[Role of multislice spiral computed tomography in diagnosis of spinal injuries in polytrauma patients].

Spinal injury in poly trauma patients is serious problem, because they cause high mortality and morbidity. According to WHO statistics, there are registered 30 million cases of spinal injuries annually, 50% of them die before reaching the hospital. In last 5 years incidence of spinal traumas has increased 2.6 fold and is about one third of all spinal diseases. That is why spinal injuries remain a challenge. The purpose of our study is to assess diagnostic efficiency of multislice spiral CT in diagnosis of spinal injuries in poly trauma patients. We randomly assessed data from 200 poly trauma patients, who underwent multislice spiral CT in poly trauma mode. In 92 (46%) patients different types of spinal fractures and injuries were detected. Age distribution was 16-72 (mean age 52 years). Out of 92 patients, 9 (4.5%) had isolated trauma, 83 (41.5%) had multiple trauma. Solitary injury of spinal column was detected in 30 (32.6%) patients, 54 (58.6%) had combined spinal injuries. In spinal injury patients the most common trauma mechanism was MVC - 56 patients (60.86%), fall from height 27 (29.36%) patients, diving 5 (5.43%) patients, gun shot wound 3 (3.26%) patients, industrial injury 1 (1.08%) patients. The most common location of the injury was lumbar vertebra (55 patients), thoracic vertebra (39 patients), cervical vertebra (28 patients). After assessing MDCT and MRI results 37 patients were operated, 6 of them underwent surgical intervention urgently, 31 had delayed surgery, that was performed after treating other life threatening injuries. Indications for surgical intervention were spinal cord compression and non stable vertebral fractures. According to our study results, MDCT is the study of choice for the diagnosis of spinal injuries in poly trauma patients. It helps to detect type and extension of the bony injury and visualize fragments in the spinal canal. It is superior to other radiological studies. 3D, MIP and MPR reconstruction gives information about spatial location of the fracture and helps to timely plan correct management.

Endovascular treatment of patients with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) by an unknown pathogenesis. MR venography and postmortem studies have demonstrated a topographic correspondence between multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques and the cerebral venous system pathology. In recent observational studies performed on patients from distinctive gene pools, the prevalence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) in MS ranged from 56% to 100%. Endovascular treatment (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with or without stenting) of CCSVI was reported to be feasible with a minor complication rate. In 4 patients with different forms of multiple sclerosis venography was performed that revealed stenosis of the proximal region of the jugular vein (right or left). Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) was performed in all patients. There were no complications and mean stenosis was reduced after PTA from 59.75% to 36.75%. Follow-up included clinical observations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In all the cases we observed positive remission of the disease, the first ever documented case of MRI index improvement. PTA seems to be an effective treatment for patients with CCVI and multiple sclerosis, However, randomized studies are warranted to establish the efficacy of this new treatment for MS.