C2 stentoplasty: an alternative to conventional vertebroplasty in the treatment of axis metastatic lesions: a systematic review with meta-analysis and case series.

Background: Vertebroplasty has been recently described in the literature as a potential treatment for C2 metastatic lesions. Stentoplasty may represent a safest and equally alternative to the latter.

Objective: To describe a novel technique, stentoplasty, as an alternative for the treatment of metastatic involvement of C2 and to assess its efficacy and safety.

Treatment of Chiari Malformation and Concomitant Paediatric Scoliosis Long-Term Follow-Up in One Major Referral Centre in the UK.

Objective: Paediatric scoliosis (PS) and Chiari malformation type 1 (CM-1) have been reported to be associated with each other. Scoliosis curvature is a common finding among patients operated for CM-1, and curve development has been related to it. We report a cohort of PS and CM-1 patients managed with posterior fossa and upper cervical decompression (PFUCD) by a single surgeon, with an average of two years of follow-up.

Dyspnoea due to spinal subarachnoid-pleural fistula.

We report a case of a 72-year-old woman who underwent transthoracic discectomy for a giant disc herniation at T9-T10 level causing significant cord compromise. Following removal of her non-suction chest drain, she was transferred to the acute spinal-orthogeriatric unit where she was under regular review by elderly care physicians as part of their spinal liaison role. Approximately four weeks after the operation, she started becoming dyspnoeic and her chest X-ray showed moderate left-sided pleural effusion which tested positive for β2-transferrin, a sensitive marker of cerebrospinal fluid, supporting a diagnosis of subarachnoid-pleural fistula.

Bladder Scans and Postvoid Residual Volume Measurement Improve Diagnostic Accuracy of Cauda Equina Syndrome.

Study Design: A prospective, observational cohort study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the role of pre and postvoid bladder scan in predicting cauda equina syndrome (CES). The thesis was that bladder scanning [specifically postvoid residual (PVR) volume] would have higher diagnostic accuracy than physical examination alone.

Time Factor and Disc Herniation Size: Are They Really Predictive for Outcome of Urinary Dysfunction in Patients With Cauda Equina Syndrome?

Background: Timing of surgery and the importance of the size of disc prolapse in cauda equina syndrome (CES) remain controversial.

Objective: To investigate whether there is a relationship between postoperative urinary function, preoperative duration of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), and the level of canal compromise.

Methods: Seventy-one patients operated for CES were prospectively identified between 2010 and 2013.

Is the rate of re-operation after primary lumbar microdiscectomy affected by surgeon grade or intra-operative lavage of the disc space?

STUDY DESIGN. Retrospective audit of consecutive patients. OBJECTIve.

Cauda equina syndrome: the importance of complete multidisciplinary team management.

A 44-year-old lady with a history of lumbar back pain presented to the emergency department complaining of severe back pain radiating to her buttocks. Positive examination findings were a loss of sensation in the perianal area and 348 ml of retained urine. An urgent MRI showed compression of the cauda equina by a herniated disc.

A case of craniocervical abscess with sinus thrombosis in Lemierre's syndrome.

A 74-year old gentleman with a cranio-cervical abscess failed to improve after incision and drainage and standard intravenous antibiotic therapy. Imaging demonstrated thrombosis of the internal jugular vein, sigmoid sinus and transverse sinus; and microbiological analysis isolated Fusobacterium nucleatum. The diagnosis of Lemierre's syndrome was confirmed, and he was effectively treated with appropriate antibiotics and anti-coagulation.