Assessing in vivo flexion-extension quality of motion after cervical disc arthroplasty: a pilot study.

Background: The quality of flexion-extension motion after cervical disc arthroplasty has been a subject of interest due to the number of available devices with different designs and kinematics. Previous studies of motion quality have been limited to measuring the range of motion using two radiographs taken at the extremes of flexion and extension. This is the first study evaluating the in vivo quality of index segment motion using fluoroscopic images collected over the arc of flexion-extension after M6-C cervical disc arthroplasty surgery. Methods: Eligible participants had previously undergone a single-level cervical disc arthroplasty surgery for degenerative cervical spine disease performed by the senior author. Study participants underwent dynamic lateral fluoroscopic imaging to capture the C2-C7 motion between maximal flexion and extension. The amount of motion contribution by individual segments to the C2-C7 motion (termed segmental motion fraction) and its variation throughout the arc of flexion-extension were compared between the index and adjacent segments. The shift of centre of rotation during the arc of motion was also assessed. Results: Ten subjects with a mean age of 43.8 years old were recruited, with an average follow-up of 16.2 months at the time of fluoroscopy. The C2-C7 cervical spine had an average flexion-extension range of 66.7 degrees. The contribution of the index segment averaged over the flexion-extension arc of motion was 18.9% (peak contribution 24.4%) for the C5-C6 group; and 15.5% (peak contribution 25.5%) for the C6-C7 group. The mean cranial-caudal location of the centre of rotation progressively shifted in the cranial direction from C2-C3 to C6-C7 motion segment. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated physiologic quality of motion at the index segment and harmony among its neighbouring segments following cervical disc arthroplasty, without gearshift-like intermittent locking of the prosthesis during the arc of flexion-extension motion. This pilot study provides a basis for the design of future long-term studies with larger sample size to compare the quality of motion between different cervical disc prostheses using the concept of segmental motion fraction as a motion-quality metric.

Concurrent Pituicytoma, Meningioma, and Cavernomas After Cranial Irradiation for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The majority of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia develop disease relapse in the central nervous system in the absence of central nervous system-directed prophylactic therapy. In the past, prophylactic cranial irradiation was commonly used in the form of whole-brain radiotherapy in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia to prevent the development of intracranial diseases. However, in addition to the inherent risk of toxicity, this type of therapy has several delayed side effects including the development of secondary intracranial tumors. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a rare case of a patient with concurrent pituicytoma, meningioma, and cavernomas 44 years after prophylactic cranial irradiation for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The patient presented with visual disturbance, headache, and features of hypopituitarism. Endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of the pituicytoma and meningioma was performed. Subsequent regrowth of the residual meningioma necessitated further surgery and adjuvant treatment with radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This case report highlights the unusual case of a patient with 3 concurrent intracranial lesions of distinct pathologies after prophylactic cranial irradiation therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Primary intradural extramedullary Ewing sarcoma of the cervical spine: A case report and review of the literature.

Spinal intradural Ewing sarcoma (ES) of the cervical region is not common. Few cases have been reported and optimal management remain poorly defined. We described a case of a young woman with extensive primary leptomeningeal spinal ES and conducted a review of the literature.

Ruptured Distal Anterior Choroidal Artery Aneurysm Presenting as Isolated Intraventricular Hemorrhage: Case Report and Comprehensive Review of the Literature.

Distal anterior choroidal artery (AChA) aneurysms are infrequent. We discuss the case of a 59-year-old patient who presented with an isolated intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) secondary to a ruptured distal AChA aneurysm. Initial noninvasive cerebral computed tomography angiography revealed no evidence of an underlying vascular pathology. The patient underwent further digital subtraction cerebral angiography, which revealed an aneurysm arising from the distal AChA segment. The aneurysm was successfully treated with surgical clip ligation. The current study highlights the importance of considering a ruptured distal AChA aneurysm as a potential source of isolated IVH.

Glioblastoma with primitive neuronal pattern in a girl aged 3 months: a rare diagnosis at an unusual age.

A girl aged 3 months presented with multiple seizures within 12 hours and was noted to have a palpable swelling over the right temporal region. MRI of the brain revealed a large right frontotemporal tumour, suggestive of supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumour. She underwent a stealth-guided craniotomy and debulking of the tumour. Histopathology and immunochemistry of the specimen, however, indicated a high-grade tumour with glioblastoma and neuroblastic components. She underwent adjuvant chemotherapy following the surgery and is well at 7-month follow-up. This case underscores the importance of considering the rare entity of glioblastoma with primitive neuronal pattern as a differential diagnosis in a young child.