The authors report 2 cases of pseudotumor cerebri in which ventriculoperitoneal shunting procedures have been performed to relieve intracranial hypertensions, and satisfactory results have been obtained.
Pseudotumor Cerebri* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

To investigate the variations of the dorsal root of the first cervical nerve and its anastomosis with the spinal accessory nerve, a total of 74 anatomical dissections has been performed in 37 cases of Korean human fetus. The anastomotic connections between the dorsal roots and the spinal accessory nerve have fitted into five main types. The central course of the sensory fibers of the first cervical nerve and the neurosurgical significance of the variations have been discussed. Often the only pathway for the sensory fibers of the first cervical nerve to reach the spinal cord is through the rootlets of the spinal accessory nerve.
Accessory Nerve ; Fetus ; Humans ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Nerve Roots*

The author describes a case of traumatic cervical fracture-dislocation without spial cord syndrome in which Cloward anterior approach was performed under the operating microscope, and satisfactory stabilization and restoration of normal contour of the cervical spine were obtained by a dowel-shaped interbody bone graft. Cervical fracture-dislocation / spinal cord syndrome / Cloward technique / surgical microscope / dowel-shaped bone graft / anterior fusion / Crutchfield traction.
Spinal Cord* ; Spine ; Traction ; Transplants

In an attempt to evaluate cranioplasty, author reviewed 53 cases of head injuries with cranial defect repaired by cranioplasty. Materials used for cranioplasty were acrylic resin in 42 cases, tantalum in 6 cases and iliac bone in 5 cases. Adequate follow-up observations were obtained in all cases for at least 4 years. The results were as follows; 1) The majority of head injuries were caused by vehicle accident. 2) The majority of skull defects were in the frontal and parietal bones. 3) The interval between primary craniectomy and secondary cranioplasty was from 3 to 4 months in the majority of cases and cranioplasty was performed after fixation of permanent neurologic defect. 4) The indications for the cranioplasty were based upon criteria recommended by Grant and Norcross. 5) Postoperative complications were observed in 3 cases(5.7%).
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Financing, Organized ; Follow-Up Studies ; Parietal Bone ; Postoperative Complications ; Skull ; Tantalum

The anatomical pattern of the dural venous sinuses in the vicinity of their confluence was examinaed in 54 cases of human fetus. The classification introduced here by author was based upon the presence or absence of bifurcation of the superior sagittal and straight sinuses without regard to their sizes or to those of the transverse sinuses. Four types of pattern occurred;common pool type, double bifurcation type, straight sinus bifurcation type and superior sagittal sinus bifurcation type. In a total of 54 anatomical dissections, 28 cases(51.8%) were of the first type(common pool), 5 cases(9.3%) of the second(double bifurcation), 6 cases(11.1%) of the third(straight sinus bifurcation) and 15 cases(27.8%) of the fourth(superior sagittal sinus bifurcation) .
Classification ; Fetus ; Humans ; Superior Sagittal Sinus ; Transverse Sinuses

Acute cerebral embolism continues to be a major cause of stroke morbidity in children and young adults. A variety of drugs including steroids, dextran, barbiturates, and anticoagulants are used in the management of cerebral ischemia, despite controversy over their benefits in clinical and experimental situations. The operative treatment includes microsurgical cerebral embolectomy and cerebral revascularization. Middle cerebral artery embolectomies which have been carried out in human with variable results, have been reported by different authors. In order to define a time limit for cerebral embolectomies before irreversible brain damage has been incurred, the canine middle cerebral artery was embolized by means of a gutta percha cylinder, 4 mm long by 1.5 mm in diameter, via the internal carotid artery. It was observed that embolectomy of the middle cerebral artery performed between 4 and 5 hours postembolism could prevent the expected cerebral infarction effectually. Middle cerebral artery embolectomy beyond 5-hour periods invariably resulted in severe hemorrhagic infarction with concomitant neurological impairment.
Anticoagulants ; Barbiturates ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebral Revascularization ; Child ; Dextrans ; Embolectomy* ; Gutta-Percha ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intracranial Embolism ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Steroids ; Stroke ; Young Adult

To investigate the functions of the amygdala in limbic system, changes in heart rate and body temperature resulting from electrical destructions of amygdala centralis and piriform cortex were observed in a total of 40 rats varying in weight from 180 to 250g with the use of stereotaxic apparatus(Reyniers and Sons). The results were as follows; 1) Bilateral destructions of amygdala centralis revealed a tendency to increased heart rate and decreased rectal temperature. 2) Bilateral destructions of piriform cortex revealed no changes in heart rate and rectal temperature. Therefore, it is assumed that cardiovascular and temperature responses are not significantly resulted from the electrical destructions of amygdala centralis and piriform cortex.
Amygdala ; Animals ; Body Temperature ; Heart Rate ; Limbic System ; Rats

Although a great deal has been written about porencephaly during the past 100 years, there is much that remains obscure. The clinical recognition of porencephaly is important because it occurs with sufficient frequency to require consideration in the differential diagnosis of focal cerebral lesions. The authors considered and discussed to fulfill the pathogensis for this case.
Diagnosis, Differential

A geometrical method for estimating the normal position of the angiographic sylvian point in the lateral angiographic projection is described. The position of the angiographic sylvian point is determined by the base and the height of a right-angled triangle formed by the line from the anterior clinoid process to the angiographic sylvian point and the perpendicular line from the angiographic sylvian point to the clino-occipital line. The 95% confidence limits for mean value of the base are 37.13+/-.05mm and of the height 43.95+/-.95mm.

A method for determining the normal position of the angiographic sylvian point in the lateral angiographic projection has been devised by author. The position of the angiographic sylvian point has been determined by the angle between two lines from the anterior clinoid process to internal occipital protuberance and to angiographic sylvian point, and the quotient of the measured distance from the anterior clinoid process to angiographic sylvian point to that from the anterior clinoid process to inner table of parietal bone. The 95% confidence limits for mean vlaue of the angle are 50.09+/-.90 and of the quotient 0.47+/-.008. The angiographic sylvian point seems to become lower with advancing age, but remains stationary after growth is completed. The quotient value calculated is independent of skull dimensions. It is assumed that the author's method for estimating the position of the angiographic sylvian point is relatively accurate since the position is determined by the dual components of angle and quotient.
Parietal Bone ; Skull