Acoustic voice assessment in Parkinson's disease patients submitted to posteroventral pallidotomy.

Unlabelled: Long-term complications in levodopa treated Parkinson's disease (PD) patients caused a resurgence of interest in pallidotomy as an option of treatment. However, postoperative complications such as speech disorders can occur.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the acoustic voice in PD patients, before and after posteroventral pallidotomy.

[Traumatic fracture of the thoracic spine T1-T10].

We describe the incidence, causes, management and prognosis of traumatic fractures of the thoracic spine from T1 to T10 in surgical cases of traumatic fractures of spine during the period from June 1994 to June 2003 studied retrospectively. The type of fracture was determined according to the Gertzbein classification, and the degree of stability using the Denis classification. The neurological picture at admission and 30 days after surgery was evaluated using the ASIA/IMSOP classification.

Cavernous angioma of the cauda equina: case report.

We present a rare case of cavernous angioma of the cauda equina and review the eleven cases available in the literature. A 44-year-old woman presented with low back pain and sciatica associated with bowel and bladder dysfunction and motor weakness of the lower extremity. The MRI revealed an enhancing, heterogeneous and hyperintense intradural lesion compressing the cauda equina roots at the L4 level.

[Dysphagia in patients undergoing anterior cervical surgery].

Dysphagia is one of the complications of anterior cervical surgery. Although common, few articles were published on this subject. Its incidence and duration varies depending on the author.

Primary melanoma of Meckel's cave: case report.

We present a case of trigeminal neuralgia with cranial normal magnetic resonance image (MRI) and computed tomography. The pain was not relieved by carbamazepine and microvascular decompression surgery was done. After two months the pain was similar to the condition before surgery.

[Sacrococcigeal teratoma: report of three cases].

Germ cell tumors are originated from the primary stem cell located either in or outside the gonadal system. Teratomas are the major group, with the sacrococcygeal location being the most common extragonadal site, independent they are benign or malignant. We describe three cases of sacrococcygeal teratoma and emphasize aspects of diagnosis, surgical techniques and complementary approaches.

[Extra-intracranial arterial bypass for treatment of patient with clinical refractory cerebral ischemia].

The extra-intracranial bypass may be used in selected cases of brain vascular insufficiency refractory to clinical treatment. We report a case of encephalic ischemia in the territory of the right middle cerebral artery due to occlusion of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery, with consequent reduction of the perfusion and vascular reserve in the parietal and frontal regions. Despite the clinical treatment, motor deficit improvement was directly related to the maintenance of high systemic arterial tension levels due to the use of vasopressor agent.

[Rathke's pouch cyst: case report].

The Rathke's pouch cysts are a relatively common autopsy finding, but rarely have they been reported as a clinical entity. We report a Rathke's pouch cyst patient's case with visual impairment and emphasize aspects like clinical presentation, radiological studies and treatment. Many published series about this pathology have been reviewed and compared with the present case.

[Spontaneous nerve root cerebrospinal fluid leaks and intracranial hypotension: case report].

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is a rare syndrome, characterized by pressure in the cerebrospinal fluid ranging between 50 and 70 mmH2O and postural headache. Its diagnosis is made through the clinical presentation, measurement of the cerebrospinal fluid pressure and neurorimage features. The clinical recognition of this pathology has been increasing and the differential diagnosis must be made with inflammatory meningeal processes and tumor.

[Spontaneous cervical spondylodiscitis caused by Salmonella typhi in an immunocompetent patient].

We report a case of spontaneous cervical spondylodiscitis caused by Salmonella typhi. A 52-year-old man presented in the neurosurgical service with complaints of pain in the cervical and scapular region. Cervical inflammatory disease was suggested by bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging.

Hospital-acquired meningitis in patients undergoing craniotomy: incidence, evolution, and risk factors.

Objectives: To establish the incidence of postcraniotomy meningitis, identify etiologic agents, assess patients' medical progress in relation to both length of hospitalization and mortality, and analyze risk factors.

Material And Methods: This study was developed at Hospital São Paulo, a tertiary university hospital, between August 1995 and January 1998. We conducted a case-control trial, in which 50 pairs of patients were matched.