Cervical spondylosis is known to be one of the most common disorders involving bony and neural structures of cervical region and shows variety of clinical menifestation, namely radiculopathy, myelopathy, or both. Also, the outcome of the treatment of this disorder, whether surgical or nonsurgical, shows wide variations according to handful reports from different institutions. The purpose of this report is to assess the patients treated by our department for their spondylogenic symptoms. The results of treatments from 102 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and/or myelopathy were clinically assessed. Among them, thirty eight patients were undelwent operation and followed up for at least six to twelve month period. Remaining sixty four patients were treated conservatively for three weeks to three months. The results are as follows: 1) Among 102 patients, the most common type was combined myeloradiculopathy(57.8%). 2) Mean age was 52 tears with range between 31 to 74 years. Male to female ratio was about three to one. 3) Multiple level involvement was 52% and C5-6 was the most commonly involved level by single lesions. 4) Mean AP diameter of cervical canal of the spondylotic patients, as compared with the control group, was significantly narrowed(p<0.01). 5) Overall outcome by conservative treatment showed 65.3% improvement and 86.8% improvement by operative treatment. 6) Among various clinical factors studied(age, severity, duration of symptoms, multiple level involvement, methods of operation), only the degree of severity revealed statistically significant effect on outcome of both conservative and operative group. 7) There were three cases of mild transient neurological complications and one case of technical complication(graft extrusion).
Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spondylosis

Spinal trauma produced from motor vehicle accidents, diving accidents, or falls occur at high rates of loading. This study was undertaken to reproduce clinically relevant cervical spine injuries under controlled conditions. Six isolated head-T2 human cadaveric preparations were tested using an electrohydraulic piston actuator at loading rates from 295 to 813 cm/sec. The Hybrid III head-neck was tested similarly at rates from 401 to 683 cm/sec. The input forces for specimen tests were of higher magnitude and shorter duration than the distally measured forces. In contrast, the Hybrid III head-neck revealed similar magnitude and duration force traces from input to output. The specimen preparations were analyzed kinematically at 1200 frame/sec with 20 to 30 retroreflective targets fixed to each level of the cervical spine. With this technique it is possible to temporally follow cervical damage as a function of applied forces. Wedge, burst, and anterior compression fractures were documented using CT and cryosectioning techniques. This pathology can be evaluated quantitatively using the target analysis. For example, a burst fracture occurred suddenly and 2.5 msec, whereas wedge fractures were progressive and took 4 to 5 msec to occur.
Cadaver* ; Cryoultramicrotomy ; Diving ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans* ; Motor Vehicles ; Pathology ; Spine

Aneurysmal bone cyst is an uncommon spinal tumor of vascular origin and represents less than 1% primary bone tumors. A case of 15-year-old girl who presented with low back pain and severe left leg pain. The lesion was expansile in nature involving anterior and posterior bony elements of the spine. It also showed expanision into the intraspinal canal and paraspinal soft tissue. Surgical treatment consisted of tumor excision and pedicle screw fixation via extracavitary approach. Postoperative course was uneventful and her symptoms and signs were improved. Extracavitary approach, as applied to our case, seemed to be an ideal surgical method in such cases because of its nature and extent of involvement.
Adolescent ; Aneurysm* ; Bone Cysts* ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Spine

No abstract available.
Sepsis* ; Yersinia*

Two cases of vertex epidural hematomas are described to illustrate their unique diagnostic and treatment problems. Due to its specific location, a correct diagnosis of the intracranial hematoma was delayed in the first case. Quantitative analysis of the hematoma volume was performed in the second case. We would like to emphasize the usefulness of the magnetic resonance imaging and quantitative analysis of vertex epidural hematoma in choosing treatment options in such patients.
Adult ; Case Report ; Hematoma, Epidural/*diagnosis/surgery ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

OBJECTIVES: The craniopharyngioma is a benign tumor located at least in part in the suprasellar cistern. However, the symptoms and signs from this tumor may be determined not only by the location of the tumor but also by its size and the age of the patient. The objective of our study is to analyze retrospectively the clinical manifestations of craniopharyngiomas with regards to tumor characteristics in children and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients(16 adults, 7 children) treated for craniopharyngioma between 1990 and 1999 were studied to demonstrate the relationship of tumor size, growth pattern, and its invasiveness with clinical symptoms. As part of the assessment, 16 adults(M:F=8:8, mean age:43.7 years) and 7 children(M:F=5:2, mean age:10.1 years) underwent magnetic resonance(MR) imaging and computerized tomography(CT) scanning with a three-dimensional volume acquisition sequence. RESULTS: The three major cardinal signs were defined to increased intracranial pressure, endocrine dysfunction, and visual problems. The tumor size in child group was larger than that in adult group. Also, visual problems, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus were more frequently observed in child group. However, endocrine dysfunction and neuropsychological symptoms related with hypothalamic connections to the thalamus, pituitary, frontal lobe, and other cortical areas were more frequent in adult group. Conclusions: In our series, the tumor size and invasiveness of craniopharyngioma revealed to be relevent with initial symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and visual symptoms which were more frequent in child group. As for the growth pattern, we did not find major difference between adults and children.
Adult* ; Child* ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Intracranial Pressure ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalamus

A case of AVM(Arteriovenous Malformation) harboring a large venous aneurysm is presented. The AVM was located in right temporo-parietal area. The pathology revealed a AVM and large venous aneurysm which was attached to nidus and drained into petrosal sinus. The authors reviewed the pathology of AVM and venous aneurysm.
Aneurysm* ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Pathology

Results from lumbar disc operation in general are favorable in 70% to 90% of patients. The rate of necessary reintervention of the primary discectomy, however, may be as high as one fifth of cases even though diagnostic and technical standards have been improved. The purpose of this study was to analyse the reasons for failure of primary discectomy and which factors might have influenced the outcome of revisions in 53 patients with failed back surgery syndrome from the years 1989 to 1993. Mean follow up duration was 11.4 months with range of 1 to 69 months. Before revisions, all patients had one or more lumbar disc operations in whom disabling pain, neurologic deficits, and/or lumbar instabilities have been persisted or newly developed. The most common intraoperative findings of patients with revision were recurrent or persistent disc material(35.9%) followed by incomplete decompression from previous operations(24.5%), and disc lesions at new level(11.3%). In overall, 77.3% of total patients showed satisfactor y results(fair, good, and excellent) but this figure drops to 39.6% when those with at least good or excellent outcomes are only considered as definitively improved. Moreover only 22.9% good results were obtained among 35 patients with those less than 6 months of symptom duration. As for the total number of operations undertaken, it can not be conclusively stated due to small numbers in each categories, but less favorable results have been observed in those with more than one revisions. The factors predicting good outcome from revisions in our series were:1) greater than 6 months of pain relief after primary operation, 2) sciatica more prominent than lower back pain, 3) fewer operations.
Decompression ; Diskectomy ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Sciatica

Pituitary adenomas are uncommon in childhood and adolescence. From a series of 94 patients with pituitary adenoma operated by microsurgical technique during the period of June. 1988 to March, 1994, the cases of nine young people whose symptoms had appeared between the ages of 8.3 and 17.3 years are selected and presented. Of these 9 patients, three(33.3%) had prolactin(PRL)-secreting tumors. 3(33.3%) had PRL and adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)-secreting tumors, and among remaining three patients had a tumor secreting both growth hormone(GH) and PRL, one with clinically nonfunctioning tumor, and one with a craniopharyngioma. The average age of patients at the time of surgery was 14.8 years with the youngest patient being 8.5 years old. Presenting symptoms primarily reflected the increased intracranial pressure. All but one underwent operations by the transsphenoidal approach(TSA). There was no death in this patient group. Significant operative morbidity included one incidence of third nerve palsy in one case after transcranial approach and diabetes insipidus in another after TSA. Both incidences were transient and were resolved later. Plurihormonal tumors, broadly defined as tumors producing more than one hormone, were common in this study group. Follow-up study revealed good control of tumors in the majority of cases, however there were two cases of recurrences on 80% of initial remission rate. Based on the observed data, it is concluded that: 1) transsphenoidal surgery is feasible and safe in this age group: 2) plurihormonal tumors occur more frequently in the pediatric and adolescent age group than in adults: 3) Suprasellar extension is more frequent in this age group that in adults: 4) initial remission is high, but recurrence rate seems to be higher in this age group than in adults.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Craniopharyngioma ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Pressure ; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Prolactinoma ; Recurrence

Cystic retrochiasmatic craniopharyngioma may reach enormous size by expanding into the posterior fossa along the retroclival area, which is very unusual finding. An 11-year-old girl presented with walking disturbance and irritability. On the neurological examination, she had positive Babinski sign, hyperactive deep tendon reflex, and left lateral gaze nystagmus. She also had right hearing disturbance. Initial magnetic resonance(MR) images revealed a huge, thin capsuled cystic mass which extended into the cerebellopontine angle down to the medulla oblongata. Secondary adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and reoperation were necessary after first tumor removal by a suboccipital approach, due to the progression of disease. Finally, neurological condition was much improved without remnant tumor although some sequelae were remained. We report this interesting case because of its rarity, complex clinical presentation, and challenge in its management.
Cerebellopontine Angle ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Medulla Oblongata* ; Neurologic Examination ; Radiotherapy ; Reflex, Babinski ; Reflex, Stretch ; Reoperation ; Walking