Towards improved outcome in children treated surgically for spontaneous intracranial suppuration in South Wales.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous central nervous system (CNS) infections in children are rare. Treatment involves surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy. We describe a single centre experience of managing this condition in South Wales. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of surgically managed cases in our unit for patients under 18 years of age between 2008 and 2018. Data were collected regarding aetiology, location, microbiology examination, treatment and outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were identified of which 25 case notes were available. Fifteen were male and 10 were female. Median age was 12 years (age range 0.3-17 years). Seven patients (28%) had a burr-hole aspiration and 18 (72%) underwent craniotomy. A second procedure was performed in 10 (40%) and a third procedure in two (8%). Fourteen (56%) had a brain abscess, 10 (40%) had subdural empyema (one was bilateral) and one (4%) had an extradural empyema. Fifteen (60%) had a raised WCC (>11.5 × 109/L) and 22 (88%) had a CRP of >10 mg/L at presentation. Three (12%) patients had a normal WCC and CRP at presentation. Overall, 12 (48%) were secondary to sinus infection, with the most common organism being Streptococcus. Seven (28%) were due to otitis media or mastoiditis, six (24%) had no cause identified. The mean number of CT/MRI scans was 6.7 (range 3-13). The mean follow-up period was 16.7 months (range 1-117 months). At last follow up, 19 (76%) had a GOS of 5, five (20%) had a GOS of 4 and one (12%) had GOS of 3. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: In Wales, outcomes have improved over time in keeping with other paediatric neurosurgical units in England. Increased availability of imaging resources in our hospital and use of neuro-navigation for all cases in our unit as well as earlier identification of sepsis, communication with microbiologists with dedicated ward rounds and, enhanced identification of causative organisms and contemporary anti-microbials have also contributed towards the improved management of this condition.

Unilateral akathisia and choreoathetosis as an unusual presentation of a frontal lobe dermoid cyst.

OBJECTIVE: To consider an unusual presentation of a frontal lobe dermoid cyst. Intracranial masses very rarely present with movement disorders. We describe a highly unusual presentation of an intracranial dermoid with unilateral choreoathetosis, akathisia and facial tics. MATERIAL: A 63-year-old man presented with left-sided akathisia and tardive dyskinesia of his upper limb, attributed to a dermoid cyst in the right frontal lobe. Resection of the cyst led to a complete resolution of his symptoms without neurological deficit. CONCLUSION: Pathogenic mechanisms of such symptoms may include compression and ischaemia of the basal ganglia and other nigrostriatal structures, as well as dysfunction of the supplementary motor area and mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways.

The effect of the revised WHO classification on the incidence of grade II meningioma.

Introduction: A retrospective study over a three-year period at University Hospital of Wales (UHW) of the incidence of atypical cranial grade II meningioma both pre and post 2016 revision of The World Health Organisation (WHO) classification of tumours of the central nervous system.Subjects: All available histology from January 2015 to December 2017 of patients with cranial meningiomas.Method: Institutional online reporting system Welsh Clinical Portal to identify patients and view histology reports.Results: Overall 164 patient histology results were analysed (median age 59, age range 23-82, 74% females). There were 55 patients in 2015: 69.1% grade I, 29.1% grade II and 1.8% grade III. There were 109 patients in 2016/17; 68.8% grade I, 29.4% grade II, 1.8% grade III.Discussion: There is significant variability in the reported incidence of grade II meningioma, likely due to variation in local interpretation of diagnostic criteria. Neuropathologists at our institution have reported brain invasion as grade II prior to 2016. This was due to compelling published evidence that brain invasive meningiomas have recurrence and mortality rates similar to that of grade II meningioma as defined using other criteria. The new 2016 WHO criteria now recognise this specifically. As other institutions adapt to the amended 2016 guidelines we anticipate that there will be a greater consensus in line with our incidence rates of grade II meningioma.

Is 30-day readmission an accurate measure of morbidity in cranial meningioma surgery?

Introduction: 30-day readmission rate is a widely adopted marker of quality and performance of acute care, but validity is not well demonstrated. Readmission data following cranial meningioma surgery is not well described and we sought to assess risk factors for readmission. Subjects: All adult patients who underwent cranial meningioma resection from January 2015 to December 2017 in a single institution. Methods: Using Welsh Clinical Portal electronic data to identify readmission within and beyond 30 days to both the index hospital and regional hospitals. Causes of readmission were recorded. Results: 160 patients were included (76.3% female, median age 58, age range 23-78). 28 cases (17.5%) were emergency admissions, median length of initial admission 7 days. 42 patients (26.3%) had seizures at presentation. Total readmission rate was 13.8% (median age 54.5, pre-operative seizure rate 40.9%, median length of readmission 9 days). 13 (59.1%) patients presented within 30 days and 9 (40.9%) >30 days. Readmission causes were seizure, neurological deficit, thromboembolic, infection, CSF, bleeding and social. Causes after 30 days were the same except social or neurological deficit. Discussion: Readmission rates are not associated with age, tumour location, tumour grade, admission route or initial length of stay. 40.9% of readmissions presented outside of the 30-day post-operative time. 30-day readmission rates may not be the most suitable method to demonstrate neurosurgical unit performance in meningioma surgery.

Low-pressure headaches following foramen magnum decompression secondary to absorption of cerebrospinal fluid into the venous system of the diploic space.

INTRODUCTION: We describe a case of a patient who suffered low-pressure headaches secondary to absorption of cerebrospinal fluid into the venous system of the diploic space following a foramen magnum decompression. This case is important as it describes a physiologically plausible but previously undescribed complication of a common surgical intervention. CASE: A nine-year-old boy underwent a foramen magnum decompression for a Chiari malformation (Type I). Five years after his initial decompression, his original symptoms returned and he underwent further decompression with short-term relief of symptoms. He then began to describe low-pressure headaches. Comprehensive investigations revealed a small posterior pseudomeningocoele that had extended into the diploic space at the site of the previous surgery to the occipital bone. It was postulated that the diploic space may be acting as an additional site for reabsorption of his CSF, and as a result of this, he was experiencing consistently low-pressure symptoms. His symptoms have completely resolved following surgical intervention to seal the site of communication with the diploic space. DISCUSSION: We review recent literature that supports this theory through an understanding of the anatomy of the diploic venous system and also its physiological behaviour as demonstrated in recent cadaveric and porcine studies.

Use of tissue glue to prevent collapse of the cortical mantle during and after cranial surgery in children: a technical note.

INTRODUCTION: Young children with significant ventricular dilatation or large intracranial fluid spaces often have a very thin cortical mantle as a result of persistently raised intracranial pressure. This rim of cortex has a tendency to fall away from the dura into the cavity during and after intracranial surgery, due to the lack of support, once the pressure in the fluid cavity has been reduced. This can lead to tearing of cortical bridging veins and the formation of post-operative subdural haematomas. METHODS: We describe a simple technique that attempts to prevent this phenomenon occurring using tissue glue. Once the craniotomy has been performed and the dura has been formally opened, tissue glue is applied to the underside of the dura around the edge of the wound, prior to corticotomy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This results in the cortical mantle adhering to the undersurface of the dura and prevents the mantle from falling into the cavity either during the procedure or post-operatively.

Traumatic clival subdural hematoma in an adult.

Retroclival hematomas are a rare entity. They are usually associated with significant trauma, and patients frequently have focal neurological deficits, especially cranial nerve palsies. Previous case reports of epidural clival hematomas have been described almost exclusively in the pediatric population. The authors report a unique case of traumatic clival subdural hematoma, which has never been described in an adult except in the context of hemophilia. An 18-year-old man presented with continuing nausea and headaches following a seemingly trivial head injury. He was found to have a posterior fossa retroclival hematoma extending into the spinal subdural space but without any neurological deficits. He was treated conservatively, with a good outcome. The authors discuss the possible mechanisms of injury, management, and complications related to this rare condition, and they review the pertinent literature.

Early recurrence of an intracranial epidermoid cyst due to low-grade infection: case report.

Intracranial epidermoid cysts are slow-growing lesions, which may recur after incomplete resection, but do so over many years. The authors present the case of an epidermoid that repeatedly recurred over a short period, which was discovered to be secondary to a low-grade bacterial infection. A 30-year-old woman presented with signs and symptoms related to brainstem and cranial nerve compromise from a large cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst. She underwent a subtotal excision of a macroscopically and histologically typical epidermoid. The lesion recurred within 1 year of surgery, but with atypical radiological appearances. No systemic or local evidence of infection was found during a second resection. A further large recurrence with the same atypical features occurred after another 6 months, necessitating a third surgical resection. On this occasion, the atypical cyst contents grew coagulase-negative Staphylococcus after prolonged culture in an enrichment medium. Following a course of appropriate antibiotics, the residual cyst contents completely resolved. This case highlights an unusual complication of an epidermoid cyst. Early recurrence of an epidermoid, even in the absence of overt evidence of infection, should produce a high index of suspicion that there may be a low-grade infective cause. Surgical excision coupled with antibiotics resulted in a symptomatic and radiological recovery.