ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Congenital anomalies of the atlas are rare and usually occur in conjunction with other congenital variants. They include a wide spectrum of anomalies ranging from clefts to hypoplasia or aplasia of its arches that may contribute to spinal cord compressive syndrome. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 54-year-old male presented with the sudden onset of a severe quadriparesis and loss of proprioception after a minor fall. The magnetic resonance (MR) scan showed cord compression at the C1 level attributed to C1 arch hypoplasia. Two months following a decompressive C1 laminectomy without fusion, and the patient was symptom free. CONCLUSION: Posterior C1 arch hypoplasia is a rare anomaly that can contribute to cervical cord compression and myelopathy. The optimal surgical management may include, as in this case, a posterior decompression without fusion.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs) usually occur late in adults and older after mild head trauma. Surgical intervention is the first treatment option in CSDH with conservative management being adopted in few cases. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of a 71-year-old man who presented a spontaneous resolution of a large CSDH. He presented with a difficulty of speech and an ataxic gait. Head (computed tomography scan) showed a low-density lesion located in the right frontal-temporal-parietal region. CONCLUSION: In this report, we discuss the spontaneous resolution of a large CSDH in elderly patients, without surgical intervention. Gradually, several successful nonsurgical therapies for the treatment of these hematomas are reported, although further studies are essential to establish the role of these nonsurgical treatments of CSDHs.
