[Surgical treatment of discogenic compression of the spinal cord in the thoracic region]. / Chirurgická liecba diskogénnej kompresie miechy v hrudníkovej oblasti.

The objective of the submitted work was to draw attention to some problems associated with the diagnosis and treatment of prolapse of sequestra of thoracic intervertebral discs. The investigated group comprised 9 subjects (4 women, 5 men) aged 33 to 67 years operated upon at the Neurosurgical Clinic in Kosice between Jan. 1 1982 and June 30 2001 on account of compression of nervous structures in the thoracic portion of the spine by sequestra of intervertebral discs. This was manifested by back pain, a sensation of stiffening of the muscles of the lower extremities, altered sensitivity and in all by impaired gait. Only one female patient developed urinary retention, another one painless paraparesis of the lower extremities, therefore the condition was evaluated as a demyelinisation process. In three patients as the only imaging examination method perimyelography was used, in another two it was supplemented by CT. Four patients were examined by MRI. This graphic method proved to be the most suitable. In all subjects of the investigated group the clinical picture and examination methods indicated a unilateral predominance of the affection. In five subjects it proved possible to remove the sequestream of the intervertebral disc via laminectomy, in another four a transpedicular approach into the spinal canal was used successfully. In all patients the condition improved after surgery.

[Results of surgery for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage]. / Výsledky operácií hypertonických mozgových krvácaní.

The authors subdued 82 patients to an analysis, the aim of which was to determine the most optimum indication criterias for operations due to hypertonic brain hemorrhage. The survival rate, its qualities and other parameters in the group under observation did not significantly differ from characteristics of groups of patients given by literature. Therefore, they recommend the following factors to be taken into consideration of surgical indication: age, general status of the patient, localization of the hematoma, associated internal diseases. (Tab. 3, Fig. 5, Ref. 16.)

[Impairment of the saphenous nerve by a tourniquet.]. / Poskodenie safénového nervu turniketom.

The authors describe a case report where the application of a tourniquet in the area of the Hunter's canal resulted in the impairment of the saphenous nerve with typical symptoms which could be treated only by neurotomy. Examinaton by available clinical methods has not proved other potential causes of the impairment of the nerve. The authors emphasize the significance of acroparesthesiae as the primary symptom of the impairment of the sensitive nerve, they point out the factors of tourniquet tollerance and stress the importance of a proper placement of a tourniquet. Key words: saphenous nerve, tourniquet.

Two dimensional echoencephalography during the neurosurgical operations.

The authors describe the use of two dimensional ultrasonic image in time of neurosurgical operations. After craniotomy it is possible by means of B-scan to localise the brain pathology, to measure its depth from the brain surface as well as to plan the surgical strategy. The safety of this examination, its simplicity and immediate working results are stressed. This examination is recommended for all operations in intracranial space, because it enables the best possible orientation of the surgeon.

Three observations of familial incidence of the central nervous system neoplasms.

The authors report of 3 observations of the familiar incidence of the central nervous system neoplasms. In the first case it was brain astrocytoma in 2 brothers, in the second case is was man with the meningioma of falx cerebri and his sister with capillary hemangioma of the cerebellum, in the third case it was a woman with astrocytoma of the left temporal lobe and her brother with medulloblastoma. The authors are of the opinion that it was only coincidence in all three cases.

A radiographic study of circulatory times of the cerebral blood flow.

The authors studied circulatory times of the cerebral blood flow by means of radiocirculography (RCG). The mean value of the RCG curve was 20 s in 27 examined control persons, 22 s (increase by 2 s) in 24 patients with light brain injury (commotio cerebri), 24 s (increase by 4 s) in 29 patients with severe injury (contusio cerebri et compressio cerebri), and 23 s (increase by 3 s) in 37 patients with brain tumor.

Contribution to the etiology of spina bifida cystica.

Authors report of bone anomalies found out by plain X-ray examination in 61 mothers and 40 fathers of children with spina bifida cystica. There was ascertained hyper-pneumatisation of skull bones 18 times, platybasia or basilar impression 15-times, spina bifida occulta 11-times and deformation of lumbosacral vertebrae 8-times. Only in 49 parents of handicapped children the roentgenological picture of their skeleton was physiological. In comparison with the control group of 100 persons chosen by random access the incidence of skeleton anomalies of parents of children with congenital defects of the neural tube was significantly higher.

Angiographic demonstration of the congenital absence of one internal carotid artery. Case report.

The authors describe a case of the agenesis of the left internal carotid artery in a 57 year-old patient, which was diagnosed in relation with a development of chronic subdural haematoma on the same side. Left carotid basin was supplied through an unusual intercarotid anastomosis from the right side.