Middle meningeal artery aneurysm: Case report.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms of meningeal middle artery (MMA) are extremely rare. These aneurysms are of two types: true aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm. The true type is usually seen with pathologic conditions. Pseudoaneurysms, on the other hand, are associated with a skull fracture. Epilepsy caused by MMA aneurysm has never been described to our knowledge. We report a case of true aneurysm isolated from MMA revealed by epilepsy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 57-year-old patient with a history of high blood pressure developed epilepsy which was treated by valproic acid. Initial scalp electroencephalography (EEG) showed seizure activity arising from the right temporal area. Epilepsy had become drug-resistant. Cerebral angiography revealed an aneurysm of the right middle meningeal artery without any other intraparenchymal anomaly. The interrogation did not reveal any history of family aneurysm. The patient underwent surgery with coagulation of the aneurysm and the MMA. The aneurysm was intradural in contact with the temporal cortex, and the surrounding brain tissues were preserved. The operative follow-up was favorable with amelioration of convulsions with a single antiepileptic. We planned to stop antiepileptic treatment according to electroencephalograms. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysms of the MMA are rare. Their mode of revelation by seizures is unusual. The factors of rupture are not known. When isolated, their physiopathology is identical to that of the aneurysms of the Willis polygon. Their management uses the same techniques as for other cerebral aneurysms.

Clinical profile of subdural hematomas: dangerousness of subdural subacute hematoma.

Subacute subdural hematomas are a poorly individualized nosological entity, often equated clinically to chronic subdural hematomas. Yet, their neurological deterioration which is usually rapid seems to distinguish them from chronic subdural hematomas. We wanted to show this dangerousness by establishing the clinically evolving profile of the three types of subdural hematomas. This was a prospective and retrospective study of 63 subdural hematoma (18 acute, 13 subacute, and 32 chronic) patients admitted between 2012 and 2014 in the neurosurgery unit of Lomé University Hospital. Hematomas were classified according to the elapsed time after head injury and blood density on CT. The main parameter studied was the evolution of the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) in the 3 months following the trauma, enabling to establish an evolving profile of each type of hematoma. The average age of patients was 58.1 years for chronic subdural hematomas and 47.6 years for subacute subdural hematomas. Disease duration before admission was 13.1 days for chronic against 36.6 h for subacute hematoma. The clinical profile shows acute worsening within hours during the second week for patients with subacute hematoma, while it is progressive for patients with chronic hematoma. We noted two deaths, all victims of a subacute hematoma (one operated, one patient waiting for surgery). Iso-density hematoma on CT, especially in a young person, must be considered as a predictive factor of rapid neurological aggravation suggesting an urgent care or increased monitoring by paramedics.

[Treatment of child hydrocephalus by endoscopic third ventriculostomy in Senegal]. / Traitement de l'hydrocéphalie de l'enfant par ventriculocisternostomie endoscopique au Sénégal.

INTRODUCTION: Since its advent, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been an effective alternative to shunt placement for the treatment of hydrocephalus. The aim of this study was to report the results of our experience with this technique in children in Senegal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 70 cases of children aged between 5 months to 15 years who were treated by ETV in the Neurosurgery Department of Fann Hospital in Dakar, between January 2010 to December 2012. The results were evaluated based on the clinical criteria of Drake and the Canadian Pediatric Neurosurgery Study Group. The mean follow-up duration was 24 months (9-32 months). RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 29 months. A male predominance (sex-ratio 1/3) was observed. We also noted a macrocephaly in 64.4 % of cases, psychomotor retardation in 40 % and decreased vision in 31.4 %. Headache and vomiting were found in 42.8 % and 61.4 % respectively. The main etiology was a stenosis of the mesencephalon aqueduct (30 %), followed by a Dandy-Walker malformation (25.7 %). Significant intraoperative bleeding was found in 2.8 % of patients. The most common postoperative complication was CSF leakage (18.6 %), followed by infections (14.2 %). The success rate according to the clinical criteria of Drake was 71.4 %. This success rate was influenced by the age of patients and the hydrocephalus etiology. No deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a simple, safe and effective technique. Its advantages in terms of quality of life and morbidity compared with bypass valves makes it the technique of choice, particularly in developing countries.

[Surgical treatment of cervical disc hernia our experience on 9 cases]. / Traitement chirurgical de la hernie discale cervicale: Evaluation de notre expérience à partir de 9 cas.

INTRODUCTION: The cervical disc hernia is uncommon. Its diagnosis is usually easy. But his surgery known controversy between discectomy with or without graft associated or not osteosynthesis. Accordingly we report our experiment of this surgery through a small serie of 9 patients operated by anterior approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of nine (9) patients supported by an anterior cervical disk herniation between 2001 and 2006 at the General Hospital of Grand Yoff in Dakar. The diagnosis was made on clinical and cervical myéloscanner. The postoperative decline was between 1 and 5 years. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 43 years ranging from 20-68 years. A male prevalence (2/1) was noted. The majority of hernias was degenerative. It was mostly soft disc hernia that prevailed on floors C4-C5 and C5-C6. We always operated on the right side of the patient. We performed a discectomy of a floor in 8 cases and 2 floors in 1 case. The vertebral posterior longitudinal ligament was opened routinely. Graft with osteosynthesis was used in 4 cases. The outcome was good. A spontaneous fusion was noted in 7 cases. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of cervical disc hernia is usually anterior approach. It is usually associated with good postoperative results.

INTRODUCTION: La hernie discale cervicale est une pathologie peu fréquente. Son diagnostic est en général facile. Cependant sa prise en charge connaît des controverses entre discectomie avec ou sans greffe associée ou non à une ostéosynthèse. Dans cette optique nous rapportons notre expérience de cette chirurgie à travers une petite série de 9 patients opérés par voie antérieure pré-sterno-cléido-mastoïdienne. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective portant sur 9 patients pris en charge par voie antérieure pour hernie discale cervicale entre 2001 et 2006 à l'Hôpital Général de Grand Yoff de Dakar. Le diagnostic avait été fait sur la clinique et le Myelo-scanner cervical. Le recul post-opératoire était compris entre 1 et 5 ans. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen des patients était de 43 ans avec des extrêmes de 20 à 68 ans. On notait une prédominance masculine (sexe ratio de 2/1). La majorité des hernies était d'origine dégénérative. Il s'agissait essentiellement des hernies discales molles qui prédominaient aux étages C4-C5 et C5-C6. Tous les patients ont été opérés par la droite. Nous avons réalisé une discectomie d'un étage dans 8 cas et de 2 étages dans 1 cas. Le ligament longitudinal vertébral postérieur était ouvert systématiquement. Une greffe avec ostéosynthèse a été utilisée dans 4 cas. L'évolution a été bonne. Une arthrodèse spontanée a été notée dans 7 cas. CONCLUSION: Le traitement chirurgical de la hernie discale se fait généralement par voie antérieure. Il est généralement associé à de bons résultats post-opératoires.

Traitement chirurgical de la hernie discale cervicale : evaluation de notre experience a partir de 9 cas

Introduction : La hernie discale cervicale est une pathologie peu frequente. Son diagnostic est en general facile. Cependant sa prise en charge connait des controverses entre disectomie avec ou sans greffe associee ou non a une osteosynthese. Dans cette optique nous rapportons notre experience de cette chirurgie a travers une petite serie de 9 patients operes par voie anterieure pre sterno cleido mastoidienne. Materiel et methodes : Il s'agissait d'une etude retrospective portant sur 9 patients pris en charge par voie anterieure pour hernie discale cervicale entre 2001 et 2006 a l'Hopital General de Grand Yoff de Dakar. Le diagnostic avait ete fait sur la clinique et le Myelo scanner cervical. Le recul post operatoire etait compris entre 1 et 5 ans. Resultats : L'age moyen des patients etait de 43 ans avec des extremes de 20 a 68 ans. On notait une predominance masculine (sexe ratio de 2/1). La majorite des hernies etait d'origine degenerative. Il s'agissait essentiellement des hernies discales molles qui predominaient aux etages C4 C5 et C5 C6. Tous les patients ont ete operes par la droite. Nous avons realise une discectomie d'un etage dans 8 cas et de 2 etages dans 1 cas. Le ligament longitudinal vertebral posterieur etait ouvert systematiquement. Une greffe avec osteosynthese a ete utilisee dans 4 cas. L'evolution a ete bonne. Une arthrodese spontanee a ete notee dans 7 cas. Conclusion : Le traitement chirurgical de la hernie discale se fait generalement par voie anterieure. Il est generalement associe a de bons resultats post operatoires

[Challenge of the management of severe trauma of cervical spine in sub-developed country]. / Problématique de la prise en charge des traumatismes graves du rachis cervical en pays sous-développé

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The management of cervical spine injuries requires a multidisciplinary approach based on emergency management and rehabilitation. In our context this chain fails, especially on the post-hospital care. Our goal is to explain the difficulties we had in the management of these patients in Dakar. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study (2005-2009) included 99 patients admitted for severe cervical spinal cord injury in two hospitals in Dakar. The clinical signs, treatment and outcome were studied. The follow up was between 3 and 54 months. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 36.1 years and the traffic accidents were the main etiology (73.7%). Medical transport of patients was done in 65.7% with an admission average time of 64.86 hours. On admission, 57.6% of patients had Frankel score A or B. Dislocations (59.6%) and Tear drop fractures (16.2%) were the main lesions. The surgery was performed in 83.8% with a mean interval of 128.84 hours after the trauma. Outpatient rehabilitation was offered whatever the patient's neurological status. Recovery was complete in 20.2% and partial in 31.3% with a mortality rate of 37.4%. Most deaths occurred between 1 and 6 months (59.5%) mainly due to decubitus complications (56.8%). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of the management of severe spinal cord injuries is based on reducing the preoperative time and rehabilitation.