Presentation and management of traumatic occipital spur fracture

Occipital spur is an abnormal bony outgrowth of the external occipital protuberance (EOP). We describe an interesting and previously unreported case of fracture of an occipital spur following trauma. Our 20-year-old male patient was treated in the emergency department (ED) and discharged home without complication. Neurosurgical consultation was obtained but is not requisite for these injuries. Greater awareness of this unique presentation may help to expedite future emergency department treatment.     

后路枕骨髁螺钉技术研究进展

正枕骨、寰椎和枢椎共同构成了枕颈部活动的结构功能单位,即枕颈交界区~([1-2])。炎症、创伤、肿瘤及畸形等因素会导致枕颈交界区失稳,从而引起颈脊髓或神经根的损伤、麻痹及难以忍受的疼痛,甚至危及生命~([3-4])。后路内固定融合技术是治疗枕颈部失稳的重要手段,目前常用术式为枕骨螺钉技术,该技术较钢丝固定技术有更好的生物力学稳定     

常染色体显性遗传性枕叶癫癎临床与脑电图1家系6例报告

目的：报道常染色体显性遗传性枕叶癫痫一家系6例。方法：对先证者进行详尽的临床、脑电图(EEG)、录像脑电图(Video—EEG)、头MRA观察。结果：此家系祖孙三代6例，男性女性均有发病，患者大多为8～15岁起病，主要症状为发作性视幻觉、偏身麻木、头痛、呕吐。先证者EEG、Video—EEG、头颅MRA未见异常，家系中继发全面性强直阵挛发作患者EEG见枕颞区异常放电。结论：该家系患者的临床表现、EEG均符合枕叶癫痫诊断，并排除了颅内占位性及血管性病变。该家系符合常染色体显性遗传规律。     

胎脑顶叶 枕叶脑沟及外侧沟发育规律的研究

目的 探讨顶叶、枕叶脑沟及外侧沟的发育规律,为研究成人脑的结构和功能提供参考资料。方法 将收集到的８９具不同胎龄的标本经１０％福尔马林固定３个月后取及脑,观察顶叶、枕叶各脑沟及外侧沟的出现时间、长度及深度,并对各胎龄组脑沟的发育情况进行对比分析。结果 顶叶、枕叶脑沟出现时间差别较大,中央后沟从第５月龄开始出现,至第８月龄全部出现;顶枕沟和距状沟从第４月龄开始出现,至第６月全部出现;外侧沟出现最早,     

Reading impairment in an adolescent with temporo-occipital epilepsy. Pre- and post-surgical evaluation

We present a 16 year-old right-handed case who underwent a left temporo-occipital resection to treat intractable epilepsy. Pre- and post-surgical evaluations showed an average intellectual quotient, preserved abilities in language and visuo-spatial functions and increased reading and spelling deficits (difficulties with irregular words, homophones and phonologically valid spelling errors of irregularly spelled words, associated with preserved performances in non-words). This pattern of characteristic lexical route deficits highlights the major role of the temporo-occipital areas in reading acquisition. We discussed the consequences of temporo-occipital dysfunction on reading.     

Torkildsen shunt as a salvage procedure for an infant with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus

IntroductionTorkildsen operation is a ventriculo-cisternal shunt that diverts the cerebrospinal fluid flow from one of the lateral ventricles, via a ventricular catheter, to the cisterna magna of the posterior fossa. It is the first described operation of CSF diversion for the treatment of hydrocephalus [1] (Scarff, 1963).Presentation of caseWe present the case of a premature infant who presented with post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus who underwent several failed CSF diversion surgeries before Torkildsen shunt procedure. The patient overcame the irregularities of CSF circulation that were observed before the operation and his post-operative course was uneventful, in terms of CSF –related complications.DiscussionWe summarize the historical data and the technical aspects of the procedure, and we present a brief literature review of the indications and limitations associated with it.ConclusionTorkildsen shunt can be effective in selected patients with hydrocephalus even in the modern era of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. the procedure enables one to avoid a standard ventriculoperitoneal shunt, especially in cases it is not technically feasible.     

Retrograde leptomeningeal venous approach for dural arteriovenous fistulas at foramen magnum

A 72-year-old man presented with sudden right homonymous hemianopsia. Work-up imaging revealed a left occipital haematoma and an arteriovenous fistula supplied by the meningeal branches to the clivus from the left vertebral artery (VA) with a rostral venous reflux into cortical veins. A microcatheter was advanced through brainstem veins into the venous collector. A compliant balloon was placed in the left VA facing the origin of feeders. The balloon was inflated to protect the vertebrobasilar circulation from embolic migration. Onyx was injected by the transvenous catheter. Control angiogram revealed exclusion of the lesion.Informed consent was obtained from the patient.     

Anatomical study of the ventral neurovascular structures and hypoglossal canal for the surgery of the upper cervical spine

The aim of this study is to evaluate the anatomical relationship between the bony structures and ventral neurovascular structures around craniovertebral junction (CVJ).Eleven fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens were dissected around CVJ. The anatomical relationships were evaluated between C1 bony structures (midline, lateral margin of the C1 lateral mass (LM) and C1 transverse process (TP)) and ventral neurovascular structure such as ICA and HN. Morphometric evaluation of occipital condyle was also performed.The diameter of the HN and the ICA was 2.4 ± 0.5 mm and 5.1 ± 0.2 mm. The ICA was located lateral to the C1 LM in 44.4% (ICA Group 1) and in front of lateral half of the C1 LM in 55.6% (ICA Group 2). The HN was located lateral to the C1 LM in 85% (HN Group 1) and in front of lateral half of the C1 LM in 15% (HN Group 2). HN Group 2 was significantly more common in ICA Group 2 (p < 0.05, OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.07–3.71). There was significant correlation between ICA and HN in terms of the distance from the midline, C1 LM and TP (r = 0.67, 0.87 and 0.76 respectively, P < 0.01).In conclusion, the HN location is related with ICA location and the medially located ICA is a risk factor of the HN located ventral to the C1 LM. These results demonstrate the vulnerability of the neurovascular structures during CVJ surgery and suggest that preoperative 3D-CTA or enhanced CT scan can be useful in guiding surgical technique.     

Panayiotopoulos syndrome with convulsive status epilepticus at the onset: A long-term study

PurposeTo better define the convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) as a possible manifestation at the onset of Panayiotopoulos syndrome (PS) and to assess its prognostic value in these children.MethodsChildren with CSE and diagnostic criteria of PS were identified, followed clinically and compared with a group of patients with PS without CSE from 1993 to 2012.ResultsWe identified 37 patients with CSE at the onset of PS. During the same period we identified 72 children with autonomic symptoms of PS without CSE. The first episode of CSE occurred at a mean age of 6.5 years. Generalized clonic seizures were the most common ictal event and one-third of the patients required admission to Intensive Care Units. Interictal EEGs showed occipital spike activity in 31 (83.7%) subjects. Only 14 (37.8%) patients were treated with valproic acid and for two of them (5.40%) it was necessary to administer other drugs. There were no intractable cases. The overall prognosis was excellent. After the first event, 15 subjects (40.54%) experienced at least another typical PS seizure, but all patients were seizure free at the last follow-up.ConclusionCSE is not uncommon in PS and it may occur at the onset of benign childhood epilepsy, without leading to a poor prognosis.     

椎动脉和第1颈神经穿经硬膜处的形态学特点及其与高血压颈枕痛的关系

目的　观察椎动脉和第1颈神经穿经硬膜处的形态特点及毗邻结构,探讨高血压合并枕颈部疼痛的发生机制。 方法　头颈部标本18具,解剖剥离法暴露,观察椎动脉穿经硬膜处部位及毗邻结构、椎动脉与第1颈神经（C1）的位置关系。 结果　椎动脉在寰枕外侧关节内后侧穿经硬膜,穿经处形成边缘光滑的圆孔,直径6.5~9.0 mm,硬膜与椎动脉外膜由纤维结缔组织连结。C1神经前后根自脊髓发出向外侧走行于椎动脉内侧并在其下方相伴共同穿经硬膜孔（100%）,其中与动脉壁相贴者66.7%（12例）;神经嵌入动脉壁者22.2%（4例）;隔有硬膜组织者11.1%（2例）。C1神经根出孔后走行于椎动脉与椎动脉沟之间。 结论　椎动脉穿经硬膜孔处位置固定,孔边缘致密,限制椎动脉扩张,利于颈椎活动时维持椎动脉供血,当全身血压波动时椎动脉管径不会产生明显变化,以维持后循环血液动力学稳定,但血压升高有可能将C1颈神经根卡压在硬膜边缘,椎动脉搏动刺激C1颈神经根导致椎枕肌痉挛,出现枕颈部疼痛。这可能是高血压合并枕颈部症状的形态学基础。