Small L4 ventral root schwannoma with acute onset of radicular pain: A case report

Background: Patients with cauda equina schwannomas usually present with slowly progressive radiculopathy. Herein, we describe a 34-year-old male who presented with acute radiculopathy attributed to a small L4 ventral root schwannoma. Case Description: A 34-year-old male suddenly developed left leg pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (with/without contrast) revealed a small intradural mass lesion involving the L4 nerve root that was enhanced with contrast (size: 9 × 12 × 12 mm). The computed tomography myelogram revealed that the tumor had originated from the L4 ventral root and compressed the dorsal root in the lateral recess. Following a decompressive laminectomy for tumor removal, the patient’s radicular pain improved. The histological diagnosis was consistent with a schwannoma. Conclusion: Small cauda equina schwannomas involving ventral nerve roots can cause acute radiculopathy readily relieved with decompressive laminectomies for tumor excision.

Role of Invasive Urodynamic Studies in Establishing Cauda Equina Syndrome and Postoperative Recovery

Study design: Retrospective with prospective follow-up. Objective: Confirming the diagnosis of CES based purely on symptoms and signs is unreliable and usually associated with high false positive rate. A missed diagnosis can permanently disable the patient. Present study aims to determine the relationship between clinical symptoms/ signs (bladder dysfunction) with UDS, subsequently aid in surgical decision making and assessing post-operative recovery. Methods: A prospective follow-up of patients with disc herniation and bladder symptoms from January 2018 to July 2020 was done. All patients underwent UDS and grouped into acontractile, hypocontractile and normal bladder. Data regarding PAS, VAC, GTP, timing to surgery and onset of radiculopathy and recovery with correlation to UDS was done preoperatively and post operatively. Results: 107 patients were studied (M-63/F-44). Patients with PAS present still had acontractile (61%) or hypocontractile (39%) detrusor and with VAC present, 57% had acontractile and 43% hypocontractile detrusors. 10 patients with both PAS and VAC present had acontractile detrusor. 82% patients with acute radiculopathy (<2 days) improved when operated <24 hrs while only 47% showed improvement with chronic radiculopathy. The detrusor function recovered in 66.1% when operated <12 hours, 40% in <12-24 hours of presentation. Conclusion: Adjuvant information from UDS in combination with clinicoradiological findings help in accurate diagnosis even in patients with no objective motor and sensory deficits. Quantitative findings on UDS are consistent with postoperative recovery of patient’s urination power, representing improvement and can be used as a prognostic factor.

Steroids and L-Lysine Aescinate for Acute Radiculopathy Due to a Herniated Lumbar Disk

Background and objectives. The efficacy of commonly prescribed analgesic and adjuvant drugs for the management of patients with radiculopathy has not been well established. Oral steroids are commonly used to treat sciatica or radiculopathy due to a herniated disk but the effect remains controversial. L-lysine aescinate showed superiority over placebo or baseline therapy with NSAIDs alone in treating sciatica, but have not been evaluated in an appropriately powered clinical trial. Materials and Methods. Randomized, double-blind clinical trial conducted in two health centers in collaboration with Uzhhorod Natioanl University in Ukraine. Adults (N = 90) with acute radicular pain and a herniated disk confirmed by MRI were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups (N = 30 in each) to receive a baseline therapy with lornoxicam (16 mg per day) and adjunctive 5-day course of IV dexamethasone (first group: 8 mg per day/40 mg total) or 0,1% solution of L-lysine aescinate (5 mL and 10 mL for group 2 and 3 respectively). Primary outcomes were Visual Analogue Scale changes and the straight leg raise angle at 15th and 30th day. Results. The level of pain improvement at 15th days after initiation of therapy with dexamethasone or solution of L-lysine aescinate at doses of 5 or 10 mL was not significantly different. The lowest levels of pain were achieved in patients who received the L-lysine aescinate 10 mL, but the range of decrease in pain was slightly greater in the group administered dexamethasone. Conclusions. Among patients with acute radiculopathy due to a herniated lumbar disk a short course of IV dexamethasone or L-lysine aescinate resulted in pain improvement at 15th and 30th day. Dexamethasone may be preferable if a longer-term analgesic effect is needed. Taking into account side effects of dexamethasone, a solution of L-lysine aescinate can be used to relieve pain symptoms.

COMPLICATIONS OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF LUMBAR STENOSIS IN THE EARLY POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the structure of degenerative lumbar stenosis surgical treatment complications and to analyze their effect on the results and indications for revision operations. Methods: Between 2009 and 2013, 513 patients with lumbar stenosis of degenerative etiology were surgically treated. There were 205 men, 308 women, aged 23 to 74 years. The main clinical manifestations were persistent compression radiculopathy, chronic pain in the back and lower limbs, and difficulty walking. The intensity of the pain was assessed by the VAS. At the time of hospitalization, VAS was 55-90 points. Results: Of the 513 operated patients, 65 (12.67%) had complications in the early postoperative period (up to three months after the operation); intraoperative complications occurred in 26 (5.1%) patients; intraoperative dura mater injury occurred in 24 (4.67%); pulmonary embolism (PE) occurred in 2 (0.39%) patients; 39 patients had early postoperative complications; acute radiculopathy occurred in 22 patients (4.28%); and 17 patients (3.31%) had surgical wound complications. Conclusions: Liquorrhea, postoperative hematomas and acute radiculopathy had no negative effect on the results of treatment in any of the cases. In the early postoperative period, 4 (0.77%) deaths were recorded intraoperatively and in 2 (0.39%) cases, intraoperative PE occurred. Two cases (0.39%) resulted in sepsis and multiple organ failure. In eight (1.55%) patients, the results of the treatment were unsatisfactory: in 4 (0.77%) cases due to death, and in a further 4 (0.77%) due to elimination of the system by the spinal column as a result of suppuration. Level of Evidence IV; Therapeutic studies - Investing the results of treatment.