Injection therapy of lumbar facet syndrome: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain remains a major health problem. Facet joint injection therapy is an easy to perform therapeutic option. However, few prospective studies use a standardized protocol to investigate injection therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate quantity and duration of clinical improvement after this protocol, and to identify the best time for additional repetitive injection therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (21 men, 18 women; mean age 55.2 years [range, 29-87 years]) with lumbar facet syndrome were treated with injection using a standardized protocol (prednisolone acetate, lidocaine 1%, phenol 5%) under fluoroscopic control. Follow-up was based on a specially designed questionnaire. Analysis included MacNab criteria, visual analogue scale, and pain disability index. RESULTS: Reduction of pain was found up to 6 months after treatment. The outcome was assessed excellent or good by 62% (24 patients) of the patients after 1 month, by 41% (16 patients) after 3 months, and by 36% (14 patients) after 6 months. There was no influence of age, body mass index, or previous lumbar spinal surgery on improvement after treatment. There were no severe side effects. Short-lasting self limiting mild side effects were found in 26% (increased back pain, numbness, heartburn, headache, allergy). CONCLUSION: Facet joint injection therapy using a standardized protocol is safe, effective, and easy to perform. The clinical effect is limited, and we recommend repetitive injection according to this protocol after 3 months.

[Lumbar spinal stenosis]. / Lumbale Spinalkanalstenose.

Lumbal spinal stenosis is gaining more and more clinical relevance because of changing population structure and increasing demand on lifequality in the elderly. Current treatment recommendations are based on clinical experience, expert opinions and single studies rather than on proven evidence. The radiologic degree of stenosis does not correlate with the patients' clinical situation. It is not the main factor indicating surgery but rather the typical history and spinal claudication. Symptomatic patients with light to moderate complaints should undergo multimodal conservative treatment. Epidural injections, delordosating physiotherapy and medication are useful. In patients with severe symptomatic stenosis surgery is indicated after a conservative treatment of 3 months. Relevant pareses or a cauda equina syndrome are absolute indications for surgery. The general aim is to decompress sufficiently while maintaining or restoring segmental stability. A laminectomy is not necessarily required. In patients with accompanying degenerative Meyerding grade I-II spondylolisthesis or instability in functional radiographs, fusion or dynamic stabilisation are recommended in addition to decompression, depending on the patient's age and activity level.

Bleeding complications after endovascular therapy of cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracerebral hemorrhages after embolization of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are the most dreaded complications of this well-established therapy. Apart from the known risk factors, our center noticed a high incidence of complications during postinterventional monitoring in medical intensive care units (ICUs) and stroke units. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report 125 consecutive interventions performed on 66 patients by using flow-dependent microcatheters and n-butyl cyanoacrylate as the embolic agent. Postinterventional intensive care monitoring was performed in an interdisciplinary operative ICU, a stroke unit, or a medical ICU. Patients were compared with regard to bleeding complications, AVM morphology, embolization result, postinterventional monitoring, and demographic factors. RESULTS: Intracerebral hemorrhages occurred in 7 patients. Significant differences in outcome were found between 66 patients monitored in the interdisciplinary operative ICU from medical ICU or stroke unit. This was also true when adjusted for age and extent of AVM reduction by using exact logistic regression. A partial AVM reduction of >60% was a considerable risk factor for hemorrhage (odds ratio [OR] = 18.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.341, not available]. Age was also an essential risk factor. An age difference of 10 years leads to an OR of 2.545 (95% CI [1.56, 7.35]). DISCUSSION: A considerable AVM reduction in one session appears to increase the risk of hemorrhage technically. This suggests a distribution of the interventions in many partial steps.

Transient tetraplegia and vegetative dysfunction depending on cervical positioning caused by a cervical spinal chordoma.

A 39-year-old man with acquired torticollis suffering from cervicobrachialgia and neurological deficits is presented. Due to a change in head position a transient reproducible tetraplegia and severe vegetative dysfunctions were caused. The origin of this uncommon serious combination of symptoms and signs was a chordoma of the upper cervical spine. After surgical decompression the patient was free of neurological deficit and pain. Review of the literature did not reveal any similar case.

Comparison of metric analysis of spinal structures, exemplarily of the ligamentum flavum, obtained with CT and MRI.

PURPOSE: Comparison of metric analysis of spinal structures, exemplarily of the ligamentum flavum, obtained with computed tomography (CT) (soft tissue window and bone window) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (T1 and T2 weighted images). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-six lumbar ligamenta flava of 46 patients (25 women and 21 men) were examined at a Somatom Plus 4 (Siemens, Erlangen, FRG) and at a 1.5 T clinical scanner (Magnetom Vision, Siemens, Erlangen, FRG). Two independent neuroradiologists measured the thickness of the ligamenta flava in mm. Statistics included Pearson's correlation coefficient and the intra-class correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Mean values did not differ significantly. The correlation coefficients varied between 0.69 and 0.98. The best correlation occurred comparing the same techniques in different windowing and weighting (CT: r = 0.98; MRI: r = 0.95). Correlating different techniques the combination of CT bone window and T1 weighted images presented the best result (r = 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: Because of the excellent correlation between the examined techniques CT as well as MRI can equally be used to measure distances of spinal structures.

Camel bite: an unusual type of head injury in an infant.

Small children are predisposed for animal bite wounds in the craniofacial region, because the likelihood of sustaining trunk and extremity injuries increases with height. The clinical picture of animal bite wounds is highly variable. Depending on the dental anatomy of the biting animal, such wounds may range from sharp stitch wounds to extensive lacerations with or without tissue loss. The ears and nose are injured most often because of their exposed location. Nevertheless, depressed skull fractures with injury to the dura and to the brain parenchyma are extremely rare. This case presentation describes the rare case of a craniocerebral camel bite wound (Lackmann stage IV B) in a 3-year-old girl that required immediate neurosurgical management. The neurosurgical management, choice of antibiotic, postoperative treatment, and clinical course are discussed, and background information on camel bite injuries is given.

Spontaneous bilateral chronic subdural haematoma of the posterior fossa. Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic subdural haematomas of the posterior fossa in adults without a history of trauma are very rare. To our knowledge, only 15 cases have so far been reported in the literature, including those with anticoagulation therapy. A case of spontaneous bilateral infratentorial chronic subdural haematoma associated with anticoagulation therapy in an alive adult is presented and the relevant literature is reviewed. CASE REPORT: A 70 year old female presented with progressive dizziness, vertigo and gait ataxia. She was on anticoagulation therapy for heart disease. Neuro-imaging revealed bilateral infratentorial subdural masses. The subdural masses were suspects for chronic subdural haematomas by neuroradiological criteria. Because of the progressive symptomatology, the haematomas were emptied through burrhole trepanations. Chocolate-colored fluid, not containing clotted components, gushed out under great pressure. The source of bleeding could not be identified. The patient recovered well from surgery, but died 4 months later shortly after admission to another hospital from heart failure. DISCUSSION: The chronic subdural haematomas in this patient may have been due to rupture of bridging veins caused by a very mild trauma not noticed by the patient and possibly aggravated by the anticoagulation therapy. Infratentorial chronic subdural haematoma should at least be a part of the differential diagnosis in elderly patients with cerebellar and vestibular symptomatology even without a history of trauma.

Lumbar disc herniation in patients up to 25 years of age.

Retrospective analysis of 165 patients (105 males, 60 females) with a mean age of 21.2 years (range 14 to 25 years) of 6933 surgically treated patients from January 1987 to May 1999 focused on age and sex distribution, body mass, familial predisposition, trauma, histology, and clinical course. The incidence of herniated lumbar discs was 2.3% in patients aged up to 25 years. A valid family history was obtained in 121 patients and a positive history was found in 82 of these patients (67.8%). The patients had a higher body mass index compared to a group of individuals with a similar age structure. Radiography demonstrated bony changes in 124 patients (75.2%), primarily attributable to postural deformities such as scoliosis. The condition of the bony structures seems to be more important than the condition of the disc tissue in the occurrence of this disease in young patients.

Biodegradable implants in neurosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Biodegradable materials have been used for osteosynthesis by orthopedic surgeons and craniomaxillofacial surgeons for many years. However, such materials are not yet widely used by neurosurgeons despite potential applications. This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate potential applications of biodegradable materials in neurosurgical interventions. METHODS: A total of 104 4-hole plates and 228 screws consisting of copolymer of poly-70 L/30 D,L-lactide were inserted for fixation of bone flaps in 8 patients and for reinsertion of laminoplasties at 28 levels in 16. The craniotomies were performed for removal of a brain tumour in 4 cases, for surgical management of an aneurysm or cerebral AVM in 2, and for treatment of craniocerebral trauma in another 2. Laminoplasties were performed at 25 levels for intraspinal hemangioblastomas in 15 patients. One patient with an ependymoma underwent 3-level laminoplasty. FINDINGS: One patient with severe head injury in whom the bone flap was re-implanted several months following the craniectomy, developed an aseptic necrosis of the bone flap, which had to be removed. Implant rejection was not observed. One patient suffered from mild local pain in the area of a biodegradeable screw in the frontal region following removal of a sphenoid wing meningeoma. None of the patients with laminoplasty showed signs of functional instability or spinal cord compression. Implant rejection was not observed. No delayed healing or infection occurred. Healing was not delayed and no infections occurred. INTERPRETATION: The results encourage further use of biodegradable materials for the described applications. Additional studies will be performed to investigate the usefulness of biodegradable devices in neurosurgery and to obtain long-term results.

Surgical treatment of spinal hemangioblastomas.

BACKGROUND: The routine use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in recent years for the diagnostic assessment of the spinal column and especially for screening patients with von Hippel-Lindau (vHL) disease has shown that spinal hemangioblastomas (sHBs) are more common than assumed so far. Since most sHBs are thus discovered while they are still asymptomatic, especially in vHL disease, the question arises whether and when these tumors should be treated. The present article reports the results of the surgical treatment of sHBs using the protocol described below and compares them to the course in a control group of patients with conservatively treated sHBs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 30 sHBs were treated microsurgically in 15 patients. Hemangioblastoma-associated cysts were merely opened in 14 cases, drained with the help of Teflon cotton in 2 of these cases, and not opened in 4 instances. Laminoplasties were performed with insertion of absorbable, MRI-compatible microosteosynthesis plates. Perioperatively, all patients were administered methylprednisolone according to the NASCIS (National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study) scheme, and sensory evoked potentials were monitored intra-operatively in all cases. Nine patients in whom the course of primarily conservative treatment of a total of 17 asymptomatic sHBs was documented served as controls. The follow-up time was 7 to 51 months (mean 20) after surgery and 10 to 51 months (mean 21) in the control group. FINDINGS: Preoperative HB-associated pareses showed transient postoperative deterioration (n = 5). The other accompanying neurological deficits improved in 6 HBs and remained unchanged in all other HBs (n = 19), of which 16 had been asymptomatic before surgery. In the control group, 6 HBs (in 6 different patients) became permanently symptomatic despite subsequent surgical treatment according to the study protocol. INTERPRETATIONS: With the new diagnostic tools now available, microsurgical removal of spinal hemangioblastomas has a low morbidity rate, suggesting that surgical treatment should be considered even for asymptomatic sHBs in certain circumstances.

Accurate placement of the distal end of a ventriculoatrial shunt catheter using Alphacard: direct intraoperative comparison with fluoroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Surgical insertion of a ventriculoatrial shunt requires accurate placement of the atrial catheter in the right atrium in order to prevent postoperative complications. Fluoroscopy is the standard method for monitoring correct positioning of the catheter. METHODS: This paper reports a prospective study in 50 patients with the aim of comparing electrocardiographic monitoring of the catheter position by means of Alphacard with concomitant intraoperative fluoroscopic examination. The Alphacard was evaluated in terms of accuracy, time requirement, and ease of handling. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 54 (range 42-66) months. FINDINGS: Reliable control of the catheter position was possible by means of electrocardiographic guidance in all 50 patients (100%) by fluoroscopy in 49 cases (98%). The average time required for intra-operative monitoring of the catheter position was 55 (40-70) seconds for electrocardiography as compared to 8 (5-12) minutes for fluoroscopy. None of the patients showed obstruction of the atrial catheter during the postoperative follow-up period. INTERPRETATION: Alphacard offers an excellent alternative for monitoring the position of the tip of an atrial catheter because it requires little equipment and time. In terms of reliability, it is comparable or even superior to fluoroscopy.

Animal model for cerebral arteriovenous malformation.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to establish an animal model for the investigation of the pathophysiology and haemodynamics of cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) but also to assess therapeutic aspects. METHOD: For anatomic and haemodynamic reasons, dogs were chosen as the animal model. An arteriovenous fistula was created by interposing a segment of the superficial temporal artery between one of the main branches of the middle cerebral artery and the dorsal sagittal sinus. A temporal muscle graft supplied by this artery was implanted intracerebrally in the ischaemic area. FINDINGS: The angiographic and histopathologic findings obtained in the animal model are comparable with the situation found in intracerebral AVM in humans. INTERPRETATION: The animal model of intracerebral AVM established in this study allows for further investigation of the pathophysiology and dynamics of this disorder. It may help to develop better therapeutic options and thus improve the prognosis of affected patients.

Brain tumor surgery in geriatric patients: a critical analysis in 44 patients over 80 years.

BACKGROUND: The decision of whether to operate on brain tumors in elderly patients has not been made easier despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances facilitating their diagnosis. Little is known about the outcome of brain tumor surgery in patients 80 years or older probably because the number of these patients, although increasing, is still small. METHODS: The results of brain tumor surgery in 44 patients aged 80-86 years (mean age 83 years) were analyzed to determine which factors are relevant in the evaluation of the operative risk. The following parameters were analyzed with regard to the outcome: tumor volume, location, histopathology, preoperative condition, and concomitant diseases. RESULTS: At discharge 19 patients (43%) had improved while 14 (32%) remained unchanged. Nevertheless, the overall results were unsatisfactory in 10 patients (23%), of whom 5 died in hospital. Tumor location, volume, and histopathology did not correlate with the outcome. The preoperative cerebrovascular condition and the existence of multiple concomitant diseases were clearly the determining factors for the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that patients with life-threatening tumors or those causing persistent and intolerable brain dysfunction suffering from symptomatic cerebrovascular atherosclerosis as well as from multiple treatment requiring concomitant diseases did definitely not benefit from surgery.

The value of intraoperative angiography for surgical treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations in eloquent brain areas.

Intraoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) allows intraoperative assessment of outcome of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM). This study reports on 21 patients with AVMs in eloquent areas of the brain extirpated between July 1995 to March 1998. Extirpation was always followed by intraoperative DSA. Intraoperative angiography disclosed an occult residual nidus in 4 cases (19%). Complete extirpation of the AVM was achieved in all cases. Following surgery the neurological condition improved in 15 cases (71%), remained unchanged in 5 (24%), and worsened in 1. There were no secondary postoperative haemorrhages, nor complications related to the angiography. These results indicate that intraoperative DSA should be considered in the course of surgical treatment of cerebral AVMs in eloquent areas of the brain.

[Indications for surgical therapy of aneurysmic subarachnoid hemorrhage--current status]. / Indikationsstellung zur operativen Therapie der aneurysmatischen Subarachnoidalblutung--Aktueller Stand.

The most common cause of spontaneous subarachnoid bleeding (SAB) is a freshly ruptured cerebral aneurysm. The prognosis of an aneurysmal SAB essentially depends on the extent of the bleeding, the sequelae of subsequent vasospasms and the increase in intracranial pressure. Effective measures, such as increasing systemic blood pressure, can only be taken if the aneurysm is eliminated as quickly as possible. However, there are situations in which waiting is indicated. Clipping a cerebral aneurysm is a demanding operation, which requires a high degree of concentration and competence from the entire surgical team. A review of the literature (1990-1996) and a survey of 10 German and 10 international cerebrovascular centers yielded the following update of indications and contraindications for the surgical management of aneurysmal SAB: There is an absolute contraindication for aneurysm clipping in patients over 80 years of age in stage V according to Hunt and Hess and in poor general condition. There is a relative contraindication in patients over 90 years of age no matter what the stage according to Hunt and Hess is, as well as in those over 70 years in stage V according to Hunt and Hess and in poor general condition. Different opinions have been expressed for patients over 70 years in stage V according to Hunt and Hess. The surgical indication is controversial in patients with vasospasm detected by Doppler ultrasonography or by angiography. Emergency aneurysm clipping is performed in the presence of a space-occupying intracranial hematoma. Otherwise, emergency aneurysm elimination is not performed at night in any of the hospitals surveyed, but both angiography and surgery are carried out the next morning in the majority of hospitals. A tired neurosurgeon or surgical team operating at night may constitute a greater risk for the patient than rebleeding. For legal reasons, this aspect was discussed and accepted as another relative contraindication in the annual meeting of the German Neurosurgical Society in Hamburg in 1996.

Influence of aneurysm location on the development of chronic hydrocephalus following SAH.

The incidence of chronic hydrocephalus was analysed in a series of 204 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Its development was significantly related to the quantity of subarachnoid blood, but even more to the location of the haemorrhage and to the aneurysm site. Hydrocephalus was more frequent in patients under poor initial condition. Whereas intracerebral haemorrhage did not increase the risk of chronic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) resorption disturbances. Patients with intraventricular haemorrhage or voluminous haemorrhage in the basal cisterns have a significantly higher risk of such a complication. In this series 30 (15%) patients developed chronic hydrocephalus and required shunting. Surprisingly, in our series a shunt was never needed in patients with aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). SAH from an aneurysm of the internal carotid artery (ICA) also never caused a shunt-dependent hydrocephalus except in cases with accompanying intraventricular haemorrhage. The percentage of chronic hydrocephalus was relatively high (19%) in patients with anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms but definitely highest in patients with an aneurysm of the vertebrobasilar (VB) system (53%).

Subdural effusions: determination of contrast medium influx from CSF to the fluid accumulation by computed tomography as an aid to the indications for management.

In 46 patients with subdural effusions CSF dynamics and especially the influx of contrast medium from CSF to the subdural fluid accumulation was investigated by serial computed tomography (CT). In 16 cases the subdural effusion was of traumatic and in 30 cases of non-traumatic origin. The results allowed a subdivision of the patients into three groups. Group 1: patients without contrast medium influx into the subdural fluid accumulation; group 2: patients with delayed influx; group 3: patients with immediate influx. In group 1 patients the subdural effusion acted as a space-occupying process with absolute indication for surgical treatment. Also in group 2 patients the further course showed that a surgical indication was given, because the fluid accumulation did not resolve under conservative management but increased in size, and/or the neurological deficit worsened. In all group 3 patients the subdural effusions decreased and finally disappeared conservatively. Group 1 patients with effusions on traumatic origin generally had more severe injuries than the patients of the other groups. The investigations caused no serious complications. This diagnostic method proved to be a reliable means for early differentiation between the possibility of conservative management or the indication for operative treatment in cases with subdural effusions of different origin.