Multisegmental cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: anterior vs posterior approach

AIMS: To determine the surgical approach in patients with multisegmental (four or more segments) OPLL of the cervical spine. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data of 27 patients who had undergone either an anterior (corpectomy with excision of OPLL and interbody fusion = 14 patients) or posterior approach (laminectomy = 12, laminoplasty = 1 patient) for the multisegmental cervical OPLL was analyzed retrospectively. The patients in each group were statistically similar in respect to preoperative factors such as age, duration of symptoms, preoperative modified Japanese orthopedic association score, OPLL thickness, effective canal diameter, and antero-posterior cord compression ratio. The clinical outcome was assessed by the Harsh grading system and recovery rate was assessed by Hirabayashi method. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the outcome, and recovery rate. Nine patients developed complications after anterior approach in contrast to one after posterior approach. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with multisegmental cervical OPLL, there was no significant difference in the short-term recovery rate and outcome between two groups. The immediate postoperative complications were less in patients who had undergone posterior approach. From our analysis, it appears that the posterior approach is probably the preferred method of treatment in a multisegmental OPLL in absence of preoperative kyphosis.     

Multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation.

OBJECTIVE--to evaluate clinical, radiological, and prognostic features of patients with multiple acute infarcts in remote arterial territories of the posterior circulation. DESIGN--Data analysis from a prospective acute stroke registry in a community based primary care centre using a standard protocol including MRI and MRA. RESULTS--In three and a half years, 27 of the 236 patients (11%) with posterior circulation stroke had multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation as shown by gadolinium enhancement on MRI. Eighteen patients had multiple infratentorial and supratentorial infarcts including the cerebellum and posterior cerebral artery territory, with coexisting brainstem involvement in seven patients. Fourteen patients had a rostral basilar artery syndrome and cerebellar signs; four patients had a visual field defect with cerebellar signs. Causes were vertebral (six) or basilar (four) artery atheromatosis, and cardioembolism (four). Seven patients had multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation of the cerebellum and lower brainstem. Brainstem and cerebellar signs were found in most patients (five); aetiologies were small vessel disease (four), cardioembolism (one), and vertebral artery dissection (one). Two patients with large artery atheromatosis had multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation in the brainstem and posterior cerebral artery territory. One month after stroke more than 25% of the patients were dependent or had died. There was no difference in the outcome between the three groups, and recovery was linked to the size of infarcts rather than to a high number of infarcts. CONCLUSIONS--multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation usually involve the cerebellum. Simultaneous brainstem and posterior cerebral artery territory infarcts sparing the cerebellum are uncommon. They can be suspected clinically before neuroimaging, mainly when supratentorial and infratentorial infarcts coexist. This may be important, because different patterns of infarction are associated with different causes of stroke.     

The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by posterior fossa microsurgery.

Between 1972 and 1981 57 patients underwent posterior fossa exploration in Oxford by a single surgeon for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Fifty-four of these had either partial or total section of the trigeminal sensory root, 2 had microvascular decompression operations and one had both a partial sensory root section and microvascular decompression. There was no mortality and no significant morbidity. Fifty-four patients were followed up for a mean period of 4 . 5 years. Fifty-two patients (96%) had either no further pain or only minor twinges requiring no further treatment. Two other patients who had partial sections suffered no further trigeminal neuralgia after subsequent total sections. One patient who had a partial root section developed anaesthesia dolorosa and one who had a microvascular decompression developed painful dysaesthesia. All patients having partial root sections retained previously intact corneal responses--the sensory impairment in the face corresponded to the appropriate part of the portio major cut. Only 11% of patients were found to have a vascular abnormality.     

Traumatic posterior fossa hematoma

The traumatic posterior fossa hematoma was regarded as relatively rare thing, but recently, as the result of the prevalence of CT scanners, the number of reported cases is increasing. We report nine cases of traumatic posterior fossa hematoma. We divided into two categories: one was the acute epidural hematoma, the other was the acute subdural hematoma with cerebellar contusion. Five were cases of the acute epidural hematoma, three were cases of the acute subdural hematoma with cerebellar contusion and a case had both an epidural and a subdural hematoma. All the cases had struck the occipital region and had the occipital bone fracture. The prognosis of the five cases of the acute epidural hematoma was excellent, but that of the four cases of the acute subdural hematoma with cerebellar contusion was poor and they all died inspite of the removal of the hematoma executed in three cases. We estimated that the hitting forth was extremely strong in cases of the subdural hematoma with cerebellar contusion, and that the momentary deformity of the occipital bone might injure the cerebellum directly. Once a hematoma was produced in the posterior fossa, it oppresses the brainstem and causes the acute hydrocephalus, so the state of consciousness and respiration deteriorate suddenly. In cases of the acute epidural hematoma, appropriate surgical intervention could save the patients and resulted in good outcome. But in some cases of the fulminant type acute epidural hematoma of the posterior fossa caused by tearing the sinuses, though we have not experienced, patients die before the diagnosis and treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Aggressive behavior and posterior cerebral artery stroke

OBJECTIVE: To describe the mechanisms leading to aggressive behavior among patients with acute posterior cerebral artery stroke. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: We prospectively included all of the patients with posterior cerebral artery stroke and aggressive behavior admitted to our department from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2004. Patients with history of stroke, cognitive impairment, or prior history of psychiatric disease were excluded. RESULTS: Aggressive behavior was found in 3 patients (7.3%) among 41 patients with posterior cerebral artery stroke. One patient had right occipitotemporal and ventrolateral thalamic stroke. The second patient had left occipitotemporal and lateral thalamic stroke. The third patient had right isolated occipital stroke. In addition to a contralateral homonymous hemianopsia, the patients, who were physically and emotionally balanced before the stroke, suddenly manifested an acute, unusual, aggressive behavior. The patients became agitated and aggressive when they were stimulated by the environment, and they responded to solicitation by their relatives or medical personnel by shouting obscenities and hitting and biting others. In all of the 3 cases, temporary physical restraint was required and neuroleptics were administered. This unusual behavioral pattern resolved within 2 weeks after stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive behavior is a rare presentation of acute posterior cerebral artery stroke, which may be difficult to diagnose in patients presenting with hemianopsia as the only concomitant neurological sign. The postulated mechanisms include dysfunction of the limbic or serotoninergic system.     

Aneurysms of the posterior communicating artery and oculomotor paresis

One hundred and seventy-four patients with a posterior communicating aneurysm were seen over a 21 year period. There was a ratio of four females to one male and women were on average five years older. Fifty-nine (34%) had an oculomotor paresis. This group had up to four attacks of localized headache, large multiloculated aneurysms, and a greater time lapse from the onset of symptoms to surgery compared with those patients without oculomotor palsy. Delay in treatment allowed further attacks to occur which increased the mortality rate and decreased the chance that the eye would recover. Eighteen people who had had a palsy before craniotomy two to 18 years previously were examined. In four (22%) the paralysis had recovered completely, 14 (78%) had greatly reduced oculomotor function, and nine (50%) showed aberrant regeneration of the nerve. Nine of 62 patients, seven of whom were seen, developed a palsy after craniotomy and in five the eye had returned to normal.     

Midline suboccipital burr hole for posterior fossa craniotomy

Background

Posterior fossa craniotomy is generally done starting with two lateral burr holes. Single midline burr hole is often avoided for the fear of injury to the venous sinuses. In this paper, we retrospectively evaluated the risk of dural tear or venous sinus injury with the latter approach.

Methods

Patients who had a posterior fossa craniotomy at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan between 2003 and 2009 were analyzed. Seventy-one patients had been operated for a posterior fossa lesion, and 154 had a Chiari I decompression. Suboccipital craniotomy was performed utilizing a starting midline suboccipital burr hole. The craniotomy was completed using Midas Rex with B1 foot plate starting laterally from the burr hole and then over to the foramen magnum including the foramen magnum lip. In patients who had a tumor resection, the bone flap was replaced and secured with plates on both sides.

Results

One patient had a dural tear along the inferior aspect of the craniotomy not extending into the foramen magnum. There was no instance of venous sinus injury or undue bleeding from the burr hole. None of the patients had an infection requiring removal of the bone flap.

Conclusion

This paper confirms the safety of utilizing midline burr hole for starting a posterior fossa craniotomy.     

Mechanical thrombectomy of acute distal posterior cerebral artery occlusions

To describe our experience with mechanical thrombectomy (MTE) of acute distal posterior cerebral artery (PCA) occlusions, either isolated or in combination with more proximal vessel occlusions regarding recanalization rates, MTE techniques, and procedural safety. From the prospectively maintained stroke thrombectomy databases of two institutions, all consecutive patients subjected to MTE of acute distal PCA occlusion (P2 and 3 segments) between July 2013 and May 2020 were retrospectively identified. Imaging data and angiographic features, as well as patients’ demographic and clinical data were evaluated. 35 consecutive patients were included in the study. In 17 patients MTE of isolated acute distal PCA occlusion was performed. 9 patients had combined basilar artery (BA) and distal PCA occlusion on stroke imaging and 3 had embolic distal PCA occlusion following MTE for BA occlusion. 6 patients harbored distal PCA occlusions in combination with carotid-T occlusion and a dominant posterior communicating artery. The median NIHSS at presentation was 14 (IQR 8 – 27). 25 patients (71.4%) had occlusions of the P2 and 10 patients (28.6%) of the P3 segment. Successful recanalization (TICI 2b/3) was achieved in 31 patients (88.6%). 10 patients (28.6%) were treated with a direct contact aspiration technique, while a stent retriever was used in 25 patients (71.4%). No complication attributable to distal PCA MTE occurred. Good outcome (mRS ≤ 2) was achieved in 14 patients (46.7%) and mortality was 22.9%. MTE for acute distal PCA occlusion in the setting of different occlusion patterns appears both safe and angiographically effective. Yet, clinical effectiveness remains to be determined.     

Mid- to long-term outcomes of posterior decompression with instrumented fusion for thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

Posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (PDF) surgery has been previously reported as a relatively safe surgical procedure for any type of thoracic ossification of the longitudinal ligament (OPLL). However, mid- to long-term outcomes are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mid- to long-term clinical outcome of PDF surgery for thoracic OPLL patients. The present study included 20 patients who had undergone PDF for thoracic OPLL and were followed for at least 5 years. Increment change and recovery rate of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were assessed. Revision surgery during the follow-up period was also recorded. Average JOA scores were 3.5 preoperatively and 7.1 at final follow-up. The average improvement in JOA score was 3.8 points and the average recovery rate was 47.0%. The JOA score showed gradual increase after surgery, and took 9 months to reach peak recovery. As for neurological complications, two patients suffered postoperative paralysis, but both recovered without intervention. Six revision surgeries in four patients were related to OPLL. Additional anterior thoracic decompression for remaining ossification at the same level of PDF surgery was performed in one patient. Decompression surgery for deterioration of symptoms of pre-existing cervical OPLL was performed in three patients. One patient had undergone lumbar and cervical PDF surgery for de novo ossification foci of the lumbar and cervical spine. PDF surgery for thoracic OPLL is thus considered a relatively safe and stable surgical procedure considering the mid- to long-term outcomes.     

Clinical experience of 153 patients with posterior circulation aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To study the morbidity and mortality of patients with aneurysms of the posterior circulation (basilar-vertebral system) and investigate the natural history of these aneurysms without surgical intervention. METHODS: Of 1232 patients with intracranial aneurysms admitted to Tiantan Hospital from January 1990 to October 2001, 153 (12.4%) had aneurysms of the posterior circulation. Their clinical and angiographic data were reviewed retrospectively. Additionally, to June 2002, 38 of the cases managed without surgery have been followed by telephone and correspondence. For these patients, the annual aneurysm rupture rate was estimated in "person-years". RESULTS: Patients were aged 4-69 years (mean 40.8). The peak incidence was in the 5th decade. There were 88 males and 65 females. One hundred and two patients (66.7%) were treated surgically, and of these, 60 (58.8%) had an excellent outcome, 10 (9.8%) a good outcome, 29 (28.4%) a fair outcome and 3 (2.9%) died. The other 51 (33.3%) patients were treated conservatively for various reasons. Of these, 13 died of ruptured aneurysm in hospital. Ten of these patients had had a previous subarachnoid haemorrhage and 3 had not. The other 38 surviving, conservatively managed patients were followed for 5-95 months (mean 23). Of them, 3 (17.6%) died of aneurysmal rupture, giving an annual rupture rate of 9.2%, or 3/32.47 patient years. CONCLUSIONS: To prevent death and disability due to aneurysmal rupture, posterior circulation aneurysms should be treated aggressively.     

大脑后动脉远端动脉瘤的血管内介入治疗

目的 探讨大脑后动脉远端动脉瘤的血管内介入治疗方法及特点.方法 10例动脉瘤,P2段6例(囊状2例、梭形2例、夹层2例)、P2-P3交界处1例(夹层)、P3段3例(夹层).对于囊状动脉瘤采用弹簧圈栓塞并保留载瘤动脉的方法;梭形动脉瘤采用支架重建瘤腔的方法;P2段及P2-P3交界夹层动脉瘤采用弹簧圈栓塞并闭塞载瘤动脉的方法;P3段夹层动脉瘤采用Glubran胶栓塞并闭塞载瘤动脉的方法.结果 随访半年至1年,预后良好.DSA复查9例,未见动脉瘤复发.结论 对于大脑后动脉远端动脉瘤,根据动脉瘤的类型及部位采用不同的血管内介入治疗方法,短期随访可以获得较好的疗效.     

Long-term outcome of 17 cases of large-giant posterior fossa aneurysm

Long-term outcome of 17 patients who harbored a large or giant aneurysm of posterior fossa was summarized. The anatomical distribution of aneurysms included eight cases of basilar artery (BA) bifurcation aneurysms, three cases of BA trunk aneurysms, and six cases of vertebral artery (VA) aneurysms. Eight patients received surgical or endovascular treatment for their lesion. The clinical outcome was good recovery in six, moderate disability in one, and vegetative state in one case, respectively. The other nine patients were followed conservatively. Four of them had fatal aneurysmal rupture, and another two patients suffered from aggravation of pre-existing symptoms related to their aneurysm. Only three patients remain intact. Comparison of the radiographic parameters between those who bled and those who did not bleed revealed that those with subsequent rupture had significantly higher rate of aneurysmal thrombus and had a trend for larger diameter of the aneurysm. Although more aggressive and multidisciplinary measure should be taken to these patients to improve their long-term outcome, our results showed the limitation of treatment for these patients in the present era at the same time. The patients with broad neck BA bifurcation aneurysm in which efferent vessels were incorporated into aneurysmal dome, and those with fusiform, giant BA trunk aneurysm with thrombus were the least amenable to treatment in our series.     

Interhemispheric disconnection syndrome in glioma of the posterior part of the corpus callosum

The syndrome of interhemispheric disconnexion has been systematically researched in 10 cases of medial and posterior callosal tumours. The cases have been documented with CT Scann and two of them were anatomically verified. Two had a complete disconnexion syndrome; another, whose lesion was situated on the forceps major, had no sign of disconnexion. In the others, the semiology was proportional to the extent of the tumour, sometimes minimal and in this case, only corresponding to an extinction of the left ear in the dichotic test, which therefore appeared in our series as the most constant sign of a transfer-trouble. Among the other signs, left tactile anomia was found in two patients, left ideomotor apraxia in three, left visual anomia in five. Seven patients had a right constructional apraxia, which was bilateral in five of them. Left agraphia was noted in five patients, among which three had also a right hand dysgraphia, whose physiopathology is discussed. Tactile alexia was noted in three patients, two had a trouble of somesthesic information's transfer, one had a pure alexia (left occipital lesion plus splenium). Signs of hemispheric independence were uncommon: one patient presented a "foreign-hand sign".     

Asymmetrical ocular pursuit with posterior fossa tumors

We report two patients with posterior fossa neoplasms who demonstrated asymmetrically impaired horizontal ocular pursuit documented with electrooculography. One patient had impaired pursuit contralateral to a pontomedullary lesion, whereas the second patient had impaired pursuit ipsilateral to a pontocerebellar lesion. These patients demonstrate that posterior fossa lesions may impair ocular pursuit either contralaterally or ipsilaterally unlike cerebral hemispheric lesions, which impair ocular pursuit ipsilaterally or bilaterally.     

颅后窝骨瓣成形术在显微神经外科手术中的应用

目的探讨颅后窝骨瓣成形术的作用与意义.方法回顾性分析21例颅后窝骨瓣开颅术,其中听神经瘤8例,小脑星形细胞瘤5例,脑于胶质瘤4例,小脑出血2例,延髓内神经鞘瘤、小脑蚓部淋巴瘤各1例.采用双侧或单侧开瓣,术毕严密缝合硬脑膜,骨瓣回纳固定,不放置外引流.结果肿瘤全切除或近全切除17例,仅脑干胶质瘤行部分或大部分切除.随访12～36个月,平均21.5个月.术后无持续低热、颈枕部疼痛、脑脊液漏等并发症,脑保护好,外观满意.结论在显微神经外科的基础上,采用颅后窝骨瓣成形术可提供良好的脑保护.     

Late-onset distal muscular dystrophy affecting the posterior calves

Miyoshi myopathy, caused by mutations in the membrane protein dysferlin, is the most common muscular dystrophy that presents in the posterior calves. Its onset is before the age of 30 years and it is associated with marked elevations of serum creatine kinase (CK). In contrast, little is known about calf myopathies with onset after the age of 30, and it is not clear whether such patients have a dysferlinopathy. We describe five patients with a myopathy predominantly affecting the calf muscles, with onset after the age of 30. Muscle tissue was analyzed by immunoblot for dystrophin and dysferlin. All five had normal dysferlin but one had a dystrophinopathy. Serum CK levels ranged from 3 to 15 times the upper limit of normal. In contrast, all of 13 patients presenting before age 30 with calf weakness had a dysferlinopathy. Thus, isolated calf atrophy and weakness with onset after age 30, and associated with serum CK levels that are only moderately elevated, represents a distinct myopathy phenotype. Most of these cases are sporadic, although the overall phenotype appears genetically heterogeneous and dysferlinopathy is uncommon.     

Seizure outcomes of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and correlations with electroencephalographic changes

RationaleSeizures are among the most common clinical presentations of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). This syndrome has rarely been reported to cause chronic epilepsy or persistent cortical dysfunction. The prognostic value of EEG findings during PRES is unknown. We retrospectively evaluated EEG characteristics in patients with PRES in a single medical center. We also evaluated the long-term outcome regarding seizure occurrence beyond the acute phase in these patients.MethodsWe searched a radiology database at the University of Minnesota from 1997 to 2012 to identify patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed PRES. Among the patients with PRES, we reviewed MRI images, EEG findings, clinical manifestations including seizure occurrences, and clinical outcomes beyond the acute phase.ResultsSeventy-five patients were included in the study. Fifty-eight out of seventy-five (77.3%) patients with PRES had seizures. A total of 48 EEG studies were performed in 38 patients. Generalized slowing was the most common EEG pattern. Among the 38 patients who had EEGs, 37 (97.3%) patients had diffuse or focal slowing of the background, and 11 (28.9%) patients had IEDs. Four out of seventy-five (5.3%) patients had seizures later than one month beyond their hospitalization for PRES. None of these 4 patients had seizures before the episode of PRES. Two patients developed chronic epilepsy, with seizures occurring later than one year after the PRES.ConclusionMost patients who had seizures or who had epileptiform activities in EEG during PRES did not subsequently develop chronic epilepsy. No patient developed chronic epilepsy in the absence of clinical seizures during PRES. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome may infrequently be associated with subsequent development of symptomatic epilepsy.     

孤立性眩晕起病的后循环缺血性脑卒中患者临床分析

目的 探讨后循环缺血性脑卒中的患者中最初仅表现为孤立性眩晕的患者的临床特点.方法 回顾性分析阜新市中心医院2018-08—2019-08以孤立性眩晕起病的后循环缺血性脑卒中患者13例,对13例以孤立性眩晕起病的后循环缺血性脑卒中患者的危险因素、临床表现、磁共振特点及预后进行回顾性分析.结果 13例患者的发病危险因素主要...     

Limited oblique corpectomy for treatment of ossified posterior longitudinal ligament

OBJECTIVE: We present our experience with treating four cases with ossified posterior longitudinal ligaments (OPLL) causing cervical cord compression by limited oblique and strategic corpectomy. MATERIALS AND RESULTS: Four patients with cervical OPLL were treated by the discussed technique during the period of October 2000 to January 2005. The ages of the patients ranged from 46 to 72 years. All patients presented with symptoms of progressively increasing myelopathy. Two patients had four level OPLL and two patients had two level OPLL. Surgery involved anterior cervical exposure and partial oblique corpectomy, which was essentially an extended midline and lateral undercutting of the body. The procedure provided a wide exposure for resection of the OPLL. No metal instrumentation or any other kind of fixation procedure was simultaneously carried out and there was no need for postoperative cervical immobilization. During the period of follow up that ranged from 6 month to 5 years (mean: 33 months) all the four patients have shown sustained clinical improvement. Neuroimaging studies confirmed satisfactory anatomical cervical cord decompression in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The technique of oblique and strategic corpectomy provided a wide exposure for resection of the OPLL and preserved the stability of the region.     

Disconnective surgery in posterior quadrantic epilepsy: a series of 12 paediatric patients

Aim. To assess the surgical outcomes of temporo‐parieto‐occipital (TPO) and parieto‐occipital (PO) disconnection surgery for children with intractable posterior quadrantic epilepsy and a unilateral posterior quadrant lesion based on MRI and functional imaging abnormality in the TPO region on one side. Methods. A retrospective review of data of 12 children who underwent TPO or PO disconnective surgery was carried out from September 2009 to September 2012. Three‐dimensional surface reconstructions of MRI scans and intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring were used during surgery. Drugs were not discontinued after surgery in any patient. Results. The affected hemisphere was the left in seven patients and the right in five patients. The mean ages at seizure onset and at surgery were four years and 12.3 years, respectively. At the time of surgery, 3 children had atonic seizures, 4 had symptomatic epilepsy with focal seizures and alteration of conscioussness, 4 had secondarily generalised seizures, and 1 child had spasms and tonic seizures. All patients had developmental delay. A pure TPO disconnection was performed in 11 patients and a PO disconnection was performed in the remaining patient. On pathological examination, 3 patients were shown to have focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) Ib, 2 with FCD IIa, 5 with FCD IIb, 1 with gliosis, and 1 with gliosis plus FCD IIa. Following surgery, 2 patients had oedema; 1 required another operation to resect the occipital lobe. At a mean follow‐up of 34.5 months, 9 patients (75%) were classified as Engel class I, 2 as Engel Class II, and 1 as Engel class III. All 12 children had contralateral hemianopia postoperatively and improvement in median IQ (p=0.04) was reported three months postoperatively. Conclusions. With respect to the limits of a retrospective and relatively small sample size series TPO and PO disconnection are safe and effective motor‐sparing epilepsy surgical procedures in selected patients with the epileptiform zone located in the posterior quadrant on one side.