Surgical outcome and prognostic factors for 39 recurrent spinal hydatid cysts.

Background: Cystic bone echinococcosis accounts for 0.5-4% of all reported cases, and 45% occur in the spine. Our aim was to review the clinical and radiological features, surgery, and outcomes for 39 patients with recurrent spinal hydatidosis. Methods: Thirty-nine reports of patients with recurrent spinal hydatidosis (2011-2020) were followed for an average of 9.28 ± 5.60 months. Results: Lesions occurred in descending order in the; lumbar (48.7%), thoracic (43.6%), and cervical spine (7.7%). Total cyst resection was achieved in 28 of 39 patients (71.8%). Intraoperative cyst rupture occurred in 13 patients (33.3%). The postoperative American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score was "good" in 82% of patients. Those with "poor" postoperative ASIA scores had a 41% incidence of recurrent thoracic hydatid cysts; further, they demonstrated significantly higher recurrence rates if cysts had ruptured intraoperatively (P = 0.001). In addition, laminectomy, subtotal original cyst resection (P < 0.007), and a thoracic location were all significantly associated with higher recurrence rates (P < 0.04). Conclusion: The majority of patients demonstrated improvement following surgery for cervical hydatid cysts. Notably, those with poor outcomes typically experienced intraoperative ruptures of their thoracic hydatid cysts, contributing to high cyst recurrence rates.

Ligamentum flavum hematoma in the lumbar spine mimicking spinal tumor: A case report and review of the literature.

Liagmentum flavum hematoma (LFH) is a rare cause of radiculopathy and low back pain, sharing similar symptomatology with disc herniation. It predominantly affects the lumbar thoracic spine. The underlying mechanism of LFH remains unclear; however, surgical removal of the hematoma has consistently demonstrated excellent outcomes. The objective of this case report is to emphasize the significance of diagnosing LFH. We present a surgically confirmed lumbar LFH case that mimicked a lumbar tumor, highlighting the challenges encountered during diagnosis and subsequent management.

Intracranial iodinated contrast medium deposits 50 years following a previous myelography: A case report and literature review.

Before the advent of CT and MRI, and since the early 1920s, myelography has been used for the diagnosis of spinal cord lesions and lumbar disc herniations. We report a case of an 86-year-old man with a migration of lipiodol in the intracranial subarachnoid spaces. The patient had undergone a myelography in the early 1970s, 50 years earlier. Lipiodol, an iodized oil, was widely used as a contrast agent in conventional myelography for years and provided excellent radiographic visualization of the subarachnoid spaces. Although rare, images of its residues may still be encountered in modern radiographic imaging. Neurosurgeons and radiologists should be aware of this imaging appearance, and be able to differentiate it from possible pathologies.

Accuracy and Safety of Fluoroscopy-Assisted Transpedicular Screw Insertion in Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery: Evaluation of 122 Screws.

The objective of this study is to determine the accuracy and safety of trans-pedicular screws' insertion in the thoracolumbar spine using a fluoroscopy-assisted surgical technique. We retrospectively evaluated all patients who underwent a postoperative computed tomography scan to assess the location of the pedicular screws following thoracolumbar spinal surgery, at the Mohammed Vth Military Training Hospital-Rabat, from January 2020 to April 2022. We used Gertzbein's classification to grade pedicular cortex breaches. A screw penetration greater than 4 mm (grades D-E) was considered critical and one less than 4 mm was classified as noncritical (grades A-C). A total of 122 screws inserted in the T1 to L5 vertebrae were included from 25 patients. The average age was 46 years old. Pathologies included degenerative disorders (5 patients), tumors (8 patients), and trauma (12 patients). All screws were inserted using lateral and anteroposterior fluoroscopic guidance. A total of 11 transpedicular screws breaches were identified. The breaches incidence was significantly higher in thoracic pedicles (8 screws) than in lumbar pedicles (3 screws). Of these, three critical cases occurred in two patients and one of them required reintervention. The remaining eight exceedances were not critical and were closely monitored and followed up. Transpedicular screws fluoroscopy-assisted surgical fixation can be performed for the stabilization of the thoracolumbar spine with satisfactory safety and precision.

Congenital spondylolytic spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine: A case report and literature review.

Congenital spondyloytic spondylolisthesis (CSS) is characterized as a pars-interarticularis well-corticated cleft with antherolithesis. The presence of spina bifida and vertebral dysplastic changes corroborate the possibility of a congenital etiology. It is a rare condition, usually discovered incidentally, especially after a trauma and should be differentiated from traumatic spondylolysis, which requires aggressive treatments. The management is often conservative, with surgery being indicated for symptomatic or unstable lesions. We report the case of a sixth cervical vertebra Congenital Spondylolytic Spondylolisthesis (CCS), discovered fortuitously following a minor trauma, in a 19-year-old male patient, treated conservatively with a favorable evolution.

Spinal epidural lipomatosis.

Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is a rare pathologic growth of histologically normal nonencapsulated adipose tissue in the epidural space. It can cause myelopathy or radiculopathy. Etiologies include chronic exposure to endogenous or exogenous steroids and obesity. Idiopathic forms are much infrequent. We present a case of lumbar SEL compressing the thecal sac in a 50-year-old female patient.

Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation presenting as severe heart failure in a neonate.

The vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is a rare cerebral arteriovenous malformation that can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early. VGAM usually presents in the neonatal period with high-output cardiac failure. We report the case of a full-term male neonate who presented with respiratory distress, and a fontanel bruit soon after birth. A chest radiograph revealed marked cardiomegaly. Transthoracic echocardiography showed dilatation of all four cardiac chambers and a patent ductus arteriosus. Transfontanellar doppler ultrasound and brain computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis of a VGAM. Clinical worsening took place despite aggressive hemodynamic and ventilatory support. The patient's Bicêtre Neonatal Evaluation Score for embolization was 2. Endovascular treatment could not be performed. The patient regretfully passed away. VGAM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neonatal congestive heart failure with a structurally normal heart. Early diagnosis and treatment improve prognosis considerably.