Cerebellar vermis aplasia: patient report and exclusion of the candidate genes EN2 and ZIC1.

Cerebellar vermis aplasia (ACV, OMIM 117360) is a rare malformation of the cerebellum, with only few familial patients reported so far. Main clinical features of this rare disorder include floppiness and delayed milestones in early infancy, preceding mild cerebellar ataxia, non-progressive clinical course, normal or slightly delayed intelligence, and occasional nystagmus. Neuroimaging reveals selective involvement of the cerebellum, which is prominent in the vermis.

Vertebroplasty in the treatment of back pain.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to show the utility of vertebroplasty in the treatment of some types of back pain. Vertebroplasty is a venous embolisation of the vertebral body performed under computed tomography (CT) or fluoroscopy guidance with transpedicular, anterolateral, intercostovertebral or posterolateral approach with acrylic cement.

Materials And Methods: We report our experience in 85 patients suffering from low back and thoracic pain and treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty owing to osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, vertebral haemangiomas or secondary lytic lesions of the spine.