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Open access

Spinal metastases of pineal region glioblastoma with primitive neuroectodermal features highlighting the importance of molecular diagnoses: illustrative case

Aaryan Shah, Neelan J Marianayagam, Aroosa Zamarud, David J Park, Amit R Persad, Scott G Soltys, Steven D Chang, and Anand Veeravagu

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor with poor patient prognosis. Spinal leptomeningeal metastasis has been rarely reported, with long intervals between the initial discovery of the primary tumor in the brain and eventual spine metastasis.

OBSERVATIONS

Here, the authors present the case of a 51-year-old male presenting with 7 days of severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine demonstrated a contrast-enhancing mass in the pineal region, along with spinal metastases to T8, T12, and L5. Initial frozen-section diagnosis led to the treatment strategy for medulloblastoma, but further molecular analysis revealed characteristics of isocitrate dehydrogenase–wild type, grade 4 GBM.

LESSONS

Glioblastoma has the potential to show metastatic spread at the time of diagnosis. Spinal imaging should be considered in patients with clinical suspicion of leptomeningeal spread. Furthermore, molecular analysis should be confirmed following pathological diagnosis to fine-tune treatment strategies.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 20 (Nov 2023)

Open access

Combined endoscopic and microsurgical approach for the drainage of a multisegmental thoracolumbar epidural abscess: illustrative case

Vincent Hagel, Felix Dymel, Stephan Werle, Vera Barrera, and Mazda Farshad

BACKGROUND

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare but serious infectious disease that can rapidly develop into a life-threatening condition. Therefore, the appropriate treatment is indispensable. Although conservative treatment is justifiable in certain cases, surgical treatment needs to be considered as an alternative early on because of complications such as (progressive) neurological deficits or sepsis. However, traditional surgical techniques usually include destructive approaches up to (multilevel) laminectomies. Such excessive approaches do have biomechanical effects potentially affecting the long-term outcomes. Therefore, minimally invasive approaches have been described as alternative strategies, including endoscopic approaches.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors describe a surgical technique involving a combination of two minimally invasive approaches (endoscopic and microsurgical) to drain a multisegmental (thoracolumbar) abscess using the physical phenomenon of continuous pressure difference to minimize collateral tissue damage.

LESSONS

The combination of minimally invasive approaches, including the endoscopic technique, may be an alternative in draining selected epidural abscesses while achieving a similar amount of abscess removal and causing less collateral approach damage in comparison with more traditional techniques.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 19 (Nov 2023)

Open access

A radiological analysis of pelvic fixation trajectories: patient series

Jonathan P Scoville, Evan Joyce, Andrew T Dailey, and Marcus D Mazur

BACKGROUND

Three well-defined methods for pelvic fixation are used for biomechanical support in spine fusion constructs: iliac, recessed iliac, and S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screws. The authors compared the maximum screw sizes that could be placed with these techniques by using image-guidance software and high-resolution computed tomography scans from 20 randomly selected patients. Six trajectories were plotted per side, beginning at recognized starting points (standard or recessed posterior superior iliac spine [PSIS] or S2AI screw) and ending at the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) or supra-acetabular notch (SAN).

OBSERVATIONS

The mean maximum screw length and width ranged from 80.0 ± 32.2 mm to 140.8 ± 22.6 mm and from 8.25 ± 1.2 mm to 13.0 ± 2.7 mm, respectively, depending on the trajectory. Statistically significant differences in length were found between the standard and recessed PSIS trajectories to the AIIS (p < 0.001) and between the standard PSIS-to-AIIS trajectory and the S2AI-to-AIIS (p = 0.007) or S2AI-to-SAN (p < 0.001) trajectories. The most successful trajectory was the PSIS to SAN (95%, 38/40).

LESSONS

The traditional iliac screw trajectory enabled the longest and widest screw trajectories and highest rate of successful screw placement with the fewest theoretical breaches more reliably than recessed and S2AI trajectories. These findings may help surgeons plan for maximum screw purchase for pelvic fixation.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 17 (Oct 2023)

Open access

Extradural lumbar arteriovenous fistula imitating a synovial cyst: illustrative case

Leonidas Trakolis, Georgios Moutsianos, Viktoras Gourvas, and Athanasios Petridis

BACKGROUND

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula is the most common spinal vascular malformation. It usually presents with neurological deficits due to venous congestive myelopathy. Sometimes, however, the symptoms are radicular and can imitate those of a disc hernia or synovial cyst.

OBSERVATIONS

In this illustrated case, a 34-year-old male patient presented with radicular pain due to nerve root compression. In the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the spine, a synovial cyst was suspected, so the patient underwent no further examination before surgery. Intraoperatively, the authors were surprised to see a vascular malformation, which was shown to be an extradural arteriovenous fistula according to the histopathological examination.

LESSONS

In atypical MRI findings of the spine, vascular malformations should be considered. In cases with a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula, the thrombosis risk can be high and lead to a need for prolonged anticoagulation.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 8 (Aug 2023)

Open access

Bilateral L5 pedicle fracture with L5–S1 spondylolisthesis after single-level L4–5 posterior lumbar interbody fusion: illustrative case

Toshiyuki Kitaori, Masato Ota, and Jiro Tamura

BACKGROUND

Single-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a commonly performed surgical procedure for L4–5 isthmic spondylolisthesis. Postoperative L5 pedicle fracture with rapidly progressive spondylolisthesis at L5–S1 segment after L4–5 PLIF/TLIF is quite rare, and the etiology remains unclear. This report describes this rare complication and proposes a possible etiology focusing on the lumbosacral sagittal imbalance characterized by an anteriorly shifted lumbar loading axis.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors report a case complicated by L5 bilateral pedicle fractures and rapidly progressive spondylolisthesis at the L5–S1 segment very early after a single-level PLIF for L4–5 isthmic spondylolisthesis. Meyerding grade III anterolisthesis was observed at L5–S1 segment by 3 months after the initial surgery. Additional surgery was performed, and the fixation was extended to L4–ilium. Fracture healing was observed at 6 months postoperatively.

LESSONS

This complication may have been caused by abnormal local shear forces on the posterior neural arch of L5 vertebra and L5–S1 intervertebral disc, which were triggered by the fusion surgery for L4 shear-type spondylolisthesis. L4 sagittal vertical axis is considered a reasonable parameter representing lumbosacral sagittal imbalance with an anteriorly shifted loading axis and may be a candidate for the predictive parameters of this rare complication.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 6 (Aug 2023)

Open access

Open surgical ligation of a thoracic spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula causing thoracic myelopathy: illustrative case

Brandon R. W. Laing, Benjamin Best, John D. Nerva, and Aditya Vedantam

BACKGROUND

Spinal epidural arteriovenous fistulas (eAVFs) are rare spinal vascular malformations characterized by an abnormal connection from the paraspinal and paravertebral system to the epidural venous plexus. This contrasts with the more frequently seen spinal dural AVF, where the fistula is entirely intradural. Although endovascular repair is commonly performed for spinal eAVF, few cases require open surgical ligation.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors present a case of a 74-year-old male with progressive thoracic myelopathy secondary to a spinal eAVF. Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed intramedullary T2 signal hyperintensity from T8 to T12. Spinal angiography revealed a primary arterial supply from the right T11 segmental artery and minor supply from the left T11 branches with drainage into the ventral epidural space. The patient underwent T11–12 laminectomy and complete right T11–12 facetectomy for ligation of the fistula with T11–L1 fusion. A postoperative spinal angiogram showed resolution of the fistula. Postoperatively, the patient’s myelopathy improved, and MRI showed a decrease in T2 cord intensity.

LESSONS

Spinal eAVFs are rare lesions that differ from the more commonly seen intradural dural AVF in that the abnormal connection is in the epidural space, and they are often associated with a dilated epidural venous pouch. Treatment involves endovascular, open surgical, or combined approaches.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 6 (Aug 2023)

Open access

Percutaneous lumbopelvic fixation for pathologic sacral fractures and spinopelvic dissociation: patient series

Nikolas Baksh, Caleb Yeung, and Max Vaynrub

BACKGROUND

Because patients with advanced cancer live longer, the number of patients with the sequelae of metastatic spine disease has increased. Pathologic instability of the mobile spine has been classified, and minimally invasive surgery has been well described. However, pathologic sacral instability is uncommon and often underdiagnosed. Although most sacral fractures are stable, patients with unstable U- or H-type fractures have spinopelvic dissociation and can experience progressive pain, sacral kyphosis, and neurological injury. Open lumbopelvic fusion carries a high perioperative risk for this patient population, which has often been previously radiated and is medically frail. The authors investigated the utility and safety of percutaneous lumbopelvic fixation, as previously described for traumatic spinopelvic dissociation, in the oncological setting. The authors retrospectively reviewed five consecutive patients with unstable pathologic sacral fractures who had undergone percutaneous lumbopelvic fixation after conservative management failed.

OBSERVATIONS

Patients experienced significant improvement between pre- and postoperative visual analog scale scores (9.2 and 1.6, respectively) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group grades (median 3 and 1, respectively). All patients were independently ambulatory at the final follow-up. Sagittal alignment remained stable in four patients and worsened in one. There were no major medical or surgical complications.

LESSONS

Percutaneous lumbopelvic fixation shows promising results for palliation, durability, and safety for pathologic sacropelvic instability.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 6 (Aug 2023)

Open access

Robot-assisted screw fixation in a cadaver utilizing magnetic resonance imaging–based synthetic computed tomography: toward radiation-free spine surgery. Illustrative case

A. Daniel Davidar, Brendan F. Judy, Andrew M. Hersh, Carly Weber-Levine, Safwan Alomari, Arjun K. Menta, Kelly Jiang, Meghana Bhimreddy, Mir Hussain, Neil R. Crawford, Majid Khan, Gary Gong, and Nicholas Theodore

BACKGROUND

Synthetic computed tomography (sCT) can be created from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilizing newer software. sCT is yet to be explored as a possible alternative to routine CT (rCT). In this study, rCT scans and MRI-derived sCT scans were obtained on a cadaver. Morphometric analysis was performed comparing the 2 scans. The ExcelsiusGPS robot was used to place lumbosacral screws with both rCT and sCT images.

OBSERVATIONS

In total, 14 screws were placed. All screws were grade A on the Gertzbein-Robbins scale. The mean surface distance difference between rCT and sCT on a reconstructed software model was –0.02 ± 0.05 mm, the mean absolute surface distance was 0.24 ± 0.05 mm, and the mean absolute error of radiodensity was 92.88 ± 10.53 HU. The overall mean tip distance for the sCT versus rCT was 1.74 ± 1.1 versus 2.36 ± 1.6 mm (p = 0.24); mean tail distance for the sCT versus rCT was 1.93 ± 0.88 versus 2.81 ± 1.03 mm (p = 0.07); and mean angular deviation for the sCT versus rCT was 3.2° ± 2.05° versus 4.04°± 2.71° (p = 0.53).

LESSONS

MRI-based sCT yielded results comparable to those of rCT in both morphometric analysis and robot-assisted lumbosacral screw placement in a cadaver study.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 2 (Jul 2023)

Open access

Traumatic bilateral lumbosacral facet dislocation without fracture: illustrative case

Jose Castillo, Khadija Soufi, Freddie Rodriguez, and Julius O. Ebinu

BACKGROUND

Traumatic bilateral lumbosacral facet dislocations without fractures are extremely rare. Only 7 cases have been documented since the first description by Watson-Jones in 1974. Although various treatment strategies have been reported, no consensus has been reached regarding the best surgical approach.

OBSERVATIONS

A 35-year-old female presented for medical attention following a high-speed motor vehicle collision. She sustained multiple injuries, including an abdominal aortic injury requiring emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair. She was found to have bilateral lumbosacral dislocation without fracture (L5–S1) and was noted to be neurologically intact. Once medically stabilized, the patient was taken to the operating room for minimally invasive reduction and stabilization of her lumbosacral spine. Postoperatively, the patient was neurologically intact and remained stable with no deficits and appropriate lumbosacral alignment throughout her 2-year follow-up.

LESSONS

The authors report a minimally invasive approach to the management of bilateral lumbosacral facet dislocation without fracture. Although conventional open approaches have been described previously, consideration should be given to minimally invasive strategies in select patients to facilitate their rehabilitative postoperative course.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 2 (Jul 2023)

Open access

Radiation-induced cavernous malformations in the spine: patient series

Stefan W. Koester, Lea Scherschinski, Visish M. Srinivasan, Katherine Karahalios, Kavelin Rumalla, Dimitri Benner, Joshua S. Catapano, Robert F. Spetzler, and Michael T. Lawton

BACKGROUND

Radiation-induced spinal cord cavernous malformations (RISCCMs) are a rare subset of central nervous system lesions and are more clinically aggressive than congenital cavernous malformations (CMs). The authors assessed the characteristics and outcomes of patients with RISCCM at a single institution and systematically reviewed the pertinent literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

OBSERVATIONS

Among the 146 spinal CMs at the authors’ institution, 3 RISCCMs were found. Symptom duration ranged from 0.1 to 8.5 months (mean [standard deviation], 3.2 [4.6] months), and latency ranged from 16 to 29 years (22.4 [9.6] years). All 3 RISCCMs were surgically treated with complete resection; 2 patients had stable outcomes, and 1 improved postoperatively. A review of 1240 articles revealed 20 patients with RISCCMs. Six of these patients were treated with resection, 13 were treated conservatively, and in 1 case, the treatment type was not stated. Five of the 6 patients treated surgically reported improvement postoperatively or at follow-up; 1 was stable, and none reported worsened outcomes.

LESSONS

RISCCMs are rare sequelae following radiation that inadvertently affect the spinal cord. Altogether, the frequency of stable and improved outcomes on follow-up suggests that resection could prevent further patient decline caused by symptoms of RISCCM. Therefore, surgical management should be considered primary therapy in patients presenting with RISCCMs.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 5 (2023): Issue 23 (Jun 2023)