Concomitant combined degenerative compression of the spinal cord and cauda Equina: A report on three cases

We report on three cases with concomitant combined degenerative compression of the spinal cord and cauda equina which were diagnosed and operated in a single stage. The first case presents left-sided paramedian disc herniations at L1-2 and L4-5 levels, combined with concurrent degenerative spinal stenosis. The second case includes right-sided paramedian disc herniation at Th12-L1 level in combination with severe degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis at L3-4 level. The third case describes advanced degenerative compression at Th7-8 level with concurrent central spinal stenosis at L4-5 level.We have discussed the clinical presentation of concurrent combined symptomatic degenerative compression of the spinal cord and cauda equinа which can deceive the physician and lead to omitted diagnosis of the thoracic compression.In an attempt to avoid misdiagnosis of thoracic degenerative compression, it is necessary to perform thorough neurological examination of the spinal cord motor and sensory functions. In addition, further MRI examination of upper spinal segments is needed, if previous studies of the lumbar spine fail to provide reasonable explanation for the existing neurological symptoms

Two Cases of Use of Cement Augmented Screws for Osteosynthesis of the Spine

With this report we decided to present the initial experience with the use of cement augmented screws in Cotrel-Dubousset fixation in cases of patients with degenerative spines in combination with severe osteoporosis. We present two patients who underwent treatment at UMHAT "Sv. Georgi ”, Plovdiv. The first is a 75-year-old woman who underwent right hip arthroplasty in 2002 with a Muller prosthesis. 14 years later (in 2016) due to implant ablation, a revision of the joint with a cementless, revision modular endoprosthesis of Metrimed was performed. In 2022, due to secondary degenerative scoliosis, the patient began to complain of pain in the lumbar spine, which required decompression and posterior fixation with cement augmented screws. The second patient was a 72 years old female and in September 2021 suffered an osteoporotic fracture at L4 level. Balloon kyphoplasty was performed at the same level. However, due to leakage of cement into the vertebral canal, it was necessary to decompress the canal and apply again the mentioned fixation system. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the effect of response to therapy. Both patients had no symptoms of nerve compression. Fenestrated screws were used in both cases.

Two Cases of Use of Cement Augmented Screws for Osteosynthesis of the Spine

With this report we decided to present the initial experience with the use of cement augmented screws in Cotrel-Dubousset fixation in cases of patients with degenerative spines in combination with severe osteoporosis. We present two patients who underwent treatment at UMHAT "Sv. Georgi ”, Plovdiv. The first is a 75-year-old woman who underwent right hip arthroplasty in 2002 with a Muller prosthesis. 14 years later (in 2016) due to implant ablation, a revision of the joint with a cementless, revision modular endoprosthesis of Metrimed was performed. In 2022, due to secondary degenerative scoliosis, the patient began to complain of pain in the lumbar spine, which required decompression and posterior fixation with cement augmented screws. The second patient was a 72 years old female and in September 2021 suffered an osteoporotic fracture at L4 level. Balloon kyphoplasty was performed at the same level. However, due to leakage of cement into the vertebral canal, it was necessary to decompress the canal and apply again the mentioned fixation system. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the effect of response to therapy. Both patients had no symptoms of nerve compression. Fenestrated screws were used in both cases.

Outcome of Surgical Treatment of Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Abscesses for a 10-year Period

Introduction: Spinal epidural abscess is uncommon but potentially debilitating infection. Delay in early diagnosis may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality despite recent advances in medicine.Aim: To present the clinical course and outcome of treatment of spontaneous spinal epidural abscesses.Materials and methods: Thirty-four patients (20 men and 14 women) with clinical, neuroimaging and/or histological data for spinal epidural abscess were treated at the Clinic of Neurosurgery at St George University Hospital, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, for the period 2009-2018.Results: The average age of patients was 62 years (21-76 years) and the ratio of men to women was 1.4:1. All patients (100%) presented with vertebralgia, 13 patients (38.2%) had additional radiculalgia, and 10 patients (29.4%) presented with sensory or motor deficit. The duration of complaints varied from 4 to 180 days. At hospital admission, only 9 patients (26.4%) had intact neurological status. The most common localization of the spinal epidural abscess was in the lumbar and lumbosacral area (52.9%), concomitant spondylodiscitis was present in 31 patients (91.2%). Twenty-four patients (70.6%) underwent emergency surgery within 24 hours, and the rest had planned surgery. Decompressive interlaminotomy or hemilaminectomy was performed in 9 patients (26.5%). The remaining 25 patients (73.5%) underwent laminectomy, in 15 patients (44.1%) it was combined with posterior pedicle screw fixation. After the treatment, 23 patients (67.6%) had a good outcome, the remaining 11 (32.4%) had a poor outcome, and 3 patients died (8.8%).Conclusion: In patients with spinal epidural abscess, emergency surgery is the treatment method of choice. It allows decompression of neural structures, correction of the spinal deformity, segmental stabilization and rapid mobilization of patients

Contemporary insight into diffuse axonal injury

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is present in approximately 50% of the cases with severe traumatic brain injury. It is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children and young individuals worldwide. Generally, DAI occurs as a result of high-velocity accidents. Typically, it presents with loss of consciousness for at least 6 hours and neurological deficit dependent on the brain area that is affected by the injury. The final diagnosis is confirmed by neuroimaging studies such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. According to the injured brain site, DAI is classified into three grades: Grade I–DAI with axonal lesions in the cerebral hemispheres; Grade II–DAI with focal axonal lesions in the corpus callosum; Grade III–DAI with focal or multiple axonal lesions in the brainstem. Each of the three grades is associated with different outcome.Due to the high disability and mortality rate, DAI represents an important medical, personal and social problem. The aim of the current review is to address the unsolved issues connected with the pathogenesis, diagnostics, treatment and outcome of the diffuse axonal injury

Short-term outcome of treatment of elderly patients with epidural hematomas

Introduction: There is substantial literature data dedicated to intracranial epidural hematomas affecting young and middle-aged individuals, but studies focusing on their characteristics in elderly patients are scarce, assuming that old age is a poor prognostic factor. Aim: The aim of the current study was to review the typical features of the etiology, clinical presentation, disease course, and outcome in a series of cases with epidural hematomas in elderly patients. Materials and methods: The etiology, clinical presentation, neuroimaging findings, treatment, and outcome in elderly patients operated for traumatic epidural hematomas were investigated in the Clinic of Neurosurgery at St George University Hospital, Plovdiv between January 2015 and December 2020. The study included patients with isolated traumatic epidural hematoma, as well as those with epidural hematoma in combination with other traumatic intracranial lesions (cerebral contusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural and intracerebral hematoma). Postoperative epidural hematomas were not included in the study. The neurological status of patients at admission was assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale. The Glasgow Outcome Scale was used to monitor their condition during the first month after discharge. Results: 121 patients with epidural hematomas underwent surgery during the study period in the Clinic of Neurosurgery at St George University Hospital, Plovdiv. Of these patients, 13 (10.7%) were people aged over 65 years (8 women and 5 men, mean age - 69 years). The most common cause of injury was a fall. Twelve patients (92.3%) had associated craniocerebral lesions and only one had an isolated epidural hematoma. Upon admission, 6 patients (46.2%) were neurologically intact. Ten patients were treated surgically, two – conservatively. Good outcome (GOS=4–5) was achieved in 8 patients (61.5%), poor outcome – in one patient, and four patients (30.8%) died. Conclusions: Good outcome in elderly patients with epidural hematoma can be achieved in two-thirds of the cases, despite the negative influence of the age as a prognostic factor

TANDEM COMPRESSION OF MEDULLA SPINALIS AND CAUDA AEQUINA

Objective: To analyze and present cases of tandem compression of medulla spinalis and cauda equina. Material and Methods: The subjects of observation were four patients with simultaneous compression of medulla spinalis and cauda equina, admitted to the Neurosurgery Clinic of the St George University Hospital, Plovdiv, Bulgaria during the period March 2012 — March 2014. The average age of the patients was 60.5 years (47–72). In one case, left-sided paramedian herniated discs were found at levels L1–2 and L4–5 combined with a concomitant stenosis, in another case — right-sided paramedian herniated discs on the level of Th12 — L1 and a degenerative stenosis at level of L3–4, in the third case — pronounced degenerative compression at level Th7–8 and a central stenosis at level of L4–5, and in the last case — degenerative stenosis at level L3–5 and spinal meningioma at level Th9–10. Results: The clinical signs of the simultaneous compression of the spinal cord and cauda equina have been examined. These signs may mislead the physician in the diagnosis of the spinal lesion, thus, resulting in inappropriate surgical strategy. Conclusion: The involvement of the spinal cord must be clinically confirmed to rule out lesions in the thoracic region. When the lumbar imaging examinations are inconclusive or cannot explain the clinical symptoms of a certain patient, it is advisable to perform a magnetic resonance imaging of the entire spi

Analysis of characteristics and surgical outcome of intradural extramedullary tumors – a retrospective cohort study of 52 patients

Introduction: Although intradural extramedullary tumors (IET) are relatively well studied, research on the typical epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of these malignancies is scanty. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate retrospectively the epidemiology, demographics, clinical presentation, imaging data, type of surgery, and the outcome of treatment of IETs. Materials and methods: We performed retrospective chart review of medical history, clinical presentation, paraclinical and imaging data, and operative protocols of operated patients with IETs from January 2011 to August 2020. Special attention was paid to the onset of symptoms, clinical presentation at admission, imaging data, localization, type of surgery, histology, and outcome of the disease. The degree of neurological deficit and disability of the patients at admission, discharge, and follow-up was assessed by the Modified McCormick Scale and the Modified Rankin Scale, respectively. The follow-up period varied from 1 to 105 months (mean 43 months). Results: Fifty-two patients (mean age 58 years, range 14-78 years) with IETs were surgically treated for the study period. At admission to the clinic, 48 patients (92.3%) had vertebralgia, 34 (65.4%) had concurrent radicular pain, 42 (80.8%) had motor deficit, and 18 (34.6%) had sphincter disorders. Total tumor removal was achieved in 47 patients (90.4%). Favourable outcome was registered in 43 patients (82.7%). The degree of disability (mRS) at admission (p=0.0001), the McCormick grade at admission (p=0.0001), gender (p=0.042), and age (p=0.047) of patients were significantly correlated with the functional status assessed by McCormick scale at discharge. Conclusions: Most of the IETs can be successfully removed via a standard posterior or posterolateral surgical access. Favourable outcome of treatment depends on early diagnosis and total tumor resection