| PURPOSE: To describe a case of reversal of delayed paraparesis, after an elective type I thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair, via cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 75-yr-old woman developed paraparesis 13 hr after type I TAAA repair. The patient had been given combined regional and general anesthesia. There was no cerebrospinal fluid drain inserted at the time of surgery. The patient was hemodynamically stable throughout the procedure and was transported to the intensive care unit with trachea intubated and lungs ventilated. She demonstrated some initial lower limb paraparesis but had good recovery of limb function three hours after cessation of the epidural infusion. However, five hours and forty-five minutes after stopping the epidural, she was again paraparetic. Peripheral nerve injury, prolonged effects of epidural local anesthetic, and epidural hematoma were ruled out as precipitating factors. Cord ischemia was considered possible and a CSF catheter was inserted. Immediate improvement was seen upon catheter insertion and commencement of drainage, beginning with movement in the left toes and foot. drainage was performed when the CFS pressure became > 15 mmHg. Motor function in the lower limbs continued to improve with each drainage extending to complete recovery after 40 hr. She was discharged home 11 days after surgery with no neurological deficit. CONCLUSION: drainage of CSF was useful in treating a case of post-TAAA neurologic deficit. ( info) |
12/108. Spinal clear cell meningioma presented with progressive paraparesis in infancy. Clear cell meningioma, about 20 cases of which have been reported in the literature, is a morphological variant of meningioma. The authors report a case of spinal clear cell meningioma that occurred in a child. A 14-month-old girl showed gradually progressive paraparesis 1 month after she started to walk. Magnetic resonance image showed an intradural extramedullary mass compressing the conus medullaris and cauda equina. Complete excision of the tumor was done, and the patient gradually recovered from motor weakness and neurogenic bladder. Histological examinations along with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigations allowed a diagnosis of clear cell meningioma. During the follow-up period, a recurrent mass lesion was detected on the 8-month follow-up MR image in the same region. Because clear cell meningioma might be biologically aggressive, postoperative adjuvant therapy and close follow-up investigation should be considered. ( info) |
13/108. paraparesis after posterior spinal fusion in neurofibromatosis secondary to rib displacement: case report and literature review. In patients with neurofibromatosis, rib displacement into the spinal canal is a rare cause of paraplegia. We report a patient with paraplegia caused by rib displacement whose signs and symptoms began after posterior in situ fusion for dysplastic scoliosis. There was complete recovery after anterior decompression and resection of the rib. ( info) |
14/108. Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis. A case report. This 54-year-old patient with a breast carcinoma of one year's evolution presented a progressive paraparesis and sphincter disregulation of a week evolution; MRI image showed a tumor in the medullary conus. She improved after removal of the conus mass. The histologic diagnosis was metastasis of adenocarcinoma. Metastasis at this level is infrequent and represents less than 1% of all spinal metastases. When the patients' general condition is good, surgery can relieve the neurologic deficit produced by the medullary mass. ( info) |
15/108. paraparesis induced by inflammatory contents of a pneumonectomy cavity. Case report. The authors report on a patient who developed acute-onset paraparesis after underoing a thoracotomy 40 years earlier for a carcinoid adenoma. No infectious or neoplastic origin could be found to explain the patient's current clinical course and radiographic findings. The postoperative events in this case are discussed, as well as the literature regarding postthoracotomy complications. ( info) |
16/108. lower extremity paraparesis or paraplegia subsequent to endovascular management of abdominal aortic aneurysms. lower extremity paraplegia or paraparesis is an extremely rare event after operative repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAS). We report two such cases that occurred after endovascular repair or attempted endovascular repair of routine AAAS. To our knowledge, these are the first two cases reported specifically in the literature. These cases may have significant implications with regard to the endovascular management of AAAS, because atheroembolization to the spinal cord appears to be the underlying cause. ( info) |
17/108. Inappropriate medical management of spinal epidural abscess. A 67 year old man with longstanding rheumatoid disease was referred to the regional spinal surgery unit with acute onset of paraparesis due to an extensive spinal epidural abscess of the lumbar spine. Ten months previously, he had started antibiotic treatment at another hospital for an epidural abscess arising at the level of the L2-3 disc space. Despite completing seven months of medical treatment with appropriate antibiotics, he had a recrudescence of acute back pain shortly after restarting methotrexate treatment. Urgent anterior spinal decompression with excision of the necrotic vertebral bodies of L1-3 was performed. The indications for the surgical management of spinal epidural abscess are reviewed. ( info) |
| BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Permanent and acute reversible paraplegia following celiac plexus block (CPB) have been reported. We report a case of prolonged reversible paraparesis after alcohol celiac plexus block. CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old man with primary multicentric pancreatic tumor and multiple hepatic metastases underwent alcohol celiac plexus neurolysis for severe abdominal pain radiating to the back. The patient had complete pain relief after the block but developed paresthesia of the left leg, which then spread to the right leg. Subsequently, loss of flexion and extension of the muscles supplying the left hip, knee, and foot developed. Deep tendon reflexes were brisk on the left compared to the right, and both plantar reflexes gave flexor responses. Magnetic resonance imaging and myelography were normal. Motor-evoked potential recordings showed a spinal cord lesion with involvement of the pyramidal and spinothalamic tracts. Somatosensory-evoked potentials indicated a relative sparing of dorsal column pathways. Physiotherapy was started, the sensory changes gradually subsided, and the patient was discharged 30 days after the block with clinically insignificant neurological deficit. CONCLUSIONS: paraparesis following alcohol celiac plexus block may be reversible over an extended period of time. ( info) |
19/108. Intradural disc herniation at the T1-T2 level. Intradural disc herniations comprise 0.26-0.30% of all herniated discs. Five percent are found in the thoracic, 3% in the cervical, and 92% in the lumbar region. Although intradural disc herniation may be suspected on preoperatively made CT scans, myelograms, and MRI scans, establishing the diagnosis prior to the surgery is difficult. We present a case of the patient with severe neurological deficits, caused by intradural thoracic disc herniation at T1-T2 interspace, which required surgical treatment. The symptoms were relieved immediately after surgery. This is the first description of an intradural disc herniation at that level. ( info) |
20/108. spinal cord compression due to extramedullary haematopoiesis in two patients with thalassaemia: complete regression with blood transfusion therapy. Extramedullary haematopoiesis, a common finding in thalassaemia, is rarely localized in the spinal cord and even more rarely has neurological manifestations. We present two patients suffering from thalassaemia (intermedia and beta homozygous) and paraparesis due to spinal cord compression from intrathoracic extramedullary haematopoietic masses. diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance imaging findings, and treatment consisted of blood hypertransfusions. The majority of published cases have been successfully treated by radiation and in some cases by blood transfusions. Our two patients completely recovered, and there has been no recurrence during the 4 years since their treatment. diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition are discussed. ( info) |