The Impact of C1 Anterior Arch Preservation on Spine Stability After Odontoidectomy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Odontoidectomy for symptomatic irreducible ventral brainstem compression at the craniovertebral junction may result in spine instability requiring subsequent instrumentation. There is no consensus on the importance of C1 anterior arch preservation in prevention of iatrogenic instability. We conducted a systematic review of the impact of C1 anterior arch preservation on postodontoidectomy spine stability. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched following the PRISMA guidelines to include studies of patients undergoing odontoidectomy. Random-effect model meta-analyses were performed to compare spine stability between C1 anterior arch preservation versus removal and posttreatment outcomes between transoral approaches (TOAs) versus endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs). RESULTS: We included 27 studies comprising 462 patients. The most common lesions were basilar invagination (73.3%) and degenerative arthritis (12.6%). Symptoms included myelopathy (72%) and neck pain (43.9%). Odontoidectomy was performed through TOA (56.1%) and EEA corridors (34.4%). The C1 anterior arch was preserved in 16.7% of cases. Postodontoidectomy stabilization was performed in 83.3% patients. Median follow-up was 27 months (range, 0.1-145). Rates of spine instability were significantly lower (P = 0.004) when the C1 anterior arch was preserved. Postoperative clinical improvement and pooled complications were reported in 78.8% and 12.6% of patients, respectively, with no significant differences between TOA and EEA (P = 0.892; P = 0.346). Patients undergoing EEA had significantly higher rates of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Odontoidectomy is safe and effective for treating craniovertebral junction lesions. Preservation of the C1 anterior arch seems to improve maintenance of spine stability. TOA and EEA show comparable outcomes and complication rates.

Cervical neurenteric cyst: a case report / Cisto neurentérico cervical: relato de caso / Quiste neurentérico cervical: reporte de un caso

ABSTRACT Objective Neurenteric cysts account for 0.7-1.3% of all spinal cord tumors. These rare lesions are composed of heterotopic endodermal tissue. Methods A 26-year-old woman with a 13-month history of severe cervicalgia and brachial paresthesia. Clinically she had mildbilateral brachial paresis (4/5), generalized hyperreflexia and a left Babinski Sign. Past medical history was significant for a cervical fistula closure when she was 1yearold. The superior somatosensory evoked potentials revealed medullary axonal damage with a left predominance. A cervical magnetic resonance imaging of the neck was performed showing a dorsal homogeneous cystic intradural extramedullary lesion with high signal intensity on T2. Computed tomography revealed a Klippel-Feil syndrome. Results A posterior laminectomy and surgical excision were performed without complications. Post-operative follow-up showed a complete recovery of arm strength. The histopathological report confirmed the preoperative diagnosis of neurenteric cyst. Most neurenteric cysts are located in the spine, mainly in a ventral position. A total of 95% of neurenteric cysts are found in the intradural/intramedullary compartment. Symptomatic neurenteric cysts typically appear in the second and third decades of life and are 1.5 to 3 times more common in men. In 50% of the cases, other vertebral malformations have also been reported. In this case, a congenital dorsal enteric cyst and a Klippel-Feil syndrome were observed. Conclusions The intraspinal neurenteric cysts are rare lesions that must be included in the differential diagnosis of a dorsal, intradural cystic structure. The diagnosis may be overlooked, especially in cases of chronic neck pain without neurological deficit. Level of evidence V; Expert Opinion.

RESUMO Objetivo Os cistos neurentéricos são responsáveis por 0.7 a 1.3% de todos os tumores da medula espinhal. Essas lesões raras são compostas por tecido endodérmico heterotópico. Métodos Uma mulher de 26 anos, com história de cervicalgia ao longo da vida, relatou história de 13 meses de piora da cervicalgia e parestesia braquial. Clinicamente, apresentava paresia braquial bilateral leve (4/5), hiperreflexia generalizada e um sinal de Babinski à esquerda. Na história médica pregressa, história de fechamento de fístula cervical com 1 ano de idade. Durante avaliação neurofisiológica, os potenciais evocados somatos-sensitivos superiores revelaram lesão axonal medular com predomínio à esquerda. Na ressonância magnética cervical, foi evidenciada uma lesão extra medular dorsal cística, intradural homogênea hiperintensa em T2. A tomografia computadorizada evidenciou síndrome de Klippel-Feil. Resultados A laminectomia posterior e a excisão cirúrgica foram realizadas sem complicações. O acompanhamento pós-operatório mostrou recuperação completa da força dos braços. O laudo histopatológico confirmou o diagnóstico pré-operatório de cisto neurentérico. A maioria dos cistos neurentéricos est ão localizados na coluna vertebral, principalmente em posição ventral, sendo 95% dos cistos neurentéricos encontrados no compartimento intradural e intramedular. Cistos neurentéricos sintomáticos aparecem tipicamente na segunda e na terceira décadas de vida e são 1,5 a 3 vezes mais comuns no sexo masculino. Em 50% dos casos, eles também foram relatados com outras malformações vertebrais. Neste caso, um cisto entérico dorsal congênito e uma síndrome de Klippel-Feil foram observados. Conclusão O cisto neurent é rico intramedular é uma lesão rara que deve ser conhecida pelo neurocirurgião e incluída no diagnóstico diferencial de lesões císticas intramurais dorsales, pois seu diagnóstico é muitas vezes difícil, especialmente em casos de cervicalgia crônica sem déficits neurológicos. Nível de evidência V; Opinião de Especialista.

RESUMEN Objetivo Los quistes neuroentéricos representan del 0,7 al 1,3% de todos los tumores de la médula espinal. Estas lesiones raras están compuestas de tejido endodérmico heterotópico. Métodos Una mujer de 26 años con cervicalgia severa de 13 meses de evolución acompañada de parestesia braquial. Clínicamente con paresia braquial bilateral leve (4/5), hiperreflexia generalizada y signo de Babinski izquierdo. En los antecedentes de importancia, le realizaron un cierre de una fístula cervical cuando tenía 1 año. Los potenciales evocados somatosensoriales superiores revelaron daño axonal medular con un predominio izquierdo. Se realizó una resonancia magnética cervical evidenciando una lesión ventral extramedular intradural quística homogénea hiperintensa en T2. La tomografía computarizada reveló un síndrome de Klippel-Feil. Resultados Se realizó una laminectomía posterior y resección quirúrgica sin complicaciones. El seguimiento postoperatorio mostró una recuperación completa de la fuerza de los brazos. El informe histopatológico confirmó el diagnóstico preoperatorio de quiste neuroentérico. La mayoría de los quistes neuroentéricos se localizan en la columna vertebral, principalmente en una posición ventral. El 95% de los quistes neuroentéricos se encuentran en el compartimento intradural/intramedular. Los quistes neuroentéricos sintomáticos aparecen típicamente en la segunda y tercera décadas de la vida y son 1.5 a 3 veces más comunes en los hombres. En el 50% de los casos, también se han notificado otras malformaciones vertebrales. En este caso, se observaron un quiste entérico dorsal congénito y un síndrome de Klippel-Feil. Conclusiones Los quistes neuroentéricos intraspinales son lesiones poco frecuentes que deben incluirse en el diagnóstico diferencial de una estructura quística intradural en posición dorsal. El diagnóstico puede pasarse por alto, especialmente en caso de dolor cervical crónico sin déficit neurológico. Nivel de evidencia V; Opinión de Especialista.

Feasibility of endoscopic endonasal approach for clip application of cerebral aneurysms: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: While open, microsurgical clipping and endovascular coiling remain the gold standards for treatment of cerebral aneurysms, a growing number of aneurysms treated via endoscopic endonasal methods have been reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to gain a more thorough appreciation of the potential benefits and drawbacks of the endoscopic endonasal strategy in this setting. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We performed a detailed systematic review of the medical literature on endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery for treatment of cerebral aneurysms utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We identified 9 clinical studies describing treatment of 23 aneurysms utilizing the EEA. Eleven additional cadaveric studies investigating aspects of operative exposure and/or technique in this setting were identified. The full text of these articles was reviewed. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: In the 9 clinical studies that met inclusion criteria, 23 aneurysms were treated in 21 patients. The mean patient age was 52.6 years. 15 aneurysms were unruptured and 8 were ruptured. Fourteen aneurysms involved the anterior circulation and 9 involved the posterior circulation. In 21 of 23 aneurysms, complete occlusion was achieved with endonasal clipping. Two aneurysms required additional treatment that included a takeback for clip repositioning and staged endovascular coiling. Complications included post-operative CSF leak (23.8%), stroke (19%), and meningitis (14.3%). Analysis of the combined literature revealed a significantly higher rate of CSF leak with endonasal clipping of posterior circulation aneurysms compared to anterior circulation aneurysms (P=0.047, Fisher's Exact Test). While there was a trend towards increased post-operative neurologic deficit following EEA for posterior circulation aneurysms, this did not reach statistical significance (P=0.063). The majority of post-operative complications in posterior circulation aneurysms occurred during clip application of aneurysms at the level of the basilar apex. In addition to the aforementioned clinical reports, 11 cadaveric studies were identified. 4 of these reports investigated approaches for individual anterior circulation aneurysms, 5 investigated approaches for posterior circulations aneurysms, and 2 involved both anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a moderate increase in utilization, caution should be exercised when choosing an endonasal strategy for treatment of aneurysmal pathology over more traditional and established methods such as microsurgical clip application and endovascular methods. Anecdotal evidence suggests that inferior and/or medial projecting aneurysms involving the paraclinoid ICA not amenable to traditional open/endovascular strategies may be reasonable to consider for EEA clip application. Wide-necked, midline, ventrolaterally-projecting aneurysms involving the vertebrobasilar system may represent an additional exception, as long as the location along the rostrocaudal axis is low enough so as not to compromise visualization. Future improvements in operative technology, including anticipated advances in endoscopic 3-D visualization, may further alter the landscape of treatment involving this complex pathology.