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Open access

Can we build better? Challenges with geospatial and financial accessibility in the Caribbean. Illustrative case

Ellianne J dos Santos Rubio, Chrystal Calderon, Annegien Boeykens, and Kee B Park

BACKGROUND

Within the Caribbean, Curaçao provides a neurosurgical hub to other Dutch Caribbean islands. At times, the inefficiency of neurosurgical referrals leads to unsatisfactory patient outcomes in true emergency cases.

OBSERVATIONS

This article reports an illustrative case of a patient in need of emergency neurosurgical care, who was referred to a tertiary health institution in Curaçao. This case highlights the challenges of timely neurosurgical referrals within the Dutch Caribbean.

LESSONS

Highlighting this case may provide a foundation for further discussions that may improve neurosurgical care and access. Limiting long-distance surgical referrals in the acute care setting will aid in saving lives.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 22 (Nov 2023)

Open access

Cervical spinal cord compression from subdural hematoma caused by traumatic nerve root avulsion: illustrative case

Alexander T Yahanda, Michelle R Connor, Rupen Desai, David A Giles, Vivek P Gupta, Wilson Z Ray, and Magalie Cadieux

BACKGROUND

Posttraumatic intradural hematomas of the cervical spine are rare findings that may yield significant neurological deficits if they compress the spinal cord. These compressive hematomas require prompt surgical evacuation. In certain instances, intradural hematomas may form from avulsion of cervical nerve roots.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors present the case of a 29-year-old male who presented with right upper-extremity weakness in the setting of polytrauma after a motor vehicle accident. He had no cervical fractures but subsequently developed right lower-extremity weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a compressive hematoma of the cervical spine that was initially read as an epidural hematoma. However, intraoperatively, it was found to be a subdural hematoma, eccentric to the right, stemming from an avulsion of the right C6 nerve root.

LESSONS

Posttraumatic cervical subdural hematomas require rapid surgical evacuation if neurological deficits are present. The source of the hematoma may be an avulsed nerve root, and the associated deficits may be unilateral if the hematoma is eccentric to one side. Surgeons should be prepared for the possibility of an intradural hematoma even in instances in which MRI appears consistent with an epidural hematoma.

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

Open access

Delayed presentation of traumatic supra- and infratentorial extradural hematoma: illustrative case

Sami Pathak, Danielle McAuliffe, Robert Ziechmann, Rohan Gupta, and Philip Villanueva

BACKGROUND

Supra- and infratentorial epidural hematomas (SIEDHs) are a rare subtype of epidural hematoma (EDH), showing expanding bleeding on both sides of the tentorium, and account for <2% of EDHs (Aji, Apriawan, and Bajamal, 2018). These lesions can typically expand and decompensate quickly, making immediate diagnosis and surgical intervention crucial.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors’ patient presented >48 hours from a blunt trauma to the right side of the head with progressive vomiting and bruising behind the right ear. He had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 on arrival. Head computed tomography showed an SIEDH measuring approximately 3 cm, and, given the hematoma’s size and mass effect, the patient was taken emergently to the operating room for decompression, where the source of bleeding was noted to be an emissary vein from the transverse sinus. The linear parietooccipital fracture was mended with mesh cranioplasty. Patient imaging and follow-up showed an excellent recovery.

LESSONS

Although SIEDH is rare, patients can present in a delayed fashion and be neurologically intact. The threshold to obtain imaging to rule out delayed hemorrhage should be low in any patient with a history of trauma in the region of a dural venous sinus.

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

Late-developing posttraumatic dural arteriovenous fistula of the vertebral artery: illustrative case

Hanna E Schenck, Thomas B Fodor, Bart A. J. M Wagemans, and Roel H. L Haeren

BACKGROUND

A dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) involving the vertebral artery (VA) is a rare vascular pathology that can result from damage to the VA, most frequently following cervical spine trauma. In most traumatic cases, the dAVF develops and manifests shortly after trauma.

OBSERVATIONS

A patient was admitted after a fall from the stairs causing neck pain. Computed tomography of the cervical spine revealed a Hangman’s fracture, and angiography showed a left VA dissection. The patient was treated with a cervical brace and clopidogrel. Three weeks after trauma, the patient was admitted because of bilateral leg ataxia, dizziness, and neck pain. Repeat imaging revealed increased displacement of the cervical fracture and a dAVF from the left VA with retrograde filling of the dAVF from the right VA. Embolization of the dAVF using coils proximally and distally to the dAVF was performed prior to placing a halo brace. At 6 months, all symptoms had disappeared and union of the cervical spine fracture had occurred.

LESSONS

This case report emphasizes the need for follow-up angiography after traumatic VA injury resulting from cervical spine fracture and underlines important treatment considerations for successful obliteration of a dAVF of the VA.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 18 (Oct 2023)

Open access

Middle meningeal artery embolization for refractory chronic subdural hematoma in a pediatric victim of nonaccidental trauma: illustrative case

Zsombor T Gal and Alfred P See

BACKGROUND

Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) in children is associated with several etiologies, one of which is nonaccidental trauma (NAT). Performed alone or as an adjunct to surgical intervention, middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization may be effective in resolving and preventing the recurrence of cSDH in adult patients. However, MMA embolization for pediatric cSDH has not been adequately evaluated, and there exists no consensus on the appropriate selection of pediatric patients for this minimally invasive procedure. Appreciating the variable underlying pathophysiology of pediatric cSDH will enable the development of guidelines for patient selection.

OBSERVATIONS

A 14-month-old female patient presented with depressed consciousness, seizure-like activity, and apneic episodes. She was diagnosed with bilateral subacute on chronic SDH associated with NAT, and imaging revealed diffuse brain atrophy. Despite undergoing burr hole drainage, she developed refractory cSDH and was treated with bilateral MMA embolization. At her 10-month follow-up, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a decrease in the size of the subdural collections, and she was tolerating feeds, at her neurological baseline, and seizure-free.

LESSONS

Infants and young children with symptomatic cSDH secondary to NAT, whose tissue dynamics are reminiscent of cSDH in elderly patients with diffuse brain atrophy, may derive the most benefit from MMA embolization.

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

Open access

Novel use of an image-guided supraorbital craniotomy via an eyebrow approach for the repair of a delayed traumatic orbital encephalocele: illustrative cases

Joseph Ifrach, Nathaniel B Neavling, Iris B Charcos, Linda Zhang, and Corey M Mossop

BACKGROUND

Traumatic orbital encephaloceles are rare but severe complications of orbital fractures. These encephaloceles can present months to years after the initial injury.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors present two cases of traumatic orbital encephalocele in young males struck by motor vehicles.

LESSONS

The exact traumatic mechanism of these encephaloceles is unknown, and diagnosis can be confounded by concomitant injuries. The use of a minimally invasive supraorbital keyhole craniotomy has the potential to change how this disease process is managed and has not been previously documented in this setting.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 15 (Oct 2023)

Open access

Traumatic middle meningeal arteriovenous fistula presenting with long delayed-onset facial nerve palsy without temporal bone fracture: illustrative case

Shigeki Takada, Koki Mitani, Tomonori Ichikawa, Nobutake Sadamasa, and Waro Taki

BACKGROUND

Traumatic facial nerve palsy (FNP) without temporal bone fracture (TBF) has a delayed onset in some cases; however, long delayed-onset FNP in this setting has not been reported. The middle meningeal vein (MMV) is one of the venous drainage routes from the facial nerve. Herein, the authors describe a rare case of traumatic middle meningeal arteriovenous fistula (MMAVF) presenting with the long delayed-onset FNP without TBF.

OBSERVATIONS

A 42-year-old man with pulsatile tinnitus and left FNP was admitted to our hospital 4 weeks after head trauma without TBF. Cerebral angiography revealed an MMAVF between the middle meningeal artery and the MMV on the left side. Seven days after admission, the FNP showed slight improvement, and preoperative angiography revealed decreased shunt flow of the MMAVF. Transarterial coil embolization was successfully performed. Postoperative angiography showed no residual fistula. Two weeks after the procedure, there was complete resolution of the FNP. This clinical course was correlated with the angiographic findings, suggesting that the long delayed-onset FNP was caused by the traumatic MMAVF without TBF.

LESSONS

In patients presenting with long delayed-onset FNP after head trauma without TBF, the vascular lesion must be evaluated to exclude MMAVF.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 14 (Oct 2023)

Open access

Upper cervical intramedullary schwannoma of the spinal cord presenting with myelopathy: illustrative case

Shyam Duvuru, Vivek Sanker, Naureen Syed, Shubham Mishra, Sayantika Ghosh, and Tirth Dave

BACKGROUND

Intramedullary schwannomas account for 1.1% of all spinal schwannomas. Preoperative diagnosis is best accomplished by thoroughly evaluating clinical and radiological characteristics, accompanied by a high index of suspicion. The authors report a case of C2–3 intramedullary schwannoma in a young male who presented with neck pain and vertigo. The current literature is also reviewed.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors reviewed the data of a young male with a 2-month history of neck pain and vertigo. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cervical spine showed an intramedullary mass at C2–3 with a syrinx extending into the cervicomedullary junction. Laminectomy, myelotomy, and microsurgical excision of the mass under intraoperative neurological monitoring (IONM) were done. Postoperative pathology reported the specimen as a schwannoma.

LESSONS

Gross-total resection of a schwannoma using IONM is the treatment of choice because of the lesion’s benign nature, a better prognosis, and defined cleavage plane. Schwannomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of intramedullary spinal tumors. Because of its progressive nature, early surgery is recommended in symptomatic patients.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 13 (Sep 2023)

Open access

Delayed headache 11 years after a pub fight: an unusual spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage succeeding a temporal glass shard injury. Illustrative case

Attill Saemann, Victor Schulze-Zachau, Raphael Guzman, and Gregor Hutter

BACKGROUND

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in young patients is rare and often associated with vascular malformations, drug abuse, or genetic conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical because of the potential risk of rebleeding and long-term consequences. This case report presents an unusual correlation between a prior traumatic incident and the manifestation of an atypical ICH 11 years later.

OBSERVATIONS

A 37-year-old male presented with retroorbital headaches, confusion, and seizures. Imaging revealed an atypical ICH in the left middle temporal gyrus, accompanied by retained glass shards in the adjacent temporal muscle and bone. Angiography ruled out vascular malformations but suggested an eroded middle cerebral artery branch underneath an osseous defect potentially caused by a bone-transgressing glass shard. Surgical exploration confirmed the vessel as the source of the ICH and was followed by an uneventful hematoma removal and postoperative course.

LESSONS

This case underscores the significance of recognizing delayed complications resulting from retained foreign bodies (FBs). Complete removal of extracranial FBs is imperative to prevent further harm. Clinicians should maintain an awareness of the potential long-term consequences and complications associated with FBs, utilizing comprehensive diagnostics to detect and localize FBs. Timely intervention such as resection or planned follow-up is essential for effective management and mitigation of adverse outcomes.

In Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons Volume 6 (2023): Issue 10 (Sep 2023)