The authors report a case of malignant brain-stem glioma with typical clinical signs in which successful surgical decompression and biopsy were obtained under the surgical microscope, and factors favoring surgical removal of such lesion are discussed.
Biopsy* ; Decompression* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Glioma*

The transverse sacral fracture is rare; however, if it accompanies neurological injury or instability, difficult surgical treatment may be necessary. We performed surgical decompression and laminoplasty in a patient with neurological deficits and anterior displacement of S2 on S1. The patient showed a successful clinical outcome by neurological improvement.
Decompression ; Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Sacrum

No abstract available.
Decompression, Surgical* ; Exophthalmos*

Spinal disease is an important cause of cervical discomfort, low back pain, radiating pain in the limbs, and neurogenic intermittent claudication, and its incidence is increasing annually. From the etiological viewpoint, these symptoms are directly caused by the compression of the spinal cord, nerve roots, and blood vessels and are most effectively treated with surgery. Spinal surgeries are primarily performed using two different techniques: spinal canal decompression and internal fixation. In the past, tactile sensation was the primary method used by surgeons to understand the state of the tissue within the operating area. However, this method has several disadvantages because of its subjectivity. Therefore, it has become the focus of spinal surgery research so as to strengthen the objectivity of tissue state recognition, improve the accuracy of safe area location, and avoid surgical injury to tissues. Aside from traditional imaging methods, surgical sensing techniques based on force, bioelectrical impedance, and other methods have been gradually developed and tested in the clinical setting. This article reviews the progress of different tissue state recognition methods in spinal surgery and summarizes their advantages and disadvantages.
Decompression, Surgical ; Humans

The author analysed clinical effect of surgical decompression and stabilization on spinal cord dysfunction in 20 cases of atlantoaxial dislocation. Of 20 cases, 10 cases were related with trauma(either recent or remote), 4 with bony anomalies, 3 with inflammatory processes and remaining 3 of unknown etiologies. 9 cases had reducible dislocations and 11 cases were not reduced preoperatively. All cases were decompressed if necessary and stabilized via ventral transoral or posterior approaches. All cases except one, neurological symptoms and sings were improved or stabilized after operations. One patient who had been bedridden and had high preoperative CO2 retention, died 2 months after operation due to respiratory complications. In 3 of 10 ventrally decompressed cases, pharyngeal wounds were disrupted and it took more than 3 months of admission to heal. In 3 of 17 posterior fusion, solid bony fusion could be achieved by second operations. In conclusion, atlantoaxial dislocations can be cured by systematic decompression and fusion, but complication can be serious and troublesome.
Decompression ; Decompression, Surgical* ; Dislocations* ; Humans ; Spinal Cord* ; Wounds and Injuries

Bow hunter's syndrome (BHS) is rare cause of vertebrobasilar insufficiency that arises from mechanical compression of the vertebral artery by head rotation. There is no standardized diagnostic regimen or treatment of BHS. Recently, we experienced 2 cases resisted continues medication and treated by surgical approach. In both cases, there were no complications after surgery and there were improvements in clinical symptoms. Thus, we describe our cases with surgical decompression with a review of the relevant medical literature.
Decompression ; Decompression, Surgical ; Head ; Mucopolysaccharidosis II* ; Vertebral Artery* ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency

This is a report on the sudden onset of the Brown-Se`quard Syndrome on a patient following extradural cervical disc herniation. Earlier diagnosis and prompt surgical decompression in the lateral cord syndrome yielded a good outcome.
Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Spinal Cord Diseases

With current developments in surgical instrumentation, the surgical management of symptomatic isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis is diversifying. Many authors agree, the basic elements for this condition, are decompression of compressed neural structure, bone fusion, and internal fixation with or without reduction. In eleven isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis patients treated between Jannuary and December 1994, we applied band fixation instead of the usual metalic rigid fixation after decompression and posterior interbody fusion using carbon fusion cages. Serial lumbar X-rays were taken, and we studied the changes in displacement, disc height and bone fusion, as well as evaluating surgical outcome and complications. Preoperative percent-slip was 18.5+/-5.5, and this fell to 12.7+/-6.3 and 12.4+/-6.1 at postoperative 6 and 18 months respectively. Percent-disc height was higher than its preoperative value, and the increase was maintained(21.2+/-6.2 preoperatively; 30.0+/-6.0 and 29.7+/-5.1 at postoperative 6 and 18 months respectively). In all patients, fusion was good, and there were no surgical complications. Over 18 months, the outcome in nine patients was good or excellent, but in 2 patients, it was not good. The poor results may be because the tension band was too tight and possible neural damage or incomplete decompression. On the basis of these observations, we concluded that posterior lumbar interbody fusion with Graf band fixation is good for fusion and for the maintenance of displacement and disc height, and that if performed with care, this is a possible surgical option in cases of isthmic lumbar spondylolisthesis.
Carbon ; Decompression ; Humans ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Surgical Instruments

Twenty days after the operation of anterior cervical decompression fusion with internal fixation, the fistula was found at the lower end of right neck incision with purulent secretion, the intumescent mucosa was founded at the posterior wall of the esophagus, down about 5 cm of the oesophagostomum. The metal plate sample exposed under the intumescent mucosa. The diagnosed was "neck esophageal fistula".
Decompression, Surgical ; Esophageal Fistula ; surgery ; Humans ; Neck

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the therapeutic effect of subtemporal decompressive craniotomy with large flap resection on serious craniocerebral injury associated with cerebral infarction.

METHODSForty-eight cases of serious head injury accompanied by cerebral infarction were classified into two groups with each having 24 cases: treatment group, in which large bone-flap decompressive craniotomy was performed; control group, in which routine craniotomy and hematoma evacuation were adopted. The status of cerebral infarction pre- and post-operation, as well as the curative effect 3 months after operation were comparatively analysed between the two groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference regarding the status of cerebral infarction on the first day after operation; while one week after operation, the size of cerebral infarction was significantly smaller in treatment group than control one (P less than 0.05). Postoperative 3 months, the mortality rate was 20.8% in treatment group, being evidently superior to that of control group (33.3%, P less than 0.05). The mo- derate disability (good and fair) rate was 41.7% in treatment group, significantly higher than that in control group (25.0%, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLarge bone-flap decompressive craniotomy is confirmed effective and hence it offers us a preferable alternative of treatment by which to reduce disability and fatality rates for patients with serious head injury accompanied by cerebral infarction.