Outcome of elderly patients undergoing intracranial meningioma resection: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Higher life expectancy and higher mean age in general population created growing interest in medical and surgical management of meningiomas in elderly. It is well known that, due to possible complications, preoperative status and comorbidities, especially in aged people, should be carefully considered in the decision-making process. We described our experience with this kind of patients and analyzed the influence of complications on the outcome. METHODS: We conducted a monocentric retrospective study to evaluate outcome and complications in elderly patients that underwent intracranial meningioma surgery in our center in a ten-year period. Between January 2005 and December 2014, 107 patients - older than 70 years old - were operated for an intracranial meningioma. We excluded patients operated for a recurrent meningioma. We used the modified Dindo classification to describe complications and the Karnofsky Performance Status Scale and Glasgow Outcome Scale to evaluate the outcome at discharge and after a 6-month period. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients did not have postoperative complications, 10 patients had mild postoperative complications, while 13 patients suffered severe postoperative complications. As a group, patients with mild complications presented, six months after surgery, an average Karnofsky Performance Status better than preoperative one. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the fragility is considered an important risk factor, surgery for symptomatic intracranial meningiomas should be considered also in elderly patients. The presence of early postoperative mild complications does not seem to worsen the average 6-month-KSP score.

Can scoliosis lead to spinal cord ischaemia? Early diagnosis and rehabilitation: A paradigmatic case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Scoliosis is frequently associated with pain and radiculopathy, but it is not considered a possible cause of acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Here we present a case report in which scoliosis was apparently linked to spinal cord ischaemia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old woman with conservatively treated severe scoliosis presented with acute spinal cord infarction, which occurred during a spinal flexion while she was tidying up the bed. Other causes of SCI were excluded. Early rehabilitation was started and the patient progressively regained motor and sensory functions, with an AIS reduction from A to C. Bowel and bladder disorders persisted and were autonomously managed with a trans-anal irrigation device and intermittent catheterisation after voluntary micturition. DISCUSSION: Early detection and management of spinal curvature disorders are essential in preventing long-term complications of scoliosis. Although the aetiology of spinal cord ischaemia in severe scoliosis should be better clarified, this rare case report suggests that scoliosis might be involved in its pathogenesis. Thus, we recommend early diagnosis of spinal curvature disorders and adequate rehabilitative treatment in order to prevent potential subsequent neurological complications.

Stability-Sparing Endoscopic Endonasal Odontoidectomy in a Malformative Craniovertebral Junction: Case Report and Biomechanical Considerations.

BACKGROUND: The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) is often involved in a wide range of congenital, developmental and acquired pathologies that can create bony and ligamentous instability or cause direct compression on the medulla and cervical spine cord, resulting in significant impairment. Atlas assimilation is the most common malformation in the CVJ and can be frequently associated with basilar invagination (BI) and Chiari malformation (CM) type I. Posterior atlas assimilation more frequently leads to BI type II with a mass effect on neural structures but usually no signs of biomechanical instability. Operative approaches to the CVJ have undergone a remarkable evolution and can be divided into ventral, lateral and dorsal ones. In this kind of surgery, it is vital to detect and eventually treat any CVJ instability. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a case of CVJ malformation comprising assimilation of the posterior arch of the atlas, BI type II and CM, treated by endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy and partial clivus removal to spare CVJ stability. CONCLUSION: Neurological and biomechanical analysis of all CVJ malformations permits stratification and selection of those cases that can be managed by simple, direct, minimally invasive decompression with no need for surgical fusion.

Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography for evaluation of midline-shift after chronic-subdural hematoma evacuation (TEMASE): A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of chronic Subdural hematoma (cSDH) is increasing and its rate of recurrence varies from 5 to 33%. A postoperative brain midline-shift (MLS) on computed tomography (CT) equal or larger than 5mm is a risk factor for recurrence. Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCDS) is a noninvasive bedside reproducible technique useful to detect MLS. The aim of our study was to compare in patients affected by cSDH, the values of MLS obtained pre- and post-operatively by TCCDS and brain CT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 32 patients affected by cSDH entered the study between July 2016 and January 2017. MLS values obtained by TCCDS and brain CT were compared using Bland-Altman plot and linear regression analysis. Using the same techniques we also explored if the agreement between the two imaging modes was comparable in pre- and post-operative data pairs. RESULTS: 64 data pairs of MLS values obtained by TCCDS and CT were analysed. Bland-Altman diagrams did not show any systematic bias of the data and linear regression indicated a significant correlation between the two measures both before and after hematoma evacuation. CONCLUSION: In patients affected by cSDH, MLS values obtained before and after surgery by TCCDS are comparable to those obtained by CT; TCCDS might be considered an alternative to CT scan in the management of patients after cSDH evacuation. We suggest that close clinical bedside examination and TCCDS might be appropriate for the post-operative management of cSDH, reserving CT scan only to patients with overt clinical deterioration and/or increasing MLS.

Direct fascia lata reconstruction to reduce donor site morbidity in endoscopic endonasal extended surgery: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Fascia lata is a validated source of autologous grafts, adopted by many surgical figures throughout different types of reconstructive procedures. Postoperative pain and muscle prolapse are frequent complications after harvesting fascia lata; donor site morbidity causes delayed mobilization and increased lenght of hospital stay. In our department fascia lata is used as autologous graft in reconstruction of skull base after extended endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) and the thigh defect is usually repaired with allograft to restore tissue continuity and avoid muscle prolapse. Our aim was to evaluate the post-operative pain and muscle prolapse in a group of patients who underwent EETS with fascia lata reconstruction with allograft. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 11 patients who underwent harvesting and reconstruction of fascia lata during EETS, collected in our department of Neurosurgery between January 2012 and September 2015. "Pain on rest" and "pain on walking" data were collected daily according to the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) system, during hospital stay until sutures removal and 1 month after surgery. Furthermore, the degree of muscle prolapse was analyzed at the time of sutures removal and 1 month following surgery. RESULTS: 11 patients were studied between January 2012 and September 2015: 4 men and 7 women (1:1.75). Mean age 53.6±11.1years. During the post-operative stay, "pain on rest" and "pain on walking" values of all patients did not exceed grade 4 of NRS. While removing sutures, "pain on rest" resulted grade 1 of NRS in 27.3% (3/11) patients, while "pain on walking" was grade 1 of NRS in 18.2% (2/11) and grade 2 in 9.1% (1/11). After a month of surgery "pain on rest" reduced to NRS grade 1 in 9.1% (1/11), while patients NRS results for "pain on walking" were the same as the previous evaluation. Mean duration of hospital stay was 5.7±2.28 days. 10 patients were discharged home, only 1 patient was transferred to a rehabilitation ward. No visible nor palpable muscle prolapse was found in our group of patients during the entire assessment. CONCLUSION: Findings show how fascia lata reconstruction with allograft reduced post-operative discomfort and muscle prolapse in our serie; it also permitted their early mobilization and discharge. These are promising results. However further studies are needed to see this technique approved.

Endovascular embolization of pial arteriovenous fistula fed from P1 segment of posterior cerebral artery in 12 years old girl: case report and review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: Intracranial pial arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs) are rare vascular lesions with peculiar epidemiological, morphological, and pathophysiological characteristics. Since there is no nidus, PAVF treatment has been performed by direct disconnection of the arteriovenous communication via a surgical, endovascular, or a combined approach. We aim to outline the relevant variables to consider in planning an endovascular treatment strategy. METHODS: We present a case of a 12 year old girl with a single feeder PAVF originating from the first segment (P1) of the left posterior cerebral artery with a varicose venous drainage into the right cavernous sinus. RESULTS: We report the successful endovascular exclusion of the fistula with the release of a total of 27 detachable platinum coils with no complications at follow-up. Treatment strategy and nuances are discussed along with a review of the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Morphology, age, embolization strategies, and materials are the different variables to be analyzed in the endovascular treatment of such lesions.

Haemorrhagic presentation of a craniopharyngioma in a pregnant woman.

Objective. Craniopharyngioma is a rare tumour, and, consequently, acute clinical presentation and diagnosis, during pregnancy, of this pathology are quite difficult to find. Only few cases are reported in the literature, and no one describes these two conditions in association. Methods. We report a particular case of craniopharyngioma presenting both of the above conditions. Results. The patient was successfully operated with endoscopic technique. Conclusions. Rare and difficult cases, created by the superposition of different clinical conditions, need multidisciplinary management, with collaboration, integration, and cooperation between different medical specialists.