Decompression and surgical stabilization in the palliative treatment of vertebral metastases.

Instability of the spine consequent to the diffusion of a primary tumor is a serious complication in cancer patients. The experience of our Service in the surgical treatment of vertebral metastases is reported. Since 1990, 21 patients have undergone surgery. The vertebral metastases were localized at the cervical level in 4 cases, thoracic in 13, and lumbar in 4. Pain was the first symptom in 18 patients. The necessary criterion for intervention was intractable severe pain and/or neurologic deficit. At the thoracic and lumbar levels (17 cases) a posterior approach was always used to perform wide decompressive laminectomy and to stabilize the spine. An anterior approach is unadvisable in light of the risk related to the operation and the long recovery time. In 13 cases Cotrel-Dubousset bars were utilized, in 3 cases Roy-Camille, and in 1 case Louis plates. After surgery, significant pain relief was noted in 85% of patients. Of those with neurologic deficit, improvement in neurologic status was seen in 50%; in 28% neurologic deficit was completely resolved. We conclude that, although palliative, wide laminectomy accompanied by stabilization is a satisfactory treatment of vertebral metastases. Given the appropriate indications, surgical treatment improves the patient's quality of life.

On the neurological complications of internal and external shunt in patients with non-neoplastic stenosis of the aqueduct.

In our Department 35 patients have been operated for non-neoplastic stenosis of the aqueduct. In the first years, ventriculocisternal shunt according to Torkildsen was performed, obtaining 6 recoveries and 1 death. Later, ventriculosternostomy acc. to Stookey and Scarf, was carried out in 3 cases, obtaining 2 recoveries and 1 death; by using right ventriculo-atrial shunt we had 4 successes and 1 failure. More recently, since 1973, ventriculoperitoneal shunt has been carried out without deaths out of 21 operated patients. With this technique we have had many complications requiring repeated drainage system revisions in 9 cases, and evacuation of a chronic subdural haematoma in 3 cases. 2 patients, operated by drainage system revision and 1 for evacuation of subdural haematoma, had a dramatic postoperative course, characterised by apallic syndrome. Considering the results of the various techniques, we could conclude that the elective operation must be internal shunt (posterior or anterior ventriculocisternostomy) if, of course, the patency and the functionality of the cisterns have been ascertained.

Hemifacial spasm: report of nine cases treated by posterior fossa microsurgical decompression.

Nine cases of hemifacial spasm have been treated, in our department until 1979, by posterior fossa microsurgical decompression, as described by Jannetta, without mortality or significant postoperative complications. A blood vessel was found crossing or looping the facial nerve in 8 cases. The relief of hemifacial spasm was immediate and complete in 7 cases, and partial in 1 case. This technique seems to be an effective and safe treatment, in this particular disease.