Post traumatic dural sinus thrombosis following epidural hematoma: Literature review and case report.

Dural sinus thrombosis following a head trauma is a rare condition, described in literature along with the lack of consensus regarding diagnosis and management. We present a case of a fifty-year-old man with a head injury and combined supratentorial-subtentorial epidural hematoma who was treated conservatively through the administration of low molecular weight heparin. The diagnosis and management of this condition are discussed based on a literature review. The early diagnosis may prevent potentially treatable poor outcomes.

Correlation Between Timing of Surgery and Outcome in ThoracoLumbar Fractures: Does Early Surgery Influence Neurological Recovery and Functional Restoration? A Multivariate Analysis of Results in Our Experience.

BACKGROUND: Treatment for spinal trauma is affected by both nonmodifiable and modifiable variables. The aim of this study was to compare early surgery with intermediate and late surgery to determine the benefits of spinal reconstruction in neurological recovery and functional restoration in patients with thoracolumbar fractures. METHODS: In order to identify correlations between treatment timing, fracture site, neurological recovery, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score restoration, and rehabilitation prognosis in patients with thoracic and lumbar fractures, we conducted a multivariate analysis of the results of surgery, at our institution, in 166 consecutive patients with unstable thoracolumbar fractures with or without neurological impairment. We conducted a literature review (1988-2012) and compared our results with those already published. RESULTS: Regardless of the location and type of fracture, early surgery resulted in a reduction of median hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, as well as a reduction of nosocomial complications. Regardless of the type of fracture and preoperative ASIA score, thoracic fractures had the worst outcome. Early treatment seemed to have better results, depending on the preoperative ASIA score. CONCLUSION: Early surgery in patients with thoracolumbar fractures with incomplete neurological damage could positively affect neurological recovery, functional restoration, length of hospital and ICU stay, and associated comorbidity. Thoracic fractures had the worst outcome. Early surgery seemed to have better results if the initial ASIA score was good. The better the ASIA score on admission, the better was the outcome. Surgical timing did not affect the outcome when the ASIA score was A or E.

The only case of mycotic aneurysm of the PICA: Clinical-radiological remarks and review of literature.

We present the first and only case, reported in literature, of a 67-years-old man with a mycotic aneurysm (MA) of the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), caused by group B Streptococcus, that we surgically treated, performing neck aneurysm clipping, preserving patency of parent vessel. Moreover the peculiarity of this case is represented by the fact that the MA is originated from a tooth abscess, treated about two years before. To date, there have been only 10 cases of association between MA with either tooth pathologies or dental surgical procedures and our case is the only one originating from PICA. Therefore an extensive literature analysis was performed. Hence if we observe a patient with a fusiform aneurysm in posterior intracranial circulation and clinical history of fever and/or persistent neck swelling after dental pathologies, it is mandatory to consider the possibility of a MA, for a correct differential diagnosis. If the diagnosis is confirmed, it is necessary to research the origin of infection and to set the specific antibiotics therapy.