Giant hydatid cyst of the brain: Intact cyst removal in 8-year-old child.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Cystic echinococcosis (hydatidosis) in humans is an infectious disease caused by tapeworms of Echinococcus genus. Brain involvement is rare. The best treatment is surgery and intact cyst removal is mandatory to prevent recurrence and possible anaphylactic reaction. CASE PRESENTATION: An 8-year-old girl presented with a 1-month history of malaise, headache and vomiting. On Physical examinations, she was disoriented with bilateral papilledema. Brain CT scan and MRI revealed a well-defined cystic mass in left temporo-parieto-occipital region with considerable midline shift without perilesional edema. The patient was diagnosed with brain hydatid cyst and underwent surgical excision of the cyst without rupture. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Surgery is the most important part of intracranial hydatid cyst treatment, and surgeons should make every effort to remove them in toto without spillage. We hence decided to perform surgery and necessary precautions to prevent rupture and dissemination of hydatid were taken during the surgery. CONCLUSION: A neurosurgeon has to bear in mind brain hydatid cyst in the differential diagnosis of cystic cerebral lesions especially in children from rural areas. The hydrodissection technique is the gold standard for the surgical treatment of cerebral hydatid cyst disease. It can also be effectively applied to the treatment of giant cerebral hydatid cyst disease without rupturing the cyst.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion versus instrumented posterolateral fusion In degenerative spondylolisthesis: An attempt to evaluate the superiority of one method over the other.

BACKGROUND: Various surgical procedures have been recommended for the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis,but Controversy still exists regarding the optimal surgical technique . In this study,we compared the clinical and radiologic outcome of the Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF) method with the Instrumented Posterolateral fusion(PLF) in these patients. METHODS: The study population in this retrospective study consisted of 145 consecutive patients of degenerative spondylolisthesis who had undergone lumbar fusion in our institute between September 2010 and October 2013. The patients were divided into two treatment groups, where either instrumented PLF with pedicle screw(180° fusion) or TLIF procedure(360° fusion) was done. The follow-up was performed clinically using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS)and global outcome. Outcome scores were assessed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Radiographs were obtained postoperatively and at regular intervals for 24 months. Perioperative outcomes such as surgery time, blood loss, length of hospital stay and incidence of surgical complications were also recorded. RESULTS: 80 patients underwent TLIF procedure and 65 patients were included in the instrumented PLF group. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to age,gender,Body Mass Index,smoking and comorbid conditions(p>0.05). No significant difference existed in Pre-operative VAS for back pain,VAS for leg pain and ODI between the two groups(p>0.05). There were no significant group differences in the operation level,hospital stay and surgical complications(all p>0.05). Blood loss, operation time and fusion success rate were significantly greater in the TLIF group than in the PLF group (all P<0.05). Significant differences between groups concerning VAS for back pain,ODI and Global outcome were present at final follow-up. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to VAS for leg pain. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that TLIF is superior to PLF with respect to functional outcome and fusion rate.

Outcome of laminoplasty in cervical spinal cord injury with stable spine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) with a stable spine has been increasing as the elderly population is dramatically increasing all over the world. In this study, we evaluated the neurological outcome of decompression surgery (laminoplasty) for these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with CSCI with stable spine who underwent decompression surgery (laminoplasty) were retrospectively studied. Inclusion criteria were as follows: CSCI without instability, spinal cord contusion in magnetic resonance image (MRI), spinal cord compression rate more than 20%, neurologic deficit American Spinal Cord Injury Association ([ASIA] scale from A to D), and follow-up of at least 12 months. Preoperative neurological state, clinical outcome, and neurological function were measured using the ASIA impairment scale, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) grading scale, and Hirabayashi recovering rate, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty-three (80.4%) patients showed improvement in ASIA grade at 12-month follow-up. Four (9.7%) patients in ASIA Grade A and 4 (9.7%) patients in ASIA Grade D remain unchanged. The mean JOA score improved from 8.4 ± 6.1 points preoperatively to 11.2 ± 5.4 points at 12 months postoperatively. Improvement in JOA was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean Hirabayashi recovery rate was 37.4 ± 25.3%. CONCLUSION: Surgical decompression (laminoplasty) is helpful in relieving cord compromise and neurological deficit in CSCI with stable spine.

Efficacy of Pedicle Screw Fixation in Unstable Upper and Middle Thoracic Spine Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of unstable upper and middle thoracic spine fractures remains controversial. There is no consensus regarding optimal treatment. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of pedicular screw in the management of middle thoracic spine fractures to correct kyphosis and anterolisthesis and improve neurologic condition of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with unstable T1-T10 fractures treated with pedicle screw fixation technique were studied. Neurologic situation, preoperative and postoperative radiographs were evaluated. Radiographic measurements included kyphotic deformity and anterolisthesis. An American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was used for neurologic classification of the patients. RESULTS: From a total of 25 patients, 21 cases were male and 4 were female. The mean age of the patients was 35.40 ± 14.39 years. The mean degree of kyphosis improved from 27.04 ± 7.33 degrees preoperatively to 15.96 ± 5.76 degrees at final follow-up. The mean of anterolisthesis improved from 6.44 ± 4.93 mm to 0.96 ± 0.36 mm at final follow-up. Kyphosis (P = 0.0001), anterolisthesis (P = 0.0001) and neurological state (P = 0.01) improved significantly after operation. No cases of hardware failure, neurological deterioration and loss of correction were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Application of pedicular screw in unstable upper and middle thoracic spine fractures is an effective method that can correct kyphotic deformity and anterolisthesis and improve neurologic deficit.

Adjacent segment degeneration after posterior lumbar fusion: An analysis of possible risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: Many surveys have been distributed about the risk factors for adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after lumbar fusion. Despite myriad of risk factors recognized for ASD evolution, study results have been inconsistent and there is not an agreement regarding which are the most important. Our study was done to identify factors which may be important in the development of symptomatic ASD after lumbar fusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 1250 consecutive patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion and pedicular fixation between February 2006 and February 2009. A total of 13 patients with symptomatic ASD (clinical ASD) who underwent secondary surgery were identified. Another group of 22 patients without symptomatic ASD (subclinical ASD) after spinal fusion were marked as the control group. These two groups were compared for demographic data and clinical and radiographic features to investigate the possible predictive factors of symptomatic ASD. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate of symptomatic ASD was 1.04%. Radiographic risk factors for the development of a symptomatic ASD were increased sagittal balance, loss of lordosis, and adjacent disc space collapse. In the clinical ASD group, by multivariate logistic regression analysis, demonstrated that BMI, preoperative ADD on MRI and disc bulge maintained their significance in predicting likelihood of clinical ASD. CONCLUSION: Patients with increased BMI, preoperative ADD and disc bulge on MRI have a statistically significant increased risk of developing symptomatic ASD.

Evaluation of the Effect of Glibenclamide in Patients With Diffuse Axonal Injury Due to Moderate to Severe Head Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health problem worldwide. Secondary injuries after TBI, including diffuse axonal injury (DAI) often occur, and proper treatments are needed in this regard. It has been shown that glibenclamide could reduce secondary brain damage after experimental TBI and improve outcomes. OBJECTIVES: We aim to evaluate the role of glibenclamide on the short-term outcome of patients with DAI due to moderate to severe TBI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this controlled randomized clinical trial, 40 patients with moderate to severe TBI were assigned to glibenclamide (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. Six hours after admission the intervention group received 1.25 mg glibenclamide every 12 hours. The Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was administered at admission, in the first 24 and 48 hours, at one week post-trauma and at discharge. The Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) was also administered at discharge. All results were evaluated and compared between groups. RESULTS: Patients treated with glibenclamide compared to the control group had a significantly better GCS score one week post-trauma (P = 0.003) and at discharge (P = 0.004), as well as a better GOS score at discharge (P = 0.001). The glibenclamide group also had a shorter length of hospital stay compared to the control group (P = 0.03). In the control group, two patients (10%) died during the first week post-trauma, but there was no mortality in the glibenclamide group (P = 0.48). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with glibenclamide in patients with DAI due to moderate to severe TBI significantly improves short-term outcomes.