Minimally invasive percutaneous stabilization plus balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of type A thoraco lumbar spine fractures: minimum 4 year's follow-up.

AIM: There is no consensus regarding the ideal treatment of type A thoraco-lumbar fractures. Many surgical techniques have been described but none has demonstrated its superiority over others. Recently, minimally invasive techniques have been widely used as they reduce the immediate morbidity related to the procedure. Percutaneous pedicle screw stabilization plus balloon kyphoplasty is a valuable technique, but there are only few data regarding clinical and radiological results in the long term. The purpose of this study was to report the long-term clinical and radiological outcome of patients undergoing minimally invasive management of thoracolumbar fracture in our institution. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Between January 2006 and June 2008, 22 patients underwent short-segment percutaneous stabilization and balloon kyphoplasty for treatment of a type A fracture of the thoraco-lumbar spine. The study included 12 males and 10 females and the mean age was 50.5 years (25-75 years). The affected levels were T10 (N.=1), T11 (N.=1), T12 (N.=3), L1 (N.=9), L2 (N.=4), L3 (N.=3) and L4 (N.=1). RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 60.9 months (50-75 months). The mean operative time was 77 min (range 55-135 min) and the bleeding was very low (<100 mL). VAS was significantly improved from 6.1 to 1.1 at last follow-up. Vertebral kyphosis decreased by 19° to 7.7° (ap<0.001) and local kyphosis was also significantly improved from 12.3° to 4.4° at last follow-up. We reported one screw misplacement that required early repositioning and 4 cement leakage, none of which was symptomatic. No patient worsened his neurological condition postoperatively. CONCLUSION: This treatment strategy is safe and effective. Clinical and radiological results seem to be stable over the time.

Atypical choroid plexus papilloma: Diagnosis and differentials: A case report.

Atypical choroid plexus papilloma is a rare World Health Organization grade 2 intraventricular tumor arising from the epithelium of the plexus choroid with intermediate clinical-pathological features between the benign choroid plexus papilloma and the malignant choroid plexus carcinoma. The main criteria for differentiation are histopathologic, with difficulties in distinguishing it from choroid plexus papilloma based on imaging features. We report the case of a 4-year-old female presenting with headaches and altered mental status. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right lateral ventricular mass with some atypical characteristics, which were confirmed on pathological examination as an atypical choroid plexus papilloma.

Recent concepts in the management of thoracolumbar spine metastasis.

As patient with cancer live longer, spine metastasis is a growing problem. Untreated, it can cause pain, instability and neurologic deficit, which can severely alter the patient's ability and quality of life. When the diagnosis is established, scoring systems help the physician to best define the objective of treatment by evaluating the life expectancy. Except in rare circumstances, treatment is palliative. Over the past 2 decades, remarkable evolution in surgical techniques provided to patients valuable therapeutic options to perform circumferential decompression and stabilization of the affected level. More recently, minimally invasive techniques allowed a significant reduction of morbidity. The parallel development of stereotactic radiosurgery offers new therapeutic options in particular for patients ineligible for surgery.

Unusual presentation of lateral sural cutaneous nerve schwannoma: An exceptional case report.

INTRODUCTION: Schwannoma is the most common benign nerve sheath tumor. Peripheral nerves of the lower extremity are rarely involved and usually asymptomatic. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a misleading clinical presentation of lateral sural cutaneous nerve schwannoma. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, no case has been reported about the location of schwannoma in the lateral sural cutaneous nerve. MRI and anatomopathologic assessment, after microscopic enucleation, are required to confirm diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Care must be taken to not miss a schwannoma of lateral sural cutaneous nerve by meticulous clinical examination and appropriate imaging using MRI in unexplained L5 sciatica.

[Traumatic orbital encephalocele in an adult: report of one case]. / Encéphalocèle intraorbitaire post-traumatique chez un adulte: à propos d'un cas.

Orbital roof fractures after head injury is rare. Traumatic encephaloceles in the orbital cavity are even rarer, with only 24 cases published to date. We report the case of an adult with a post-traumatic orbital encephalocele. One day after a road traffic accident with head injury, the patient developed progressive pulsatile proptosis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an isolated blow-in fracture of the orbital roof with herniation of the left frontal lobe into the orbit. Neurosurgery to repair the orbital defect led to full recovery.

[Fracture luxation of the cervical spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: six cases]. / Fracture luxation du rachis cervical chez des patients atteints de spondylarthrite ankylosante: à propos de six cas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Treatment of cervical spine fracture in patients with ankylosing spondylitis is difficult. Biomechanical changes related to ossified ankylosing spondylitis spine make cervical spine fractures highly unstable. They cover the entire width of the spine inducing multidirectional instability and the risk of neurological injuries. Treatment is more difficult that in the nonossified spine. Different treatments have been proposed including anterior stabilization, posterior stabilization, or both. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively six cases of cervical fracture dislocation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. RESULTS: There were five cases of C6C7 fracture dislocation and one case of C4C5 fracture dislocation. Four patients had neurological impairment at diagnosis. All patients underwent surgery. Two had anterior stabilization: one patient died and the other achieved bone healing. Four patients had anterior and posterior stabilization combined with a cervical brace for three months, for two and a halo cast for two, others because of persistent instability, with neurological injury in one. A neurological improvement was obtained in four patients. One patient was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Surgical management of selected patients with ankylosing spondylitis and cervical spine fractures is challenging. Combined anterior and posterior stabilization should be considered for these fractures. A cervical brace must be associated with surgical treatment. With appropriate management, outcome can be favorable.

Intracranial dissemination of primary spinal cord anaplastic oligodendroglioma.

We report the first case of a 22-year-old man, with a previously neurosurgically treated intramedullary anaplastic oligodendroglioma (World Health Organization grade III), who developed 19 months later two histologically proven intracranial metastases. We support a hypothesis whereby the anaplastic parts of tumors have spread along the spinal cord and brainstem via the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, a process that could be promoted by surgical manipulation, although the relative contribution of the two factors remains speculative.

[Posterior extrusion of Biocompatible Orthopaedic Polymer (BOP) graft mimicking a calcified lumbar disc herniation: case report]. / Expulsion postérieure d'un greffon de Biocompatible orthopaedic polymer (BOP) mimant une hernie discale calcifiée lombaire: à propos d'un cas.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We present a case of intracanalar extrusion of a L5S1 Biocompatible Orthopaedic Polymer (BOP) graft associated with a L4L5 disc herniation 19 years after a lumbar intersomatic fusion for a L5S1 disc herniation. Radiological aspect of this complication should be recognized by neurosurgeons. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 55-year old man presented with a right L5 sciatic pain. Neurological examination found a severe weakness in dorsal flexion of the foot. A lumbar CT scanner disclosed aspects consistent with right L4L5 and huge calcified L5S1 lumbar disc herniation. INTERVENTION: The patient was operated via a bilateral paravertebral approach and a L5 laminectomy. A dense and extensive epidural scarring was seen. The right L4L5 herniated disc was excised. At the left L5S1 level, fibres from a BOP graft had separated into large fragments extruded into the vertebral canal through the dura. The fibres could only be removed partially because of nerve roots adherence. The patient developed postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage that required a second operation for dural closure. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient recovered the right L5 root deficit. CONCLUSION: Neurosurgeons should be aware of the radiological aspect of this complication. If it is recognized on CT scan and asymptomatic, conservative management should be proposed because of the risk of nerve roots injury or postoperative CSF leakage.

Anterior lumbar sagittal alignment after anterior or lateral interbody fusion.

PURPOSE: Anterior or lateral interbody fusion is a treatment option for lumbar disc disease. A segmental change occurs after such surgery. This study was designed to evaluate the changes in the lumbar regional alignment after a single or two-level standalone anterior or lateral interbody fusion (ALIF or LLIF). METHODS: Data from patients referred to our institution between March 2013 and November 2015 for standalone ALIF or LLIF for low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis or degenerative discopathy were retrospectively included in our analysis. Patients with a history of spinal fusion were excluded. Global and regional alignments were analyzed pre- and postoperatively. Pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), lumbar lordosis (LL), index segmental lordosis (ISL) and L4S1 lordosis were compared. Three groups according to the pelvic incidence (PI) (low, normal and high) were separately analyzed then compared. RESULTS: Forty-one women and 27 men (mean age was 46 years; range 25-66) were included. The mean follow-up was 10.8 (range 3-34 months). The patients were globally well balanced preoperatively and remained after surgery (SVA stagnated from 16.76±28.42mm to 15.97±28.20mm, P=0.75). PT and LL did not vary. L4S1 lordosis, and ISL were significantly increased respectively from 30.56±8.59 to 34.58±7.47 (P=0.0026) and from 5.94±5.25 to 12.99±5.87 (P<0.0001) at latest follow-up. CONCLUSION: Despite effective changes in the segmental lordosis at the index levels, our findings suggest that one or two-levels standalone ALIF or LLIF had no effect on the global balance and the lumbar lordosis. The three groups behaved similarly, the regional lordosis was redistributed in a better harmony (L4S1/LL ratio went up from 55% to 61%, P=0.01). STUDY TYPE: Retrospective study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

[Assessment of the surgeon radiation exposure during a minimally invasive TLIF: Comparison between fluoroscopy and O-arm system]. / Évaluation de l'exposition aux radiations du chirurgien lors d'un TLIF mini-invasif: comparaison entre fluoroscopie et navigation O-arm.

INTRODUCTION: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with a minimally invasive approach (MIS TLIF) has become a very popular technique in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine, as it allows a decrease in muscle iatrogenic. However, iterative radiological controls inherent to this technique are responsible for a significant increase in exposure to ionizing radiation for the surgeon. New techniques for radiological guidance (O-arm navigation-assisted) would overcome this drawback, but this remains unproven. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the exposure of the surgeon to intraoperative X-ray during a MIS TLIF under fluoroscopy and under O-arm navigation-assisted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at the University Hospital of Lille from February to May 2013. Twelve patients underwent a MIS TLIF for the treatment of low-grade spondylolisthesis; six under standard fluoroscopy (group 1) and six under O-arm system (group 2). Passive dosimeters (rings and glasses) and active dosimeters for thorax were used to measure the radiation exposure of the surgeon. RESULTS: For group 1, the average time of fluoroscopy was 3.718 minutes (3.13-4.56) while no radioscopy was perform on group 2. For the first group, the average exposure dose was 12 µSv (5-20 µSv) on the thorax, 1168 µSv (510-2790 µSv) on the main hand and 179 µSv (103-486 µSv) on the lens. The exposure dose was measured zero on the second group. CONCLUSION: The maximum recommended doses can be reached, mainly for the lens. In addition to the radioprotection measures, O-arm navigation systems are safe alternatives to significantly reduce surgeon exposure.

[Thrombectomy with the hydrolysing catheter. Apropos of 50 cases]. / Thrombectomie par le cathéter hydrolyser. A propos de 50 cas.

PURPOSE: to present our clinical experience with a new mechanical hydrodynamic thrombectomy system (Hydrolyser), using the Venturi effect, applied for thrombus removal in native arteries, arterial grafts, venous system and pulmonary arteries (diameter > 5 mm). MATERIAL AND METHODS: the Hydrolyser, a 7F, double lumen, over the wire catheter, was used in 50 patients (29 males, 21 females), mean age: 66.2 +/- 13.1 years (40-90). Mean occlusion time: 8.7 +/- 7.3 days (1-30), mean thrombus length: 17.7 +/- 10.2 cm (4-35). Thrombus' location: native arteries (35), arterial grafts (9), superior vena cava (2), axillary vein (2), pulmonary artery (2). Approach ways: arterial femoral antegrade (22), retrograde (7), contralateral (14), popliteal arterial (1), veinous femoral (5) and veinous brachial (1). RESULTS: Immediate technical success in 41 patients (82%): native arteries (27/35), arterial graft (7/9), pulmonary artery (2/2), superior vena cava (2/2) axillary vein (2/2). Percentage of thrombus estimated angiographically to be removed by the Hydrolyser: 72.5 +/- 22%. Adjunctive therapy: angioplasty (38, with 19 immediate stents implantations), thromboaspiration (17), reduced time fibrinolysis (11). One complication: distal embolism cured by thromboaspiration. In 9 patients the procedure failed, requiring surgery. CONCLUSION: the Hydrolyser system seems a promising concept for percutaneous thrombectomy. It is a quick reliable, efficient device. This technique may also offer an alternative to thrombolysis and surgical thrombectomy.

[Dermoid cyst of the lateral ventricle associated with ethmoidal dermal sinus. Report of a case]. / Kyste dermoïde des ventricules latéraux associé à un sinus dermique ethmoïdal. A propos d'un cas.

We report a case of a ventricular dermoid cyst associated with a dermal sinus connected with the ethmoidal cells in a patient who developed rapid symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. Computed tomography showed a cystic mass in the right lateral ventricle with a hydrolipidic image in the left frontal horn of the ventricle and associated hydrocephalus. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a heterogeneous T1 hyperintense mass with a fistulous tract communicating with the ethmoid cells. A cerebrospinal fluid ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was initially established, which required further revision. A right sided transventricular approach was undertaken in a second stage, allowing resection of a dermoid cyst. Obliteration of the dermal sinus tract was obtained using pericranial duraplasty. Clinical and imaging features are discussed. The need for total resection including the tumor capsule and occlusion of the fistula are emphasized if recurrence and infection are to be prevented.

[Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: goals of the minimal invasive approach]. / Arthrodèses transforaminales: intérêts de l'abord minimal invasif.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is an effective technique, which can achieve a fusion rate of up to 90%. The minimally invasive approach has become increasingly popular because it is able to minimize iatrogenic soft tissue and muscle injury. Although the minimally invasive TLIF technique has gained popularity, its effectiveness compared with open TLIF has yet to be established. The authors prospectively compared the outcomes of patients who underwent mini-open TLIF with patients who underwent open TLIF. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2008, 50 patients underwent TLIF for grade 1 spondylolisthesis; 25 mini-open TLIF and 25 open TLIF. The mean age in each group was 48years, and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Data were collected perioperatively. Pain and functional disability were measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) at 3months, 6months, 1year and 2years. In addition, foraminal and disc height were measured at the same intervals and the fusion was evaluated at 1year on CT-scan. Soft tissue damage was evaluated by measuring the serum myoglobin and creatine phosphokinase activity. RESULTS: The mean VAS improved from 7 to 2.8 and the ODI decreased from 30/50 to 15/50 and fusion rate at 1 year was 98%. There was no statistical difference for the clinical and radiological outcomes between the groups. The mean operative time was 186min for the open group, 170min for the mini-open group (P<0.05) and the mean blood loss was 486mL for the open group and 148mL for the mini-open group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The mini-open TLIF procedure for symptomatic low grade spondylolisthesis is an effective option which achieves similar clinical and radiological outcomes and reduces perioperative morbidity as well as soft tissue damage.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: comparison between open and mini-open approaches with two years follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is an efficient technique which can achieve a fusion rate of up to 90%. Minimally invasive approaches have become increasingly popular because they appear to minimize iatrogenic soft tissue and muscle injury. As minimally invasive TLIF gains popularity, its effectiveness compared with open TLIF has yet to be established. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study was performed with the aim to compare long-term outcomes of patients who underwent mini-open TLIF with those who underwent open TLIF. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Between 2005 and 2008, 100 patients underwent TLIF for low-grade spondylolisthesis or degenerative disc disease; 60 underwent open TLIF and 40 underwent mini-open TLIF. The mean age in each group was 48 years, and there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. Data were collected perioperatively. Pain and functional disability were measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. In addition, the fusion was evaluated at 1 year on a computerized tomography (CT) scan. RESULTS: The mean VAS improved from 7.3 to 3.8 for back pain and from 7 to 2.7 for leg pain and the ODI decreased from 60 to 30% at 2 years postoperatively. The fusion rate at 1 year was 98%. There were no statistical differences for the clinical and radiological outcomes between the groups. The mean operative time was 186 minutes in the open group and 170 minutes in the mini-open group (p < 0.05) and the mean blood loss was 486 mL in the open group and 148 mL in the mini-open group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The mini-open TLIF for symptomatic low-grade spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease is an effective option that achieves the same clinical and radiological outcomes at a minimum 2-year follow-up and reduces perioperative morbidity.

A new access site management tool: the Angio-Seal hemostatic puncture closure device.

PURPOSE: Given the increasing number of percutaneously applied endovascular therapies, the incidence of access-related vascular complications can be expected to rise, particularly in association with those techniques requiring large sheaths or anticoagulation. The need exists for a safe, easy to use, and effective hemostatic technique to replace the labor-intensive method of manual compression. METHODS: A bioabsorbable, sheath-delivered vascular device (Angio-Seal) has been developed that deposits a small collagen plug within the arterial wall to mechanically seal the puncture defect. An anchor connected by suture to the plug is first deployed in the arterial lumen and pulled flush against the interior wall to guard against intraluminal deposition of the collagen. RESULTS: The Angio-Seal device was deployed successfully in 80 (96%) of 83 attempts involving common femoral arteries accessed for peripheral angioplasty (n = 30), coronary angiography (n = 30), and coronary angioplasty (n = 16). Three popliteal artery access sites and one femoropopliteal bypass graft were also treated. Hemostasis was immediate in 78 cases (98%); 2 sites required a 5-minute manual compression to effect a secure seal. Three devices failed to deploy, and manual pressure was used to close the puncture. Nondeployment did not cause any sequelae, and no complications were encountered with the technique. CONCLUSIONS: This novel vascular closure device is quick (< 1 minute application time) and simple to use, providing a positive seal of common femoral artery puncture sites for both peripheral and coronary interventions. It appears to be a reliable alternative to standard manual hemostasis.