Background. Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a lesion that can affect several spinal structures, including the vertebrae, spinal cord, ligaments, and other adjacent parts of the spine. Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause functional changes in patients of different ages.
Material and methods. The study aims to determine whether there are social, clinical, and radiological differences between young, middle-aged, and elderly adults with SCI caused by a ground-level fall. This retrospective study analyzed the records of patients with a clinical diagnosis of SCI. It enrolled patients with traumatic spinal cord injury after a ground-level fall divided as follows: young aged adults 18–35 years of age (G1); middle-aged adults aged 36–60 years (G2); and elderly adults aged over 60 years (G3). Their clinical, social, and radiological variables were analyzed.
Results. It is observed that low schooling level, being widowed, and being a homemaker were more frequently encountered among elderly adults, whereas being single was more common in middle-aged adults. The morphologic diagnosis of compression fracture and the associated injury of facial trauma occurred more frequently in elderly adults, with an increasing tendency with age. Conservative therapeutic management was most commonly encountered in elderly adults, compared to surgery from a posterior approach in middle-aged adults. Listhesis was better identified in middle-aged adults by computed tomography (CT). Spinal cord contusion and injury to the C1 vertebra were demonstrated in young adults by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Conclusions. 1. Elderly adults with low education level, widowed, and homemakers were more susceptible to SCI caused by a fall. 2. Single marital status was more frequently noted in young adults. 3. The most frequent clinical aspects were the morphological aspect of compression fracture and facial trauma as an associated injury in elderly adults, with the occurrence of facial trauma increasing with age. 4. Conservative therapeutic management was more common in elderly adults than surgery from a posterior approach in middle-aged adults. 5. Regarding the radiological aspects of CT, listhesis was better identified in middle-aged adults. Spinal cord contusions and C1 vertebra lesions were better identified in young adults by MRI.
Introduction:Intracranial tuberculomas are granulomatous lesions that can occur in approximately 1% of the patients with active tuberculosis (TB). Although it is an uncommon disease, it usually causes severe neurological deficits, including altered mental status, hydrocephalus, cranial nerve palsy, hemiparesis, and seizures. Concomitant presentation of brain and spinal involvement is a rare entity and few cases have been described in the medical literature. Case Report: We report a case of a 38-year-old female who presented with brain and spinal cord injuries due to TB without pulmonary changes. The patient first complained about intense holocranial headache and underwent cranial computed tomography with normal result. In a 6-year period, she had several different symptoms, underwent various types of laboratory and imaging exams, followed some drug therapies, and underwent some surgical procedures. After a diagnosis of intracranial granulomas compatible with TB, she followed a rifampicin + isoniazid + pyrazinamide + ethambutol (RIPE) scheme. However, after some months, she had seizures despite the use of anticonvulsant drugs, felt dizzy, experienced loss of
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a set of signs and symptoms caused by compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist at the carpal tunnel. The diagnosis is clinical and based on the presence of characteristic signs and symptoms. Proper nonsurgical treatment can stop the progression of this disorder and prevent the development of permanent disability. Surgical treatment may be indicated to patients with complications rated as moderate to severe. Although the surgery is relatively simple, basic antisepsis care before, during, and after the procedure, and guidance of patients for the management of wound hygiene upon discharge, make recovery more secure and prevent disabling sequelae. We report a case of a patient that had infection, edema, and temporary loss of flexibility of the fingers after a surgical procedure to release the median nerve.
Situs inversus totalis is a congenital syndrome characterized by a total left-right transposition of all abdominal and thoracic organs. It may be associated with chronic respiratory conditions such as sinusitis and bronchiectasis, composing the Kartagener syndrome. If not detected, this condition may compromise the early diagnosis of surgical emergencies such as cholecystitis and appendicitis. A rare case of appendicitis in a patient with Kartagener syndrome is here reported.
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