Arachnoiditis ossificans of the cauda equina

2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Faure ◽  
Mansour Khalfallah ◽  
Brigitte Perrouin-Verbe ◽  
Florence Caillon ◽  
Cedric Deschamps ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow ◽  
Radiological Features ◽  
Cauda Equina Compression ◽  
Histological Data ◽  
Arachnoiditis Ossificans

✓ The authors describe a case of arachnoiditis ossificans (AO) of the cauda equina. The lesion is a rare pathological entity usually confined to the thoracic and high lumbar regions that can cause progressive spinal cord and cauda equina compression, inducing severe neurological deterioration. The authors analyze the clinical symptoms, radiological features, histological data, and treatment options relating to this case and 13 others described in the literature; additionally, they consider the possible mechanisms responsible for ossification of the leptomeninges. Although clustered arachnoidal cells are usually implicated in its pathogenesis, an environment induced by arachnoiditis and disturbed cerebrospinal fluid flow appears to be a more important factor. A therapeutic strategy is proposed for AO for which no effective treatment currently exists.

Intermittent cauda equina compression due to narrow spinal canal

1972 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Yamada ◽  
Masaki Ohya ◽  
Tsuguo Okada ◽  
Zenji Shiozawa
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Canal ◽  
Ligamentum Flavum ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Disc Protrusion ◽  
Complete Obstruction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Canal Stenosis ◽  
Cauda Equina Compression ◽  
Narrow Spinal Canal ◽  
Lumbar Spinal

✓ Five patients with intermittent claudication due to compression of the cauda equina in the presence of lumbar spinal canal stenosis or midline intervertebral disc protrusion are described. The characteristic myelographic evidence was complete obstruction during extension of the spine and release of the block with flexion. The cause of this syndrome is considered to be intermittent bulging of the ligamentum flavum into a narrow spinal canal so as to compress the cauda equina during extension of the back.

Spinal meningioma arising from a lumbar nerve root

1989 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 646-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. K. Ng ◽  
Kwan Hon Chan ◽  
Kirpal S. Mann ◽  
Ching F. Fung
Keyword(s):  
Nerve Root ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Spinal Meningioma ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cauda Equina Compression ◽  
Lumbar Nerve Root ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A case is reported of cauda equina compression from an intradural meningioma arising from the L-5 nerve root in a young man.

Suprapineal recess: an alternate site for third ventriculostomy?

2004 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 518-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Thomas Daniel ◽  
Gabriel Yin Foo Lee ◽  
Peter Lawrence Reilly
Keyword(s):  
Mr Imaging ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Aqueductal Stenosis ◽  
Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow ◽  
Shunt Dysfunction ◽  
Symptoms And Signs ◽  
Endoscopic Ventriculostomy ◽  
Triventricular Hydrocephalus

✓ This 30-year-old woman presented with clinical symptoms and signs of intracranial hypertension and Parinaud syndrome secondary to ventriculoperitoneal shunt dysfunction. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed gross triventricular hydrocephalus with a large suprapineal recess due to aqueductal stenosis. Using an endoscopic approach, a ventriculostomy was performed within the floor of the dilated suprapineal recess. Following this procedure the patient experienced alleviation of all her neurological symptoms and signs. Postoperative MR imaging and cerebrospinal fluid flow studies demonstrated a functioning ventriculostomy. The anatomy of the suprapineal recess and its suitability for endoscopic ventriculostomy are discussed.

Spinal arterial malformation in a child with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

1976 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 613-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen S. Merry ◽  
D. Barry Appleton
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Family History ◽  
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cauda Equina Compression ◽  
History Of ◽  
Spinal Aneurysm ◽  
Arterial Malformation ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A case is reported of spinal aneurysm in a child with a family history of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia causing spinal cord and cauda equina compression. The operative approach is discussed.

Posttraumatic lumbar epidural true synovial cyst

1973 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
George W. Sypert ◽  
Richard W. Leech ◽  
A. Basil Harris
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Therapy ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Synovial Cyst ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cauda Equina Compression ◽  
Satisfactory Recovery ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A case is reported of posttraumatic epidural true synovial cyst causing cauda equina compression. Surgical therapy resulted in satisfactory recovery.

Spontaneous spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage and subdural hematoma

1984 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 975-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl W. Swann ◽  
Allan H. Ropper ◽  
Paul F. J. New ◽  
Charles E. Poletti
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Subdural Hematoma ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Conus Medullaris ◽  
Spinal Angiography ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Radiological Features ◽  
Spinal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Severe Back Pain ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Two patients with spontaneous spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage are presented to emphasize the clinical and radiological features of this uncommon illness. Both had severe back pain at the onset. One patient had a subdural hematoma that compressed the conus medullaris and cauda equina, and was drained percutaneously; the other had clots in the subarachnoid space. The cerebrospinal fluid showed a polymorphonuclear pleocytosis that simulated septic meningitis. Complete spinal angiography failed to reveal a cause for the hemorrhages.

Acute herniated nucleus pulposus with cauda equina compression syndrome following chemonucleolysis

1987 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 614-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Smith ◽  
Lyal G. Leibrock ◽  
Benjamin R. Gelber ◽  
Eric W. Pierson
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Disc Herniation ◽  
Therapeutic Intervention ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Compression Syndrome ◽  
Cauda Equina Compression ◽  
Herniated Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Three cases of acute disc herniation causing cauda equina compression syndrome after chemonucleolysis are described. All three patients had myelographic blocks and, despite emergency decompression procedures, were left with residual neurological deficits. Recommendations are made regarding evaluation and therapeutic intervention, and possible etiologies of this problem are reviewed.

scholarly journals Degenerative lumbar stenosis: update

2009 ◽  
Vol 67 (2b) ◽  
pp. 553-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei F. Joaquim ◽  
Charles A. Sansur ◽  
David K. Hamilton ◽  
Christopher I. Shaffrey
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Neurogenic Claudication ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Surgical Options ◽  
Lumbar Spinal

We present a literature review of the diagnosis and treatment of acquired lumbar spinal stenosis (LS), with a brief description of new surgical techniques. LS is the most common cause of spinal surgery in individuals older than 65 years of age. Neurogenic claudication and radiculopathy result from compression of the cauda equina and lumbosacral nerve roots by degenerated spinal elements. Surgical decompression is a well established treatment for patients with refractory, or moderate to severe clinical symptoms. However, the variety of surgical options is vast. New techniques have been developed with the goal of increasing long term functional outcomes. In this article we review lumbar decompression and fusion as treatment options for LS but also present other recent developments. Prospective long term studies are necessary to know which procedures would result in optimal patient outcome.

The neurosurgical management of spinal metastases causing cord and cauda equina compression

1978 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 839-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth E. Livingston ◽  
Richard G. Perrin
Keyword(s):  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Spinal Metastases ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Surgical Decompression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Spinal Stabilization ◽  
Prominent Symptom ◽  
Average Survival ◽  
Cauda Equina Compression ◽  
Effective Pain Relief

✓ The authors report a series of 100 consecutive patients with spinal metastases causing cord or cauda equina compression, who were treated with surgical decompression. Of these, 30% (all women) had breast cancer. The most common primary neoplasm in man was prostatic carcinoma. Pain was the earliest and most prominent symptom, followed by weakness. Bladder dysfunction was recorded in 40 patients. The thoracic region was the most common site of cord compression (76 patients). Surgical treatment involved urgent and extensive laminectomy decompression. Concomitant spinal stabilization was required in 10 cases, involving posterior rib graft fusion in seven and Harrington rod instrumentation in three. At last follow-up review, 29 of these patients were living with an average postoperative survival of 2.3 years; 71 patients had died with an average survival of 8.8 months. Surgical decompression produced effective pain relief in 70% of the patients. Postoperatively, 58 patients could walk; of these, 40 were walking and continent of urine 6 months following surgery (including five patients who were totally paraplegic on admission). Positive approach and aggressive management in this problem can achieve results superior to those generally reflected in the literature.

Clinical recording of pressure on the spinal cord and cauda equina

1982 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn Magnaes
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Cauda Equina ◽  
Normal Pressure ◽  
Spinal Nerve ◽  
Spinal Block ◽  
Nerve Roots ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Lumbar Spinal

✓ To define the site, degree, and dynamics of mechanical compression of the spinal nerve roots, pressure was measured in 42 patients with clinical symptoms and myelographic findings indicating central lumbar spinal stenosis. Pathological pressure on the cauda equina was found in 67% of the patients. The pressure in the region of the spinal block was high during standing and walking, and in several patients exceeded mean arterial blood pressure. The block pressure was the main mechanical factor in the central part of the spinal canal causing pain and paresis. Elevated fluid pressure caudal to the block was an additional but usually subordinate factor. In 33% of the patients, normal pressure on the cauda equina was found, and lateral compression of multiple nerve roots seemed to be the only mechanical symptom-causing factor. Clinically, these patients could not be distinguished from patients with central compression. After laminectomy with decompression of the cauda equina, the field should be inspected for lateral narrowing which, if present, should be treated.

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