An evidence-based information booklet helps reduce fear-avoidance beliefs after first-time discectomy for disc prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the impact of a booklet integrating the biopsychosocial model of chronic pain management on reducing disability among patients undergoing lumbar discetomy. METHODS: In a prospective, controlled, time-series study with an alternate-month design, we enrolled 129 patients from a tertiary care university hospital after they underwent uncomplicated lumbar discectomy for the first time. The intervention group received the biopsychosocial evidence-based booklet and the control group a biomedical-based booklet; the booklets differed only in information content. Patients were blinded to treatment group. The main outcome was disability at 2 months (measured by the Quebec back-pain disability scale [QBPDS]). Secondary outcomes were fear and avoidance beliefs measured by the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ). All data were collected by self-reporting questionnaires. RESULTS: At 2 months, disability did not differ between the 2 groups (QBPDS score 32.4±22.8 vs 36.1±18.7, P=0.36). FABQ physical activity score was lower with the evidenced-based booklet as compared with controls (8.0±7.14 vs 11.2±6.3, P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Providing an evidence-based booklet had no effect at 2 months after surgery on disability but reduced fear-avoidance beliefs about physical activity. This booklet could be an effective tool for health care professionals in helping with patient education. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT00761111.

Incidence and survival of childhood central nervous system tumors: A report of the regional registry of childhood cancers in Auvergne-Limousin.

INTRODUCTION: Central nervous system tumors (CNST) are the most lethal of solid tumors in childhood cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report incidence and survival data for all CNST (International Classification of Diseases for Oncology third edition, category III or Xa) recorded in children under 15 years of age by the Auvergne-Limousin cancer registry for the period 1986-2009. RESULTS: Annual incidence of all CNST was 3.27 per 100,000 and the male to female ratio was 0.95. Over 45.0% of CNST were glial. Astrocytomas (36.2%) showed the highest incidence for each age group except between 1 and 4 years where embryonal tumors were more common. For all CNST, no significant variation in incidence over time was observed for the evaluated period of 23 years (annual percent change: -0.4%, 95% CI, [-2.8-2.1]). Globally, 5 years overall survival was 67% [59-73] and had increased by more than 16% between 1986-1999 and 2000-2009, mainly due to better survival for astrocytomas, other gliomas, ependymomas and choroid plexus tumors (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: We report that the incidence of CNST in Auvergne-Limousin is similar to that in the literature and did not increase between 1986 and 2009. In addition, 5 years overall survival increased after 1999, especially for surgically treatable tumors.

[Medico-economic analysis of a neurosurgery department at a university hospital]. / Analyse médico-économique d'un service de neurochirurgie en centre hospitalier et universitaire.

OBJECTIVE: Economic and societal constraints require to take into account the economic dimension and medical performance of hospital departments. We carried out a self-assessment study, which we thought could be useful to share with the neurosurgical community. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Care and research activities were assessed from 2009 to 2013. We used institutional and assessment-body parameters in order to describe activities and perform a financial evaluation. It was a retrospective descriptive study based on the guidelines of the DHOS/O4 circular No. 2007/390 of October 29, 2007. RESULTS: The average annual, analytic income statement was +1.39 millions euros, for 63 beds with a 92% occupancy rate, including 6.7 full-time equivalent neurosurgeons (and assistants), for 2553 patients and 1975 surgeries. The average mortality rate was 2.74%. The annual mean length of stay was 6.82 days. Per year, on average 15.6% of patients were admitted in emergency and 76.9% returned home. The annual, act-related-pricing and publication-related incomes represented 77% and 0.6%, respectively of the total funding. Difficulties to find downstream beds for the most severe patients induced 1401 "waiting days" in 2012. CONCLUSION: Medico-economic analysis of a neurosurgery department at a university hospital was useful in order to take into account the care, teaching and research activities, as well as its related financial value.

[Surgical complications of deep brain stimulation: clinical experience of 184 cases]. / Complications chirurgicales de la stimulation cérébrale profonde : expérience clinique à propos de 184 cas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment of movement disorders and psychiatric diseases. However, this surgery is still time consuming and associated with complications, among which we aimed to identify non-stimulo-induced adverse effects. Hence, we retrospectively systematically analyzed patients operated on, at our institution, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) direct anatomic mapping. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-five patients (184 surgeries) were performed between 1994 and 2008, for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia and obsessive compulsive disorder. Primary anatomic targets were the subthalamic region, the intern pallidum and the thalamus. Final electrode positioning was adjusted according to intraoperative neuron recordings and acute stimulation tests. All surgically related adverse effects were collected. Life threatening or new non-planed surgery was considered as severe adverse effects. RESULTS: Adverse effects occurred 10 times (5.4%) during MRI acquisition, 24 times (13%) with five serious (2.7%) including one1 death (0.5%) during electrodes implantation and 17 times (9.2%) with four serious (2.2%) during neuropacemaker implantation. Electrodes were repositioned in six cases (five patients, n=3.4%). CONCLUSION: DBS efficiency is recognized however the significant incidence of adverse effects should prompt us to improve the procedures.

[Transversal fractures in spinal ankylosis: a case series of 17 patients]. / Fractures transversales du rachis ankylosé : une série de 17 cas.

PURPOSE: Transverse fractures of the spine are rare. They occur in ankylosed spine and may lead to neurological complications. We report a series of 18 cases observed in 17 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The objective of this study were to describe the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic features of our series and to compare our results with those of the literature. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study from 1975 to 2008 in the neurosurgery and rheumatology departments of the university hospital (CHU) of Clermont-Ferrand. RESULTS: Eighteen transverse spine fractures were documented in 17 patients (one female patient had two fractures of the lumbar vertebrae). The 13 male and four female patients included in this series had a mean age of 57.4 ± 17.2 years and AS for a mean time of 21.3 ± 12 years (5-40). All patients had spinal ankylosis with a "bamboo" spine appearance. The reasons for hospital admission were suspicion of AS flare (n=10) and suspected traumatic fracture (n=8). Trauma, in most cases minor, was noted in 15 patients. Fourteen patients presented with mechanical spinal pain and three had both mechanical and inflammatory pain. Three patients experienced severe pain on mobilization. Two patients had pyramidal syndrome. The mean time to diagnosis of the fracture was 6.8 ± 8.4 weeks (0-22). The fracture was located in cervical spine (n=2), dorsal spine (n=8) and lumbar spine (n=8). It was transdiscal and transcorporeal in nine cases each. Standard radiographs (n=18) identified the fracture in nine cases. The fracture was demonstrated in all CT-scan (n=13). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (n=6) showed the fracture in five cases and epidural hematoma in one. Eleven patients had orthopedic treatment and six underwent surgery. Outcome was favorable in 16 patients. One paraplegic patient died of pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: Transverse fractures of the spine are rare and diagnosis should be considered in a patient with AS and ankylosed spine who presented mechanical spine pain following even minor trauma. If standard radiographs are normal, further investigations should be performed using MRI, CT-scan, or both.

[Benign but not harmless intracranial hypertension: a case report]. / Hypertension intracrânienne bénigne, mais pas anodine. À propos d'un cas.

Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) is characterized as an intracranial pressure increase occurring in the absence of brain tumour, sinus thrombosis or hydrocephaly. But contrary to what its designation might suggest, it threatens the visual prognosis. We report the case of a 15-year-old girl with lymphocytic meningitis, developing secondary a BIH. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure was 70cm water, without enlargement of the cerebral ventricles. Along with the progression, bilateral 6th nerve palsy, impairment of visual acuity and bilateral papilledema appeared. No cause was found after a complete assessment. Treatment consisted in oral acetazolamide and 9 depletive spinal taps. Clinical examination, fundus examination and Goldmann visual field normalized after 8 weeks. No relapse occurred after a 1-year follow-up. This case shows that BIH, which is not a well-known disorder, is incorrectly referred to as benign: both prompt diagnosis and proper management are of major importance.

[Pituitary metastasis presenting as diabetes insipidus: a report of four cases and literature review]. / Diabète insipide révélateur de métastases hypophysaires : quatre observations et revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: Pituitary metastases are a rare cause of central diabetes insipidus and usually complicate advanced cancers. CASE REPORTS: We report four cases in which diabetes insipidus revealed a metastatic stage of a lung (two cases) or a breast (two cases) cancer. One patient presented with a panhypopituitarism, three had diabetes insipidus including one with corticotroph insufficiency. In one case, the cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed a lymphocytic meningitis. On brain magnetic resonance imaging there was an absence of high intensity signal in the posterior pituitary lobe (one case) or an infiltration of the posterior lobe (three cases). CONCLUSION: Breast and lung malignancies are the most frequent causes of metastasis of the pituitary gland. In most cases there are often other metastatic locations; however insipidus diabetes can reveal the metastatic stage of the cancer. A pituitary biopsy may be necessary to obtain the diagnosis.

[Unruptured intracranial aneurysm and microsurgical exclusion: the need of a randomized study of surgery versus natural history]. / Anévrisme intracrânien non rompu et exclusion microchirurgicale: justification d'une étude randomisée chirurgie versus histoire naturelle.

Although unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) is becoming a more common finding nowadays, determining the optimal treatment strategy is difficult because the risk of rupture is poorly understood and surgery is not without its own hazards. As the mortality rate after rupture is estimated to range from 56 to 83%, the final therapeutic decision is the result of an analysis of rupture risk and the risks related to surgical exclusion, which may be determined by consideration of the risk factors. We considered the UIA to have a high risk of rupture if it was located on the vertebrobasilar arterial system (RR: 4.4; CI 95%, 2.7-6.8), between 7 and 12 mm in size (RR: 3.3; CI 95%, 1.3-8.2) or larger (RR: 17; CI 95%, 8-36.1), multilobular and had a ratio of depth to width greater than 3.4 (risk x 20). A family history of UIA would constitute a major rupture risk (two to seven times that of spontaneous UIA). Other factors related to UIA rupture include arterial hypertension (RR: 1.46; CI 95%, 1.01-2.11) and smoking (RR: 3.04; CI 95%, 1.21-7.66). After microsurgical exclusion, the morbidity and mortality rates were calculated as 9 and 1.5%, respectively. Microsurgical risk factors were age (32% > 65 years), and factors related to the UIA itself and surgery, such as size (14% > 15 mm), location, presence of atherosclerosis and difficulty of surgical clip application. The incidence of rupture after microsurgical exclusion was estimated to be 0.2% per year, and complete microsurgical exclusion was achieved in 90% of patients. A randomised study of microsurgical exclusion of UIA would offer further proof of our therapeutic hypotheses.

[Analysis of a series of cavernomas of the central nervous system: 39 non operated cases, 39 operated cases, 1 dead]. / Analyse d'une série de cavernomes du système nerveux central: 39 cas non opérés, 39 cas opérés et un cas décédé

Cavernomas are vascular malformations frequently localized in the central nervous system. Debate remains open concerning proper treatment. We reviewed a series of cavernomas in order to collect information concerning the natural history. This retrospective study concerned 79 patients seen over a 15-year period. The epidemiologic, clinical, radiological, therapeutic and follow-up data were analyzed. The cavernomas were encephalic (including brain stem and cerebellum) in 74 patients, and in the spinal cord in 5 patients. Average age was 40.08 years, without sex predominance. The most frequent clinical sign was a focal neurological deficit. The cavernoma was solitary in 71 patients. The subtentorial localization was most frequent (44 cases). Bleeding was observed in 31 patients giving a hemorrhagic risk of 0.013%/patient/year. One patient died at admission, 39 were operated and surgical abstention with clinical and radiological follow up was decided for 39 patients (no bleeding in 64.2%). The course in these patients was marked by bleeding in six during 29.5 months follow-up of (rate of hemorrhagic risk 6.27%/patient/year). These results are not in total agreement with the literature. They demonstrate the difficulties for an exact evaluation of the hemorrhagic risk in cavernomas of the central nervous system. So, it is very important to meticulously discuss surgical indications.

[Role of radiosurgery in the management of intracranial cavernomas. Review of the literature]. / Place de la radiochirurgie dans la prise en charge des cavernomes intracrâniens. Revue de la littérature.

From a review of the literature dealing with radiosurgery of cavernous malformations, we have analyzed its impact on hemorrhagic risk, epilepsy, histological modifications, morbidity and potential indications of treatment. Radiosurgery could significantly reduce the hemorrhagic risk, in a selected population with a high risk of hemorrhage, after an interval of about 2 years, but cannot provide protection against rebleeding. As for epilepsy related to the lesion, a significant reduction of seizures has been observed in certain cases, with better control in case of recent evolution and simple seizures linked to the site of the vascular malformation. Histologic lesions are vascular fibrosis, fibrinoid necrosis and ferrugination, without good correlation with results of CT scan or MRI. Morbidity of radiosurgery seems higher compared to other diseases with similar doses and target volumes. The rate of transient complications was about 25%, with permanent sequelae in 5 to 10% of patients. This would be due to a radiosensitizing effect of the hemosiderin halo around the lesion. Radiosurgery can be proposed for non-surgical lesions with a high risk of hemorrhage, nevertheless the superiority of the technique over conservative treatment has to be proven. Without long-term prospective studies, the efficiency of RS for cavernomas remains questionable and subject to debate. New imaging methods proving the obstruction of the cavernous malformation are needed.

[Therapeutic indications for central nervous system cavernomas]. / Indications thérapeutiques des cavernomes du système nerveux central.

We describe the therapeutic indications for central nervous system cavernomas based on three criteria: 1) Single and multiple lesions: indications are the same, considering that in multiple lesions, one location can be symptomatic; 2) locations: indications are easy to define for exophytic cavernomas close to the hemisphere, brain stem or cerebellum pial surface, or to the ventricular ependyma; 3) symptomatic and non symptomatic presentations: usually, symptomatic forms require surgery except deep lesions located in functional zones distant from the ependyma or the pia matter, unless life prognosis is compromised. Treatment of a symptomatic forms remains debatable, opinion being divided between therapeutic abstention and surgery (in case of cavernomas close to the pia matter or the ependyma). Scientific data strongly support surgical indication for lesions presenting with epilepsy specially when drug-resistant; 4) natural history: prevention against hemorrhage is an argument in favor of surgery for the lesions located in non functional zones or where the risk of bleeding is higher, especially in the brain stem. Discrepancy in the risk of bleeding reported in the literature tends to temper this attitude. Radiosurgery is exceptionally reserved for technically inoperable cavernomas. Partial protection for two years can be expected. Epileptic seizures decrease but few prospective randomised studies are available. The rate of complication appears to be higher than in other affections.

[Adenocarcinomas of the ethmoid sinus: retrospective analysis of prognostic factors]. / Adénocarcinomes de l'ethmoïde: analyse rétrospective des facteurs pronostics.

OBJECTIVES: Determinate the different prognostic factors of survival in ethmoidal sinus adenocarcinomas (ADK). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 60 patients with ethmoidal sinus ADK. 59 men and one woman. Average of 62.2 years (41-82). Retrospective study between 1985 and 2005. The following data were analyzed: exposure time to wood dust, disease incidence, primary clinical symptoms and ASA score. Radiological data were recovered by tomodensitometry and magnetic resonance imaging. Histological groups were described. TNM classification according to UICC 2002 and Roux/Brasnu was established on clinical and radiological constatations. Different treatments used were analyzed. Estimate of survival rate and impact of different prognostic factors were based on Kaplan-Meier actuarial method and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Incidence rate was 2.86 patients a year. Exposure average time to wood dust was 25.6 years (2-44). T3/T4 stages were predominant (66.7%). the survival rate was 46.5% at 5 years. The survival rate was significantly superior respectively in T1 and T2 stages than in T3 and T4 stages, and in T4a than in T4b stages. Extension of the lesion to the sphenoid sinus was revealed as a significant bad prognostic factor. The ASA score and the exposure time to wood dust were not identified as statistically significant prognosis factors. CONCLUSION: Survival factors of ethmoïd sinus ADK were T stage and the extension of the tumor to the sphenoid sinus. On the results of this study, we consider that extension in sphenoïd sinus could be include in TNM classification of ethmoïd sinus adenocarcinomas.

[Hemorrhagic lumbar juxta facet cyst. A case report]. / Kyste lombaire hémorragique juxta-articulaire. A propos d'un cas.

We report the case of a hemorrhagic lumbar juxta facet cyst (L2-L3), revealed by a chronic right lumbocruralgia, in a 77-year-old woman treated by anticoagulants for cardiac arrhythmia. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging suggested the diagnosis of benign tumor. During surgical removal of the whole lesion, a hemorrhagic synovial cyst was evoked. The operation dramatically relieved the symptoms. The diagnosis was confirmed by the histopathological analysis confronted with the clinical and the radiological findings. This uncommon observation allows the discussion of the pathogenic mechanism and of the differential diagnosis.

Cystemustine in recurrent high grade glioma.

In this study, we have assessed the efficacy of a nitrosourea, cystemustine, in treating patients with recurrent high grade glioma with overall survival analysis as primary end-point. Forty-eight patients with recurrent high grade glioma (24 glioblastomas, 17 astrocytomas and 5 oligodendrogliomas) were treated every 2 weeks with 60 mg/m2 cystemustine by a 15 min-infusion. The median number of treatment cycles was 4 (range 1-17). The median overall survival was 8.3 months (range 1-97) and the 6- and 12-month overall survival rates were 55.3% (95% CI, 41.3-68.6%) and 29.8% (95% CI, 18.6-44.0%), respectively. The objective response rate was 18.8% (95% CI, 7.7-29.9%), and 54.2% of patients had stable disease (95% CI, 40.1-68.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that WHO performance status, histology and response to cystemustine were significant prognostic factors for survival of patients with recurrent glioma. In conclusion, cystemustine has encouraging activity for patients with recurrent high grade glioma.

[Spontaneous intrasphenoidal encephalocele. Report of two cases revealed by rhinorrhea]. / Encéphalocèle spontanée intrasphénoïdale. A propos de deux cas révélés par une rhinorrhée.

We report two cases of spontaneous anteromedial temporo-sphenoidal meningo-encephalocele. The first patient was a 67-year-old man with a history of treated epiglotic cancer 6 years ago, was referred to us for CSF rhinorrhea. Lateral sphenoidal CSF fistula was confirmed by CT cisternography. Four lumbar taps were performed and rhinorrhea stopped for 2 years. At relapse of rhinorrhea, the patient was operated on via a subtemporal approach. The dural defect was filled by an intradural patch of pericranium. Four years later patient showed no evidence of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The second patient was a 54-year-old woman referred to us after a one year history of CSF rhinorrhea. CT cisternography confirmed lateral sphenoidal CSF fistula. The patient was operated on via a subtemporal approach. The dural defect was filled by a patch of pericranium. Three years later the patient had no evidence of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Twenty-one cases of anteromedial temporosphenoidal meningo-encephaloceles have been reported in the literature. They probably are of a developmental origin. Some cases have been successfully treated via a transsphenoidal route. However surgical failures related to this approach can be due to the lack of control of the lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus. Therefore, the frontotemporal approach seems more adequate but the transphenoidal endoscopic approach will probably be used in the future.

High-dose BCNU followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in supratentorial high-grade malignant gliomas: a retrospective analysis of 114 patients.

Conventional treatment of high-grade glioma includes maximal surgical resection followed by external radiation therapy. Despite this treatment, the prognosis for patients is poor. High doses of chemotherapy might be another way to increase the response rate and median survival. Increasing doses of BCNU might be more effective, but also provokes unacceptable myelotoxicity. This dose-limiting toxicity can be circumvented by using autologous blood stem cell rescue. We report our experience of high-dose BCNU followed by transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells in 114 patients with high-grade gliomas. Of the 114 gliomas, 78 were glioblastoma multiforme (GM) (68%), 24 anaplastic astrocytomas (AA) (21%), and 12 anaplastic oligodendrogliomas (OD) (11%). Complete surgical resection was performed for 22 patients (18 GM and 4 AA). The median age was 44 years (range 17-65). A total of 84 patients received autologous hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow harvest, while 30 patients received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor followed by apheresis and received peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC). High dose of BCNU (800 mg/m(2)) was given at least 1 month after neurosurgery. Bone marrow or PBPC was transplanted 48-72 h after chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was started approximately 40 days after transplantation to a total of 60 Gy. Median follow-up was 89 months (19-163). The overall survival (OS) was, respectively, 12 months for GM, 37 months for OD and 81 months for AA. Histological type appeared to be the main discriminating factor, with a worse prognosis for GM. Within the GM population, age, completeness of surgery, and response appeared to be one important prognostic factors. The AA and OD populations were small to reliably assess prognostic factors. On multivariate analysis, the main prognostic factors were histologic type, quality of surgery, and age (P<0.005). Five of 114 patients had lethal complications from the procedure. Four of these patients had a Karnovsky performance score (KPS) of 60%. The protocol thus appears to be feasible but patients should be selected for KPS more than 70%. We observed long-term survivors, although the OS and the time to treatment failure seem to be comparable to that described for other treatment. Additional pilot studies are unlikely to reveal more than a modest benefit from this procedure and therefore a randomized study should be performed.

[Anatomy of the vestibulo-acoustico-facial neurovascular pedicle. Importance of therapeutic management of vestibular schwannomas]. / Anatomie du pédicule vasculo-nerveux facio-cochléo-vestibulaire. Intérêt dans la prise en charge thérapeutique des schwannomes vestibulaires.

A perfect knowledge of the anatomy of the vestibuloacusticofacial pedicle is required to preserve hearing and facial functions during cerebellopontine angle surgery for vestibular schwannoma. A clarification of the anatomy of this pedicle, in particular of its blood supply, is presented here, based on a review of the available literature, as well as on the author's data issued from anatomical dissections on latex-injected fresh specimens, and from radiological images of the cerebellopontine angle. The blood supply to the vestibuloacusticofacial bundle arises from the meatal loop of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery most often exhibited at the porus of the internal acoustical meatus. The labyrinthine artery is particularly exposed to injury between the cochlear and facial nerves. In addition, dissection in between these two nerves is likely to sever vessels directed to these nerves even though the labyrinthine artery is not interrupted. Thus, aside from a direct injury to the labyrinth, auditory function can be impaired through two distinct ischemic lesion types. Although the facial nerve is supplied through three main arterial systems (from the labyrinthine, the middle meningeal, and the stylomastoid arteries), its labyrinthine portion is more likely to suffer from ischemic damage as it is only supplied by meatal arteries. A refinement of our anatomical knowledge of the vestibuloacusticofacial pedicle, from a functional point of view, could arise from laser Doppler measurements of labyrinthine and facial blood flow during surgery, in an attempt to improve our functional preservation rate during therapeutic procedures for vestibular schwannoma.