Un paciente varón de 88 años, en diálisis por insuficiencia renal crónica, presentó cervicalgia intensa y, progresivamente, déficit sensitivo motor completo dependiente de ventilación mecánica. La tomografía cervicodorsal y la resonancia magnética (RM) inicial sugirieron varios diagnósticos, entre ellos hematoma subdural espinal. El tiempo de protrombina y el INR estaban ligeramente fuera del rango normal y las plaquetas eran normales. La RM contrastada hecha al cuarto día indicaba la probable presencia de un hematoma espinal. Se realizó una punción lumbar, la que confirmó in hematoma subdural espinal en fase crónica. Se evacuó 60 mL, sin obtener mejora clínica neurológica. No fue posible realizar una RM de control, debido a la condición clínica del paciente. El paciente falleció debido a una sepsis de foco respiratorio.

Introduction: It is unusual to observe the occurrence of Brown Séquard syndrome as a consequence of a lateral hemisection of the spinal cord caused by a stab wound. We report a case of this syndrome showing its typical presentation. Clinical Case: A male, 18-year old subject was attacked and suffered a stab wound in his right cervical area. The patient developed ipsilateral hemiparesis, an ipsilateral proprioception disturbance and a contralateral thermo-algesic disturbance. Image studies showed a laminar fracture in C6 and spinal edema in the same area. The patient underwent a C6-laminectomy. Three months after surgery, his neurological condition improved. Conclusions: It is unusual to observe the occurrence of Brown Séquard syndrome in its so-called classical or 'pure' form caused by a stab wound. The mandatory image study to perform in these cases is magnetic resonance imaging. Surg...

A 45-year-old male with neurocysticercosis complicated by hydrocephalus underwent a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt procedure because of secondary hydrocephalus. Four months afterwards he developed an intraventricular pneumocephalus and a porencephalic cyst in the right temporal lobe. Neuroradiology imaging studies did not show any bone defect in the base of the cranium, but a brain CT scan showed a porencephalic cyst located next to the right tympanic segment. An external ventricular shunt was placed and the former ventriculoperitoneal shunt was taken out, and neurological signs and symptoms improved. Afterwards, a right mastoidectomy and excision of the external shunt were performed. Control CT scans showed a progressive reduction in the intraventricular air contents. The patient was discharged with no symptoms affecting him. Two months later, pneumocephalus disappeared.

Postoperative peridural fibrosis is considered a major causative factor of Failed Back syndrome, and a bioresorbable gel was found to prevent the formation of postoperative scar. The aim of this work is to evaluate the clinic and radiologic outcome of patients underwent lumbar surgery who received Adcon L gel. Patients treated surgically for lumbar discopathy, stenosis, or fibrosis between January, 2007 and July, 2009, were included in this study, receiving Adcon L gel. Of 71 patients, only 65 had a 6 month follow-up. 98.4 % of patients submitted to first surgery and 66.6 % of the submitted ones to second surgery had good outcome. All 65 studied patients had none or minimal peridural scar in MRI controls. The ADCON L gel is an effective instrument to prevent peridural scar and to have a good clinical outcome in patients in whom lumbar surgery was performed.

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) is the primary diagnostic tool used in evaluating acute Trauma Brain Injury (TBI). Single-photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) is been used in TBI, with better results in brain functional evaluation than CT or MRI. Relationship between CT and SPECT after TBI was studied, but neurocognitive status is not included. Patients may have neurocognitive impairment with none or few abnormalities in structural images from CT. Material and Methods: Twenty patients between 16 and 60 years old with mild or moderate trauma brain injury were studied. CT scan, brain SPECT and neuropsychological evaluation were made at admission. Obtained data was matched. Results: CT scan and SPECT were abnormal in 16 and 19 patients. CT scan showed 15 brain lesions and SPECT 29 brain lesions. All patients with neurocognitive impairment had an abnormal SPECT. Discussion:...

Un paciente varón de 88 años, en diálisis por insuficiencia renal crónica, presentó cervicalgia intensa y, progresivamente, déficit sensitivo motor completo dependiente de ventilación mecánica. La tomografía cervicodorsal y la resonancia magnética (RM) inicial sugirieron varios diagnósticos, entre ellos hematoma subdural espinal. El tiempo de protrombina y el INR estaban ligeramente fuera del rango normal y las plaquetas eran normales. La RM contrastada hecha al cuarto día indicaba la probable presencia de un hematoma espinal. Se realizó una punción lumbar, la que confirmó in hematoma subdural espinal en fase crónica. Se evacuó 60 mL, sin obtener mejora clínica neurológica. No fue posible realizar una RM de control, debido a la condición clínica del paciente. El paciente falleció debido a una sepsis de foco respiratorio.

Introduction: It is unusual to observe the occurrence of Brown Séquard syndrome as a consequence of a lateral hemisection of the spinal cord caused by a stab wound. We report a case of this syndrome showing its typical presentation. Clinical Case: A male, 18-year old subject was attacked and suffered a stab wound in his right cervical area. The patient developed ipsilateral hemiparesis, an ipsilateral proprioception disturbance and a contralateral thermo-algesic disturbance. Image studies showed a laminar fracture in C6 and spinal edema in the same area. The patient underwent a C6-laminectomy. Three months after surgery, his neurological condition improved. Conclusions: It is unusual to observe the occurrence of Brown Séquard syndrome in its so-called classical or 'pure' form caused by a stab wound. The mandatory image study to perform in these cases is magnetic resonance imaging. Surg...

A 45-year-old male with neurocysticercosis complicated by hydrocephalus underwent a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt procedure because of secondary hydrocephalus. Four months afterwards he developed an intraventricular pneumocephalus and a porencephalic cyst in the right temporal lobe. Neuroradiology imaging studies did not show any bone defect in the base of the cranium, but a brain CT scan showed a porencephalic cyst located next to the right tympanic segment. An external ventricular shunt was placed and the former ventriculoperitoneal shunt was taken out, and neurological signs and symptoms improved. Afterwards, a right mastoidectomy and excision of the external shunt were performed. Control CT scans showed a progressive reduction in the intraventricular air contents. The patient was discharged with no symptoms affecting him. Two months later, pneumocephalus disappeared.

Postoperative peridural fibrosis is considered a major causative factor of Failed Back syndrome, and a bioresorbable gel was found to prevent the formation of postoperative scar. The aim of this work is to evaluate the clinic and radiologic outcome of patients underwent lumbar surgery who received Adcon L gel. Patients treated surgically for lumbar discopathy, stenosis, or fibrosis between January, 2007 and July, 2009, were included in this study, receiving Adcon L gel. Of 71 patients, only 65 had a 6 month follow-up. 98.4 % of patients submitted to first surgery and 66.6 % of the submitted ones to second surgery had good outcome. All 65 studied patients had none or minimal peridural scar in MRI controls. The ADCON L gel is an effective instrument to prevent peridural scar and to have a good clinical outcome in patients in whom lumbar surgery was performed.

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) is the primary diagnostic tool used in evaluating acute Trauma Brain Injury (TBI). Single-photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) is been used in TBI, with better results in brain functional evaluation than CT or MRI. Relationship between CT and SPECT after TBI was studied, but neurocognitive status is not included. Patients may have neurocognitive impairment with none or few abnormalities in structural images from CT. Material and Methods: Twenty patients between 16 and 60 years old with mild or moderate trauma brain injury were studied. CT scan, brain SPECT and neuropsychological evaluation were made at admission. Obtained data was matched. Results: CT scan and SPECT were abnormal in 16 and 19 patients. CT scan showed 15 brain lesions and SPECT 29 brain lesions. All patients with neurocognitive impairment had an abnormal SPECT. Discussion:...

Background: Craneoplasty has 2 purposes; protection of the brain and a satisfying cosmetic result. There are different alloplast grafts to cranial reconstruction. Clinical case: A decompressive craniectomy was performed in a 29 years old man who had a severe brain trauma one month before admission. Clinically he is in coma, with a left large skull defect. After two months the patient is underwent to cranial reconstruction using computer designed polyetheretherketone implant, without complications related to surgery until now. Conclusion: Craneoplasty using computer designed PEEK implant is safe, offers great adaptability and biocompatibility, and minor surgical time.

Background: Craneoplasty has 2 purposes; protection of the brain and a satisfying cosmetic result. There are different alloplast grafts to cranial reconstruction. Clinical case: A decompressive craniectomy was performed in a 29 years old man who had a severe brain trauma one month before admission. Clinically he is in coma, with a left large skull defect. After two months the patient is underwent to cranial reconstruction using computer designed polyetheretherketone implant, without complications related to surgery until now. Conclusion: Craneoplasty using computer designed PEEK implant is safe, offers great adaptability and biocompatibility, and minor surgical time.

Cerebral cavernoma is an infrequently diagnosed vascular malformation. It is defined as a malformation at the level of the microcerebral vasculature that, depending on the location and if there is a possibility of rupture, leads to an emergency that can end in the death of the patient. On this occasion, we report a case of a patient with cerebral cavernoma associated with Evans syndrome. Surgical management of the lesion was decided due to increased intensity of headache and oral intolerance. Given the coexistence of Evans Syndrome and the high rate of morbidity and mortality, surgical management was decided by stereotaxic radiosurgery with a gamma knife. The use of low-margin doses for treatment with gamma knife for use in brain cavernomas produces controlled management for seizure symptoms and better quality of life expectancy.

El cavernoma cerebral es una malformación vascular de diagnóstico infrecuente. Se define como una malformación a nivel de la vasculatura microcerebral que, dependiendo a la ubicación y si existe la posibilidad de ruptura, conlleva a una emergencia que puede terminar en la muerte del paciente. En esta oportunidad se reporta el caso de un paciente con cavernoma cerebral asociado al síndrome de Evans. Se decide manejo quirúrgico de la lesión por aumento de intensidad de cefalea e intolerancia oral. Dada la coexistencia del Síndrome de Evans y la alta tasa de morbimortalidad es que se decide manejo quirúrgico mediante radiocirugía estereotáxica con gamma knife. El uso de dosis de margen bajo para tratamiento con gamma knife para uso en cavernomas cerebrales produce un manejo controlado para sintomatología de convulsiones y mejor expectativa de calidad de vida.