Just the Tip: Resection of a Narcotic Catheter-Tip Granuloma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

The catheter tip "granuloma" is a rare inflammatory mass that forms in about 3% of patients with an intradural catheter, most commonly from a morphine pump. It has also been seen with other narcotic pumps, narcotic-non-narcotic combinations, and baclofen pumps. Mass formation is associated with increased opioid dose and concentration. It typically presents with increasing pain requiring increasing doses of medication, with minimal improvement, although it may present with neurologic deficits or be asymptomatic. On MRI, it appears as a round, rim-enhancing lesion that is low intensity with a hypointense rim on both T1 and T2. In the absence of neurologic deficits, there are many treatment options, ranging from a temporary stopping of the pump to catheter replacement. When the lesion presents with neurologic deficits, surgical intervention, beyond catheter replacement or repositioning, is indicated. A laminectomy is performed, with intradural exploration and careful resection of the mass, which is likely adherent to the spinal cord. Postoperative worsening of symptoms is common due to the mass being densely adherent to the spinal cord, requiring spinal cord manipulation. This worsening is usually temporary, and many patients make excellent recoveries. We present a case of a hydromorphone pump inflammatory mass, which initially presented with increasing pain, then progressive neurologic deficits, requiring referral and mass resection. We achieved only a partial resection due to the lesion's adherent nature. This surgical video demonstrates our intradural technique for resection of this rare and technically difficult mass, with 6-mo patient follow-up. The patient has consented to this case report.

Treatment of posttraumatic lumbar interspinous ligament calcification with partial resection of spinous processes and calcified interspinous ligaments: case report.

The authors report on the first surgical treatment for traumatic interspinous ligament calcification, with significant radiographic and symptomatic improvements at long-term follow-up. Heterotopic ossification occurs following traumatic injury but does not typically affect the interspinous ligaments. While these ligaments can calcify with age, this is rarely seen in patients younger than 50 years of age. The authors present the unusual case of a 31-year-old man who suffered traumatic fractures of thoracic and lumbar spinous processes. He developed progressive low-back pain that failed to respond to conservative treatments. At presentation, he was neurologically intact. CT scanning demonstrated partial calcification of the interspinous ligaments at L2-3, L3-4, and L4-5 with significant hypertrophy of the spinous processes at those levels. He did not have significant disc pathology, and his symptoms were attributed to the limited range of motion caused by the enlarged spinous processes. Partial resection of the spinous processes and calcified interspinous ligaments was performed to remove the heterotopic bone. The patient was seen in follow-up at 5 months postoperatively for imaging, and he was interviewed at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. He is doing well with significant pain relief and an improved range of motion. His Oswestry Disability Index improved from 25 preoperatively to 18 at 2 years postoperatively.

Flow, Liver, Flow: A Retrospective Analysis of the Interplay of Liver Disease and Coagulopathy in Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is a common neurosurgical ailment, particularly in elderly patients. A recent study uncovered an association between liver disease and recurrence in patients with cSDH. Here, we explored that relationship to identify recurrence predictors in at-risk patients. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that the association between liver disease and recurrence was attributable to coagulopathy secondary to liver disease. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with cSDH treated with burr-hole drainage by 2 surgeons between 2007 and 2015. Comorbidities and laboratory findings for each patient were examined by Pearson χ2 analysis or Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: We identified 261 cSDH in 215 patients. Patients were a mean age of 65.6 years, and 72% were male. Sixteen patients with cSDH required repeat surgery (6.1%). There were 123 coagulopathic patients (47.1%), and 14 with liver disease (5.4%), all of whom were coagulopathic (P < 0.001). Coagulopathic patients with liver disease were more likely to experience recurrence than patients with coagulopathy alone (relative risk = 4.09, P = 0.019). Patients with liver disease had significantly elevated prothrombin time (P = 0.013) and reduced platelet counts (P < 0.001). Platelets also were reduced in coagulopathic patients with liver disease, as compared with those with coagulopathy alone (P = 0.002). Thrombocytopenia remained significant in a multivariate analysis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Liver disease is significantly associated with the recurrence of cSDH. Although coagulopathy alone does not predict recurrence, patients with coagulopathy and liver disease are at greater risk for recurrence than those with coagulopathy alone. Liver disease effects are reflected in certain hematologic laboratory values.