Ji C

Clinical Experience of the Brushite Calcium Phosphate Cement for the Repair and Augmentation of Surgically Induced Cranial Defects Following the Pterional Craniotomy

OBJECTIVE To prevent temporal depression after the pterional craniotomy, this study was designed to examine the safety and aesthetic efficacy of the brushite calcium phosphate cement (CPC) in the repair and augmentation of bone defects following the pterional craniotomy. METHODS The brushite CPC was used for the repair of surgically induced cranial defects, with or without augmentation, in 17 cases of pterional approach between March, 2005 and December, 2006. The average follow-up month was 20 with range of 12-36 months. In the first 5 cases, bone defects were repaired with only brushite CPC following the contour of the original bone. In the next 12 cases, bone defects were augmented with the brushite CPC rather than original bone contour. For a stability monitoring of the implanted brushite CPC, post-implantation evaluations including serial X-ray, repeated physical examination for aesthetic efficacy, and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) were taken 1 year after the implantation. RESULTS The brushite CPC paste provided precise and easy contouring in restoration of the bony defect site. No adverse effects such as infection or inflammation were noticed during the follow-up periods from all patients. 3D-CT was taken 1 year subsequent to implantation showed good preservation of the brushite CPC restoration material. In the cases of the augmentation group, aesthetic outcomes were superior compared to the simple repair group. CONCLUSION The results of this clinical study indicate that the brushite CPC is a biocompatible alloplastic material, which is useful for prevention of temporal depression after pterional craniotomy. Additional study is required to determine the long-term stability and effectiveness of the brushite calcium phosphate cement for the replacement of bone.

Infraoptic course of both anterior cerebral arteries.

A 28-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a sudden, very severe headache. Brain computed tomographic angiography showed a saccular cerebral aneurysm at the bifurcation of the left middle cerebral artery and infraoptic courses of both anterior cerebral arteries. The anterior cerebral arteries were seen to arise from the ipsilateral internal cerebral arteries at the level of the origin of the ophthalmic artery, passed underneath the ipsilateral optic nerve, and turned upward at ventral portion of the optic chiasm.Infraoptic course of the proximal anterior cerebral artery is an extremely rare anomaly and is often associated with cerebral aneurysms. We report the clinical features, radiological findings, and possible genesis of this anomaly with a literature review.

Comparison of SpineJet XL and Conventional Instrumentation for Disk Space Preparation in Unilateral Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

OBJECTIVE Although unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is widely used because of its benefits, it does have some technical limitations. Removal of disk material and endplate cartilage is difficult, but essential, for proper fusion in unilateral surgery, leading to debate regarding the surgerys limitations in removing the disk material on the contralateral side. Therefore, authors have conducted a randomized, comparative cadaver study in order to evaluate the efficiency of the surgery when using conventional instruments in the preparation of the disk space and when using the recently developed high-pressure water jet system, SpineJet XL. METHODS Two spine surgeons performed diskectomies and disk preparations for TLIF in 20 lumbar disks. All cadaver/surgeon/level allocations for preparation using the SpineJet XL (HydroCision Inc., Boston, MA, USA) or conventional tools were randomized. All assessments were performed by an independent spine surgeon who was unaware of the randomizations. The authors measured the areas (cm(2)) and calculated the proportion (%) of the disk surfaces. The duration of the disk preparation and number of instrument insertions and withdrawals required to complete the disk preparation were recorded for all procedures. RESULTS The proportion of the area of removed disk tissue versus that of potentially removable disk tissue, the proportion of the area of removed endplate cartilage, and the area of removed disk tissue in the contralateral posterior portion showed 74.5 +/- 17.2%, 18.5 +/- 12.03%, and 67.55 +/- 16.10%, respectively, when the SpineJet XL was used, and 52.6 +/- 16.9%, 22.8 +/- 17.84%, and 51.64 +/- 19.63%, respectively, when conventional instrumentations were used. The results also showed that when the SpineJet XL was used, the proportion of the area of removed disk tissue versus that of potentially removable disk tissue and the area of removed disk tissue in the contralateral posterior portion were statistically significantly high (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively). Also, compared to conventional instrumentations, the duration required to complete disk space preparation was shorter, and the frequency of instrument use and the numbers of insertions/withdrawals were lower when the SpineJet XL was used. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrates that hydrosurgery using the SpineJet XL unit allows for the preparation of a greater portion of disk space and that it is less traumatic and allows for more precise endplate preparation without damage to the bony endplate. Furthermore, the SpineJet XL appears to provide tangible benefits in terms of disk space preparation for graft placement, particularly when using the unilateral TLIF approach.

Multiple intracranial calcifications as a complication of external ventricular drain placement.

The authors present a case of multiple intracranial calcifications after the procedure of external ventricular drain placement in a 50-year-old man with pericallosal artery aneurysm. We believe that calcifications formed dust that had fallen into the track during the external ventricular drain procedure. The clinical features and radiological findings are presented with review of literature.

Cervical Schwannoma Presenting with Acute Intracranial Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

A subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) associated with negative finding on four-vessel angiography is seen in 5 to 30% of patients with intracranial SAH. A previously silent lesion in the spinal canal may be responsible for the angiographically negative finding for cause of intracranial SAH. We report a case of upper cervical (C1-2) intradural schwannoma presenting with acute intracranial SAH. Repeated cerebral angiographic studies were negative, but cervical magnetic resonance imaging study and tissue pathology revealed a intradural-extramedullary schwannoma in C1-2 level. This case illustrates the importance of a high index of clinical suspicion for spinal disease in angiographically negative intracranial SAH patients.

Compare the Intracranial Pressure Trend after the Decompressive Craniectomy between Massive Intracerebral Hemorrhagic and Major Ischemic Stroke Patients

Objective Massive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and major infarction (MI) are devastating cerebral vascular diseases. Decompression craniectomy (DC) is a common treatment approach for these diseases and acceptable clinical results have been reported. Author experienced the postoperative intracranaial pressure (ICP) trend is somewhat different between the ICH and MI patients. In this study, we compare the ICP trend following DC and evaluate the clinical significance. Methods One hundred forty-three patients who underwent DC following massive ICH (81 cases) or MI (62 cases) were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age was 56.3±14.3 (median=57, male : female=89 : 54). DC was applied using consistent criteria in both diseases patients; Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score less than 8 and a midline shift more than 6 mm on brain computed tomography. In all patients, ventricular puncture was done before the DC and ICP trends were monitored during and after the surgery. Outcome comparisons included the ictus to operation time (OP-time), postoperative ICP trend, favorable outcomes and mortality. Results Initial GCS (p=0.364) and initial ventricular ICP (p=0.783) were similar among the ICH and MI patients. The postoperative ICP of ICH patients were drop rapidly and maintained within physiological range if greater than 80% of the hematoma was removed. While in MI patients, the postoperative ICP were not drop rapidly and maintained above the physiologic range (MI=18.8 vs. ICH=13.6 mmHg, p=0.000). The OP-times were faster in ICH patients (ICH=7.3 vs. MI=40.9 hours, p=0.000) and the mortality rate was higher in MI patients (MI=37.1% vs. ICH=17.3%, p=0.007). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that if greater than 80% of the hematoma was removed in ICH patients, the postoperative ICP rarely over the physiologic range. But in MI patients, the postoperative ICP was above the physiologic range for several days after the DC. Authors propose that DC is no need for the massive ICH patient if a significant portion of their hematoma is removed. But DC might be essential to improve the MI patients’ outcome and timely treatment decision.

Clinical Results of the Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis with Stent Retriever Device Weather Perfusion Diffusion Mismatching and Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator Administration

Objective Intraarterial thrombolysis (IA-Tx) with stent retriever is accepted as an additional treatment for selected patients and the clinical benefit is well reported. Each intravenous tissue plasminogen activator administration (IV-tPA) and perfusion diffusion mismatching (P/D-mismatching) is well known the beneficial effects for recanalization and clinical outcomes. In this report, authors analyzed the clinical outcomes of additional IA-Tx with retrieval stent device, according to the combined IV-tPA and P/D-mismatching or not. Methods Eighty-one treated IA-Tx with the Solitaire stent retriever device, diagnosed as anterior circulation larger vessel occlusion were included in this study. Computed tomography-angiography (CTA) was done as an initial diagnostic image and acute stroke magnetic resonance image (MRI) followed after the IV-tPA. Forty-two patients were in the tPA group and 39 patients were in the non-tPA group. Recanalization rate, clinically significant hemorrhagic (sICH) and clinical outcomes were recorded according to the IV-tPA and P/D-mismatching. Results Recanalization rate was 81.0% in IV-tPA group, and it was 69.2% in non-tPA group (p = 0.017). While sICH were 19.9% and 25.6%, respectively (p = 0.328). Neurologic outcomes did not influence by IV-tPA administration or not. But according to the P/D-mismatching, the recanalization rate and sICH were 91.9% and 16.7% in the mismatched group and 46.7% and 46.7% in the matched group (p = 0.008 and p = 0.019, respectively). Conclusion For patients treated with IA-Tx with retrieval stent, IV-tPA infusion does not influence on the sICH, recanalization rate and neurologic outcomes. But P/D-mismatching was correlated well with sICH, recanalization rate and clinical outcomes.