ABSTRACT
C1 partial aplasia is a rare congenital deformity which can produce unacceptable progressive severe torticollis. Five such cases treated in two regional Pediatric Hospitals of Argentin are presented here. There were 4 girls and 1 boy, with a mean age of 6 years; four of them had formation defect of articular mass (Villa's Area 3) causing fixed torticollis in 3 who underwent surgery. In another case the defect consisted of a posterior hemi-arch (Area 2). Surgical procedures consisted on isolated posterior occipito-cervical arthrodesis in two cases, and associated with a posterior decompression by suboccipital craneotomy in the third, due to the presence of preoperative neurological deficit. Some internal fixation was achieved with sutures (non reabsorbibles in younger patient and wire suture in older ones). Average postoperative immobilisation with Halo-vest was 4.5 months, and it was followed with extended Philadelphia collar until complete consolidation. Non-operated patients responded to conservative therapy. Mean followup was 1 year 8 months. All patients presented correction of the deformity. The 3 surgically treated patients showed good arthrodesis and disappearance of preoperative delicit when present. In conclusion, the unilateral hipoplasias of C1 in children with unyielding deformity can be satisfactorily managed by means of CO-C2/C3 arthrodesis with or without decompression, always associated to external immobilization.
Subject(s)
Arthrodesis/methods , Cervical Atlas/abnormalities , Cervical Atlas/surgery , Torticollis/surgery , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Preoperative CareABSTRACT
The authors report a case of thoracic spinal cord stab injury with neurologic impairment that was treated surgically after injury. A literature review and case analysis indicate that surgical extraction of foreign bodies retained within the spinal canal is indicated to avoid infection, delayed myelopathy, and neurologic loss. The amount of motor and functional recovery for incomplete injuries after spinal cord stab wound can be strikingly good despite pathologic changes to severely damaged areas, and removal of retained intraspinal metallic fragment can improve this neurologic outcome. Open removal of the knife seems preferable to avoid bleeding and infection.
Subject(s)
Spinal Cord Injuries/surgery , Wounds, Stab/surgery , Adult , Foreign Bodies/diagnostic imaging , Foreign Bodies/surgery , Humans , Male , Nervous System/physiopathology , Paraplegia/etiology , Postoperative Period , Spinal Cord/diagnostic imaging , Spinal Cord/surgery , Spinal Cord Injuries/complications , Spinal Cord Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Wounds, Stab/complications , Wounds, Stab/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
We report four new cases of chordoma of "the mobile spine", all at the L2 level. Diagnosis was often delayed due to predominantly nonspecific low back symptoms; however, neurological involvement is more frequent than in chordoma with a sacrococcygeal localization. No pathognomonic images have been described for any imaging modality, and differential diagnosis should include metastases, chondrosarcoma, and giant-cell tumor. Histopathological analysis can be performed on CT-guided puncture biopsy samples, but a high level of suspicion must be present and, if there is any doubt, immunohistochemical studies should be carried out. Despite being the treatment of choice, complete tumor resection by a double-approach spondylectomy is barely feasible at the L2 level.
Subject(s)
Chordoma , Lumbar Vertebrae , Spinal Neoplasms , Aged , Chordoma/diagnosis , Chordoma/epidemiology , Chordoma/surgery , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Spinal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Spinal Neoplasms/epidemiology , Spinal Neoplasms/surgeryABSTRACT
Las anomalías congénitas de los conductos de Müller tienen una baja incidencia en la población general. En los últimos 4 años, 40 pacientes con malformaciones úterovaginales fueron evaluadas en el servicio de Diagnóstico por Imágenes. El objetivo del trabajo es presentar la experiencia conjunta con el servicio de ginecología, en la caracterización de estas malformaciones mediante histerosalpingografía, ecografía y RM, contando en la mayoría de los casos con la confirmación histeroscopia-laparoscopia. Nuestras conclusiones son: 1) la RM permite caracterizar las malformaciones úterovaginales en niñas y adolescentes con obstrucción del tracto genital, en forma no invasiva. 2) la RM permite planificar la vía de abordaje quirúrgico en aquellas malformaciones con defectos de fusión o reabsorción de los conductos de Müller, disminuyendo el riesgo de perforación uterina cuando se utiliza la vía histeroscópica
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Uterus/abnormalities , Vagina/abnormalities , Congenital Abnormalities , Congenital Abnormalities/classification , Congenital Abnormalities/diagnosis , Hysterosalpingography/statistics & numerical data , Magnetic Resonance SpectroscopyABSTRACT
La valoración precisa de las fracturas craneofaciales es indispensable para instituir un tratamiento correcto y de esa manera evitar defectos anatómicos,funcionales y estéticos. En la actualidad el algoritmo de estudio de los traumatismos craneofaciales incluye las radiografías convencionales y la tomografía computada. Se presenta una experiencia conjunta de radiólogos y cirujanos en el estudio de 63 pacientes, 51 hombres y 12 mujeres, con traumatismos craneofaciales asistidos en nuestra institución en los últimos 4 años, con un rango etario que va de 15 a 38 años y una edad media de 30,8 años. Se analizan los hallazgos radiológicos en correlación con la clínica y el mecanismo lesional, así como las técnicas de examen más adecuadas para cada tipo de fractura. Concluímos que la tomografía computada (TC) es el método ideal en la valoración del paciente con traumatismo craneofacial en la planificación del tratamiento quirúrgico