Delayed intracranial migration of cervical sublaminar and interspinous wires and subsequent cerebellar abscess

2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin L. Stevenson ◽  
Matthew Wetzel ◽  
Ian F. Pollack
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Cervical Fusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cerebellar Abscess ◽  
Delayed Complication ◽  
History Of ◽  
Delayed Complications ◽  
The Wire ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Delayed complications associated with sublaminar and interspinous wiring in the pediatric cervical spine are rare. The authors present a case of delayed complication in which a cervical fusion wire migrated into the cerebellum, causing subsequent cerebellar abscess 2 years after posterior cervical arthrodesis. A craniotomy was required to remove the wire and drain the abscess. Despite their history of safety and successful fusion, procedures involving sublaminar and interspinous wiring carry a risk of neurological injury secondary to wire migration. A thorough neuroimaging evaluation is required in patients who have undergone fusion and who have neurological complaints to detect late instrumentation-related sequelae.

Syringomyelia caused by loosening of multistrand cables following C1–2 Brooks-type fusion in the rheumatoid cervical spine

2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Mizutani ◽  
Shunji Tsubouchi ◽  
Muneyoshi Fukuoka ◽  
Takanobu Otsuka ◽  
Nobuo Matsui
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Rare Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
History Of ◽  
Good For ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors report a very rare case of syringomyelia caused by loosening of multistrand cable wires following C1–2 Brooks-type fusion in a 36-year-old woman with a 13-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The syrinx vanished immediately after removal of the cables, and 2 years later no recurrence of symptoms or deterioration has occurred. The authors contend that multistrand titanium cables should not be used to fix a graft-assisted C1–2 construct in patients with RA, although this material is good for fixing rods. The phenomenon observed in this case adds to our understanding of the pathogenesis of noncommunicating syringomyelia.

Posterior cervical fusion in children

1976 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe M. McWhorter ◽  
Eben Alexander ◽  
Courtland H. Davis ◽  
David L. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Neurological Deficit ◽  
The Other ◽  
Congenital Absence ◽  
Cervical Fusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cervical Spine Injuries ◽  
Spine Injuries ◽  
Posterior Cervical Fusion ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Six cases of posterior cervical fusion with rib grafts in children are reported. Four of the children had sustained cervical spine injuries in accidents, and two had congenital absence of the odontoid. Three-level fusions (C1–3) were done in four children, and four-level fusions (C1–4) in two. One child died of unrelated causes 3 months after the operation. The other five children have been followed for 5 to 13 years. All are doing well and each has a remarkably supple, stable neck and no neurological deficit.

Monitoring of blood parameters following anterior cervical fusion

2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen K. Rosahl ◽  
Alireza Gharabaghi ◽  
Peter-Michael Zink ◽  
Madjid Samii
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Postoperative Period ◽  
White Cell Count ◽  
Anterior Cervical Fusion ◽  
Anterior Fusion ◽  
Cervical Fusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cervical Spine Surgery ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Both C-reactive protein (CRP) level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured prospectively in 51 cases in which uncomplicated cervical anterior fusion was performed. The object of the authors was to quantify the differences in the responses of these parameters recorded in the immediate postoperative period and to determine factors influencing their course. Methods. Nineteen one-level, 23 two-level, and nine three-level procedures for disc herniation and degenerative disease of the cervical spine were performed in 22 female and 29 male patients (mean age 49.2 years). Blood samples were obtained 1 day before as well as on 10 consecutive days and 3 months following anterior cervical fusion. Serum CRP level was measured using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay and ESR was determined from the same samples. Operative time, the number of blood transfusions, and drugs administered in the postoperative period were recorded. In addition, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, platelet count, white cell count, and axillary body temperature were checked daily. Conclusions. Monitoring of CRP level is superior to that of ESR for early detection of infections after cervical spine surgery. Although CRP was not related to any of the factors that have been proposed to explain its peak value variance in previous studies, individual acute-phase protein metabolism response to tissue affection appears to be a more decisive element in this respect.

Fracture of a sublaminar stainless steel cable in the upper cervical spine with neurological injury

1994 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 932-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bob Blacklock
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Spinal Canal ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Upper Cervical Spine ◽  
Steel Cable ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Atlantoaxial Fusion ◽  
Upper Cervical ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Sublaminar cables have been used to stabilize bone grafts for arthrodesis in the cervical spine in recent years. Previous accounts of their use have indicated no instances of breakage or neurological injury. This report is of a delayed cable fracture that resulted in penetration of the dura with neurological injury in a patient who had undergone atlantoaxial fusion for rheumatoid subluxation. The cable fracture occurred in the epidural space beneath the attempted arthrodesis and resulted in uncoiling of the cable, which penetrated the spinal canal and caused a one-sided sensory deficit.

Use of cylindrical titanium mesh and locking plates in anterior cervical fusion

2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaushik Das ◽  
William T. Couldwell ◽  
Gerard Sava ◽  
Rudolph F. Tadonio
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Iliac Crest ◽  
Locking Plate ◽  
Anterior Cervical Fusion ◽  
Cervical Fusion ◽  
Titanium Mesh ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Locking Plate System ◽  
Fine Print

✓ After performing anterior cervical corpectomy or discectomy for cervical spondolytic myelopathy or radiculopathy, iliac crest bone graft and fibular auto- or allograft is often used to achieve arthrodesis in the cervical spine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a cylindrical titanium mesh and locking plate system as an alternative technique in achieving anterior cervical fusion and maintaining lordosis. Hospital records and radiographs of 38 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomies (28 patients) or corpectomies (10 patients) from 1995 to 1997 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients had undergone arthrodesis in which autograft and a cylindrical titanium mesh and anterior locking plate fixation were used after discectomy or corpectomy. There were 20 men and 18 women (mean age 46.1 years; range 34–72 years). Presenting symptoms included radiculopathy (61%), myelopathy (37%), and neck pain (2%). Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were studied, and data were obtained on the following: overall lordosis or kyphosis of the cervical spine, segmental lordosis or kyphosis at each surgically treated level, and evidence of fusion. In all of the patients in whom lordosis was present preoperatively, lordosis was maintained during the follow-up period. The overall fusion rate was 100%. The average change in overall lordosis or kyphosis related to the fixation devices was 1.2° (range 1–5°); the average segmental change was 2.3° (range 0–5°); and the mean follow up was 16 months (range 12–36 months). Anterior cervical fusion with cylindrical titanium mesh and cervical locking plate system is an effective method of achieving arthrodesis and maintaining alignment in the cervical spine. The construct may provide additional load-sharing function, and it avoids the use of cadaveric bone or the need for harvesting tricortical iliac crest autograft.

Spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine

1971 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Dawley
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Content Type ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Congenital Origin ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A case of spondylolisthseis involving the cervical spine in an 11-year-old girl is reported. The age, x-ray appearance, and absence of history of trauma suggest a congenital origin.

Swan-neck deformity secondary to osteomyelitis of the posterior elements of the cervical spine

1979 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 388-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghaus M. Malik ◽  
Alvin H. Crawford ◽  
Robert Halter
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Cervical Vertebrae ◽  
Cervical Fusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Halo Traction ◽  
Posterior Cervical Fusion ◽  
Swan Neck Deformity ◽  
Fine Print ◽  
Posterior Elements ◽  
Excellent Stability

✓ A case of osteomyelitis is described, involving the posterior elements of the cervical vertebrae in a 7-year-old girl and resulting in swan-neck deformity. Treatment was initiated with antibiotics, and the patient was placed in halo traction. Eventually posterior cervical fusion was performed, which provided excellent stability and correction of the deformity.

Respiratory complications in traumatic quadriplegia

1973 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 596-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Bellamy ◽  
Fredrick W. Pitts ◽  
E. Shannon Stauffer
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Corticosteroid Therapy ◽  
Pulmonary Complications ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Spine Fractures ◽  
Respiratory Complications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cervical Spine Fractures ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A 20-year series of 531 patients with cervical spine fractures or dislocations is reviewed, and the records of 54 quadriplegic patients are analyzed in detail. Tracheostomy, surgery, overhydration, advanced age, severity of neurological injury, and corticosteroid therapy are discussed as factors in pulmonary complications.

Deep arteriovenous malformations of the basal ganglia and thalamus: natural history

2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 747-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian G. Fleetwood ◽  
Mary L. Marcellus ◽  
Richard P. Levy ◽  
Michael P. Marks ◽  
Gary K. Steinberg
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Venous Drainage ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hemorrhagic Event ◽  
History Of ◽  
Risk Of Hemorrhage ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in a deep location and with deep venous drainage are thought to be at higher risk for hemorrhage than those with AVMs in other locations. Despite this, the natural history of AVMs of the basal ganglia and thalamus has not been well studied. Methods. The authors retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 96 patients with AVMs in the basal ganglia and thalamus with respect to the tendency of these lesions to hemorrhage between the time of detection and their eventual successful management. The 96 patients studied had a mean age of 22.7 years at diagnosis, and 51% were male. Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) was the event leading to clinical detection in 69 patients (71.9%), and 85.5% of these patients were left with hemiparesis. After diagnosis, 25 patients bled a total of 49 times. The cumulative clinical follow up after detection but before surgical management was 500.2 patient-years. The risk of hemorrhage after detection of an AVM of the basal ganglia or thalamus was 9.8% per patient-year. Conclusions. The rate of ICH in patients with AVMs of the basal ganglia or thalamus (9.8%/year) is much higher than the rate in patients with AVMs in other locations (2–4%/year). The risk of incurring a neurological deficit with each hemorrhagic event is high. Treatment of these patients at specialized centers is recommended to prevent neurological injury from a spontaneous ICH.

History of skeletal traction in the treatment of cervical spine injuries

1970 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Loeser
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Cervical Vertebrae ◽  
Spine Fractures ◽  
Skeletal Traction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cervical Spine Injuries ◽  
Spine Injuries ◽  
History Of ◽  
Cervical Spine Fractures ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Therapy of cervical spine fractures is reviewed from the time of the Egyptians (4000 B.C.) to the present day. Immobilization has been practiced for slightly more than a century; devices for exerting traction upon the skull have been in use for 37 years. The Renaissance surgeon, Fabricus Hildanus, designed a tool for exerting traction upon the cervical vertebrae, but this method did not become popular. Until the 20th century, few physicians considered the therapy of this common injury.

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