Evaluation of S100B blood level as a biomarker to avoid computed tomography in patients with mild head trauma under antithrombotic medication.

PURPOSE: The goal of this prospective study was to analyze the potential of S100B protein as a negative predictive marker for intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after mild head trauma (MHT) in patient under antithrombotic medication. METHODS: Patients under antithrombotic medication who had MHT were consecutively included in this study. S100B blood levels were determined from samples drawn within 6hours after injury and were analyzed with the results of head CT performed within the 24hours after injury. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) of S100B levels for the detection of ICH, with a cut-off set at 0.105µg/L, were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 308 patients (151 men and 157 women) with a mean age of 79.1±10.5years (SD) were included in the analysis. CT was positive for the presence of ICH in 33 patients (10.7%; 95% CI: 7.5-14.7%). In the study population, S100B showed a sensitivity of 84.8% (95%CI: 68.1-94.9%), a specificity of 30.2% (95% CI: 24.8-36.0%), a NPV of 94.3% (95% CI: 87.2-98.1%), and a PPV of 12.7% (95% CI: 8.6-17.9%) for the diagnosis of ICH. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that a S100B serum level<0.105µg/L has a high NPV for ICH after mild head trauma in patients under antithrombotic medication.

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from ethmoid sinus adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid is an aggressive tumor, with potential extension to surrounding structures. Leptomeningeal extension is a rarely reported entity. CASE REPORT: A carpenter, aged 55, developed multifocal cranial nerve-related symptoms 1 week after resection of adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid, evolving towards deteriorated general health status and death 10 weeks later. Brain MRI showed diffuse contrast enhancement of the cranial nerves, and repeated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination found increased protein concentration associated with decreased glucose concentration, without malignant cells. The diagnosis of carcinomatous meningitis was based on the association of clinical, CSF and brain MRI data. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Leptomeningeal dissemination of adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid is rare; diagnosis is guided by clinical signs. MRI reveals neurological spread, but the presence of malignant cells in the CSF is sufficient for diagnosis. Due to poor prognosis, the only currently available treatments are palliative.

[Dialysis-associated spondyloarthropathy. Case report and literature review]. / La spondylarthropathie érosive du dialysé rénal. A propos d'un cas, revue de la littérature.

Hemodialysis has considerably prolonged the life of patients suffering from terminal renal failure. However, long-term hemodialysis leads to new bone complications and spinal disorders such as destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA). At the present time DSA is reported in 8% to 18% of the dialysed patients. Diagnosis is based on severe narrowing of the intervertebral disk, erosions and geodes of the adjacent vertebral plates simulating infectious spondylitis. Lesions progressively involve posterior joints and may lead to severe destruction of the spine. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is still unknown. Several factors have been implicated, including microcrystal deposition, amyloidosis, inflammatory and foreign body reactions and suggest that the pathogenesis of erosive spondyloarthropathies of hemodialysed patients is multifactorial. Spinal instability inducing myelopathy and radiculopathy were observed in 8% of the cases. Treatment must be accorded to the natural disease course and to the quality of the bone. We report the case of a chronic dialysed patient with destructive spondyloarthropathy involving the cervical and thoracic spine. Pathogenesis, radiological datas and therapeutic approach are discussed.

[Chronic lower back pain: a new therapeutic approach]. / Lombalgies chroniques: une autre approche thérapeutique.

Lower back pain is a common complaint of patients seen in our consultations. Despite progress, surgical procedures are still often unsuccessful in relieving pain. Blocks performed in the epidural spaces or more often in the articular facets have provided poor relief of chronic lower back pain. The pain has vegetative components. Considering anatomic findings, we describe the innervation of the peridiscal tIssues which suffer during degenarative conditions. We analyze the course of the autogenic nerves mediating lumbar pain, and select the site of the blocks necessary to obtain optimal selective pain relief. A well-defined block at the level of the communicating rami is described.

[Perineal pain]. / Le neurochirurgien face aux algies périnéales. Guide pratique.

The investigation of patients suffering from perineal pain when sitting led us to perform an anatomical study of the pudendal nerve. We dissected 50 cadavers and found areas of conflict for the nerve fibers. The nerve trunk can become entrapped at the level of the ischiatic spine, in the Alcock's canal and when it crosses the falciform process. Considering the clinical and neurophysiological data, this type of chronic pain may arise from compression of the nerve between the sacro-tuberal and the sacro-spinal ligaments, and/or in the fascia of the internal obturator muscle. Much like treatment of entrapment of the median nerve in the wrist, we decided to treat chronic perineal pain by nerve blocks, and later by surgery. We describe here the clinical symptoms, the neurophysiological data, and the technique of the nerve blocks. For patients with persistent pain, we propose a posterior surgical approach which has provided successful pain relief in two third of patients.

Occipitocervical fixation with a single occipital clamp using inverted hooks.

A simple occipitocervical osteosynthesis technique using cervical CCD (compact Cotrel-Dubousset) material is described in a clinical case. The originality of this technique consists in the occipital fastening used, involving the simultaneous insertion of two hooks into a single burr-hole. This greatly facilitated the positioning of the osteosynthesis rods, reduced surgical time, and provided immediate stability. These criteria are of considerable importance since this difficult surgical procedure is often performed in patients in a frail condition.