Traumatic elevated vertex fracture with delayed increase in intracranial pressure: a rare case.

INTRODUCTION: Skull fractures are traditionally classified into linear, comminuted or depressed which can either be simple or compound. A skull fracture where the bone fragment is elevated above the intact skull known as elevated skull fracture has been reported infrequently in literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a unique case of simple elevated vertex fracture in a 3-month-old child where the vertex had separated from the calvarium and was elevated above the level of outer table in a patient with delayed neurological deterioration. Cerebrospinal fluid leak into tight subgaleal space and gradual thrombosis of superior sagittal sinus could have led to late clinical deterioration. CONCLUSION: Prolonged monitoring, probably early repair of dural tear and aggressive management of raised ICP, is required. Reduction of fracture with careful manipulation of SSS should weigh the risk of exsanguination. No such case of an elevated vertex fracture has been reported so far in the literature.

Elevated skull fractures in pediatric age group: report of two cases.

Elevated fractures of the skull, which are rarely reported in the literature, are always compound, have maximal neurological deficits at presentation and have been reported only in adults. We report two cases of elevated skull fractures in the pediatric age group, one of which was a simple elevated fracture and presented with delayed neurological deterioration. The etiologies were a fall in first case and an animal attack (bear maul) in the second case as reported for the first time. One of the cases presented with delayed onset of left focal hemispheric signs. The first case underwent debridement, duraplasty and reduction of fracture whereas in the second case the bone flap was not replaced immediately because of gross contamination. Both patients had an excellent outcome. Elevated skull fractures are not uncommon in the pediatric age group. Compound elevated skull fractures should be managed early as open depressed fractures. Reduction of a simple elevated fracture presenting with neurological deficits not explained by any other lesion can result in a good outcome.

Apoplexy in sellar metastasis: a case report and review of literature.

Apoplexy in sellar metastasis is very rare with only a few case reports in literature. A case of apoplexy in sellar metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma is reported and the literature is briefly reviewed. The patient presented with sudden onset headache and bi-lateral loss of vision following thyroidectomy in a case of follicular carcinoma thyroid with proven sellar metastasis. CT scan showed hyperdense blood in sellar mass suggestive of apoplexy in sellar metastasis. The patient underwent early trans-sphenoidal decompression. Apoplexy in sellar metastasis, although very rare, can be clinico-radiologically indistinguishable from pituitary apoplexy and should be especially considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with known primary neoplastic disease. In view of similar patho-physiological mechanism, sellar metastasis with apoplexy should be managed in a similar manner as pituitary apoplexy.

Acute spontaneous subdural hematoma of arterial origin: a report of four cases and review of literature.

Acute spontaneous subdural hematoma of arterial origin, a neurosurgical emergency resulting from rupture of the perisylvian cortical artery, is a rare occurrence. We report four such patients who presented with progressive neurological deterioration. All the patients were operated and perisylvian cortical artery was identified as the source of bleeding in all the patients. Three of the patients had associated hypertension. We reviewed the clinical characteristics, etiology, and outcome of the reported cases in the literature. A high index of suspicion is necessary even in young patients in view of the phenomenon of re-rupture mimicking stroke. Early diagnosis and a wide craniotomy over the sylvian fissure to obtain hemostasis of bleeding points results in good outcome.

Intramedullary spinal cysticercosis cured with medical therapy: case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Spinal intramedullary cysticercosis is a very uncommon manifestation of NCC, which is caused by the larvae of Taenia solium. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of spinal intramedullary cysticercosis who presented subacutely. Magnetic resonance imaging dorsal spine and CSF ELISA clinched the diagnosis. Eight weeks of medical therapy resulted in complete clinicoradiological cure. CONCLUSION: Surgery used to be the mainstay treatment for spinal intramedullary cysticercosis; however, early diagnosis and medical therapy with albendazole and dexamethasone can obviate the need for surgery in many patients.