Arachnoiditis ossificans and syringomyelia: A unique presentation.

Background: Arachnoiditis ossificans (AO) is a rare disorder that was differentiated from leptomeningeal calcification by Kaufman and Dunsmore in 1971. It generally presents with progressive lower extremity myelopathy. Though the underlying etiology has yet to be fully described, it has been associated with various predisposing factors including vascular malformations, previous intradural surgery, myelograms, and adhesive arachnoiditis.

Stereotactic neurosurgery in a community setting.

Over a one-year period of time, five stereotactic biopsies were performed in the Greater-Bridgeport hospitals using a new burr hole-mounted stereotactic device. We discuss our results as well as some general considerations on the applicability of this material to the community neurosurgeon.

Emergency intracranial thromboendarterectomy for acute middle cerebral artery embolus.

Clinical application of microvascular techniques in emergency intracranial thromboembolectomy of middle cerebral artery bifurcation subsequent to angiography is presented. Blood flow was re-established with 5-7 hours of the onset of the focal cerebral ischemic symptoms. Review of the literature supports a role for acute intracranial embolectomy in a selected group of patients in the absence of more effective medical therapy.