Quantitative evaluation for cervical foraminal bony stenosis based on angled sagittal slices along a nerve root on computed tomography

Cervical foraminal canal stenosis is a common disease, but any relationships between the measurement values of cervical foraminal canals and clinical symptoms have yet to be explored. We aim to determine a numerical cutoff point of cervical foraminal bony canal size that does not lead to radiculopathy so as to establish criteria for the surgical indication. We reconstructed angled sagittal slices along a nerve root on computed tomography (CT) on a workstation from pre-operative CT data and measured 1152 cervical foraminal canals (144 patients) from Cervical (C) 4/5 to C7/Thoracic (Th) 1. We evaluated the relationship between the size of foraminal canals and clinical manifestations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to calculate cutoff points of each foraminal canal size with positive neurologic manifestations. Of the 144 patients’ 1152 nerve roots, 286 nerve roots (24.8%) were diagnosed as radiculopathy by neurological examinations. The mean measured value of all foraminal canals on angled sagittal CT imagery was 3.39 ± 1.37 mm. The cutoff point of foraminal canal sizes without radiculopathy was 2.7 mm (sensitivity 0.680, specificity 0.591) overall. A cutoff point ascertained by quantitative evaluation of cervical foraminal canal size is useful for making diagnosis of cervical foraminal canal bony stenosis.     

Quality of life after hemifacial spasm surgery: French versions of the HFS-8 and HFS-30 questionnaires

ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to assess quality of life before and after surgery for hemifacial spasm, in order to validate two specific quality of life scales translated in French. Surgical results and complications were reported.Material and methodsTwenty-three patients with hemifacial spasm treated by microvascular decompression were retrospectively included. The HFS-8 and HFS-30 quality of life scales were translated from English into French using a forward-backward method and implemented on patients at least one year after surgery.ResultsMedian HFS-8 and HFS-30 values were respectively 16 ± 12.5 (range: 8–20.5) and 38 ± 38.5 (range: 23–61.5) before surgery and 0.5 ± 4.5 (range: 0–4.5) and 5 ± 17.5 (range: 1–18.5) after surgery, showing significant improvement in quality of life (P < 0.001). The internal consistency of both scales was excellent (Cronbach's alpha > 0.9), and they were significantly correlated (Pearson coefficient = 0.95; 95% CI [0.91; 0.98]; P < 0.0001). Success rates were 83% and 91%, respectively, after primary and revision surgeries. Complications were transient with minor consequences in 80% of cases, but could impact quality of life when lasting.ConclusionsThese results support the validity of the French versions of HFS-8 and HFS-30. Microvascular decompression is a safe and effective treatment for hemifacial spasm, and these scales are reliable tools to assess postoperative quality of life.     

大骨瓣减压加颞肌切除术对大面积脑梗死的疗效

目的探究分析标准大骨瓣减压联合颞肌切除术在大面积脑梗死患者中的临床治疗效果。方法从2016年12月-2018年11月我院收治的大面积脑梗死患者中抽选46例,采取数字随机分配法分为两组。试验组24例,采取标准大骨瓣减压联合颞肌切除术治疗,对照组22例,采取单纯标准大骨瓣减压术治疗,对比两组患者临床治疗效果。结果试验组中线回复(11.37±2.11)^15.09±2.79mm,对照组中线回复(12.24±3.31)^16.22±3.11mm,试验组中线回复情况优于对照组,死亡率(33.33%)明显低于对照组(63.64%),P<0.05,差异具有统计学意义。结论在大面积脑梗死患者中采取标准大骨瓣减压联合颞肌切除术治疗能够有效改善脑梗死情况,降低病死率,临床治疗效果显著。     

步进式控制性低血压技术在视神经管微 创减压手术的应用

目的 探讨如何减少实施控制性低血压对视神经管减压手术患者带来的不良影响。方法 选择40例择期行视神经管减压手术的患者，随机分为A组（持续控制性低血压组）和B组（步进控制性低血压组），n =20。检测并计算手术开始时（T0）、切蝶窦前1 min（T1）、切开视神经鞘膜后1 min（T2）和送入术后恢复室后10 min（T3）的动脉-静脉乳酸含量差（Da-jvL），并进行鼻内镜术野质量评分（SESFQ）、手术时间（OT）及观察统计术后24 h内有肌肉酸痛和头痛等不良反应的患者人数。结果 两组患者T1、T2和T3时点的Da-jvL较T0均有明显增加（P <0.05），A组T1、T2和T3时点的Da-jvL明显高于B组（P <0.05），B组T2时点的Da-jvL较T1和T3有明显增加（P <0.01）；B组T1和T2时点的SESFQ评分明显高于A组（P <0.05），且B组T3时点的SESFQ评分明显低于T1和T2时点（P <0.05）；A组患者术后不良反应明显高于B组（P <0.05）。结论 步进式控制性低血压技术能有效改善围术期组织细胞不良代谢，降低不良事件的发生率，能提高视神经管减压手术患者的安全性。     

Somatosensory mechanical response and digit somatotopy within cortical areas of the postcentral gyrus in humans: An MEG study

Somatosensory evoked fields in response to compression (termed as Co) and decompression (termed as De) of glabrous skin (D1, thumb; D2, index finger; D5, little finger) were recorded. Although estimated equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) following stimulation of D1 and D5 were larger, but not significantly larger, in decompression than in compression, those of D2 were significantly larger (P = 0.035). The ECDs were located in the postcentral gyrus in the order of D5De, D2De, and D1De medially, posteriorly, and superiorly in decompression but not in compression (z‐value, F = 2.692, P = 0.031). The average distance of ECDs between D1 and D5 was longer in decompression (12.8 ± 1.6 mm) than in compression (9.1 ± 1.6 mm). Our data suggest that the cortical response for the commonly used digit D2 is functionally different from those for other digits (D1 and D5) that the somatotopic variability is greater in compression. Hum Brain Mapp, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Is anterior decompression and fusion superior to laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy due to ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Context: Considerable controversy exists over surgical procedures for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).Objective: The purpose of the meta-analysis was to compare the clinical outcome of anterior decompression and fusion (ADF) with laminoplasty (LAMP) in treatment of cervical myelopathy due to OPLL.Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials database were searched to identify potential clinical studies compared ADF with LAMP for cervical myelopathy owing to OPLL. We also manually searched the reference lists of articles and reviews for possible relevant studies. Thirteen studies with 1120 patients were included in our analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed by the canal occupying ratio of OPLL.Results: Overall, the mean preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was similar between two groups. Compared with LAMP group, ADF group was higher at the mean postoperative JOA scores and mean recovery rate, reoperation rate, and longer at mean operation time. There was not significantly different in mean blood loss and complication rate between two groups. In subgroup analysis, ADF had a higher mean postoperative JOA score and recovery rate than LAMP in cases of OPLL with occupying ratios ≥ 50%, while those difference were not found in cases of OPLL with occupying ratios < 50%.Conclusion: ADF achieves better neurological improvement compared with LAMP in treatment of cervical myelopathy due to OPLL, especially in cases of OPLL with occupying ratios ≥ 50%. Complication rate is similar between two groups, but ADF can increase the risk of reoperation     

Intraoperative aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage after rupture of a previously undiagnosed intracranial aneurysm during Chiari decompression

A type I Chiari malformation occurs when caudal displacement of the cerebellar tonsils below the level of the foramen magnum obstructs the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between the cranial and spinal spaces, a condition that often needs surgical decompression to restore normal CSF circulation. Abrupt changes in CSF flow dynamics after Chiari decompression can affect the intracranial CSF dynamics to the extent that a previously undiagnosed intracranial aneurysm remote from the site can rupture. The authors describe the development of an intraoperative aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage that occurred as a result of spontaneous rupture of a previously undiagnosed right distal posterior inferior cerebellar artery in a 57-year-old woman with type I Chiari malformation who was undergoing surgical decompression. The mechanism of the aneurysmal rupture appears to be related to the changes of CSF flow dynamics during surgical decompression. Normally, pressure equilibrium between the two sides of the aneurysmal wall prevents its rupture, but factors that significantly affect this equilibrium, such as systemic hypertension, can cause the aneurysm to rupture. To our knowledge, the concept of spontaneous intraoperative rupture of intracranial aneurysm remote from the site of surgery has been described twice previously but under different scenarios. This scenario, to our knowledge, has not been previously described.     

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction：An uncommon condition with heterogeneous etiology and unpredictable outcome

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction （IPO） either acute or chronic is a condition including features of intestinal ileus in absence of mechanical obstruction. Our paper presents such a rare case of idiopathic IPO in a 53-year-old male patient with recurrent episodes of pseudo-obstruction, which were successfully resolved by anticholinesterase agents, motilin agonists or colonic decompression. However, the patient finally underwent total colectomy. Huge colonic dilatation was identified intraoperatorily, while histology showed a neuropathic variant of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Etiologic mechanisms and current therapeutic methods are reviewed in this paper, which concludes that IPO is a condition in which conservative treatment usually fails. Total colectomy with ileoanal pouch may be the only solution in these situations.