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Open access

Segmental extraneural lipomatosis of the superficial peroneal nerve: illustrative case

Kitty Y Wu, Aditya Raghunathan, and Robert J Spinner

BACKGROUND

Adipose lesions of nerve are rare tumors that can cause nerve symptoms from either intrinsic or extrinsic compression.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors present a case of a patient with a 10-year history of progressive, persistent leg pain and dorsal foot paresthesias/dysesthesias. Imaging revealed several nondistinct nodules of indeterminate significance along the course of the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN). Surgery demonstrated six distinct extraneural lipomas studded on a 10-cm segment of the main SPN and one of its muscular branches in the midleg. The lesions were adherent to the SPN, without an easy dissection plane; therefore, a neurectomy was performed. Histology revealed the nerve was associated with multiple extraneural lipomas with focal evidence of prior trauma. At 4 months postoperatively, the patient’s pain had resolved completely, and she was able to resume normal physical activities.

LESSONS

The current classification of adipose lesions of nerve includes intraneural and extraneural lipomas and lipomatosis of nerve (fibrolipomatous hamartoma). The unique features of the present case include the discrete and segmental nature of the extraneural lipomas adherent to the nerve. Its etiology is unknown, and the histology would be suggestive of either a traumatic or a degenerative process.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 23 (Dec 2023)

Open access

Blood pressure cuff–induced radial nerve palsy following minimally invasive lateral microdiscectomy: illustrative case

Ziad Rifi, Jasmine A Thum, Margaret S Sten, Timothy J Florence, and Michael J Dorsi

BACKGROUND

The authors describe a rare case of transient postoperative wrist and finger drop following a prone position minimally invasive surgery (MIS) lateral microdiscectomy.

OBSERVATIONS

Hand and wrist drop is an unusual complication following spine surgery, especially in prone positioning. The authors’ multidisciplinary team assessed a patient with this complication following MIS lateral microdiscectomy. The broad differential diagnosis included radial nerve palsy, C7 radiculopathy, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Given the patient’s supinator weakness, intact pronation and wrist flexion, and transient recovery within 4 weeks, the most likely diagnosis was radial nerve neuropraxia secondary to ischemic compression. After careful consideration of the operative environment and anatomical constraints, the patient’s blood pressure cuff was found to be the most probable source of compression.

LESSONS

Blood pressure cuff–induced peripheral nerve injury may be a source of postoperative radial nerve neuropraxia in patients undergoing spine surgery. Careful considerations must be given to the blood pressure cuff location, which should not be placed at the distal end of the humerus due to higher susceptibility of peripheral nerve compression. Spine surgeons should be aware of and appropriately localize postoperative deficits along the neuroaxis, including central versus proximal or distal peripheral injuries, in order to guide appropriate postoperative management.

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

Open access

Selective upper trunk posterior division fascicular nerve transfer for proximal spinal accessory neuropathy: illustrative case

Kitty Y Wu and Robert J Spinner

BACKGROUND

Spinal accessory nerve palsy can lead to severe shoulder pain and weakness, lateral scapular winging, and limitations in overhead activity. It most often occurs because of iatrogenic injury from procedures within the posterior triangle of the neck.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors present the case of a 39-year-old male with symptoms of right shoulder weakness and neck pain after a total thyroidectomy and right neck dissection. With ultrasound findings of a neuroma-in-continuity but no clinical or electromyographic signs of reinnervation at 6 months, surgical intervention was indicated. Operative exploration confirmed a very proximal injury and nonconducting neuroma-in-continuity of the spinal accessory nerve. A selective distal nerve transfer from the posterior division of the upper trunk was performed. At the 2.5-year follow-up, the patient demonstrated excellent recovery of full active shoulder abduction and forward flexion, return to full-time employment, and mild residual scapular winging.

LESSONS

Distal nerve transfers should be considered in cases of late presentation when primary repair is not possible or long interpositional grafts are required. Selective fascicular transfer from the posterior division of the upper trunk provides the advantages of a single incision, short reinnervation time, and synergistic donor function to facilitate motor reeducation.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 9 (Aug 2023)

Open access

Brain metastasis and intracranial leptomeningeal metastasis from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: illustrative cases

Masasuke Ohno, Shoichi Haimoto, Satoshi Tsukushi, Waki Hosoda, Fumiharu Ohka, and Ryuta Saito

BACKGROUND

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare soft-tissue tumors. Intracranial metastasis from MPNSTs is quite rare.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors report on a 73-year-old male whose MPNST metastasized to the brain and a 32-year-old male with leptomeningeal metastasis from MPNST and review 41 cases of MPNST that developed intracranial metastasis, as reported in the literature.

LESSONS

Brain metastasis and leptomeningeal metastasis of MPNSTs show different clinical courses and require pathology-specific treatment.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 3 (Jul 2023)

Open access

Internal iliac artery aneurysm masquerading as a sciatic nerve schwannoma: illustrative case

Lokeshwar S. Bhenderu, Khaled M. Taghlabi, Taimur Hassan, Jaime R. Guerrero, Jesus G. Cruz-Garza, Rachel L. Goldstein, Shashank Sharma, Linda V. Le, Tue A. Dinh, and Amir H. Faraji

BACKGROUND

Schwannomas are common peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) can help to distinguish schwannomas from other types of lesions. However, there have been several reported cases describing the misdiagnosis of aneurysms as schwannomas.

OBSERVATIONS

A 70-year-old male with ongoing pain despite spinal fusion surgery underwent MRI. A lesion was noted along the left sciatic nerve, which was believed to be a sciatic nerve schwannoma. During the surgery for planned neurolysis and tumor resection, the lesion was noted to be pulsatile. Electromyography mapping and intraoperative ultrasound confirmed vascular pulsations and turbulent flow within the aneurysm, so the surgery was aborted. A formal CT angiogram revealed the lesion to be an internal iliac artery (IIA) branch aneurysm. The patient underwent coil embolization with complete obliteration of the aneurysm.

LESSONS

The authors report the first case of an IIA aneurysm misdiagnosed as a sciatic nerve schwannoma. Surgeons should be aware of this potential misdiagnosis and potentially use other imaging modalities to confirm the lesion before proceeding with surgery.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 5 (2023): Issue 26 (Jun 2023)

Open access

Surgical treatment of sural nerve entrapment aided by imaging- and electrography-based diagnosis: illustrative case

Maoki Matsubara, Kenji Yagi, Shoji Hemmi, and Masaaki Uno

BACKGROUND

The sural nerve (SN) is a cutaneous sensory nerve that innervates the posterolateral side of the distal third of the leg and lateral side of the foot. The SN has wide variation in its course and is fixed to the subcutaneous tissue and superficial fascia. Idiopathic spontaneous SN neuropathy is rarely surgically treated because of the difficulty in detecting SN entrapment.

OBSERVATIONS

Herein, the authors present a rare case of surgically treated spontaneous SN neuropathy. A 67-year-old male patient presented with right foot pain for several years. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography showed SN entrapment slightly proximal and posterior to the lateral malleolus. A nerve conduction study showed SN disturbance. After undergoing neurolysis, the patient’s foot pain was alleviated.

LESSONS

Idiopathic SN neuropathy can be treated surgically when SN entrapment is detected with comprehensive evaluation methods.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 5 (2023): Issue 24 (Jun 2023)

Open access

Etiology of spastic foot drop among 16 patients undergoing electrodiagnostic studies: patient series

Lisa B. E. Shields, Vasudeva G. Iyer, Yi Ping Zhang, and Christopher B. Shields

BACKGROUND

Differentiating foot drop due to upper motor neuron (UMN) lesions from that due to lower motor neuron lesions is crucial to avoid unnecessary surgery or surgery at the wrong location. Electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies are useful in evaluating patients with spastic foot drop (SFD).

OBSERVATIONS

Among 16 patients with SFD, the cause was cervical myelopathy in 5 patients (31%), cerebrovascular accident in 3 (18%), hereditary spastic paraplegia in 2 (12%), multiple sclerosis in 2 (12%), chronic cerebral small vessel disease in 2 (12%), intracranial meningioma in 1 (6%), and diffuse brain injury in 1 (6%). Twelve patients (75%) had weakness of a single leg, whereas 2 others (12%) had bilateral weakness. Eleven patients (69%) had difficulty walking. The deep tendon reflexes of the legs were hyperactive in 15 patients (94%), with an extensor plantar response in 9 patients (56%). Twelve patients (75%) had normal motor and sensory conduction, 11 of whom had no denervation changes of the legs.

LESSONS

This study is intended to raise awareness among surgeons about the clinical features of SFD. EDX studies are valuable in ruling out peripheral causes of foot drop, which encourages diagnostic investigation into a UMN source for the foot drop.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 5 (2023): Issue 21 (May 2023)

Open access

Radial nerve myofibroma: a rare benign tumor with perineural infiltration. Illustrative case

Kitty Y. Wu, David J. Cook, Kimberly K. Amrami, and Robert J. Spinner

BACKGROUND

Myofibromas are benign mesenchymal tumors, classically presenting in infants and young children in the head and neck region. Perineural involvement, especially in peripheral nerves within the upper extremity, is extremely rare in myofibromas.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors present the case of a 16-year-old male with a 4-month history of an enlarging forearm mass and rapidly progressive dense motor weakness in wrist, finger, and thumb extension. Preoperative imaging and fine needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of a benign isolated myofibroma. Given the dense paralysis, operative management was indicated, and intraoperative exploration showed extensive involvement of tumor within the radial nerve. The infiltrated nerve segment was excised along with the tumor, and the resulting 5-cm nerve gap was reconstructed using autologous cabled grafts.

LESSONS

Perineural pseudoinvasion can be an extremely rare and atypical feature of nonmalignancies, resulting in dense motor weakness. Extensive nerve involvement may still necessitate nerve resection and reconstruction, despite the benign etiology of the lesion.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 5 (2023): Issue 19 (May 2023)

Open access

Iatrogenic contralateral foraminal stenosis following lumbar spine fusion surgery: illustrative cases

Faisal Konbaz, Sahar Aldakhil, Fahad Alhelal, Majed Abalkhail, Anouar Bourghli, Khawlah Ateeq, and Sami Aleissa

BACKGROUND

Lumbar spine fusion is the mainstay treatment for degenerative spine disease. Multiple potential complications of spinal fusion have been found. Acute contralateral radiculopathy postoperatively has been reported in previous literature, with unclear underlying pathology. Few articles reported the incidence of contralateral iatrogenic foraminal stenosis after lumbar fusion surgery. The aim of current article is to explore the possible causes and prevention of this complication.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors present 4 cases in which patients developed acute postoperative contralateral radiculopathy requiring revision surgery. In addition, we present a fourth case in which preventive measures have been applied. The aim of this article was to explore the possible causes and prevention to this complication.

LESSONS

Iatrogenic foraminal stenosis of the lumbar spine is a common complication; preoperative evaluation and middle intervertebral cage positioning are needed to prevent this complication.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 5 (2023): Issue 12 (Mar 2023)

Open access

Iatrogenic median and ulnar nerve injuries during carpal tunnel release: clinical, electrodiagnostic, and ultrasound features in 12 patients. Patient series

Lisa B. E. Shields, Vasudeva G. Iyer, Yi Ping Zhang, and Christopher B. Shields

BACKGROUND

Nerve injuries during carpal tunnel release (CTR) are rare. Electrodiagnostic (EDX) and ultrasound (US) studies may be helpful in evaluating iatrogenic nerve injuries during CTR.

OBSERVATIONS

Nine patients sustained a median nerve injury, and 3 patients experienced ulnar nerve damage. Decreased sensation occurred in 11 patients, and dysesthesia occurred in 1 patient. Abductor pollicis brevis (APB) weakness occurred in all patients with median nerve injury. Of the 9 patients with median nerve injury, the compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) of the APB and sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) of the 2nd or 3rd digit were not recordable in 6 and 5 patients, respectively. Of the 3 patients sustaining ulnar nerve injuries, the CMAPs of the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) and SNAPs of the 5th digit were not recordable in 1 patient; 2 patients showed prolonged latency and decreased amplitude of CMAPs/SNAPs. US studies of 8 patients with a median nerve injury showed a neuroma within the carpal tunnel. One patient underwent surgical repair urgently, and 6 did so after variable intervals.

LESSONS

Surgeons should be cognizant of nerve injuries during CTR. EDX and US studies are useful in evaluating iatrogenic nerve injuries during CTR.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 5 (2023): Issue 10 (Mar 2023)