Cauda equina syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis. Anatomical, diagnostic, and therapeutic considerations.

This article describes a case of cauda equina syndrome associated with ankylosing spondylitis, and reviews 28 additional cases in the literature. The neurological symptoms appear late in the evolution of spondylitis, when it is at an inactive stage. The diagnosis is easily confirmed by myelography, with watersoluble contrast and performed in a supine position, and by computerized tomography (CT) scan of the lumbar spine.

[Intraventricular hematomas. Treatment with ventricular drainage combined with intracranial pressure monitoring (author's transl)].

Twelve patients with intraventricular hematomas were treated only with continuous ventricular drainage combined with intracranial pressure monitoring. Half of the patients showed a favourable clinical response. The main interest of ventricular drainage lies in the treatment of acute hydrocephaly which is usually associated.

Non traumatic cerebellar hematomas.

Five cases of spontaneous cerebellar hematomas are reported. In four cases the diagnosis was made by computerized tomography. The clinical diagnosis being difficult, surgical treatment was often applied too late and the diagnosis sometimes never made.