ABSTRACT
Many elderly people take warfarin due to underlying disease. Warfarin is a risk factor for developing chronic subdural hematomas and other intracranial hematomas. Our patient was on chronic warfarin treatment for longstanding atrial fibrillation and underwent burr hole trephination due to chronic subdural hematoma. Multiple intracerebral hemorrhages developed 7 days after surgery without resumption of warfarin. Here, we report and review this rare case.
ABSTRACT
The central type of Tapia’s syndrome is an extremely rare presentation, characterized by unilateral paralysis of the vagal and hypoglossal nerves, contralateral hemiparesis, or hemihypesthesia. This report describes a case of a middle-aged patient who developed central Tapia’s syndrome due to a right vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA). The patient complained about swallowing difficulty and odynophagia. Right vocal cord paralysis, mild tongue deviation to the right side, left hypesthesia, and decreased temperature sensation with left hemiparesis were observed in neurologic exams. A right VADA and compression of the medulla oblongata due to the VADA were diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging. Endovascular flow diversion of the right VADA was performed. After 1 year, all neurological symptoms and vocal cord paralysis were nearly resolved, but left hypesthesia remained with decreased nociception. We present and discuss how a VADA caused those symptoms and propose endovascular flow diversion as a treatment option.
ABSTRACT
The central type of Tapia’s syndrome is an extremely rare presentation, characterized by unilateral paralysis of the vagal and hypoglossal nerves, contralateral hemiparesis, or hemihypesthesia. This report describes a case of a middle-aged patient who developed central Tapia’s syndrome due to a right vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA). The patient complained about swallowing difficulty and odynophagia. Right vocal cord paralysis, mild tongue deviation to the right side, left hypesthesia, and decreased temperature sensation with left hemiparesis were observed in neurologic exams. A right VADA and compression of the medulla oblongata due to the VADA were diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging. Endovascular flow diversion of the right VADA was performed. After 1 year, all neurological symptoms and vocal cord paralysis were nearly resolved, but left hypesthesia remained with decreased nociception. We present and discuss how a VADA caused those symptoms and propose endovascular flow diversion as a treatment option.
ABSTRACT
The incidence of quadriplegia following drainage of cerebrospinal fluid by lumbar puncture (LP) below a spinal occupying lesion is rare. We report a case of acute quadriplegia following LP for presumed normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in a 66-year-old man. Acute cervical myelopathy with a herniated cervical disc was subsequently found on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the C5–6 level. After posterior decompression and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at the C5–6 level with a cervical plate, the patient's motor and sensory functions recovered. Clinicians should be aware that symptoms of NPH and cervical myelopathy may overlap, and that serious complications may occur when performing LP below a spinal lesion. As a safety measure, cervical spine MRI should be performed before LP.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#Microsurgical treatment could be a good alternative for the treatment of recurrent cerebral aneurysm after coil embolization. The purpose of this study was to present our experience of microsurgical treatment for recurrent cerebral aneurysm previously treated using coil embolization. @*Methods@#From June 2012 to May 2019, 34 patients consecutively received microsurgical treatment for a recurrent cerebral aneurysm previously treated using coil embolization after it ruptured. @*Results@#Of the 34 patients with aneurysm, 33 had the aneurysm located in the anterior circulation. The most common location was the anterior communicating artery (13 cases). Immediate radiologic outcome at coil embolization was completed (n=6), residual neck (n=26), and residual sac (n=2). The reason for microsurgical treatment included rebleeding (n=12), persistent residual sac (n=1), and recurrence on follow-up study (n=21). Rebleeding occurred within 10 days after coil embolization in 10 cases, and the other 2 were due to regrowth. In the 20 recurred and saccular aneurysms, coil compaction was present in 11 aneurysms and regrowth in 9 aneurysms. Simple neck clipping (n=29) and clipping with coil mass extraction (n=3) was possible in the saccular aneurysms. The blood blister like aneurysm (n=2) were treated using bypass and endovascular internal carotid artery trapping. In the follow-up study group after microsurgical treatment there were no severe complications due to the treatment. Age, cause of retreatment, and modified Rankin Scale before microsurgery were associated with good outcome (p<0.001). @*Conclusions@#Microsurgical treatment may be a viable and effective option for treating recurrent aneurysms previously treated by endovascular techniques.
ABSTRACT
Trigeminal neuralgia is caused by compression of trigeminal nerve root and it leads to demyelination gradually. It was almost idiopathic and occurred unexpected. The upper cervical spinal cord contains the spinal trigeminal tract and nucleus. Fibers with cell bodies in the trigeminal ganglion enter in the upper pons and descend caudally to C2 level. We experienced a rare patient with facial pain, which was paroxysmal attack with severe pain after a clear event, cervical spinal injury (C2). So, this case reminds us of a possible cause of trigeminal neuralgia after a trauma of the head and neck.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cell Body , Cervical Cord , Demyelinating Diseases , Facial Pain , Head , Neck , Odontoid Process , Pons , Spinal Cord , Spinal Injuries , Trigeminal Ganglion , Trigeminal Nerve , Trigeminal NeuralgiaABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Chronic subdural hematoma drainage is one of the most common procedures performed in neurosurgical practice. Not only burr hole drainage but also small craniotomy (diameter 3–5 cm) is frequently used neurosurgical treatment of chronic subdural hematomas. We assessed to compare the postoperative recurrence rates between burr hole drainage versus small craniotomy with closed-system drainage for chronic subdural hematomas. METHODS: From January 2016 to December 2018, 75 patients who were treated with burr hole drainage and small craniotomy with closed system drainage for the symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma were enrolled. Pre and postoperative computed tomography (CT) were used for radiologic evaluation. The choice of procedure was decided by preoperative CT images. RESULTS: 60 patients out of 75 patients underwent burr hole drainage, whereas 15 patients underwent small craniotomy. The overall postoperative recurrence rate was 16%. The recurrence occurred in 8 patients out of 60 patients in burr hole drainage group (13.3%) and 7 patients out of 15 patients in small craniotomy group (46.7%). The number of days of hospitalization was 10.3 days in burr hole drainage group and 15.7 days in small craniotomy group. CONCLUSION: Burr hole drainage would be sufficient to evacuate chronic subdural hematoma with lower recurrence rate, but small craniotomy was also needed in some cases such as hematoma has solid portion or multiple septum.