During 3 years, more 400 cases of the brain diseases in children have been operated at the department of neurosurgery of Hanoi Sain - Paul hospital. Among of them, only 16 cases of meningocele and meningoencephalocele who were congenital malformations of neurology with age of 2 days- 16 month of age. The author have presented the clinical and paraclinical manifestations, the indication, and the method of choice for the treatment, and the use of modified technique in the operation. For good results of postoperation, the diagnosis and treatment must be made early in the first days of life of children. Results: among of 16 cases: good 15, death: 1
Brain Diseases ; abnormalities ; therapeutics ; surgery

Craniosynostosis is the premature fusion of calvarial sutures, resulting in deformed craniofacial appearance. Hence, for a long time, it has been considered an aesthetic disorder. Fused sutures restrict growth adjacent to the suture, but compensatory skull growth occurs to accommodate the growing brain. The primary goal for the management of this craniofacial deformity has been to release the constricted skull and reform the distorted shape of the skull vault. However, the intellectual and behavioral prognosis of affected children has also been taken into consideration since the beginning of the modern era of surgical management of craniosynostosis. A growing body of literature indicates that extensive surgery, such as the whole-vault cranioplasty approach, would result in better outcomes. In addition, the age at treatment is becoming a major concern for optimal outcome in terms of cosmetic results as well as neurodevelopment. This review will discuss major concerns regarding neurodevelopmental issues and related factors.
Brain ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniosynostoses* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Skull ; Sutures

Calvarium protects the brain, the most important organ. The defect of calvarium results in not only deformity but also fatal injury from the trauma. The cranial bone defects result from 1) removal of bone flap for intracranial decompression or infection 2) fracture 3) excision of tumor 4) craniectomy for craniosynostosis. The goals of cranioplasty are to protect the brain from trauma and make the aesthetically acceptable contour. From 1990 to 1995, we experienced twelve cases of cranioplasty using autogenous bone graft; 5 cases with rib bone, 3 cases with iliac bone, 2 cases with calvarial bone, and 2 cases with rib and calvarial bones. The result was very excellent without any significant complications.
Brain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniosynostoses ; Decompression ; Ribs ; Skull ; Transplants*

Brain ; abnormalities ; Cerebral Cortex ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Nervous System Malformations ; diagnosis ; Prognosis

Though several pathogenetic theories concerning the frequent association of Chiari malformation and hydrocephalus with myeloschisis have been suggested, none of them explains all the aspects of the disorder. To investigate whether myeloschisis is the direct cause of Chiari malformation and hydrocephalus or these conditions are the results of another basic event, we observed the morphological changes of the posterior cranial fossa and its components in the chick embryos with surgically induced myeloschisis. To make myeloschistic lesions, we opened the neural tube for a length of 9-11 somites in Hamburger and Hamilton stage 16-19 chick embryos. They were divided into cervicothoracic (C-T) and lumbosacral(L-S) groups according to the area of incision. The embryos were re-incubated until postoperative day 11. In the control group, embryos were incubated with the eggshell window open as their experimental counterparts. The survival rates of each group were as follows; 11% (9 survivors/85 operated embryos), 8% (7/83), and 17% (10/60) in the C-T, L-S and control groups, respectively. Myeloschisis positive rates were 100% in the operated groups and 0% in the control group. The heads of embryos were sectioned along the sagittal plane to observe the morphological changes in the posterior cranial fossa and its components. Of the survivors, five in the C-T group, two in the L-S group and six in the control group were available for light microscopic inspection. In the majority of embryos with myeloschisis, without difference between the C-T and L-S groups, the fourth ventricles were smaller than those of the control group and the subarachnoid spaces in the posterior cranial fossa were also narrower. In embryos with severe changes, the cerebellum displaced downward comparing with that of the control embryos. No evidence of hydrocephalus was present Though not always typical, morphological changes similar to Chiari malformation were observed in chick embryos with surgically induced myeloschisis. It suggests a strong direct causal relationship between the two conditions and supports the theories of derangements in cerebrospinal fluid dynamics rather than those of primary mesenchymal or neural origin as a pathogenetic mechanism of Chiari malformation.
Animal ; Brain/*abnormalities ; Chick Embryo ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior/abnormalities ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hydrocephalus/etiology ; Spinal Cord/*abnormalities ; Subarachnoid Space/abnormalities ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Though several pathogenetic theories concerning the frequent association of Chiari malformation and hydrocephalus with myeloschisis have been suggested, none of them explains all the aspects of the disorder. To investigate whether myeloschisis is the direct cause of Chiari malformation and hydrocephalus or these conditions are the results of another basic event, we observed the morphological changes of the posterior cranial fossa and its components in the chick embryos with surgically induced myeloschisis. To make myeloschistic lesions, we opened the neural tube for a length of 9-11 somites in Hamburger and Hamilton stage 16-19 chick embryos. They were divided into cervicothoracic (C-T) and lumbosacral(L-S) groups according to the area of incision. The embryos were re-incubated until postoperative day 11. In the control group, embryos were incubated with the eggshell window open as their experimental counterparts. The survival rates of each group were as follows; 11% (9 survivors/85 operated embryos), 8% (7/83), and 17% (10/60) in the C-T, L-S and control groups, respectively. Myeloschisis positive rates were 100% in the operated groups and 0% in the control group. The heads of embryos were sectioned along the sagittal plane to observe the morphological changes in the posterior cranial fossa and its components. Of the survivors, five in the C-T group, two in the L-S group and six in the control group were available for light microscopic inspection. In the majority of embryos with myeloschisis, without difference between the C-T and L-S groups, the fourth ventricles were smaller than those of the control group and the subarachnoid spaces in the posterior cranial fossa were also narrower. In embryos with severe changes, the cerebellum displaced downward comparing with that of the control embryos. No evidence of hydrocephalus was present Though not always typical, morphological changes similar to Chiari malformation were observed in chick embryos with surgically induced myeloschisis. It suggests a strong direct causal relationship between the two conditions and supports the theories of derangements in cerebrospinal fluid dynamics rather than those of primary mesenchymal or neural origin as a pathogenetic mechanism of Chiari malformation.
Animal ; Brain/*abnormalities ; Chick Embryo ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior/abnormalities ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hydrocephalus/etiology ; Spinal Cord/*abnormalities ; Subarachnoid Space/abnormalities ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Adult ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Brain Abscess ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Pulmonary Veins ; abnormalities ; surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative progress and outcomes of bone injured patients with long bone fracture showing callus formation and deformity due to delayed surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 10 cases with more than 1 year follow up were chosen from 12 patients with long bone fracture whose surgical treatment was delayed due to brain injury. Exuberant callus formation and deformations were observed. Average delayed period was 6.7 weeks (4~10 weeks). Preoperative callus formation, shortening and angulation were evaluated using plain radiographs. Total operation time and transfusion amount were compared with that from operations done within 2 weeks following accident. Postoperative bone union was checked. RESULTS: In all cases, preformed angulation and hypertrophic ossification made reduction difficult and this increased total operation time and transfusion amount but had no statistical importance. In patients with humerus and femur fractures accompanying brain injury, massive hypertrophic ossification was observed both in preoperative period and in postoperative period. Average bone union period was 13.5 weeks in humerus fractures, 17.9 weeks in femur fractures. The bone union period was shorter in subject group but had no statistical importance. CONCLUSION: Early surgical treatment is essential to patients with long bone fracture accompanying brain injury but if early surgical treatment can not be done, proper immobilization to fracture site should be done.
Bony Callus ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Bone* ; Humans ; Humerus ; Immobilization ; Postoperative Period ; Preoperative Period

Striatal hand is characterized by flexion in metacarpopharyngeal (MCP) joints and hyperextension in proximal interphalangial (PIP) joints and flexion in distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. In clinical practice, this problem is often overlooked or misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis and the opportunity for an early diagnosis and a correct management of the patient's is missed. In this report, a case with striatal hand following traumatic brain injury (TBI) without cardinal Parkinsonian signs is presented, and the differential diagnosis of the disease is discussed. A-62-year-old man presented with hemiplegia subsequent to traumatic brain injury. During the last two years, "swan neck" deformity of the hands occurred. We could diagnose this case as striatial hand with exclusion of similar rheumatologic causes by careful study and its characteristic deformity pattern. Clinician should consider the possibility of striatal hand when the patient with TBI presents swan neck deformity for an early diagnosis and a correct management.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Early Diagnosis ; Hand ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Joints ; Neck ; Parkinson Disease

PURPOSE: The goals of cranioplasty are to protect the brain from trauma and restore normal cranial contour with as few complication as possible. In patient who suffered from cranial defect, the most satisfactory form of cranioplasty may be archived with autogenous bone grafts. We report on the treatment of large frontal bone defect using pericranial flap and split-rib graft. METHODS: A 29-year-old male was referred to our department. He was involved in an automobile accident resulting in large frontal bone and sinus defect and skull basal defect. The reconstruction was undertaken using galeal frontalis myofascial flap and split-rib cranioplasty using bicoronal incision. RESULTS: The postoperative course was successful. For 9 months follow up period, there was no complication about hematoma, infection, CSF leakage and washboard deformity. He was pleased with the results even when absolute symmetry was not achieved. CONCLUSION: We experienced large frontal bone and sinus defect and skull basal defect patient and successfully treated with split-rib graft and galeal frontalis myofascial flap.
Adult ; Automobiles ; Brain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Bone ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Skull ; Transplants