Large acute epidural hematoma from head pin fixation fracture.

Regarding head immobilization practices in neurosurgery, secondary fixation fractures are rare, underscoring the importance of precise pin positioning and an adequate force in the three-point clamp to achieve adequate fixation. Attention should be given to factors such as changes in bone metabolism.

Retrosigmoid versus middle fossa approach for hearing and facial nerve preservation in vestibular schwannoma surgery: A systematic review and comparative meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors arising from vestibular nerve's Schwann cells. Surgical resection via retrosigmoid (RS) or middle fossa (MF) is standard, but the optimal approach remains debated. This meta-analysis evaluated RS and MF approaches for VS management, emphasizing hearing preservation and Cranial nerve seven (CN VII) outcomes stratified by tumor size. METHODS: Systematic searches across PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Embase identified relevant studies. Hearing and CN VII outcomes were gauged using the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gardner Robertson, and House-Brackmann scores. RESULTS: Among 7228 patients, 56 % underwent RS and 44 % MF. For intracanalicular tumors, MF recorded 38 % hearing loss, compared to RS's 54 %. In small tumors (<1.5 cm), MF showed 41 % hearing loss, contrasting RS's lower 15 %. Medium-sized tumors (1.5 cm-2.9 cm) revealed 68 % hearing loss in MF and 55 % in RS. Large tumors (>3cm) were only reported in RS with a hearing loss rate of 62 %. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, while MF may be preferable for intracanalicular tumors, RS demonstrated superior hearing preservation for small to medium-sized tumors. This research underlines the significance of stratified outcomes by tumor size, guiding surgical decisions and enhancing patient outcomes.

Perfusion tomography in early follow-up of acute traumatic subdural hematoma: a case series.

Perfusion Computed Tomography (PCT) is an alternative tool to assess cerebral hemodynamics during trauma. As acute traumatic subdural hematomas (ASH) is a severe primary injury associated with poor outcomes, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cerebral hemodynamics in this context. Five adult patients with moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ASH were included. All individuals were indicated for surgical evacuation. Before and after surgery, PCT was performed and cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT) were evaluated. These parameters were associated with the outcome at 6 months post-trauma with the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE). Mean age of population was 46 years (SD: 8.1). Mean post-resuscitation Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was 10 (SD: 3.4). Mean preoperative midline brain shift was 10.1 mm (SD: 1.8). Preoperative CBF and MTT were 23.9 ml/100 g/min (SD: 6.1) and 7.3 s (1.3) respectively. After surgery, CBF increase to 30.7 ml/100 g/min (SD: 5.1), and MTT decrease to 5.8s (SD:1.0), however, both changes don't achieve statistically significance (p = 0.06). Additionally, CBV increase after surgery, from 2.34 (SD: 0.67) to 2.63 ml/100 g (SD: 1.10), (p = 0.31). Spearman correlation test of postoperative and preoperative CBF ratio with outcome at 6 months was 0.94 (p = 0.054). One patient died with the highest preoperative MTT (9.97 s) and CBV (4.51 ml/100 g). CBF seems to increase after surgery, especially when evaluated together with the MTT values. It is suggested that the improvement in postoperative brain hemodynamics correlates to favorable outcome.

Spheno-orbital meningiomas: Is orbit reconstruction mandatory? Long-term outcomes and exophthalmos improvement.

Background: Meningiomas correspond to one-third of all primary central nervous system tumors. Approximately 9% of them are spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOMs), presenting significant clinical symptoms as visual impairment and orbital esthetics. This article aims to evaluate exophthalmos' improvement in a surgical series without orbital reconstruction. Methods: We consecutively included all patients diagnosed with SOM, admitted to a single institution for 10 years. Surgical resection was the standard of care, associated or not with adjuvant radiation therapy. The radiological investigation included preoperative and postoperative head CT or MRI. We quantified proptosis through imaging. Results: Forty patients composed this series, 87.5% were female. Proptosis was the most common presentation (90%), followed by decreased visual acuity (65%), motility deficit (20%), and headache (20%). Gross total resection was achieved in 65% of the procedures. In late outcomes, 78% of the patients maintained or improved visual acuity and 85% maintained or improved headache. Proptosis significantly improved after surgery and along with the follow-up (P < 0.001). Ten patients were submitted to adjuvant RT, six of them after a subtotal resection. All patients of this subgroup had proptosis. It was observed a higher frequency of worse in visual acuity in patients submitted to RT (71% vs. 28%, P = 0.038). Conclusion: Resection of SOM was sufficient to stop the evolution of visual deficit and allowed the improvement of proptosis. Orbital reconstruction does not seem to be an essential step in reducing enophthalmos.

Loss of an eye to mucormycosis following corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19.

Mucormycosis is a rare, sometimes severe fungal infection that has emerged as a possible complication of COVID-19. We report a case of a non-diabetic, apparently immunocompetent patient diagnosed with rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis shortly after COVID-19 treatment with dexamethasone. The patient received optimized systemic antifungal therapy and extensive surgical treatment. So far, four months after the last hospital discharge, the patient has been in good general condition. This case is a dramatic reminder that beneficial corticosteroid therapy in general inevitably carries a risk of opportunistic infection, and corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19 risks orbital-rhinocerebral mucormycosis that clinicians should watch for with vigilance.

Petroclival Meningioma Leading to Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Kawase Approach Application.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia is defined by paroxysmal pain on the trigeminal nerve territory. The petroclival meningioma presents with trigeminal neuralgia in less than 5% of the cases. We report a case of a petroclival meningioma that encased the fifth nerve and was resected through a Kawase approach. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old female patient presented paroxysmal shock pain in malar and ocular region with progressive worsening, evolving with daily crises despite the use of carbamazepine. On neurologic examination the patient was oriented, with no strength or coordination impairments. Cranial nerves exam showed left V1, V2, and V3 thermal and pain hypoesthesia, without allodynia. Normal strength in masticatory muscles was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a petroclival lesion with hypersign on T2 and contrast enhancement, suggestive of a meningioma. The tumor encased the trigeminal nerve at the entrance of the Meckel's cave. A temporal craniotomy with middle fossa peeling and anterior petrosectomy (Kawase approach) was performed and a Simpson II resection was achieved. The patient evolved with transient sixth nerve palsy, recovering completely after 3 months. During a follow-up of 5 years there was no evidence of tumor recurrence and the patient is free from pain without medication. CONCLUSIONS: The Kawase approach is an interesting access for petroclival tumor resection.

Orbit ossifying fibroma - Case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Ossifying fibroma (OF) is benign bone lesions, most frequent in young children, more common in the maxillary sinus and mandible (75-89%), the pathogenesis of the tumor is not clear, there are many subtypes of OF. This paper aims to report an OF a case and literature review. CASE DESCRIPTION: Male, 19 years old, with a progressive history proptosis since 2012, diagnosed as a right supraorbital lesion at an external service and assigned to conservative management. Then, he evolved with double vision, which worsened in February of 2018, associated with a moderate headache. On admission: proptosis and downward deviation of the right orbit was noticed on the physical exam and with exception of limited right upgaze, external ocular movements were maintained. Head computed tomography showed a multiloculate expansive osteolytic lesion at the right orbital roof. On magnetic resonance imaging, the lesion had an inner content with septations, T1-weighted imaging heterogeneous signal, T2-weighted imaging high signal intensity, and peripheral contrast enhancement. The patient underwent a right frontal craniotomy with a gross total resection and the postoperative follow-up was uneventful. Menzel reported the first case in 1782. The clinical findings depend on localization. There are five subtypes. In general, the lesions have a radiological appearance with hyperdense boundary and cause deformity and destruction in bones with high recurrence risk. Radical resection is curative. CONCLUSION: As a result, the correlation of clinical, radiologic, and pathologic data is significant while going for a specific diagnosis in cases of craniofacial fibrous lesions. Total excision is the best treatment, but it can recur.

Lumbar spondyloptosis after severe polytrauma: a case report.

A rare case of thoracolumbar spondyloptosis after a severe polytraumatic event is presented. Spondyloptosis accounts for a minor proportion of all spine trauma cases and is usually accompanied by complete neurological deficit. A 48-year-old man suffered severe polytrauma after having been hit by a truck at the work place. Radiographic scanning revealed multiple traumatic injuries and spondyloptosis at the L1/L2 level in coronal plane. However, despite extensive injuries, ASIA score was estimated as D. The patient underwent urgent multidisciplinary surgery due to severe head injuries. The next surgery was performed to stabilize the thoracolumbar segment and to preserve neurological functions. The surgery included implantation of transpedicular titanium screws via posterior approach. Good postoperative recovery was achieved during early postoperative rehabilitation at our Department, which was estimated as ASIA score D. In conclusion, prompt operative treatment to achieve neural integrity and early rehabilitation should be considered as the gold standard in such complicated injuries. Postoperative recovery largely depends on the quality of rehabilitation, which leads to improvement of patient self-care and normal social and psychological functions. In our case, the good preoperative neurological status of the patient also contributed to better postoperative outcome.