Concomitant noncontiguous level (thoracic & lumbar) spinal stenosis

Presented here is a prospective study assessing the efficacy of decompression of concomitant noncontiguous level (thoracic & lumbar) stenosis in accordance with neurological findings, nerve root blocks, and myelographically proven disease. The objective was to determine the efficacy, clinical outcome, and functional recovery in patients undergoing simultaneous decompression. No previous study has focussed on the clinical outcome of such simultaneous decompression. Twenty-one patients with neurological claudication, progressive gait disturbance, upper motor neuron symptoms, and findings of myelopathy in both the lower extremities underwent simultaneous decompression and were assessed. The average follow-up was 32 months (range, 24–40 months). At the last examination,13 patients (82%) had excellent or good clinical results. Postoperative improvement correlated inversely with the duration of symptoms. The patients usually had satisfactory outcomes when the correct diagnosis was made and management was implemented. Functional recovery depends on early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention

Oclusión espontánea de malformación arteriovenosa cerebral parcialmente embolizada: reporte de dos casos Spontaneous occlusion of previously cerebral embolized residual arteriovenous malformation: report of two cases

OBJETIVO: Mostrar dos casos de oclusión espontánea de remanente malformativo previamente embolizado y analizar sus probables causas. MÉTODO: Revisión retrospectiva de pacientes con malformaciones arteriovenosas cerebrales (MAV) embolizadas entre Enero de 1999 y Agosto de 2005 en nuestra institución y análisis de dos casos de oclusión de MAV remanentes. RESULTADOS: Se presentan dos casos de MAV tratadas por vía endovascular, con remanentes del nido malformativo post-embolización, que posteriormente en controles angiográficos presentan desaparición completa de las lesiones sin mediar otro tratamiento. CONCLUSIÓN: La oclusión espontánea de un remanente arteriovenoso es un hecho infrecuente. Se discuten diversos mecanismos relacionados.<br>OBJECTIVE: To report two cases of spontaneous occlusion of residual malformations that had previously been embolized and to analyze their probable causes. METHOD: Retrospective review of patients with embolized arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) between January 1999 and August 2005 in our institution and analysis of two cases of occlusion in residual AVMs. RESULTS: Two cases of AVMs that received endovascular treatment and had post-embolization residual nidus malformation, which in later angiographic controls showed a complete disappearance of the lesions without other treatment. CONCLUSION: The spontaneous occlusion of residual arteriovenous malformations is an infrequent occurrence. Several related mechanisms are discussed