Report of two cases of high cervical injury: an adequate functional result with timely surgical management.

Introduction: Odontoid fractures correspond to 9-15% of cervical spine fractures. Atlas fracture is rare (3-13%)8. Case presentation: Male with Anderson and D´Alonzo Type II Odontoid fracture with unstable fragment treated with occipitocervical fixation with occipital plate, C2-C3 transfacet screws; Female with type E Jefferson fracture + anterolateral atloaxial dislocation, treated with occipitocervical fixation, C2-C3-C4 transfacet screws. Discussion: Anderson and D'Alonzo Type II fractures and Jefferson type E fractures are a surgical emergency due to instability and neurological deficit.

Introducción: Las fracturas odontoideas corresponden del 9-15% de las fracturas de la columna cervical. La fractura del atlas es poco común (3-13%)8. Presentación del caso: Masculino con fractura de Odontoides tipo II de Anderson y D´Alonzo con fragmento inestable tratado con fijación occipitocervical con placa occipital, tornillos transfacetarios C2-C3; Femenino con fractura de Jefferson tipo E+luxación atloaxoidea anterolateral, tratada con fijación occipitocervical, tornillos transfacetarios C2-C3-C4. Discusión: Fracturas tipo II de Anderson y D´Alonzo y fracturas de Jefferson tipo E son una urgencia quirúrgica debido a inestabilidad y déficit neurológico.

Wound Dehiscence After Occipital Encephalocele Surgical Repair in a Neonate: Management Alternative.

Encephaloceles are congenital malformations of the neural tube, mostly located in the occipital region in the Western world. Its presence is related to many complications, among which cognitive impairment and death are the most important. The diagnosis is usually made in the prenatal period, but sometimes due to poor control, this is not feasible. Surgery is required as early as possible to prevent further damage. Sometimes we can face complications related to the procedure, such as wound dehiscence, which has been the aim of this work. Many different types of treatments have been proposed for this complication: nevertheless, they result in invasive management. We present the case of a neonate's wound dehiscence, managed with potable water washes and a correct sterile technique, shown to be safe, reduce the in-patient costs, as well as improve the patient's and their family's quality of life (QoL).

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage From Rupture of an Undiagnosed Posterior Circulation Aneurysm During Sellar Tumor Surgery.

Association between cerebral aneurysms and sellar tumors has been previously reported. Rupture of anterior circulation aneurysms during a transsphenoidal surgery causing massive subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is uncommon, but rupture of a posterior circulation aneurysm is an infrequent event. We present three cases of SAH secondary to rupture of an undetected posterior circulation aneurysm during transsphenoidal surgery to treat a sellar tumor. The common factor in these cases was the adverse outcome despite treatment.  The fatal outcome seen in all these cases questions whether to include a (magnetic resonance) MR angiography or (computed tomography) CT angiography during preoperative evaluation for sellar tumors in order to identify inadvertently associated aneurysms.

Hypothalamic Cavernous Malformation: Surgical Technique and Literature Review.

Hypothalamic cavernous malformation (HCM) is rare, and to our knowledge, there are only 28 cases reported in the literature. An 18-year-old male presented two years ago with a severe headache followed by right eye blindness. Following imaging studies, a bleeding hypothalamic cavernoma was discovered together with another incidental cavernoma in the brain. We sustained the diagnosis of cavernomatosis, and conservative treatment was indicated. A year later, he presented severe headache and vomit; for this reason, the patient underwent a new MRI which showed a new bleeding episode of the HCM lesion. We carried out an endocrinological assessment, and microsurgical resection was recommended. Although visual impairment persisted as expected in the postoperative period, he showed good clinical recovery overall. Hypothalamic location of a cavernous malformation is infrequent, accounting for only 1% or less of these lesions, and are known to cause a variety of symptoms inducing headache, visual disturbance, and less frequently, hypothalamus dysfunction. Surgical intervention can be considered after a second symptomatic bleed, always assessing the risk of non-favorable postsurgical outcomes against the intrinsic risk that these malformations imply. Case reports like this are essential to reach a consensus towards the best treatment option for HCM.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy for Obstructive Hydrocephalus Secondary to Delayed Intracerebellar Hematoma.

Nowadays, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in neurosurgery has yielded good clinical results in various conditions. Intraventricular endoscopic procedures can be performed in different pathologies and not only in non-communicating hydrocephalus. This is presented accordingly in this clinical case. We present the case of a patient who suffered a blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the occipital region. Upon his arrival at the medical facility, he displayed altered neurological status and showed symptoms of aggressiveness, slurred speech, and gait ataxia. Initial non-contrast brain computed tomography scan presented a cerebellar traumatic subacute hematoma and secondary hydrocephalus. Therefore, we performed an ETV. In most reported cases of cerebellar contusions among patients with TBI, the treatment was suboccipital craniectomy, clot evacuation, and external ventricular drainage (EVD). Unlike this case, the determined procedure was minimally invasive through ETV for the resolution of hydrocephalus with good clinical outcomes in addition to low morbidity and mortality. This case shows in the setting of delayed intracerebellar traumatic hematoma with secondary hydrocephalus being the main cause of neurological deterioration, a minimally invasive treatment such as ETV is suitable.

Associated factors for Tracheostomy in adults with severe traumatic brain injury. Score proposal.

BACKGROUND: In patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is a lack of consensus about the need and time to perform a tracheostomy. Nowadays, the decision is individualized to each case. It is considered that patients that will need a tracheostomy profit by performing it earlier. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational and prospective study was performed. One hundred and twenty patients in a period of 18 months between 2016 and 2018, older than 18 years, with severe TBI at the first 24 h of trauma were analyzed. Clinical, biochemical, and radiological findings at admission were measured; patients were followed up until discharge. The statistical analysis was made with Student's t-test, χ2, and prevalence risk ratio. RESULTS: Ten associated factors were grouped according to the prevalence risk ratio. The principal factors were CRASH score, IMPACT score, SAPS II score, APACHE II score, age, revised trauma score, Glasgow Coma Scale, subdural hematoma, uni or bilateral abnormal pupil reactivity, and collapse of basal cisterns. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there are multiple factors associated with the need for tracheostomy in adult patients with severe TBI and it is possible to predict according to our findings from admission which patients will profit by this procedure.

ANTECEDENTES: No existe aún consenso respecto de la necesidad y el tiempo de realización de traqueostomía en el paciente con trauma craneoencefálico (TCE) grave. En la actualidad, la decisión se individualiza en cada caso. Se considera que los pacientes que requieren traqueostomía tendrán mayor beneficio si se realiza de forma temprana. MÉTODO: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional y prospectivo, en un periodo de 18 meses entre 2016 y 2018, con 120 pacientes mayores de 18 años con diagnóstico de TCE grave, en las primeras 24 horas del trauma. Se evaluaron datos clínicos, bioquímicos y radiológicos al ingreso, y se siguió hasta el alta hospitalaria. Se analizan las variables con las prueba t de Student y ji al cuadrado, y también la tasa de riesgo de prevalencia. RESULTADOS: Los factores de riesgo asociados con la necesidad de traqueostomía en el paciente con TCE grave fueron los resultados en las escalas CRASH, IMPACT, SAPS II y APACHE II, la edad, la puntuación de la Revised Trauma Score y de la Escala de Glasgow al ingreso, la presencia y el volumen de hematoma subdural, la respuesta pupilar anormal unilateral o bilateral, y el colapso parcial o total de las cisternas basales. CONCLUSIONES: Existen numerosos factores de riesgo asociados con la necesidad de traqueostomía en los pacientes adultos con TCE grave, y es posible predecir desde el momento del ingreso qué pacientes se beneficiarán de la realización de una traqueostomía.

Posterior bi-parietal decompressive craniectomy in refractory intracranial hypertension secondary to civilian gunshot wound. Case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Decompressive craniectomy is recommended as second tier therapy for unresponsive intracranial hypertension in Traumatic Brain Injury. There have been reports of a Bi-Occipital craniectomy in cases where the focal injury is posterior. CASE DESCRIPTION: The work has been reported in line with the SCARE criteria. There is a 56-year-old male with Traumatic brain injury secondary to gunshot and intracranial hypertension, managed with biparietal craniectomy, after place a intracranial pressure monitor, whit good response to surgical and medical treatment, even with good outcome after hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: In selected cases a posterior bi-parietal craniectomy can be performed in a safe way with acceptable results to treat refractory Intracranial hypertension. We propose that this neurosurgical technique can be used in patients with posterior focal injuries.