Embolization of an Intracranial Vertebral Artery Aneurysm via the Deep Cervical Artery.

Treatment of vertebral artery aneurysms can be challenging due to the unusual vascular anatomy or unfeasibility of traditional endovascular techniques. We describe a novel approach for endovascular treatment of a ruptured intracranial vertebral artery aneurysm with bilateral vertebral artery occlusions and hypoplasia of the posterior communicating arteries. Successful coil embolization was performed using a collateral pathway for microcatheterization via anastomosis between the deep cervical artery and the vertebral artery. This case report highlights a novel alternative endovascular treatment approach for vertebrobasilar aneurysms in case of a poor vascular status with occlusion or lack of traditional endovascular access routes.

Can Break-Dance Break Your Neck? C1/C2 Luxation with a Combined Dens Fracture Without Neurological Deficits in an 11-Year Old Boy After a Break-Dance Performance.

Atlantoaxial dislocation in children is a very rare condition. We present the case of a dislocation happened during a break-dance maneuver. The purpose of this report is describing dangers of break-dancing and discussing the treatment we chose. The patient was followed up until 12 months after surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of the cervical spine were evaluated. Translaminar fixation of C1/C2 had been performed after manual reposition under X-ray illumination. After a 12-month follow-up, the patient shows a stable condition without neurological dysfunction. He is not allowed to perform any extreme sports.

Anatomical configuration of the Sylvian fissure and its influence on outcome after pterional approach for microsurgical aneurysm clipping.

BACKGROUND: The sylvian fissure (SF) is the anatomical pathway used in a pterional approach, which leads to most aneurysms. There are four different anatomical variants of the SF described. In the present retrospective study the four different categories of the SF were studied in order to evaluate any correlation of these variants to surgical outcome. METHODS: Patients treated for intracranial aneurysms by a pterional transsylvian approach during 2003-2012 (N = 237) were included in the study. The SF category was determined by analysis of preoperative computed tomography (CT) scanning. Patients were grouped into unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) and ruptured intracranial aneurysms with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) according to the Hunt and Hess grades. Brain edema, vasospasms, ischemic lesion rate, and outcome were evaluated for possible correlation with SF anatomical variants. RESULTS: Postsurgically brain edema formation correlated significantly with more complex anatomical variants of the SF in patients with UIAs and in patients with Hunt and Hess 1 and 2. Ischemia rate, vasospasms, or clinical outcome was not negatively affected though. CONCLUSION: The classification of the SF as proposed by Yasargil is more than a pure anatomical observation. In this retrospective study, we show that the anatomical variants of the SF can be associated to postoperative complications like formation of brain edema or ischemic lesions Preoperative knowledge of the SF anatomy and possibly consecutive adapted extend of the surgical approach can decrease procedure-related morbidity.

Pediatric parafalcine empyemas.

Subdural intracranial empyemas and brain abscesses are a rare complication of bacterial sinusitis. Pediatric parafalcine abscesses are a rare entity with different treatment compared with other brain abscesses. We present two pediatric cases with falcine abscess as a sinusitis complication and introduce our department's treatment management. In addition a review of literature is performed. Surgical cases of our department and their management are compared with the current literature. In our cases, both of the children showed a recurrent empyema after the first surgical treatment and antibiotic therapy. A second surgical evacuation was necessary. The antibiotic therapy was given for 3 months. Short-time follow-up imaging is necessary irrespective of infection parameters in blood and patient's clinical condition. Especially in parafalcine abscesses a second look may be an option and surgical treatment with evacuation of pus is the treatment of choice if abscess remnants are visualized.

Skull base approaches in neurosurgery.

The skull base surgery is one of the most demanding surgeries. There are different structures that can be injured easily, by operating in the skull base. It is very important for the neurosurgeon to choose the right approach in order to reach the lesion without harming the other intact structures. Due to the pioneering work of Cushing, Hirsch, Yasargil, Krause, Dandy and other dedicated neurosurgeons, it is possible to address the tumor and other lesions in the anterior, the mid-line and the posterior cranial base. With the transsphenoidal, the frontolateral, the pterional and the lateral suboccipital approach nearly every region of the skull base is exposable.In the current state many different skull base approaches are described for various neurosurgical diseases during the last 20 years. The selection of an approach may differ from country to country, e.g., in the United States orbitozygomaticotomy for special lesions of the anterior skull base or petrosectomy for clivus meningiomas, are found more frequently than in Europe.The reason for writing the review was the question: Are there keyhole approaches with which someone can deal with a vast variety of lesions in the neurosurgical field?In my opinion the different surgical approaches mentioned above cover almost 95% of all skull base tumors and lesions. In the following text these approaches will be described.These approaches are:1) pterional approach2) frontolateral approach3) transsphenoidal approach4) suboccipital lateral approachThese approaches can be extended and combined with each other. In the following we want to enhance this philosophy.