Microscissor DREZotomy for post brachial plexus avulsion neuralgia: A single center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Brachial neuralgia is a dreaded sequelae which substantially impairs the quality of life in patients with brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) injuries. Dorsal Root Entry Zone (DREZ) lesioning of the cervical spinal cord is the most utilized procedure for alleviating this painful condition. In this study, we share a single center experience of surgically managing post BPA neuropathic pain. The efficacy, results and complications of the modified technique of DREZ, called the Microscissor DREZotomy (MDZ) are discussed along with the review of relevant literature. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included all the patients undergoing MDZ for post BPA brachialgia over 5 years period (2012-2018) at our institution. The pain was quantified using the Numeric rating Scale (NRS) between 0 and 10 scale and was graded as 'Excellent' in patients with more than 75% pain relief, 'Good' with 50-75% relief, 'Fair' between 25% and 50% and 'Poor' if less than 25%. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients underwent MDZ and a mean follow up of 32 months (range 18-69 months) available for 47 patients. Thirty three patients (70.4%) judged pain relief as Excellent, Five (10.6%) as Good, 3 (7%) as Fair and 6 (12%) having poor pain relief. Overall, in 38 (81%) patients long term analgesic effect (> 50%) was noted and 3 (7%) patients had more than 25% pain relief, making up an overall 41 (87%) of patients with some relief from pain. CONCLUSION: MDZ is a safe, efficacious technique with good long term pain relief and quality of life. This technique entails utilization of routine surgical instruments and can be performed with ease even in resource limited settings.

Intraventricular Gliosarcomas: Literature Review and a Case Description.

OBJECTIVE: Gliosarcomas are rare, extremely high-grade, bimorphous malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Intraventricular location is extremely rare, and only a few case reports exist in the literature. The aim of our study is to review clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of this unique oncological entity and report this rare case of primary cystic intraventricular gliosarcoma (IVGS) with a mural nodule. METHODS: A 23-year-old man had a 6-month history of headache and a single episode of generalized seizure. Examination revealed grade 1 papilledema. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic lesion with a mural nodule located within the occipital horn of the right lateral ventricle, which exhibited an intense enhancement of the nodule with patchy rim enhancement of the wall on gadolinium administration. The patient underwent right parietal craniotomy and gross total excision of the tumor. RESULTS: Postoperative computed tomography of the brain showed evidence of complete tumor excision. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful. Histopathologic analysis revealed malignant tumor comprising both glial and mesenchymal components suggestive of gliosarcoma. CONCLUSION: Primary IVGS is an extremely rare malignancy, with only 9 cases reported in the literature, and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lateral ventricular tumors.