1/33. Use of cervical spine manipulation under anesthesia for management of cervical disk herniation, cervical radiculopathy, and associated cervicogenic headache syndrome.OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the benefits of cervical spine manipulation with the patient under anesthesia as an approach to treating a patient with chronic cervical disk herniation, associated cervical radiculopathy, and cervicogenic headache syndrome. CLINICAL FEATURES: The patient had neck pain with radiating paresthesia into the right upper extremity and incapacitating headaches and had no response to 6 months of conservative therapy. Treatment included spinal manipulative therapy, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and acupuncture. magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography, and somatosensory evoked potential examination all revealed positive diagnostic findings. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Treatment included 3 successive days of cervical spine manipulation with the patient under anesthesia. The patient had immediate relief after the first procedure. Her neck and arm pain were reported to be 50% better after the first trial, and her headaches were better by 80% after the third trial. Four months after the last procedure the patient reported a 95% improvement in her overall condition. CONCLUSION: Cervical spine manipulation with the patient under anesthesia has a place in the chiropractic arena. It is a useful tool for treating chronic discopathic disease complicated by cervical radiculopathy and cervicogenic headache syndrome. The beneficial results of this procedure are contingent on careful patient selection and proper training of qualified chiropractic physicians.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/33. MRI findings in lumbar puncture headache syndrome: abnormal dural-meningeal and dural venous sinus enhancement.intracranial hypotension (IH) is a treatable cause of persistent headaches. Persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak at a lumbar puncture (LP) site may cause IH. We present postcontrast MRI of a patient with post-lumbar-puncture headache (LPHA) showing abnormal, intense, diffuse, symmetric, contiguous dural-meningeal (pachymeningeal) enhancement of the supratentorial and infratentorial intracranial dura, including convexities, interhemispheric fissure, tentorium, and falx. MRI also showed abnormal dural venous sinus enhancement, a new finding in LPHA, suggesting compensatory venous expansion. Thus, IH and venodilatation may play a role in the development of LPHA.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/33. New-onset headache in an adolescent with MASS syndrome.A 15-year-old girl with the "MASS" phenotype (meeting several of the minor criteria for marfan syndrome) presents with a new onset low-pressure postural headache. Clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging suggested intracranial hypotension, which was confirmed with lumbar puncture. The pathophysiology and treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/33. Lumboperitoneal shunting as a treatment for slit ventricle syndrome.OBJECTIVE: slit ventricle syndrome (SVS) has been described in hydrocephalus patients who continue to have shunt malfunction-like symptoms in the presence of a functioning shunt system and small ventricles on imaging studies. These symptoms usually present years after shunt placement or revision and can consist of headache, nausea and vomiting, lethargy and decreased cognitive skills. Treatments offered range from observation, medical therapy (migraine treatment) and shunt revision to subtemporal decompression or cranial vault expansion. We describe a subset of patients with SVS who were symptomatic with high intracranial pressure (ICP) as measured by sedated lumbar puncture and whose symptoms completely resolved after lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) placement. methods: Seven patients with a diagnosis of SVS underwent lumboperitoneal shunting. The age at shunting ranged from 3 to 18 years. Most had undergone recent ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) revisions for presentation of shunt malfunction-like symptoms. Despite this, all remained symptomatic and underwent a sedated lumbar puncture to measure opening pressure (OP). All had high OP in spite of a functional VPS and underwent LPS placement. RESULTS: All 7 patients had a prolonged period of overdrainage symptoms after lumboperitoneal shunting that resolved completely over several weeks. The initial etiology of hydrocephalus was reported to include trauma, aqueductal stenosis and intraventricular hemorrhage of prematurity. Two patients required revision of their LPS, after which their symptoms again resolved. CONCLUSION: In a certain subset of patients with SVS who are symptomatic from increased ICP, placement of an LPS is an effective treatment option. It appears that this subgroup of patients previously treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunting behave in a fashion similar to pseudotumor cerebri patients and respond well to lumboperitoneal shunting.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/33. The low intracranial pressure syndrome.The syndrome of low intracranial pressure may develop in a variety of circumstances, e.g. after lumbar puncture, following head injury and intracranial operations. It sometimes occurs after viral meningitis. The case history is described of a woman in whom the disorder was unusually severe and persistent. Interesting radiological features were observed, the appearances being those of herniation of the brain towards the tentorial opening. Simple measures of treatment produced dramatic and lasting relief.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/33. Midbrain syndrome with eye movement disorder: dramatic improvement after cranioplasty.BACKGROUND: patients with skull defects sometimes develop neurological deficits, which have been grouped under "the syndrome of the trephined". The deficits are usually nonspecific or nonlocalizing, such as apathy or diffuse headaches. We report, to our knowledge, a first case of severe midbrain syndrome associated with a skull defect. Cranioplasty dramatically resolved the patient's symptoms. A midbrain syndrome represents the main manifestation of the syndrome of the trephined and can be corrected by cranioplasty. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old man with head trauma and epidural hematoma initially had normal eye motility. He developed a skull defect after infection following cranioplasty. He presented with onset of neurological symptoms one year after head trauma with a skull defect, a small divergent and vertical strabismus, elevation deficit of both eyes, headaches and fatigue. Over several months he developed severe bilateral deficit of adduction, elevation, depression and convergence. He had neuropsychological deficits, fatigue, headaches and impaired coordination. neuroimaging and lumbar puncture did not show evidence of increased intracranial pressure or hydrocephalus. INTERVENTION: Cranioplasty using Palacos was performed one-and-a-half years after trauma. Immediately after surgery, the patient noted remarkable improvement in his symptoms. Headaches and fatigue disappeared within two days. Two weeks after cranioplasty the patient had orthotropia and virtually normal ocular motility. Neurological symptoms completely disappeared. Recovery remained sustained for over 5 years after cranioplasty. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this represents the first case of the syndrome of the trephined in which the neurological deficits map primarily to the brainstem and show rapid improvement following cranioplasty. We show that cranioplasty in patients with large skull defects is indicated for more then cosmetic reasons and should be considered even after longer periods following a trauma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/33. Bilateral choroidal folds and optic neuropathy: a variant of the crowded disk syndrome?PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features of the syndrome that includes bilateral choroidal folds and optic neuropathy and to propose a novel etiology to explain this presentation. DESIGN: Observational small case series. PARTICIPANTS: Three patients. methods: Three patients received an extensive clinical work-up including complete ocular examination, A and B scan ultrasonography, Humphrey visual field analysis, and imaging of the brain and orbit. Neurological consultation was obtained in each patient two of whom underwent lumbar puncture. The findings of this detailed investigation are reported. RESULTS: Each patient demonstrated bilateral choroidal folds with optic disk congestion and leakage in one eye and optic atrophy in the fellow eye. Extensive ocular and extraocular investigation failed to uncover a specific etiology. pseudotumor cerebri, a well-documented cause of papilledema and choroidal folds, was ruled out in each case. Each patient did demonstrate variable degrees of hyperopia and shortened axial lengths. CONCLUSIONS: The syndrome of bilateral choroidal folds and optic neuropathy may have various etiologies. pseudotumor cerebri needs to be definitively ruled out. Normal neuro-ophthalmological investigation including lumbar puncture may indicate an alternative cause. Idiopathic acquired hyperopia in middle-aged patients who are hyperopic with shortened axial lengths may be associated with choroidal folds and a constricted scleral canal causing optic disk congestion and complicated by nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy due to a crowded disk.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/33. Anterior stromal puncture in Brown-McLean syndrome.We describe 2 cases of Brown-McLean syndrome with corneal edema successfully treated by anterior stromal puncture (ASP). Ophthalmologic examinations showed peripheral edema and aphakia in both patients. The patients had ASP to control the severe foreign-body sensation. The procedure was effective over a long-term follow-up, suggesting that peripheral ASP may be an effective therapeutic option for patients with symptomatic Brown-McLean syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/33. Elevated intracranial pressure associated with idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis syndrome.The idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome typically occurs in young patients and may produce multiple retinal macroaneurysms, neuroretinitis, and peripheral capillary nonperfusion. Optic disc edema has been described, but elevated intracranial pressure has not been previously documented. We report a case of a 12-year-old girl who presented with bilateral disc swelling and peripapillary hemorrhage. brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was normal, but lumbar puncture yielded an opening pressure of 360 mm H2O with normal constituents. fluorescein angiography delineated saccular aneurysms of the retinal arteriolar vasculature, and IRVAN syndrome was diagnosed. MR venography disclosed poor filling of both transverse venous sinuses. acetazolamide treatment of 14 months did not alter the fundus findings. IRVAN syndrome may present initially with optic nerve swelling and elevated intracranial pressure with subsequent development of the characteristic retinal vascular abnormalities.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/33. Atypical Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease or new uveomeningitic syndrome?PURPOSE: To report on a patient affected by bilateral intermediate uveitis (IU) as the initial sign of an uveomeningitic syndrome. methods: Thorough history, physical examination and ancillary laboratory and radiological testing were performed in this observational case study. RESULTS: A 23-year-old Caucasian man developed bilateral IU, primarily diagnosed as "idiopathic" since a detailed etiologic work-up was not indicative of underlying disease. Seven months later, he presented with poliosis and vitiligo. Lumbar puncture revealed cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Optical coherence tomography showed bilateral subclinical macular edema (ME). The visual acuity was still 20/20 in both eyes. Clinical, laboratory and radiological results did not fit into any known syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: According to all the tests performed, the disease in our patient is a uveomeningitic disease with IU and ME which could be interpreted as an atypical form of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease or a new uveomeningitic syndrome because there is no evidence for any other known disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = puncture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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