Cem Yilmaz

Comparison of effectiveness of facet joint injection and radiofrequency denervation in chronic low back pain.

AIM The study was conducted to compare the clinical effectiveness of FJ injections (FJI) and FJ radiofrequency (FJRF) denervation in patients with chronic low back pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included 100 patients; 50 in FJI 50 in FJRF group. VNS, NASS and EQ-5D were used to evaluate the outcomes. All outcome assessments were performed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. RESULTS FJI in early post-op but FJRF in 1st, 6th and 12th month VNS showed better results (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the 1st (p=1) and 6th month (p=0.13) but in 12th month (p=0.04) in NASS. Increase in level number showed positive effect in NASS in FJRF group (p=0.018) but no effect in FJI group (p=0.823) in the 12th month follow-up. There was no significant difference with respect to 1st month (p=0.17), 6th month (p=0.22) and 12th month (p=0.11) post-procedure follow-ups in EQ-5D. At the short term FJI was more effective than FJRF however in midterm follow-up FJRF had more satisfying results than FJRF. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, the first choice should be the FJI and if pain reoccurs after a period of time or injection is not effective, RF procedure should be used for the treatment of chronic lumbar pain.

Pleural effusion following ventriculo-pleural shunt: Case reports and review of the literature

Ventriculo-pleural shunt (VPLS) is an acceptable alternative in the management of hydrocephalus. Imbalance between the production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid an lead to formation of pleural effusion in patient with VPLS and on occasion produce symptoms. Pleural effusion could be a transudate or a non-specific exudate. We report our experience with this modality in relation to formation of pleural effusion and review the literature to make recommendation for its management. Information related to patients’ demographics, smoking history, prior pulmonary and occupational history, indication, duration and complications of the VPLS and their management was gathered to substantiate current recommendation with our experience.

Minocycline treatment inhibits lipid peroxidation, preserves spinal cord ultrastructure, and improves functional outcome after traumatic spinal cord injury in the rat.

Study design. A prospective, randomized experimental research. Objective. To evaluate the short- and long-term neuroprotective effects of minocycline on the secondary injury process of an experimental traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) model. Summary of Background Data. Traumatic SCI is a devastating problem of health that results in high morbidity and mortality rates. The loss of function after SCI results from both the primary mechanical insult and the subsequent, multifaceted secondary response. Methods. A total of 80 adult male Spraque-Dawley rats (breeded by the Baskent University Animal Research Center) were randomly divided into 4 groups. A T10 contusion injury was produced by using modified Allen technique in all groups except the control group. No medication was administered to the rats in the trauma group. Minocycline was administered intraperitoneally and intravenously to the treatment groups. Short-term and/or long-term neuroprotective effects of minocycline on the lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, glutathione), apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling), ultrastructure of spinal cord (tissue electron microscopy), and behavioral assessments (Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan) were evaluated. Results. As compared with the trauma group, tissue malondialdehyde and glutathione levels demonstrated that minocycline significantly diminishes lipid peroxidation. Electromicroscopic study showed that minocycline preserves the ultrastructure of spinal cord tissue in the early post-traumatic period. Minocycline treatment significantly reduced the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling positive cells both 1 day and 28 days after SCI. Behavioral assessments showed significant improvement in the hind limb functions of minocycline receiving rats starting 7 days after the SCI. Any statistically significant difference was not found between intraperitoneal or intravenous routes for minocycline injection. Conclusion. Minocycline is neuroprotective and contributes to functional improvement after traumatic SCI by eliminating the destructive process of secondary injury. Having both satisfying anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects in experimental models, it promises to be of therapeutic use in human SCI.

Anatomic variations of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel: a brief review of the literature.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common focal peripheral neuropathy. Increased pressure in the carpal tunnel results in median nerve compression and impaired nerve perfusion, leading to discomfort and paresthesia in the affected hand. Surgical division of the transverse carpal ligament is preferred in severe cases of CTS and should be considered when conservative measures fail. A through knowledge of the normal and variant anatomy of the median nerve in the wrist is fundamental in avoiding complications during carpal tunnel release. This paper aims to briefly review the anatomic variations of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel and its implications in carpal tunnel surgery.

Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of ganglion impar in the management of coccydynia: preliminary results.

AIM Coccydynia is a painful condition affecting quality of life. The majority of patients can be successfully treated by non-surgical means. Chemical neurolysis, cryoablation and radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) of ganglion impar are also used in the treatment of visceral pelvic pain. We analyzed the efficacy of RFT of ganglion impar in patients with chronic coccydynia. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the collected data of 10 patients with chronic coccydynia (pain>6 months) who were treated by RFT of the ganglion. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 49.2+/-14.4 (range 27-77) with 8 females (80%) and 2 males (20%). The average follow-up duration was 9.1+/-1.2 months. Statistically significant differences were observed between the preprocedure and post-procedure VNSs (p<0.01). Improvements in VNS scores were correlated with improvements in the EQ-5D scores. Midterm evaluation after the treatment (6 months) revealed that 90% of the patients had a successful outcome and 10% were deemed failures. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that RFT destruction of ganglion impar in patients with chronic coccydynia has an effective outcome and patients responding to RFT have significantly lower post-RFT pain scores. The most important factors determining success of this procedure is strict patient selection criteria and the technique of the procedure.

Transforaminal epidural steroid injection via a preganglionic approach for lumbar spinal stenosis and lumbar discogenic pain with radiculopathy

BACKGROUND Epidural steroid injection (ESIs) is one of the treatment modalities for chronic low back pain (CLBP) with various degrees of success. AIM We analyzed the efficacy of fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) via a preganglionic approach in patients with foraminal stenosis due to lumbar spinal stenosis and lumbar discogenic pain with radiculopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed the data of 40 patients (February 2008 and April 2009) with the diagnosis of CLBP and treated by fluoroscopically guided TFESIs via a preganglionic approach. Patients were followed-up at one month (short term), six months (midterm) and one year (long term) after injections. Follow-up data collection included the Visual Numeric Pain Scale (VNS) and North American Spine Society (NASS) patient satisfaction scores. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 59.87 +/- 15.06 years (range 30 - 89 years, 25 women). Average follow-up period was 9.22 +/- 3.56 months. Statistically significant differences were observed between the pre-procedure and post-procedure VNSs (P < 0.01, Pearson Correlation Test). Improvements in VNS scores were correlated with improvements in the NASS scores. When the VNS scores were evaluated with respect to the age of patient, level numbers, gender, pre-procedure symptom duration and pre-procedure VNS, no significant differences were found (P < 0.05, linear regression test). At short term evaluation in post treatment (one month), 77.78 % of patients were found to have a successful outcome and 22.22 % were deemed failures. Overall patient satisfaction was 67.23 % in the midterm period. Additionally, 54.83 % of patients (N/n: 15/8) had a successful long-term outcome at a follow-up of one year. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that fluoroscopically guided TFESIs via a preganglionic approach, in patients with foraminal stenosis due to lumbar spinal stenosis and lumbar discogenic pain with radiculopathy, has effective outcome and patients responding to injection have significantly lower post-injection pain scores.

Solitary fibrous tumor

Intracranial solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) are typically dural based, CD34-positive neoplasms of mesenchymal origin. Since they were first described in 1996 at the meninges, fewer than 100 SFT had been reported in both cranial and spinal compartments of the central nervous system. SFT can resemble other spindle cell tumors both radiologically and histopathologically, and differentiation can be best achieved through viewing their ultrastructure and using immunohistochemical techniques. In this report, we present four patients with SFT. Upon diagnosing two patients with SFT located in the cerebellopontine angle and parasagittal areas, we reviewed our pathological files and found two more patients; one having a parasagittal tumor and the other having a convexity tumor, that had been diagnosed with hemangiopericytoma. These tumours proved to be SFT after an immunohistochemical re-examination.

Lumbar Microdiscectomy With Spinal Anesthesia : Comparison of Prone and Knee-Chest Positions in Means of Hemodynamic and Respiratory Function

Study Design. Prospective clinical study to compare the physiologic changes in lumbar disc surgery regarding to positions. Objective. To compare the perioperative hemodynamic and respiratory functions between prone and knee-chest positions for lumbar disc surgery under spinal anesthesia. Summary of Background Data. Spinal anesthesia is a safe but rarely used alternative to general anesthesia for lumbar disc surgery. It reduces blood loss, avoid pressure necrosis, and nerve injuries, and it provides a more comfortable postoperative period. Prone and knee-chest positions are mostly used positions in lumbar discectomy; hemodynamic and respiratory effects of spinal anesthesia and the differences between these 2 positions in spinal anesthesia were evaluated in this study, which only been evaluated in general anesthesia. Methods. Forty-five patients were randomized for lumbar microdiscectomy with spinal anesthesia under either prone position (group 1 n = 22) or knee-chest position (group 2 n = 23). All patients were classified as physical status 1 or 2 according to the American Association of Anesthesiology. Spinal anesthesia was performed with hyperbaric bupivacaine. Perioperative continuous hemodynamics and respiratory function test results were recorded after the spinal anesthesia was performed. Results. Immediately after the spinal anesthesia was performed, both the systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure values were significantly decreased and heart rates were significantly increased in both groups. Both positions showed significant decrease in forced vital capacity (P = 0.002) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P = 0.0015) during the surgery respect to preoperative values. The decrease in peak expiratory flow (P = 0.011) and forced expiratory flow at the 25% of the pulmonary volume (P = 0.011) was significant in knee-chest position respect to prone position. Conclusion. In conclusion, spinal anesthesia is appropriate for lumbar disc surgery with respect to the hemodynamic parameters in both prone and knee-chest posi tions, however, in terms of pulmonary functions, the knee-chest position can cause a restrictive effect. Therefore this position should be used cautiously in higher-risk patients.

Augmentation of a loosened sacral pedicle screw with percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate injection.

Study Design Case report describing augmentation of a loosened sacral screw with percutaneous injection of polymethylmethacrylate. Objective To highlight the advantages of percutaneous injection of polymethylmethacrylate in treatment of loosened pedicle screws. Setting Turkey. Summary of Background Data Lumbosacral instrumentation with pedicle screws is a commonly used procedure for correcting deformity and stabilizing the spine until bony fusion occurs. Loosening of the screws is a complication of this procedure and is seen more frequently in multilevel instrumentation, particularly in those instrumentations using sacral screws. Method We present the case of a woman who had had L3-L4-L5-S1 instrumentation with pedicle screws who developed severe low back pain radiating to the left hip 2 months after the operation. Radiologic and clinical examination revealed that the left pedicle screw of the sacrum had loosened, and revision surgery was planned. The left sacral screw was augmented with percutaneous injection of polymethylmethacrylate. Results The patient was free of pain after the operation. Conclusions We suggest that percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate injection around a loosened screw may be an alternative to major open revision surgery in cases of sacral screw failure in multisegmental instrumentation.

Remote cerebellar haemorrhage after spinal surgery

Remote cerebellar haemorrhage (RCH) is a rare but potentially lethal complication of spinal surgery resulting from inadvertent opening of the dura. The precise mechanism of this type of haemorrhage remains undetermined. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may show a ‘Zebra sign’ representing the horizontal curvilinear configuration of haemorrhage between the cerebellar folia.