Differentiation of neonatal dorsal root ganglion-derived neural stem cells into oligodendrocytes after intrathecal transplantation into a cauda equina lesion model.

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is characterized by varying patterns of low back pain, sciatica, lower extremity sensorimotor loss, and bowel and bladder dysfunction. The prognosis for complete recovery of CES is dependent on not only the time before surgical intervention with decompression but also the severity of the nerve damage. Delayed or severe nerve compression impairs the capability of nerve regeneration. Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) may facilitate axon regeneration and functional recovery in a spectrum of neurological disorders. Our study shows that the NSCs derived from early postnatal dorsal root ganglion (DRG) are able to proliferate to form neurospheres and differentiate into O4(+) oligodendrocytes but not glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP(+)) astrocytes or ßIII-tubulin(+) neurons in vitro. After intrathecal transplantation into the lumbar spinal canal stenosis animal model, most of the GFP-expressing NSCs were induced to differentiate into oligodendrocytes in vivo. Although the recovery of sensorimotor function was not significantly improved in rats with transplantation therapy, our results implied that subarachnoid microinjection of NSCs may promote axon regeneration of DRG neurons in the cauda equina model after nerve injury.

Síndrome de la cola de caballo secundario a hernia discal traumática / Horse-tail syndrome secondary to traumatic disc herniation

La cola de caballo representa la continuación caudal de la médula espinal. Esta porción del sistema nervioso es asiento de numerosas patologías. Se presenta un caso clínico que debutó de forma aguda con un síndrome de la cola de caballo, secundario a una hernia discal lumbar traumática. Se trata de un paciente masculino de 45 años de edad, que acude al servicio de urgencias, porque refiere síntomas que inician siete días antes de forma aguda y progresiva, luego de haber caído de una altura de tres metros. Al interrogarlo existía debilidad muscular del miembro inferior izquierdo y dificultad para caminar. El examen físico corroboró la disminución de la fuerza muscular y arreflexia Aquileo-plantar. Se realizó estudio de resonancia magnética, que demostró una hernia discal extruída en el interespacio L5-S1. El paciente se llevó al salón de urgencia y se realizó exeresis de la hernia. Egresó al séptimo día con discreta mejoría clínica. Se ha seguido en consulta externa durante un periodo de 8 meses, con muy poca recuperación del control esfinteriano, de la actividad motora y sensitiva(AU)

Horse-tail represents the caudal continuation of the spinal cord. This portion of the nervous system is the seat of numerous pathologies. We present a case report of acute debuted with a syndrome of the cauda equina, secondary to traumatic lumbar disc herniation. This is a male patient aged 45, who was admitted to the emergency room because he referred acute and progressive symptoms starting seven days before, after falling from three meters high. By questioning, we found muscle weakness in his left leg and difficulty at walking. The physical examination confirmed the decrease in muscle strength and Achilles-plantar areflexia. We performed MRI, which showed extruded disc herniation in L5-S1 interspace. The patient was taken to the emergency room and we performed the hernia excision. He was discharged at the seventh day with mild clinical improvement. We have continued the follow up as outpatient for a period of eight months. There is very little recovery of sphincter control, motor and sensory activity(AU)

Síndrome de la cola de caballo secundario a hernia discal traumática / Horse-tail syndrome secondary to traumatic disc herniation

La cola de caballo representa la continuación caudal de la médula espinal. Esta porción del sistema nervioso es asiento de numerosas patologías. Se presenta un caso clínico que debutó de forma aguda con un síndrome de la cola de caballo, secundario a una hernia discal lumbar traumática. Se trata de un paciente masculino de 45 años de edad, que acude al servicio de urgencias, porque refiere síntomas que inician siete días antes de forma aguda y progresiva, luego de haber caído de una altura de tres metros. Al interrogarlo existía debilidad muscular del miembro inferior izquierdo y dificultad para caminar. El examen físico corroboró la disminución de la fuerza muscular y arreflexia Aquileo-plantar. Se realizó estudio de resonancia magnética, que demostró una hernia discal extruída en el interespacio L5-S1. El paciente se llevó al salón de urgencia y se realizó exeresis de la hernia. Egresó al séptimo día con discreta mejoría clínica. Se ha seguido en consulta externa durante un periodo de 8 meses, con muy poca recuperación del control esfinteriano, de la actividad motora y sensitiva

Horse-tail represents the caudal continuation of the spinal cord. This portion of the nervous system is the seat of numerous pathologies. We present a case report of acute debuted with a syndrome of the cauda equina, secondary to traumatic lumbar disc herniation. This is a male patient aged 45, who was admitted to the emergency room because he referred acute and progressive symptoms starting seven days before, after falling from three meters high. By questioning, we found muscle weakness in his left leg and difficulty at walking. The physical examination confirmed the decrease in muscle strength and Achilles-plantar areflexia. We performed MRI, which showed extruded disc herniation in L5-S1 interspace. The patient was taken to the emergency room and we performed the hernia excision. He was discharged at the seventh day with mild clinical improvement. We have continued the follow up as outpatient for a period of eight months. There is very little recovery of sphincter control, motor and sensory activity

Sensory disturbances and pain complaints after brachial plexus root injury: a prospective study involving 150 adult patients.

After injury of the brachial plexus, sensory disturbance in the affected limb varies according to the extent of root involvement. The goal of this study was to match sensory assessments and pain complaints with findings on CT myelo scans and surgical observations. One hundred fifty patients with supraclavicular stretch injury of the brachial plexus were operated upon within an average of 5.4 months of trauma. Preoperatively, upper limb sensation was evaluated using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. Pain complaints were recorded for each patient. With lesions affecting the upper roots of the brachial plexus, hand sensation was largerly preserved. Sensory disturbances were identified over a longitudinal bundle on the lateral arm and forearm. In C8-T1 root injuries, diminished protective sensation was observed on the ulnar aspect of the hand. If the C7 root also was injured, sensation in the long finger was impaired. Eighty-four percent of our 64 patients with total palsy reported pain, versus just 47% of our 72 patients with upper type palsies. This rate dropped to 29% in the 14 patients with a lower-type palsy. C8 and T1, when injured, always were avulsed from the cord; when avulsion of these roots was the only nerve injury, pain was absent. Hand sensation was largely preserved in patients with partial injuries of the brachial plexus, particularly on the radial side. Even when T1 was the only preserved root, hand sensation was mostly spared. This indicates that overlapping of the dermatomal zones seems much more widespread than previously reported.

Effectiveness of calcitonin in intermittent claudication treatment of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the level of evidence in the effectiveness of calcitonin on the treatment of neurogenic claudication in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: One of the most disabling features of lumbar spinal stenosis is neurogenic claudication. There have been proposed different drug therapies for it. The recommendation for calcitonin use in these patients has been sustained on autocontrolled clinical trial (Streifler et al, Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1989;52:543-4), which only included 6 patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed a search on electronic databases that included Medline and Embase; we recovered 10 original articles, of which only 4 fulfilled the RCT criteria. These articles were reviewed independent and blinded way by 6 previously capacitated reviewers to extract data and score a quality of them by the criteria of Cochrane Handbook (1996) with maximum score of 1.00 and minimum score of 0.33. RESULTS: Score quality vary in the 4 articles: Porter and Millar, Spine 1988;13:1061-4 (score, 0.68), Eskola et al, Calcif Tissue Int 1992;50:400-3 (score, 0.88), Podichetty et al, Spine 2004;29:2343-9 (score, 0.88), and Tafazal et al, Eur Spine J 2007;16:207-12 (score, 0.92). Due to the great heterogenicity observed (sample sizes, selection criteria, doses, frequency, and duration of calcitonin, and outcome measurements), we were unable to perform a meta-analysis. Only one of these studies (Porter and Millar, Spine 1988;13:1061-4; score, 0.68) found favorable results for the use of calcitonin compared with placebo; of the 3 remaining trials none found significative evidence between drug therapy and placebo. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that calcitonin administration in the treatment for neurogenic claudication has no benefit in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

[Intermittent priapism as a clinical feature of lumbar spinal stenosis]. / Priapismo intermitente como presentación clínica del canal estrecho lumbar.

INTRODUCTION: Lumbar spinal stenosis is defined as a narrowing of the neural canal and foramina that result in compression of the lumbosacral nerve roots or cauda equina. Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis may present a variety of signs and symptoms. One such syndrome is neurogenic intermittent claudication, characterized by radicular symptoms exacerbated by walking or standing and relieved by rest. Infrequently, lumbar spinal stenosis produces a cauda equina compression, characterized by intermittent urinary or fecal incontinence, impotence and in rare cases priapism. CASE REPORT: A 50 year-aged male, presented with spontaneous intermittent priapism and few months later weakness, numbness and pain of his legs provoked by bipedestation or physical exertion that completely disappeared by sitting or lying down. A computed tomographic scan showed a lumbar canal narrowing of L4 through L5. A diagnosis of neurogenic intermittent claudication with dysfunction of the cauda equina roots secondary to the presence of lumbar spinal stenosis was carried out. The symptoms completely resolved after descompressive lumbar laminectomy of L4 and L5. CONCLUSIONS: Causal interpretation of neurogenic intermittent claudication still remains obscure. An inadequate blood supply provoked by increased intra-raquid pressure among the roots may act as a dynamic factor. This mechanism could cause stagnant anoxia during the exercise resulting in clinical symptoms. Lumbar spinal stenosis should be kept in mind when autonomic features appear.