Arjun Shetty

Pencil in the Brain: A Case of Temporal Lobe Abscess following an Intracranial Penetrating Pencil Injury

The case of a 7-year-old girl with an intracranial penetrating injury due to a pencil is presented. The difficulties in diagnosis and the need for a high degree of suspicion and for prompt adequate surgical treatment are highlighted.

Odontoid fractures: A retrospective analysis of 53 cases

Background: The management of odontoid fracture has evolved but controversy persists as to the best method for Type II odontoid fractures with or without atlantoaxial (AA) instability. The anterior odontoid screw fixation can be associated with significant morbidity while delayed odontoid screw fixation has shown to be associated with reasonable good fusion rates. We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the outcome of a trial of conservative management in type II odontoid fractures without atlantoaxial instability (Group A) followed by delayed odontoid screw fixation in cases in which fusion was not achieved by conservative treatment. The outcome of type II odontoid fracture with AA subluxation (Group B) was also analysed where closed reduction on traction could be achieved and in those atlantoaxial subluxations that were irreducible an intraoperative reduction was done. Materials and Methods: A retrospective evaluation of 53 cases of odontoid fractures treated over a 9-year period is being reported. All odontoid fractures without AA instability (n=29) were initially managed conservatively. Three patients who did not achieve union with conservative management were treated with delayed anterior screw fixation. Twenty-four cases of odontoid fractures were associated with AA instability; 17 of them could be reduced with skeletal traction and were managed with posterior fusion and fixation. Of the seven cases that were irreducible, the initial three cases were treated by odontoid excision followed by posterior fusion and fixation; however, in the later four cases, intra operative reduction was achieved by a manipulation procedure, and posterior fusion and fixation was performed. Results: Twenty-six of 29 cases of odontoid fracture without AA instability achieved fracture union with conservative management whereas the remaining three patients achieved union following delayed anterior odontoid screw fixation. 17 out of 24 odontoid fracture with atlantoaxial dislocation could be reduced on traction and these patients underwent posterior fusion and fixation. Optimal or near optimal reduction was achieved by on table manipulation in four cases which were irreducible with skeletal traction. Atlantoaxial stability was achieved in all cases. All cases were noted to be stable on evaluation with x-rays at six months. Conclusions: The initial conservative management and use of odontoid screw fixation only in cases where conservative management for 6–12 weeks has failed to provide fracture union have shown good outcome in type II odontoid fracture without AA instability rates. Intraoperative manipulation and reduction in patients where AA subluxation failed to reduce on skeletal traction followed by posterior fusion obviates the need for transoral odontoid excision.

Sylvian Cistern Arachnoid Cyst - A Rare Cause of Precocious Puberty

Precocious puberty still remains an elusive diagnosis in the majority of patients. Infrequently, lesions of the central nervous system are associated with sexual precocity. Depending on their location, these cysts may affect many systems, however, there is little information concerning their involvement in endocrinological disorders. We report a case of a sylvian cistern arachnoid cyst presenting with precocious puberty in a 3-year-old girl. The child recovered following a cystoperitoneal shunt. The mass effect of the arachnoid cyst upon the hypothalamus was, at least in part, responsible for the development of precocious puberty. To the best of our knowledge, this is the 1st case of a sylvian cistern arachnoid cyst presenting with precocious puberty. The role of surgical decompression of the cyst is also discussed.

Corynebacterium minutissimum infecting pseudomeningocele: a rare case.

Invasive infections by Corynebacterium minutissimum are rarely documented. The significance of laboratory isolation of this bacterium from a sterile specimen such as cerebrospinal fluid is difficult to determine as it usually colonizes the skin. However, repeated isolation in a clinical setting should be treated appropriately. Here we report a first case of infected pseudomeningocele by C. minutissimum in an adult woman operated on for falcotentorial psammomatous meningioma. The patient was treated successfully with linezolid.

Reduction techniques in the management of atlantoaxial subluxation

Background: The traditional approach to atlantoaxial subluxation which is irreducible after traction is transoral decompression and reduction or odontoid excision and posterior fixation. Transoral approach is associated with comorbidities. However using a posterior approach a combination of atlantoaxial joint space release and a variety of manipulation procedures, optimal or near optimal reduction can be achieved. We analysed our results in this study based on above procedure. Materials and Methods: 66 cases treated over a 5 year period were evaluated retrospectively. Three cases treated by occipito cervical fusion were not included in the study. The remaining 63 cases were classified into three types. All except two cases were subjected to primary posterior C1-C2 joint space dissection and release followed by on table manipulation which was tailored to treat the type of atlantoaxial subluxation. Optimal or near optimal reduction was possible in all cases. An anterior transoral decompression was needed only in two cases where a bony growth (callus) between the C1 anterior arch and the odontoid precluded reduction by posterior manipulation. All cases then underwent posterior fusion and fixation procedures. Patients were neurologically and radiologically evaluated at regular followups to assess fusion and stability for a minimum period of 6 months. Results: Of the 63 cases who underwent posterior manipulation, 49 cases achieved optimum reduction and the remaining 14 cases showed near optimal reduction. Two cases expired in the postoperative period. None of the remaining cases showed neurological worsening after the procedure. Evaluation at 6 months after surgery revealed good stability and fusion in all except three cases. Conclusion: Atlantoaxial joint release and manipulation can be used to achieve reduction in most cases of atlantoaxial subluxation, obivating the need of transoral odontoid excision.

Management of traumatic atlanto-axial instability: A retrospective study of eight cases

Background: C1 lateral mass–C2 transpedicular fixation is an accepted surgical procedure of choice in a large number of cases with traumatic atlanto-axial instability. However, bony and vascular anomalies can predispose to unacceptably high risk with this procedure, And hence are the contraindications for this procedure. The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical and radiological results in such cases for which only unilateral fixation has been performed in cases where bilateral fixation could not be performed due to various reasons. Materials and Methods: Eight patients (7 males, 1 female) with a mean age of 41.12 years (range 12-68 years), who presented with traumatic atlanto-axial instability and in whom bilateral fixation could not be performed, were treated with unilateral C1 lateral mass–C2 transpedicular fixation. Of these cases, preoperative vertebral artery occlusion was noted in one case, iatrogenic vertebral artery injury in two cases and bony anomalies or fractures in the remaining of five cases. All patients were evaluated clinically with the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale and radiologically with computed tomography scans and serial X-ray using criteria to evaluate stability. Results: All cases were evaluated at 6 months followup with mean followup of 2 years and one month (range 6 months to 4 years). All eight patients showed adequate stability and fusion at 6 months; clinically there was no significant restriction of neck movement in any of the patient. There was no neurological deterioration in any of the patient at their last follow-up. Conclusion: Unilateral C1 lateral mass–C2 transpedicular fixation could be considered a viable option in cases of traumatic atlanto-axial instability where vascular and osseous anomalies contradict a bilateral fixation.

Extradural Spinal Metastasis of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC): A Case Report.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumour of the major salivary glands. It accounts for 10-15% of all salivary gland tumours and 1% of all head and neck tumours. Surgical resection followed by radiation is the choice of treatment for ACC. However, late loco-regional recurrence and metastasis is often seen emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-up. We report an unusual case of extradural metastasis of ACC in the dorsal spine. The primary submandibular gland tumour was resected 11 y back. A recurrence had been detected two years prior to the occurrence of spinal metastasis. Surgical decompression was done which was followed by palliative radiotherapy. Patient is symptomatically better, ambulant and on regular follow-up.

Mini posterior lumbar interbody fusion with presacral screw stabilization in early lumbosacral instability

Background: Surgical options for the management of early lumbosacral spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease with instability vary from open lumbar interbody fusion with transpedicular fixation to a variety of minimal access fusion and fixation procedures. We have used a combination of micro discectomy and axial lumbosacral interbody fusion with presacral screw fixation to treat symptomatic patients with lumbosacral spondylolisthesis or lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, which needed surgical stabilization. This study describes the above technique along with analysis of results. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with symptomatic lumbosacral (L5-S1) instability and degenerative lumbosacral disc disease were treated by micro discectomy and interbody fusion using presacral screw stabilization. Patients with history of bowel, bladder dysfunction and local anorectal diseases were excluded from this study. Postoperatively all patients were evaluated neurologically and radiologically for screw position, fusion and stability. Oswestry disability index was used to evaluate results. Results: We had nine females and three males with a mean age of 47.33 years (range 26–68 years). Postoperative assessment revealed three patients to have screw placed in anterior 1/4th of the 1st sacral body, in rest nine the screws were placed in the posterior 3/4th of sacral body. At 2 years followup, eight patients (67%) showed evidence of bridging trabeculae at bone graft site and none of the patients showed evidence of instability or implant failure. Conclusion: Presacral screw fixation along with micro discectomy is an effective procedure to manage early symptomatic lumbosacral spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease with instability.

Sub-axial cervical spine injuries: Modified Stellerman’s algorithm

Background: Global fusion is recommended in sub-axial cervical spine injuries with retrolisthesis, translation rotation injuries associated with end plate or tear drop fractures. We propose a modification of Stellerman’s algorithm which we have used where in patients are primarily treated via anterior decompression and fixation. Global fusion was done only in cases where post-decompression traction does not achieve reduction in cases with locked facets. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and thirty consecutive patients with sub-axial cervical spine injuries were studied in a prospective trial over a 7 year period. Seven cases with posterior compression alone were not subjected to our protocol. Of the other 223 cases, 191 cases who on radiological evaluation needed surgery were initially approached anteriorly. Decompression was effected through a corpectomy in 14 cases and a single or multiple level disc excisions were performed in the others. Cases with cervical listhesis (n=36) where on table reduction could not be achieved following decompression were subjected to progressive skeletal traction for 48 h. Posterior facetectomy and global fixation was done for patients in whom reduction could not be achieved despite post-decompression traction (n=11). Results: Of the 223 cases, 20 cases were managed conservatively, 12 cases expired pre-operatively, and the remaining 191 cases needed surgical intervention. Out of the 154 cases of distraction/rotation/translation injuries on table reduction could be achieved in 118 cases (76.6%). Thirty-six patients had locked facets (23 cases were bifacetal, 13 cases unifacetal) and of these 36 cases reduction could be achieved with post-anterior decompression traction in 25 patients (16.2%); however, only 11 cases (7.1%)–8 bifacetal and 3 unifacetal dislocations–needed posterior facetectomy and global fusion. One hundred and forty-three patients were followed up for a minimum period of 6 months. One hundred and twenty-six patients showed evidence of complete fusion (88.1%) while the remaining 17 (11.8) showed evidence of partial fusion. There were no signs of instability on clinical and radiological evaluation in any of the cases. Reduction of graft height was noted in 18 patients (12.5%). There were eight cases of immediate postoperative mortality and two cases of delayed mortality in our series of cases. Conclusion: We feel that on table decompression and reduction followed by anterior stabilization can be used as the initial surgical approach to manage most types of cervical injuries. In rotation/translational cases where reduction cannot be achieved, monitored cervical traction on the decompressed spine can safely achieve reduction and hence avoid the need for a posterior facetectomy in a large percentage of cases.