Decompressive craniectomy for acute subdural haematoma: an overview of current prognostic factors and a discussion about some novel prognostic parametres.

Objective: To identify specific factors that can be used to predict functional outcome and to assess the value of decompressive craniectomy in patients with acute subdural haematoma.

Methods: The retrospective study was done at the Zonguldak Karaelwas University Practice and Research Hospital, Turkey, and included 34 trauma patients who had undergone decompressive craniectomy for acute subdural haematoma from 2001 to 2009. At the 30th day of the operation, the patients were grouped as survivors and non-survivors.

Migration of a bullet in the spinal canal.

Migration of a bullet within the spinal canal after gunshot injury is rare. We report here the case of a penetrating gunshot injury of the lumbar spine at L3 with migration of the bullet within the spinal canal S2. The patient had marked paraparesis (proximal 1/5, distal 0/5 muscle strength) and anaesthesia at L3 and below, and had a hypocompliant, hyper-reflexive bladder with decreased capacity, and absent anal tonus.

Giant unruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm presenting with seizure.

Giant aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery (AComA) are rare. The clinical presentation of giant AComA aneurysms is usually associated with the mass effect of the space-occupying lesion or with subarachnoid haemorrhage. A giant AComA aneurysm presenting with a seizure has only been reported twice previously.

Primary spinal extranodal Hodgkin's disease at two levels.

About 90% of Hodgkin's disease cases originate from lymph nodes whereas 10% from extranodal regions. Patients rarely present with spinal cord compression due to epidural Hodgkin's disease. Primary spinal extradural Hodgkin's disease which does not have any other organ involvement in the body is even rarer.

Ultrastructural changes in the circumventricular organs after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objectives: Circumventricular organs (CVOs) are fine, periventricular, neurotransmitter-rich structures that are devoid of a blood-brain barrier and are known for their secretory role controlling fluid and electrolyte balance, thirst and even reproduction. Common pathologies of the brain such as trauma or bleeding affect CVOs, and hence their function. However, at what stage of these disease processes are CVOs affected and the time sequence of their recovery is still not clear.

A training model for lumbar discectomy.

Training models are becoming increasingly important for gaining surgical skills. We present an easy to prepare and cheap model using cadaver sheep spine appropriate to learn and practice various discectomy procedures.

Neuroprotective effects of ebselen on experimental spinal cord injury in rats.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in rapid and significant oxidative stress. This study was aimed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of Ebselen in comparison with Methylprednisolone in experimental SCI. Thirty six Wistar albino rats (200-250 g) were divided in to six groups; A (control), B (only laminectomy), C (Trauma; laminectomy + spinal trauma), D (Placebo group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + serum physiologic), E (Methylprednisolone group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + Methylprednisolone treated), F (Ebselen group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + Ebselen treated), containing 6 rats each.

Malignant cerebral infarction secondary to internal carotid injury in closed head trauma: good outcome with aggressive treatment--a case report.

A 25-year-old male patient in whom occlusion of the internal carotid artery developed secondary to a skull base fracture is presented. The diagnosis of internal carotid artery occlusion was reached 12 hours after the admission and 17 hours after the injury. The patient was initially treated for ischemic edema and when the patient showed signs of cerebral herniation, decompressive craniectomy was necessary.

Dispersion of cerebral temperature, cerebral perfusion and intracranial pressure in rabbits placed with epidural balloons.

This study examines the intracranial pressure and temperature dispersion in a rabbit model after epidural balloon compression. Right and left supratentorial, intraventricular and infratentorial pressures and temperatures of the rabbits have been measured before epidural balloon was placed. Afterwards, the epidural balloon was placed in right parietal epidural area.

[Endovascular coil embolization with balloon remodelling technique after partially clipped ica aneurysm (case report)].

The presence of aneurysm remnant after incomplete or unsuccessful surgical clipping is associated with persistent risk of regrowth and rupture, and additional treatment is generally recommended. Advances in aneurysm coiling techniques and technology have allowed for more remnants to be treated safely. We present a 47-year-old woman with residual internal carotid artery aneurysm after surgical clipping with coils and balloon remodeling technique.

[The role of three dimensional MR myelography in lumbar discogenic disease].

Purpose: To evaluate the role of the three dimensional (3D) MR myelography (MRM) in the diagnosis of the lumbar discogenic disease compared with conventional MR imaging.

Materials And Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with clinical symptoms of lumbar disc herniation were enrolled for the study. Conventional MR imaging and coronal 3D MRM were performed on a 1.

Effect of cerebrospinal fluid leakage on wound healing in flap surgery: histological evaluation.

The aim of this study was to find out the effect of CSF leakage on wound healing after flap surgery. Sixteen male Wistar rats were used. The superiorly based rectangular dorsal skin flap 3 x 3 cm was elevated at the interscapular region.

Late recurrent bleeding after surgical treatment for pituitary apoplexy.

Pituitary apoplexy is an uncommon syndrome characterised by sudden onset of headache, meningeal signs, visual disturbances, ophthalmoplegia and confusion. Documented recurrent apoplexy or treated apoplexy is even rarer with only few reports in the literature. Between 1994 and 2001, 18 patients were treated for pituitary apoplexy at Bayindir Medical Centre through transsphenoidal route.

[High resolution MR neurography in patients with cervical radiculopathy].

Purpose: To image the cervical spinal nerves directly in patients with clinical and radiographic evidence of cervical radiculopathy via high resolution MR neurography by means of a qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Materials And Methods: Twenty symptomatic patients with cervical radiculopathy and five asymptomatic volunteers were examined. A phased-array coil system was used to obtain high-resolution coronal T1-weighted spin echo and coronal/axial short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images of the cervical spine and spinal nerves.