Acute atlanto-axial post-operative subluxation following posterior C1/2 fusion.

Two cases referred with acute post-operative C1/2 subluxation following posterior fusion are reported. Both cases had initial treatment for atlanto-axial instability with posterior cable (Brooks and interspinous) and graft techniques, and placed immediately in a Philadelphia collar. One case was found to have subluxed immediately post-operatively when failing to breathe following reversal of anaesthetic agents, and despite immediate realignment and reoperation was left with a significant quadriparesis. The other patient was noted to have subluxed on routine X-ray on day 4, and had no neurological deficit before or after reoperation. Risk factors for this dangerous complication are discussed and the techniques of C1/2 posterior fusion and stabilization are reviewed in detail. Surgeons performing atlanto-axial stabilization procedures should be familiar with and have expertize in the complete range of techniques described and choose the one most appropriate for the patient's individual requirements.

Poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: outcome after treatment with urgent surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether the rebleeding rate in poor-grade patients justified a period of supportive observation before selective treatment and whether unselected ultraearly surgery would lead to acceptable results. METHODS: A prospectively audited, nonselected series of 177 consecutive poor-grade (i.e., World Federation of Neurological Surgeons Grades IV and V) patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage managed during a 9-year period was analyzed. A management policy of aggressive ultraearly surgery (not selected by age or by grade) was followed. Coiling was not available. Outcomes were assessed at 3 months. RESULTS: Despite the aggressive management policy, surgery could be performed in only 132 poor-grade patients (75%). Twenty percent of all patients were 70 years of age or older (15% of the surgical cases). All surgery was performed within 12 hours of subarachnoid hemorrhage (majority <6 h). Preoperative rebleeding occurred within the first 12 hours (>85% within 6 h) in 20% of the patients, which is four times the rate found in good-grade patients managed according to the same policy. Outcome assessment performed at 3 months in the 132 poor-grade surgical patients revealed that 40% were independent, 15% were dependent, and 45% had died. There was no significant difference in outcomes for young and old (70+ yr) poor-grade surgical patients (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The high ultraearly rebleeding rate indicates a need to urgently secure the ruptured aneurysm by performing surgery or coiling, and this indication is more pronounced for poor-grade patients than for good-grade patients. The outcome results of ultraearly surgery indicate that a nonselective policy does not lead to a large number of dependent survivors, even among elderly poor-grade patients.

Aggressive surgical treatment of elderly patients following subarachnoid haemorrhage: management outcome results.

This report presents 74 consecutive cases of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in patients aged 70 years or older, compared with the 317 consecutive younger patients treated during the same period. An ultra-early surgical strategy for all SAH cases was used throughout the study period. Management outcome for all grades of elderly patients was independent in 38%, dependent in 14% and death in 49%. Surgical 3-month outcome of good grade elderly patients was independent 53%, dependent 19% and death 28%; and for poor grades was independent 35%, dependent 15% and death 50%. Elderly poor grade patients had similar outcome to younger patients, although good grade patients had better outcome in the younger group than the elderly group. Despite ultra-early surgery, rebleeding (<12 h of SAH) occurred in 9% of the elderly series. Aggressive, ultra-early treatment is likely to benefit elderly SAH patients, the potential benefit being greater for poor grade elderly patients.

Ultra-early surgery for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: outcomes for a consecutive series of 391 patients not selected by grade or age.

OBJECT: This study was undertaken to determine the outcomes in an unselected group of patients treated with semiurgent surgical clipping of aneurysms following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: A clinical management outcome audit was conducted to determine outcomes in a group of 391 consecutive patients who were treated with a consistent policy of ultra-early surgery (all patients treated within 24 hours after SAH and 85% of them within 12 hours). All neurological grades were included, with 45% of patients having poor grades (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies [WFNS] Grades IV and V). Patients were not selected on the basis of age; their ages ranged between 15 and 93 years and 19% were older than 70 years. The series included aneurysms located in both anterior and posterior circulations. Eighty-eight percent of all patients underwent surgery and only 2.5% of the series were selectively withdrawn (by family request) from the prescribed surgical treatment. In patients with good grades (WFNS Grades I-III) the 3-month postoperative outcomes were independence (good outcome) in 84% of cases, dependence (poor outcome) in 8% of cases, and death in 9%. In patients with poor grades the outcomes were independence in 40% of cases, dependence in 15% of cases, and death in 45%. There was a 12% rate of rebleeding with all cases of rebleeding occurring within the first 12 hours after SAH; however, outcomes of independence were achieved in 46% of cases in which rebleeding occurred (43% mortality rate). Rebleeding was more common in patients with poor grades (20% experienced rebleeding, whereas only 5% of patients with good grades experienced rebleeding). CONCLUSIONS: The major risk of rebleeding after SAH is present within the first 6 to 12 hours. This risk of ultra-early rebleeding is highest for patients with poor grades. Securing ruptured aneurysms by surgery or coil placement on an emergency basis for all patients with SAH has a strong rational argument.