ObjectiveHydatid cyst disease is caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. It is rarely seen in the vertebral system, occurring at a rate of 0.2–1%. The aim of this study is to present 12 spinal hydatid cyst cases, and propose a new type of drainage of the cyst.
MethodsTwelve cases of spinal hydatid cysts, surgical operations, multiple operations, chronic recurrences, and spinal hydatic cyst excision methods are discussed in the context of the literature. Patients are operated between 2005 and 2016. All the patients are kept under routine follow up. Patient demographic data and clinicopathologic characteristics are examined.
ResultsSix male and six female patients with a median age of 38.6 at the time of surgery were included in the study. Spinal cyst hydatid infection sites were one odontoid, one cervical, five thoracic, two lumbar, and three sacral. In all cases, surgery was performed, with the aim of total excision of the cyst, decompression of the spinal cord, and if necessary, stabilization of the spinal column. Mean follow up was 61.3 months (10–156). All the patients were prescribed Albendazole. Three patients had secondary hydatid cyst infection (one lung and two hepatic).
ConclusionThe two-way drainage catheter placed inside a cyst provides post-operative chlorhexidine washing inside the cavity. Although a spinal hydatid cyst is a benign pathology and seen rarely, it is extremely difficult to achieve a real cure for patients with this disease. Treatment modalities should be aggressive and include total excision of cyst without rupture, decompression of spinal cord, flushing of the area with scolicidal drugs, and ensuring spinal stabilization. After the operation the patients should be kept under routine follow up. Radiological and clinical examinations are useful in spotting a recurrence.
We outline the key for management of a rare intracranial air entrapment case after an endoscopic odontoidectomy surgery in a pediatric patient and the measures taken to prevent its occurrence in the future.
The presence of air in spinal canal is called as “pneumorrhachis.” Nontraumatic, noniatrogenic spontaneous spinal air is an uncommon case. Peripheral alveoli burst due to the increased pressure in alveoli in the case of trauma, asthma, pneumothorax, or pneumomediastinum. Air pass to the mediastinum and then to retropharyngeal space and reaches to epidural space. In this paper, a 44-year-old female patient who has a spontaneous pneumorrhachis in the epidural space in the spinal canal L5-S1 lumbar level has been presented.
We therefore conclude that the use of magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic tool can result in midline closure defects and growth retardation in chicken embryos. We hypothesize that this may also be true for human embryos exposed to MRI. If a pregnant individual is to take an MRI scan, as for lumbar disc disease or any other any other reason, our results indicate that consideration should be given to an avoidance of MRI during pregnancy.
AIM:To assess the frequency of thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) fractures (T10-L2) in survivors of the 2023 East Turkey earthquake.
MATERIAL and METHODS:This single-center retrospective stdy evaluated 10 earthquake survivors, who were trapped under the rubble and rescued alive by rescue teams, and were assessed for spinal trauma after the earthquake in Eastern Turkey on February 6, 2023. All patients underwent full spinal magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography examinations to determine the level of spinal fracture and decide the treatment methods.
RESULTS:All patients had sustained spinal fractures. Eight underwent surgery, while two were managed conservatively. Nine out of ten patients had TLJ fractures. Five patients had L1 fractures, four of them were treated surgically. Three patients had a T12 level fracture, two of whom were treated surgically. One patient with a T7-level fracture was treated surgically. Only one patient had multiple fractures (T12 and L2 levels) and was treated surgically.
CONCLUSION:The TLJ was the commonest vertebral fracture level as of the 2023 Turkey earthquake survivors in our study population. In the event of an earthquake, people tend to attain a fetal posture (fix and hyperflex the spine) when taking shelter in a narrow area (triangle of life). This position might place an excessive load on the TLJ, predisposing it to injuries.
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of using a neuronavigation system for demonstrating the relationship between the basilar artery (BA) and ventricular floor during endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). MATERIAL and METHODS: Records of 28 patients (16 females and 12 males) diagnosed with obstructive hydrocephalus who had undergone a neuroendoscopic procedure were retrospectively examined. Patient age ranged from 1 to 76 years (median 24.46 years). The BA was marked with using the neuronavigation system in all cases to visualise its relationship to the floor of the third ventricle in real time. RESULTS: ETV was successfully performed in 28 patients with obstructive hydrocephalus. Of these, 13 (46.4%) patients had a thickened tuber cinereum (TC) membrane and 3 (10.7%) showed lateralization of the BA under the ventricular floor. No contact with the BA or related complications (e.g., major bleeding) was encountered with BA marking by using neuronavigation. CONCLUSION: Even though thickening of the TC membrane and/or displacement of the BA might be seen otherwise, we describe a new method that combines marking the BA and using neuronavigation to provide greater safety in the area where the ventriculostomy will be performed. This permits clearer orientation for the surgeon which significantly contributes to minimizing surgical morbidity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.