ABSTRACT
How can radioactive Cs+ ions be removed from aqueous solution? From this perspective, the adsorption of Cs+ was investigated by using five types of clay minerals possessing different charge exchange capacities. The fixation ability for Cs+ depended on the charge exchange capacity of the clay minerals. Phlogopite and vermiculite, where the number of charges is almost equal to half the number of siloxane ditrigonal cavities in the structure, exhibited a strong Cs+ fixation ability among these clay minerals. In these clay minerals, effective interlayer collapse, which leads to quasi-irreversible adsorption of Cs+, is expected from the introduction of Cs+ into the layer space. This is named the "cavity-charge matching effect". This study clarifies why only phlogopite and vermiculite can fix Cs+ quite strongly among various types of clay minerals. These findings are beneficial for removing radioactive Cs+ ions from the environment using clay minerals through the cavity-charge matching effect.
ABSTRACT
We present an extremely rare case of traumatic spinal cord herniation due to a brachial plexus avulsion injury and provide a review of the literature of spinal cord herniation. Spinal cord herniation is an uncommon condition that can occur spontaneously or as a result of surgery or trauma. This condition often presents with symptoms and signs as Brown-Séquard syndrome. Traumatic pseudomeningoceles after a brachial plexus avulsion injury have been reported. But transdural herniation of the spinal cord into this pseudomeningocele is an extremely rare and poorly documented condition. There is only two reports of this condition in a thoracic case. The authors report the case of a 22-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of quadriplegia. He was involved in a motorcycle accident, 3 years prior to his presentation. Four years after the initial right brachial plexus injury, he was not able to walk independently. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) myelography revealed a lateral pseudomeningocele arising from the right C6-7 and C7-T1 intervetebral foramen and cervical spinal cord herniation into this pseudomeningocele. The patient underwent primary closure of pseudomeningocele to prevent spinal cord reherniation. He can walk with cane and use left arm unrestrictedly at the 2-year follow-up examination. Spinal cord herniation following traumatic nerve root avulsion is extremely rare but it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with delayed myelopathy or Brown-Séquard syndrome.
Subject(s)
Brachial Plexus Neuropathies/complications , Hernia/complications , Meningocele/complications , Quadriplegia/etiology , Spinal Cord Diseases/etiology , Accidents, Traffic , Brachial Plexus/injuries , Brachial Plexus/pathology , Brachial Plexus/physiopathology , Brachial Plexus Neuropathies/pathology , Brachial Plexus Neuropathies/physiopathology , Brown-Sequard Syndrome/etiology , Brown-Sequard Syndrome/pathology , Brown-Sequard Syndrome/physiopathology , Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging , Cervical Vertebrae/pathology , Cervical Vertebrae/surgery , Decompression, Surgical , Disease Progression , Dura Mater/diagnostic imaging , Dura Mater/injuries , Dura Mater/pathology , Epidural Space/diagnostic imaging , Epidural Space/injuries , Epidural Space/pathology , Hernia/pathology , Hernia/physiopathology , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Meningocele/pathology , Meningocele/physiopathology , Motorcycles , Neurosurgical Procedures , Quadriplegia/pathology , Quadriplegia/physiopathology , Spinal Canal/diagnostic imaging , Spinal Canal/injuries , Spinal Canal/pathology , Spinal Cord Diseases/pathology , Spinal Cord Diseases/physiopathology , Spinal Nerve Roots/injuries , Spinal Nerve Roots/pathology , Spinal Nerve Roots/physiopathology , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
We report a case of epidural hematoma after a single epidural block. The patient was a 67-year-old woman with sciatica and osteoarthritis of the spine. She had no coagulopathy. She underwent a single epidural block without difficulty 3 times in 5 days. She had a lumbar MRI for an examination of the spine 4 days after the final epidural block. Subacute epidural hematoma of 0.8 x 1.5 x 3.0 cm was revealed on MRI at L 3-4. She had no new neurological symptoms. MRI 1 month later revealed a resolution of the hematoma. Epidural hematoma after an epidural block might occur in an outpatient with no bleeding tendency.
