Epstein ◽  
Vallo Benjamin ◽  
Richard Pinto ◽  
Gleb Budzilovich
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Computerized Tomography ◽  
Residual Tumor ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Transthoracic Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Benign Osteoblastoma ◽  
Posterior Laminectomy ◽  
Subtotal Removal ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A patient with osteoblastoma of the T-11 vertebral body presented with symptoms of spinal cord compression. Six weeks after an emergency laminectomy and subtotal removal, spinal computerized tomography disclosed residual tumor, which was totally removed via a combined anterior transthoracic approach and posterior laminectomy.

Spinal cord compression by extramedullary hemopoietic tissue in sickle cell anemia

1975 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdel A. Ammoumi ◽  
Joanna H. Sher ◽  
Daniel Schmelka
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Spinal Cord Compression ◽  
Sickle Cell Anemia ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hemopoietic Tissue ◽  
Fine Print ◽  
Mass Recovery

✓ The authors report a patient with sickle cell anemia who suffered from paraplegia of 18 months duration due to spinal cord compression by a hemopoietic mass. Recovery following removal of the mass was complete.

Spinal cord compression due to Masson's vegetant intravascular hemangioendothelioma

1995 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Porter ◽  
Andrew J. Martin ◽  
Conor L. Mallucci ◽  
Catherine N. Makunura ◽  
H. Ian Sabin
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Compression ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Vascular Lesion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors present the case of spinal cord compression in a 16-year-old boy due to the rare vascular lesion, Masson's vegetant hemangioendothelioma.

Dermoid tumors of the spinal cord

1970 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 676-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian C. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Complete Removal ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Conus Medullaris ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ This is an analysis of 10 cases of dermoid tumor occurring in the spinal canal (8 lumbar and 2 thoracic). Low-back pain was the commonest presenting symptom, especially if the tumor was adherent to the conus medullaris. Other complaints included urinary dysfunction and motor and sensory disturbances of the legs. Clinical and radiological evidence of spina bifida was found in about half of the cases and suggested the diagnosis of a developmental type of tumor when patients presented with progressive spinal cord compression. At operation, the tumors were often found embedded in the conus medullaris or firmly adherent to the cauda equina, thus precluding complete removal. Evacuation of the cystic contents, however, gave lasting relief of the low-back pain and did not cause any deterioration in neurological function. In a follow-up study, ranging from 1 to 15 years, virtually no improvement in the neurological signs was observed. On the other hand, only one case has deteriorated due to recurrence of tumor growth.

Evaluation of the central canal of the spinal cord in experimentally induced hydrocephalus

1978 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 970-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Everette James ◽  
William J. Flor ◽  
Gary R. Novak ◽  
Ernst-Peter Strecker ◽  
Barry Burns
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Experimental Model ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Central Canal ◽  
Communicating Hydrocephalus ◽  
Csf Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Histological Appearance ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The central canal of the spinal cord has been proposed as a significant compensatory alternative pathway of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in hydrocephalus. Ten dogs were made hydrocephalic by a relatively atraumatic experimental model that simulates the human circumstance of chronic communicating hydrocephalus. The central canal was studied by histopathology and compared with 10 normal control dogs. In both groups the central canal of the spinal cord was normal in size, configuration, and histological appearance. In this experimental model dilatation of the canal and increased movement of CSF does not appear to be a compensatory alternative pathway.

The therapeutic window for spinal cord decompression in a rat spinal cord injury model

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Shields ◽  
Y. Ping Zhang ◽  
Lisa B. E. Shields ◽  
Yingchun Han ◽  
Darlene A. Burke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Spinal Stenosis ◽  
Spinal Cord Compression ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Therapeutic Window ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Fine Print

Object. There are no clinically based guidelines to direct the spine surgeon as to the proper timing to undertake decompression after spinal cord injury (SCI) in patients with concomitant stenosis-induced cord compression. The following three factors affect the prognosis: 1) severity of SCI; 2) degree of extrinsic spinal cord compression; and 3) duration of spinal cord compression. Methods. To elucidate further the relationship between varying degrees of spinal stenosis and a mild contusion-induced SCI (6.25 g-cm), a rat SCI/stenosis model was developed in which 1.13- and 1.24-mm-thick spacers were placed at T-10 to create 38 and 43% spinal stenosis, respectively. Spinal cord damage was observed after the stenosis—SCI that was directly proportional to the duration of spinal cord compression. The therapeutic window prior to decompression was 6 and 12 hours in the 43 and 38% stenosis—SCI lesions, respectively, to maintain locomotor activity. A significant difference in total lesion volume was observed between the 2-hour and the delayed time(s) to decompression (38% stenosis—SCI, 12 and 24 hours, p < 0.05; 43% stenosis—SCI, 24 hours, p < 0.05) indicating a more favorable neurological outcome when earlier decompression is undertaken. This finding was further supported by the animal's ability to support weight when decompression was performed by 6 or 12 hours compared with 24 hours after SCI. Conclusions. Analysis of the findings in this study suggests that early decompression in the rat improves locomotor function. Prolongation of the time to decompression may result in irreversible damage that prevents locomotor recovery.

Deformation of the cervicomedullary junction and spinal cord in a surgically treated adult Chiari I hindbrain hernia associated with syringomyelia: a magnetic resonance microscopic and neuropathological study

1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emile A. M. Beuls ◽  
Marie-Anne M. Vandersteen ◽  
Linda M. Vanormelingen ◽  
Peter J. Adriaensens ◽  
Gerard Freling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Cervical Cord ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Microscopy ◽  
Type I ◽  
Additional Advantage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hindbrain Hernia ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The lower brainstem and cervical spinal cord from an ordinarily treated case of Chiari Type I hindbrain hernia associated with syringomyelia was examined using high-resolution magnetic resonance microscopy and standard neuropathological techniques. Magnetic resonance microscopy allows total screening and visualizes the disturbed internal and external microanatomy in the three orthogonal planes with the resolution of low-power optical microscopy. An additional advantage is the in situ visualization of the shunts. Afterwards the intact specimen is still available for microscopic examination. Part of the deformation of the medulla is caused by chronic tonsillar compression and molding inside the foramen magnum. Other anomalies, such as atrophy caused by demyelination, elongation, and unusual disturbances at the level of the trigeminal and solitary nuclear complexes contribute to the deformation. At the level of the syrinx-free upper part of the cervical cord, anomalies of the dorsal root and the dorsal horn are demonstrated.

Atlantoaxial stabilization in rheumatoid arthritis

1991 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Papadopoulos ◽  
Curtis A. Dickman ◽  
Volker K. H. Sonntag
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Compression ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Atlantoaxial Subluxation ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operative Stabilization ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Atlantoaxial subluxation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is common. Operative stabilization is clearly indicated when signs and symptoms of spinal cord compression occur. However, many recommend early operative fusion before evidence of appreciable neural compression occurs because 1) the myelopathy in these patients may be irreversible; 2) the overall prognosis is poor once symptoms of cord compression are present; and 3) the risk of sudden death associated with atlantoaxial subluxation is increased even in asymptomatic patients. The authors believe that rheumatoid arthritis patients in relatively good health without advanced multisystem disease and less than 65 years of age should be considered for operative stabilization if mobile atlantoaxial subluxation is greater than 6 mm. Seventeen patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis and atlantoaxial subluxation treated with a posterior arthrodesis are presented. A new method of fusion, devised by the senior author (V.K.H.S.), was utilized in all cases. Indications for operative therapy in these patients included evidence of spinal cord compression in 11 patients (65%) and mobile atlantoaxial subluxation greater than 6 mm but no signs or symptoms of cord compression in six patients (35%). Thirteen patients developed a stable osseous fusion, two patients a well-aligned fibrous union, one patient a malaligned fibrous union, and one patient died prior to evaluation of fusion stability. The details of the operative technique and management strategies are presented. Several technical advantages of this method of fusion make this approach particularly useful in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Because of multisystem involvement of this disease, a high rate of osseous fusion is often difficult to achieve.

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