Atlanto-occipital dissociation.

INTRODUCTION: Atlanto-occipital dissociation (AOD) is a rare and unstable injury of the craniocervical junction, associated with very high morbidity and mortality. The most common cause of this injury is high energy trauma with hyperextension of the cranium, such as car accidents. Due to specific anatomical predispositions, children and young adults are the frequently affected populations. Improving pre-hospital and early emergency care has resulted in a higher sensitivity of AOD diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients with cervical spine trauma, treated at the Masaryk Hospital Trauma Center between 2008 and 2018, identified 7 patients with AOD. The cohort consisted of 5 males and 2 females, with a mean age of 19,6 years and with the age range 9 to 35 years. All cases occurred as a result of a car accident. RESULTS: All patients in the cohort had findings of a highly unstable C0-C1 injury on their CT scans on admission. Four patients died early, while undergoing CPR in the emergency department. Two patients were in severe neurological states, with lesions of the upper cervical spinal cord and medulla oblongata on MRI. These patients were treated with external halo fixation and died within 3 days of the trauma. Only one patient with a new progressive neurological deficit was successfully treated using acute occipitocervical stabilization and fusion. CONCLUSION: The increasing incidence of AOD requires an early diagnosis, which minimizes the risk of successive clinical deterioration. The diagnostic method of choice is the C1-condyle interval (CCI) CT assessment along with cervical spine MRI. Standard treatment of stable patients with unstable AOD injuries consists in posterior occipitocervical stabilization and fusion of C0-C2.

Image Possibilities of the Peripheral Nerve Tumor Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Case Report.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and morphological analysis of peripheral nerve tumours (PNTs). In recent years, a number of novel MRI sequences such as MR neurography (MRN), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) or MR tractography (MRT) have emerged extending the range of conventional MRI techniques. These advanced sequences are able to provide detailed information concerning PNTs structure, including the course and function of individual neural fascicles. This data can then be utilized in tailoring a suitable surgical procedure, reducing the risks of postoperative neurological deficit. The following case report of a median nerve tumour demonstrates the range and practicality of current MRI techniques. With continuing advancement and perfection of these MRI techniques, we can expect their integration into standard diagnostic protocols of PNTs.

Microsurgery and endovascular treatment of posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms.

Aneurysms located on the posterior inferior cerebellar artery are rare, and treatment guidelines for them have not yet been established. In this paper, we present the results of a retrospective study which analyzes the management and treatment of 15 patients with posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms from 2004 to 2013. The aneurysms were ruptured and presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Of the 15 aneurysms, ten were of saccular, three fusiform, and two were dissecting. Computed tomography angiography or digital subtraction angiography revealed other aneurysms or intracerebral artery hypoplasia in seven patients. Either surgical or endovascular treatment was performed depending on the localization and morphology of the aneurysm. Six aneurysms were coiled, and surgery was performed in nine cases. Of the nine surgically treated patients, six (75%) had good outcomes. Of the six patients treated using endovascular procedures, three patients (50%) recovered. Patient outcomes were classified using the Hunt&Hess scale. Patients with Hunt&Hess 1-3 recovered without a neurological deficit. On the other hand, patients with Hunt&Hess 4-5 had a risk of up to 93% of death or a poor outcome. In two cases of endovascular and in two cases before any therapy, aneurysmal rebleeding occurred and resulted in deterioration of clinical state of the patient and a poor prognosis with high risk of death. This study shows the necessity of acute treatment of posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm, of thorough diagnostic, and of interdisciplinary cooperation.