1/36. cauda equina syndrome due to lumbosacral arachnoid cysts in children.We describe the clinical, neuroradiological and surgical aspects of two children in whom symptoms attributable to cauda equina compression were caused by spinal arachnoid cysts. The first patient presented with recurrent urinary tract infections due to neurogenic bladder dysfunction, absent deep tendon reflexes and sensory deficit in the lower limbs. The second child presented with unstable gait as a result of weakness and diminished sensation in the lower extremities. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lumbosacral arachnoid cyst in both patients. During surgery the cysts were identified and excised. Two years after surgery, the sensory deficits of the first patient have disappeared and patellar and ankle reflexes can be elicited, but there is no improvement in bladder function. Neurological examination of the second patient was normal. We conclude that the diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome should prompt a vigorous search for its aetiology. Lumbosacral arachnoid cysts are a rare cause of cauda equina syndrome in children.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/36. Lumbar herniated disc presenting with cauda equina syndrome. Long-term follow-up of four cases.BACKGROUND: cauda equina syndrome is a relatively rare presenting symptom of lumbar herniated discs. Early operative decompression is advocated, but it may not always restore the bladder function. In such cases, knowing the long-term outcome of bladder or sphincter disturbances is quite useful in planning the management of these patients. methods: hospital records of patients operated on for lumbar herniated discs were reviewed. charts and imaging studies of those patients who presented with classic cauda equina syndrome were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 4 patients (2.8%) of 144 consecutive surgical series of lumbar disc herniation, whose presenting symptom was classic cauda equina syndrome. Postoperatively, the patients had been followed at the clinic for a mean period of 6.4 years. Certain characteristic findings were noted on patients' neurological and radiological examinations. Although the recovery process of bladder function was very slow, taking months to years, all four patients achieved almost normal voiding with no major impairment of daily activities. CONCLUSIONS: Even if short-term recovery of bladder function is poor after lumbar disc surgery for cauda equina syndrome, the long-term outcome is not necessarily so. We should follow up on these patients with such measures as intermittent self-catheterization and drug therapy, expecting slow but steady recovery of bladder and sphincter function.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/36. Multiple radiculopathy of the lower limbs in a cancer patient with meningeal carcinomatosis.meningeal carcinomatosis occurs in 1%-5% of patients with breast cancer. early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of neurologic involvement are important factors of prognosis. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman who was affected by bilateral breast carcinoma treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Six years after she had become asymptomatic, x-rays showed lumbar spine metastases which were treated with radiotherapy. After 1 year she began to suffer from lower limb paresthesias, unsteadiness and unstable gait. Clinical examination showed lower limb sensory ataxia with lack of knee and ankle reflexes, and hypopallesthesia from the iliac spine to the foot. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast agent revealed no medullar compression. electromyography disclosed bilateral involvement of L4-L5-S1 roots and corresponding paraspinal muscles. Sensory and motor conductions were normal. cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed the presence of neoplastic cells, confirming the diagnosis of meningeal carcinomatosis. Our patient underwent 9 cycles of intrathecal methotrexate therapy (25 mg/cycle) with improvement of ataxia and relief of paresthesias. One year later, CSF examination is still negative. We point out the importance of electrodiagnostic studies and CSF examination in the early documentation of root involvement in cancer patients, when computed tomography, MRI and myelography are normal. early diagnosis may lead to effective therapy which prolongs survival.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/36. Transdural cauda equina incarceration after microsurgical lumbar discectomy: case report.OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Complications usually occur when they are least expected. We present an unusual case of nerve entrapment after microsurgical discectomy. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A patient undergoing uneventful first lumbar microsurgical discectomy developed severe back and leg pain and a progressive neurological deficit during the first postoperative night. Herniation of cauda equina nerve roots had occurred through an unnoticed minimal defect in the dura, which had not caused cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The roots were incarcerated and swollen, and they filled the space of the resected nucleus pulposus. It was presumed that elevation of intra-abdominal pressure and consequent increased intraspinal pressure during extubation led to the herniation of arachnoid and cauda equina roots. The nerve roots were then trapped and incarcerated in the manner of bowel loops in an abdominal wall hernia. INTERVENTION: During reoperation, the nerve roots were repositioned into the dural sac. The patient recovered without further complications and without long-term sequelae. CONCLUSION: All dural tears that occur during intraspinal surgery, even if they are small and the arachnoid is intact, should be closed with stitches or at a minimum with a patch of muscle or gelatin sponge with fibrin glue. Care should be taken to avoid increased intra-abdominal pressure during extubation. Excessive pain and progressive neurological dysfunction occurring shortly after microsurgical lumbar discectomy or any intraspinal procedure is indicative of possible hemorrhage with subsequent compression of nerve roots. The case reported here provides anecdotal evidence that this situation can also be caused by a herniation of cauda equina nerve roots through a small dural defect that was not evident during the initial operation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/36. Acute cauda equina syndrome caused by a gas-containing prolapsed intervertebral disk.Gas production as a part of disk degeneration can occur, but it rarely causes clinical nerve compression syndromes. A rare case of gaseous degeneration in a prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disk causing acute cauda equina syndrome is described. Radiologic features and intraoperative findings are reported. A 78-year-old woman with severe lumbar canal stenosis had acute cauda equina syndrome. magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large disk protrusion, and she underwent an urgent operation for this. Surgery confirmed the severe lumbar canal stenosis, but the disk prolapse contained gas that had caused the nerve compression.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/36. cauda equina syndrome secondary to idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis.STUDY DESIGN: Three cases of idiopathic epidural lipomatosis are reported. OBJECTIVES: Description of the relationship between spinal pathologic overgrowth of fat tissue and neurologic symptoms. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Idiopathic epidural lipomatosis is a very rare condition; it is usually secondary to chronic steroid therapy or endocrinopathic diseases. methods: Three men with a mean age of 58.5 years, who experienced intermittent claudication, bilateral radicular pain in both legs, and urinary dysfunction with hypoesthesia in the perineal region, were evaluated by plain radiography and magnetic resonance imaging, the results of which demonstrated a pathologic overgrowth of fat tissue in the spinal canal with a marked impingement of the dural sac. obesity, endocrinopathic diseases, and chronic steroid therapy were excluded for all patients. Surgical treatment was performed by wide multilevel laminectomies, fat debulking, and instrumented posterolateral fusion. RESULTS: After surgery there was a gradual improvement in symptoms and signs so that 2 years later the patients returned to daily activities and were neurologically normal. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal epidural lipomatosis can be a cause of back pain but rarely radicular impingement. magnetic resonance imaging is the procedure of choice. The treatment must be performed early by wide surgical decompression.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/36. Lumbar pannus presenting as cauda equina syndrome in a patient with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis.Relatively little attention has been paid to lumbar spine involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and indeed it is generally considered to be an uncommon and usually clinically minor manifestation of the disease. We describe a case of acute right lower extremity weakness secondary to compression of multiple lumbar nerve roots by a large interforaminal rheumatoid pannus, and review the literature on this complication and other lumbar spine involvement in RA.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/36. Rapid progression of acute sciatica to cauda equina syndrome.OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the importance of clinical examination and continued vigilance for neurologic deterioration in patients with sciatica. cauda equina syndrome, a rare sequela of sciatica, is considered a medical emergency requiring surgical decompression. Clinical Features: A 32-year-old woman had sciatica that rapidly progressed to cauda equina syndrome. magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of a large nonsequestered disk fragment in the lower lumbar spine. Intervention and Outcome: The disk fragment was surgically excised. The patient experienced immediate pain relief after surgery but retained neurologic deficits. After 6 months of rehabilitation, neurologic integrity was restored, aside from patchy sensory loss of the left foot and buttocks. At the 6-month follow-up, the patient's sciatica had not returned. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of sciatica, regardless of cause, will self-resolve; as a result, there might be a tendency to maintain a low index of suspicion for serious, progressive disorders such as cauda equina syndrome. patients need to be educated as to signs of this emergency condition and informed as to the possible consequences of delaying treatment. By maintaining a high index of suspicion for any case that fails to respond as expected to a course of conservative therapy or that demonstrates signs of cauda equina syndrome, chiropractors can assume a pivotal role by investigating and referring appropriately and by aiding in active rehabilitation postoperatively.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/36. Lumbar cauda equina syndrome associated with the use of gelfoam: case report.STUDY DESIGN: A case of cauda equina syndrome is reported. OBJECTIVE: To recognize a serious complication related to the use of Gelfoam in the lumbar spine. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA: Absorbable hemostatic gelatin sponges have long been used to control bleeding around the spinal cord. Despite widespread use and a safe history with few reported adverse reactions, Gelfoam sponges have potential for complications that may be overlooked. METHOD: A case of cauda equina syndrome is reported and discussed. RESULTS: A retained Gelfoam sponge was found in the epidural space after lumbar decompression and fusion for spinal stenosis. The retained gelatin sponge had expanded and solidified, causing a mass affect. The resultant nerve compression led to progressive myelopathy. On removal of the Gelfoam, symptoms rapidly resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Although the use of Gelfoam in spine surgery generally is considered safe, care must be taken to avoid placing a large mass of sponge in a potentially closed space. If Gelfoam is not handled properly, it can engorge and fail to be resorbed appropriately, thus causing a mass effect. If neurologic compromise develops, Gelfoam should be considered a potential cause and subsequently removed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/36. Symptomatic spinal intradural arachnoid cysts in the pediatric age group: description of three new cases and review of the literature.Spinal arachnoid cysts are a relatively uncommon lesion that may be either intra- or extradural, and intradural spinal arachnoid cysts are even less common. These cysts are usually asymptomatic but may produce symptoms by compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots suddenly or progressively. We present three cases in the pediatric age group with spinal intradural arachnoid cysts without a preceding history of trauma. Three patients with symptomatic intradural arachnoid cysts were investigated with conventional T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI scans demonstrated the intradural arachnoid cysts with slightly lower CSF signal intensity on the gradient echo images and slightly higher signal intensity on T1-weighted images. The first cyst was located at the level T12-L1 and compressed the conus medullaris, with neurogenic bladder and cauda equina syndrome for 2 months. The second was located at the level C5-T1 ventrally, with spastic gait and neurogenic bladder for 4 years. The other was located at T2-3 ventrally, with sudden onset of quadriplegia after jumping rope. The combined treatment of total resection and wide fenestration in our three patients produced an excellent return of neurologic function in each one, except for residual urinary disturbance in case 2. Intradural spinal arachnoid cysts appear to result from an alteration of the arachnoid trabeculae; some such cysts are ascribed anecdotally to previous trauma or arachnoiditis, whereas the majority are idiopathic and congenital. The majority of intradural spinal arachnoid cysts occur in the thoracic region and most are dorsal to the neural elements. Only 10 cases have been reported in which the intradural arachnoid cysts were located anterior to the cervical spinal cord, of which 8 were in the pediatric age group, like our case 2. myelography, postcontrast CT myelography and MRI have been demonstrated as useful for the diagnosis of intradural arachnoid cysts. MRI is the imaging modality of choice, and the extent, size and nature of the lesion in our cases were well demonstrated by MRI. Surgical treatment is necessary if progressive neurological dysfunction appears in the course of spinal cord compression. Complete surgical excision of the cysts is the best choice of treatment, and wide fenestration and shunting of the cyst to the peritoneum, pleural cavity or right atrium were the modalities of choice. MRI offers a noninvasive and effective means to make the diagnosis of arachnoid cysts easier. Intradural arachnoid cysts may cause progressive myelopathy; however, the postoperative prognosis is good if the operation is performed prior to neurologic deficits.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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