No abstract

The cause of the dural tear, either traumatic or congenital could not be confirmed in the four cases. Symptoms probably occur when herniation fills the orifice and strangulation happens which explains the late appearance and progressive evolution of this myelopathy. Mobilisation of the herniated spinal cord back into the intradural space can be achieved by surgery and may stop the evolution of the symptoms and signs.

The lateral spinal artery corresponds to the most rostral extent of the posterolateral arterial axis of the spinal cord. It supplies the posterior and lateral aspects of the spinal cord, and courses anterior to the posterior roots of the upper cervical spinal nerves (C-1 to C-4), and posterior to the dentate ligament. The lateral spinal artery anastomoses rostrally with the branches of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) at the restiform body and laterally with the extraspinal arteries at the emergence of each nerve. It may originate either from the vertebral artery or from the PICA lateral to the medulla. Certain variations will cause an unusual but normal enlargement of the vessel in a specific portion of its course; these variations include vertebral artery duplication, a C-1 or C-2 vertebral origin of the PICA, a C-1 or C-2 occipital origin of the PICA, and an intradural course of the vertebral artery at C-2. Knowledge of these variations in the arterial supply to the area allows for an understanding of the different anatomic peculiarities present and their angiographic importance.

The main goal of the study was to determine on MRI the cranial sutures, the craniometric points and craniometric measurements, and to correlate these results with classical anthropometric measurements. For this purpose, we reviewed 150 cerebral MRI examinations considered as normal (Caucasian population aged 20-49 years). For each examination we individualized 11 craniometric landmarks (Glabella, Bregma, Lambda, Opisthocranion, Opisthion, Basion, Inion, Porion, Infra-orbital, Eurion) and three measurements. Measurements were also calculated independently on 498 dry crania (Microscribe 3-DX digitizer). To validate the MRI procedure, we measured four dry crania by MRI and with compass or digital caliper gauges. Cranial sutures always appeared without signal (black), whatever the MRI sequence used, and they are better visualized with a 5 mm slice thickness (compact bone overlapping). Slice dynamic analysis and multiplanar reformatting allowed the detection of all craniometric points, some of these being more difficult to detect than others (Porion, Infra-orbital). The measurements determined by these points were as follows: Vertex-Basion height=135.66+/-6.56 mm; Eurion-Eurion width=141.17+/-5.19 mm; Glabella-Opisthocranion length=181.94+/-6.40 mm. On the midline T1-weighted sagittal image, all median craniometric landmarks can be individualized and the Glabella-Opisthocranion length, Vertex-Basion height and parenchyma indices can be calculated. Craniometric points and measurements between these points can be estimated with a standard cerebral MRI examination, with results that are similar to anthropometric data.

No abstract

The authors report the case of a 22-month-old girl who developed cervical pain, neck stiffness, and quadriparesis over 12 days. An epidural hematoma was removed, with complete recovery after 6 months. There was no history of trauma. A search of the literature revealed eight previous cases of spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas in children under the age of 10 years.

No abstract

This endoscopic approach allows the treatment of the hydrocephalus and the pineal cyst in one short minimally invasive procedure.