ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We have already dealt with the technical and anatomical basics for thecaloscopy. The first results of clinical application are presented and the indications for its diagnostic and therapeutic use are described. The aetiology of aseptic arachnitis and the term "Wide spinal canal syndrome" are discussed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients who fulfilled the criteria for entry to the study were selected and the criteria were chosen according to German medical and legal rules. All patients underwent an endoscopic inspection and, if necessary, therapeutic manipulation under general anaesthesia. RESULTS: In all cases the procedure was safely and successfully performed. The pathomorphology of the arachnoid was detected and endoscopically treated in almost all cases. Arachnoid cysts were successfully fenestrated and an intraspinal meningocoele treated with endoscopic assistance. CONCLUSION: Thecaloscopy is a safe procedure if skilfully performed. It provides an opening for a wide range of new diagnostic and therapeutic options.
Subject(s)
Arachnoid Cysts/pathology , Arachnoid Cysts/surgery , Arachnoiditis/pathology , Arachnoiditis/surgery , Cauda Equina/abnormalities , Cauda Equina/surgery , Endoscopy/methods , Low Back Pain/pathology , Low Back Pain/surgery , Lumbosacral Region/pathology , Lumbosacral Region/surgery , Meningocele/pathology , Meningocele/surgery , Subarachnoid Space/pathology , Subarachnoid Space/surgery , Adult , Aged , Arachnoid Cysts/complications , Arachnoiditis/etiology , Female , Humans , Low Back Pain/etiology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Meningocele/complications , Middle Aged , Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/methods , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Autoradiographic studies on plane preparations using 3H-thymidine and pulse cytophotometric investigations on scrape preparations of aortic endothelium from 34 rabbits have brought the following results: By means of multiple 3H-thymidine-injections the number of labelled endothelial cells is higher in young growing animals than in older rabbits; pulse cytophotometrically we did not find any indication of polyploidization processes; from that we conclude a decrease of the growth fraction with advancing age. In comparison to visual counting the automatic image analysis is a highly effective method for the evaluation of autoradiograms. After multiple 3H-thymidine applications the mean blacking intensity of the labelled cell nuclei is lower in 2 months old animals than in 12 months old rabbits; that may mean an increase in the S-phase duration of the proliferating endothelial cells of the older animals. In the area with branching sites there are more 3H-thymidine-labelled endothelial cells than in the neighbouring vascular segments. The significance of these findings for the preferential incidence of arteriosclerosis in this area is discussed.
