Collet-Sicard syndrome after minor head trauma

Occipital condyle fractures are rare and are usually associated with severe head and cervical spine injury. A 71-year-old man developed unilateral palsies of the 9th through 12th cranial nerves (Collet-Sicard syndrome) due to a fracture of the occipital condyle, which was diagnosed by computed tomography. He was treated conservatively and made a good recovery.     

Postpericardiotomy syndrome after thymothymectomy: report of two cases

Two cases of postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) after thymothymectomy associated with pericardiotomy are described. The incidence of PPS in cardiac operations is reportedly 10–30 %. Although no reports have been described in the English literature, our retrospective analysis revealed similar incidents following mediastinal tumor operation associated with pericardiotomy in cardiac surgery. Clinicians should thus be aware of this syndrome.     

Endoscopic osteosynthesis after thoracic spine trauma: a report of two cases

Modern concepts of treating thoracic diseases suggest more and more the use of minimally invasive thoracoscopic techniques to reduce morbidity and save costs. For treatment of specific lesions at the thoracic spine, several thoracoscopic procedures have been performed successfully. The present report examines the feasibility of thoracoscopic osteosynthesis in two patients with ventral hyperextension injuries and anterior instability of the thoracic spine. After initial correction of the anatomical deformity, autologous bone was harvested from the anterior iliac crest. Using a ventral, thoracoscopic approach, the main location of the ventral, damaged spinal segment was identified by the covering pleural haematoma. After endoscopic ventral bone grafting, osteosynthesis was performed, using dynamic compression plates, cardan drills and screw drivers. The perioperative course was uneventful, and follow up examinations after 3 years and 9 months, respectively, revealed an unchanged stable spinal segment. Our results show thoracoscopic osteosynthesis to be technically possible, with a potential for yielding satisfying long-term results.     

Fatal hemophagocytic syndrome after living-related liver transplantation: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a serious hematological disorder caused by activated T lymphocytes in immunologically compromised patients. There is no report of HPS in liver transplant recipients. METHODS: Among 135 patients who underwent living-related liver transplantation between June 1990 and October 2000, HPS developed in two pediatric patients (1.5%) on the 15th and 134th postoperative day, respectively. The courses of these patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The cause of HPS was unknown in patient 1 and suspected to be Epstein-Barr virus infection in patient 2. The course of patient 2 was also complicated by posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Both patients had high fever, pancytopenia, coagulopathy, and marked elevation of serum-soluble interleukin 2 receptor, serum ferritin, and urine beta2-microglobulin levels. The diagnosis was established based on clinical findings, laboratory data, and bone marrow biopsy. Both patients died in an acute course despite intensive care. CONCLUSIONS: HPS should be recognized as a severe hematological complication in liver transplant patients. Prompt institution of adequate treatment is necessary to prevent fatality.     

Pectoralis minor syndrome: Report of two cases and review

Pectoralis minor syndrome (PMS) is an infrequent entity that mimics thoracic outlet syndrome. PMS is characterized by axillary vein stenosis/obstruction below the clavicle, due to compression by the pectoralis minor muscle. The typical clinical symptoms are pain, weakness, numbness, paresthesia, cyanosis and swelling of the upper extremity, aggravated by exercise. Two cases are presented here of right-sided PMS of symptomatic stenosis of the axillary vein. The importance is emphasized of diagnosis by dynamic venography imaging and treatment by surgery.     

Waugh's syndrome: report of two cases

The association of intussusception and intestinal malrotation has been reported rarely in the literature. This association is called Waugh’s syndrome. The authors report 2 cases of Waugh’s syndrome and discuss diagnostic features and treatment methods.     

Massive hemorrhage in acoustic neurinoma after minor head trauma--case report.

Massive hemorrhage within an intracranial neurinoma occurs rarely. The authors describe a 62-year-old female with intratumoral bleeding which led to the discovery of an acoustic neurinoma. She developed a gait disturbance after a minor head injury. A computed tomographic scan obtained 2 months later demonstrated multiple high-density areas in the anterior portion of the left cerebellopontine angle. Preoperative diagnosis was acoustic neurinoma. The tumor had multiple cysts which contained a mixture of xanthochromic fluid and old, brownish hematomas, and was successfully removed. The intratumoral hemorrhage is thought to have resulted from traumatic rupture of the dilated vessels, although the trauma was slight. This is the first reported case of an acoustic neurinoma discovered through treatment for intratumoral hemorrhage occurring after a minor head injury.     

Cochlear implant magnet displacement with minor head trauma.

OBJECTIVES: Manufacturers have introduced cochlear implants (CIs) with removable magnets to allow for magnetic resonance imaging after placement. The purpose of this study was to describe magnet displacement as a new CI complication and to suggest a possible treatment option to prevent its recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: The records of 3 young males who experienced CI magnet dislodgement were reviewed and compared against records from the institutional implant database. RESULTS: Magnet displacement was observed only in young males (14% of male children) who received CI with removable magnets. This occurred 13-14 months after CI placement. Magnets were replaced under general anesthesia, and the scalp was bolstered with a dermal allograft. Recurrent magnet dislodgement was encountered in 1 patient, 6 months later. CONCLUSIONS: Magnet displacement may be a relatively common complication after minor head trauma in pediatric patients with certain CIs that have removable magnets.     

Secondary ulnar nerve palsy in adults after elbow trauma: a report of two cases

Secondary ulnar nerve palsy, an unusual condition in which the onset of ulnar nerve dysfunction occurs 1 to 3 months after elbow trauma, can be the cause of sudden deterioration of elbow function. Initially recognized in 1899, this condition has not been reported often. We describe 2 patients who had no subjective or objective evidence of ulnar nerve dysfunction after elbow trauma but had a sudden loss of motion, pain, and clinical and electrophysiologic evidence of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow 4 to 5 weeks after trauma. Marked improvement occurred after ulnar nerve subcutaneous transposition and contracture release.     

Raghib's syndrome: a report of two cases

We treated two patients with a rare developmental complex. The persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium (PLSVC into LA) was associated with an absent coronary sinus and an atrial septal defect. Ligation of PLSVC and patch-repair of the atrial septal defect were successfully performed in one stage. The atrial septal defect was located in the upper and posterior aspect of the interatrial septum and appeared to be an unique type of atrial septal defect. In the other patient, additional multiple cardiac defects were associated with this syndrome, including ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, tricuspid insufficiency, and complete transposition of the great arteries. Palliative Blalock procedure was used for this patient. The PLSVC into LA was discovered accidentally in both cases during heart catheterization and it was clearly demonstrated by venography. For a preoperative recognition of PLSVC, computed tomograms of the heart are of great assistance. Surgical correction of the persistent superior vena cava was emphasized for treatment of this syndrome.     

Young's syndrome: report of two Japanese cases

Young's syndrome is characterized by azoospermia due to bilateral epididymal obstruction associated with chronic sinobronchial disease. We report two Japanese cases of Young's syndrome who were treated with microsurgical epididymovasostomy. The histopathology of the caput epididymis showed an obstruction at the most distal region of the ductuli efferentes. The incidence of Young's syndrome in patients with obstructive azoospermia was much lower for mongoloids than for Caucasians.     

Murray-Puretic syndrome: a report of two cases

The Murray-Puretic Syndrome is also known as juvenile hyaline fibromatosis. It is a congenital disorder characterized by skin lesions, joint contractures, gingival hypertrophy and bone lesions. Two siblings with this syndrome are presented. Received: 28 June 1996 / Accepted: 23 March 1998