the patient's age, sex and weight affect microdiscectomy for a single lumbar disc prolapse?

Clinical experience maintains that there is a great variability in the ease of performing lumbar microdiscectomy, in particular while instructing trainee surgeons. This study was conducted to determine the role of patient's age, sex and weight on influencing the procedure of lumbar microdiscectomy for a single lumbar disc prolapse. A prospective study of 82 patients with a single-level lumbar disc prolapse included the analysis and correlation of patient's age, sex, and weight to the intraoperative findings of epidural vein dilatation, degree of fibrosis and the duration of operation. The data were subjected to detailed analysis by using the statistical package of Social Science [SPSS/PC] Release 10. Thirty-two percent of patients had significantly dilated epidural veins, which were influenced by the patient's age and sex. A third [34%] of the patients had appreciable fibrosis at the surgical site, although mainly in elderly and heavier patients. In 37% of patients, blood loss was in excess of 100 ml, seen in patients with a profile similar to those with significant fibrosis. The procedure of microdiscectomy lasted longer than 120 minutes in 34% of patients, which was influenced significantly by the patient's weight. The patient's age, sex and weight can affect the microsurgical procedure. Microdiscectomy is likely to be a difficult and tedious procedure in the elderly, obese and female patients

Oculomotor nerve haemangioma in patient with Robert's syndrome

A 47-year-old male patient from Yemen, a known case of Robert's Syndrome presented with gradual deterioration of function of both oculomotor nerves. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging examination of the brain revealed partial sclerosed lesion with significant enhancement at the area of interpendicular cistern. On exploration, the lesion proved to be haemangioma arising from the right oculomotor nerve. Clinical presentation, surgical management and review of the literature are discussed