Ho Kook Lee

Chronic subdural hematomas : a comparative study of three types of operative procedures.

OBJECTIVE Several surgical procedures have been reported for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). We compared the results of treatments for CSDH obtained from one burr-hole craniostomy with closed system drainage with or without irrigation, two burr-hole craniostomy with closed system drainage with irrigation, and small craniotomy with irrigation and closed-system drainage. METHODS Eighty-seven patients with CSDH underwent surgery at our institution from January 2004 to December 2008. Our patients were classified into three groups according to the operative procedure; group I, one burr-hole craniostomy with closed system drainage with or without irrigation (n = 25), group II, two burr-hole craniostomy with closed system drainage with irrigation (n = 32), and group III, small craniotomy with irrigation and closed-system drainage (n = 30). RESULTS Age distribution, male and female ratio, Markwalders grade on admission and at the time of discharge, size of hematoma before and after surgery, duration of operation, Hounsfield unit of hematoma before and after surgery, duration of hospital treatment, complication rate, and revision rate were categories that we compared between groups. Duration of operation and hospitalization were only two categories which were different. But, when comparing burr hole craniostomy group (group I and group II) with small craniotomy group (group III), duration of post-operative hospital treatment, complication and recurrence rate were statistically lower in small craniotomy group, even though operation time was longer. CONCLUSION Such results indicate that small craniotomy with irrigation and closed-system drainage can be considered as one of the treatment options in patients with CSDH.

Iatrogenic Intraspinal Epidermoid Cyst

Epidermoid cyst is generally regarded as congenital disease, and commonly related to other congenital spinal anomalies. However, it also develops iatrogenically. We report one rare case of epidermoid cyst that we experineced among intradural extramedullary tumors. A 21-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital due to low back pain with radiating pain into a right lower extremity that initiated about a month ago. She complained sensory lose and motor weakness (grade 4+) on her right extremity as well as urinary dysfunction and sphincter dysfunction. She had a lumbar puncture three times due to Pneumococcal meningitis when she was 13 years old. The well-circumscribed intradural extramedullary mass of 1.8×1.6×4 cm size was found on the L4-5 in a magnetic resonance image. Gross total tumor removal was garried out after the total laminectomy L5 and partial laminectomy L4. The tumor mass was gray-colored and so fragile that it was easy to be removed. The histological diagnosis confirmed epidermoid cyst without malignancy. After the operation, the patient progressively showed remarkable neurological recovery. In this case, the cause of epidermoid cyst is considered iatrogenic concerning history of several times of lumbar puncture as meningitis.

Management and Outcome of Spontaneous Cerebellar Hemorrhage.

Objective Spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage (SCH) is less common than supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage. This study investigated the treatment of SCH and the relation between its clinical and radiological manifestation and outcome. Materials and Methods We presented a SCH management protocol in our institute and analyzed the clinical and radiological findings in 41 SCH patients. The outcomes of each method (surgery and conservative treatment) were compared among patients with initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9-13 and hematoma volume greater than 10 mL. Results Two (4.9%), 16 (39%), and 23 (56.1%) patients had an initial GCS score of 3-8, with 3-8, 9-13, and 14-15, respectively. Initial GCS score showed significant correlation with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score (p = 0.005). The mean largest hematoma diameter was 3.2 ± 1.5 cm, and the mean volume was 11.0 ± 11.5 mL. Both of them showed significant inverse correlation with GOS score (p < 0.001). Among patients with an initial GCS score of 9-13 and hematoma volumes greater than 10 mL, 3 (50%) had good outcome and 3 (50%) had poor outcome in the surgical, and all of those in the conservative treatment group had poor outcomes. The outcome distribution differed significantly in the surgical and conservative groups (p = 0.030). Conclusion Initial GCS score and largest hematoma diameter and volume on brain computed tomography are important determinants of outcome in SCH patients. The surgery group showed better outcome than the conservative treatment group among those with an intermediate neurological status and large hematomas.

Ruptured Total Intrameatal Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm

Among the distal anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) aneurysms, a unique aneurysm at the meatal loop inside the internal auditory meatus is extremely rare. The authors report a case of surgically treated total intrameatal AICA aneurysm. A 62-year-old female patient presenting with sudden bursting headache and neck pain was transferred to our department. Computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography showed subarachnoid hemorrhage at the basal, prepontine cistern and an aneurysm of the distal anterior inferior cerebellar artery inside the internal auditory meatus. Surgery was performed by retrosigmoid craniotomy with unroofing of the internal auditory meatus. The aneurysm was identified between the seventh and eighth cranial nerve in the meatus and was removed from the canal and clipped with a small straight Sugita clip. After operation the patient experienced transient facial paresis and tinnitus but improved during follow up.

Erector Spinal Muscular Schwannoma of the Dorsal Ramus Nerve: A Case Report.

We present a rare case of intramuscular schwannoma originating from the dorsal ramus nerve in a 62-year-old woman. The mass grew slowly, with pain developing upon touch five years prior. No neurological deficit was detected. The mass was observed in the erector spinae muscles in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and surgical excision was performed. The mass was well encapsulated with clear margin. The lesion appeared to originate from the cranial side. We completely removed the mass including the origin. Histopathology confirmed a schwannoma diagnosis. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of a dorsal ramus-nerve schwannoma within the erector spinae muscles.

Clinical Features According to the Histological Types of the Outer Membrane of Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Objective The aim of our study was to classify the outer membrane of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) histologically and to determine the clinical and radiological meaning of the classified membranes. Methods The outer membrane specimen of 31 patients who underwent surgery for CSDH were acquired in this study. The specimen was classified into four types and each were analyzed of the symptoms on the admission day and during the period from trauma to surgery. The radiological features such as subdural fluid density, Hounsfield number, thickness of the hematoma, and midline shift were analyzed. Results There were 6% of type I, 29% of type II, 39% of type III, and 26% of type IV neomembranes. The cases of CSDH accompanied by neurologic deficit were highest from type IV of 63%, followed by type II with 56%. On the radiological findings such as Hounsfield unit, hematoma thickness and midline shift, only hematoma thickness between type II and III were statistically significant (p=0.021). The hematoma thickness and midline shift were greatest in type II. On computed tomography scans, the isodense, hyperdense and laminar type that shows the high recurrence rate formed 75% of type II and 67% of type IV while type III had the low possibility of recurrence rate (33%). Conclusion We have identified that the outer membrane have the tendency to develop from type I to IV in time while type II and type IV may have more risk of neurologic deficit and the high possibility of recurrence.

Comparative Study on the Period of Absolute Bed Rest of Vertebral Compression Fracture

Objective As a conservative treatment of compression fractures, absolute bed rest (ABR) for a certain period has been recommended, but no guideline on the period has yet been established. Considering that a long ABR period may adversely affect patients, the difference in prognosis according to the ABR period was investigated in this study. Methods A prospective study was conducted who were diagnosed with compression fracture. Groups A and B were put on ABR (one week for group A and two weeks for group B). X-ray images at baseline, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks were obtained from both groups, for assessment purposes. Results The compression rates of both groups were no significant difference at baseline, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The conditions of 25.9% and 21.2% of the subjects deteriorated in groups A and B, showing no significant difference. Between the groups of age and bone mineral densities (BMD), no significant difference was observed in the incidence of deterioration. In terms of complications development including constipation and other Gastrointestinal problems, voiding difficulty, etc., group A reported 57.4%, and group B, 84.8%, showing a significant difference (p-value=0.001). Conclusion No significant difference in the conservative period was observed between the groups. Group B, however, reported a higher complications development rate than group A. Therefore, a short ABR period may be helpful in the early stage of conservative treatment.

Spinal epidural hematoma related to intracranial hypotension.

A 45-year-old female patient visited the hospital complaining of severe sudden headache and posterior neck pain. The patient did not have any traumatic history or abnormal neurologic finding. The patient had sudden quadriplegia and sensory loss. Cervical spine MRI scan was taken, and the compatible findings to acute epidural hematoma were shown. The emergency operation was performed. After the operation, the patient recovered all motor and senses. As there was CSF leakage in the postoperative wound, this was confirmed by cervical spinal computed tomography (CT). Then lumbar drainage was thus performed. The opening pressure upon lumbar puncture was not measured as it was very low. As a result of continous CSF leakage, dural repair was performed. After the operation, the patient had been discharged without neurologic deficits. In this case, it is sensible to suspect intracranial hypotension as a possible cause of spinal EDH.

Rapid spontaneous reduction of a huge intracerebral hematoma.

Rapid reduction of a large acute subdural hematoma has been frequently reported. In my knowledge, however, it was rarely reported that rapid spontaneous reduction occurred in large volume of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma (sICH). We describe a patient with a rapid spontaneous decrease in the volume of a large hematoma. A 73-year-old man presented semi-comatose mentality. Initial brain computed tomography (CT) revealed the huge sICH. An emergency operation was planned, but was not performed due to the refusal of patients family. Therefore, we decided to treat with conservative therapy. However, follow-up brain CT 16 hours after initial scan showed a remarkable reduction of previous sICH. The mechanism involving the spontaneous rapid decrease of the hematoma is presumed to occur through redistribution in brain atrophy, compression effect from the increased intracranial pressure and dilution through a wash out by the cerebrospinal fluid.

Aortic Injury during Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Aortic injury during transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a rare but severe complication. We experienced aortic injury during TLIF at L3–4 with a 59-year-old woman diagnosed with an adjacent segment disease at L3–4. Severe bleeding occurred during disc space expansion, and the blood pressure dropped to 60/40 mmHg. The patient’s vital sign stabilized after compression with gauze and Gelfoam in addition to blood transfusion. The patient was treated with endovascular repair using a percutaneous technique after intertransverse fusion at L3–4 was completed. She recovered and is being followed-up in the outpatient department.