PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

George S Sapkas

Publications and source records attributed to George S Sapkas.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Spinal hydatid disease, a rare but existent pathological entity: case report and review of the literature.

Spinal hydatid disease is a not uncommon cause of spinal cord compression in endemic countries; however, involvement of the epidural space with sparing of the vertebral column is rare. Early diagnosis and surgical decompression with total removal of the hydatid lesion, when possible, is generally considered the standard of care for this disease. The authors describe a case of massive epidural hydatid disease without involvement of the vertebral column in a 62-year-old male patient, treated with a 2-stage surgical operation and administration of systemic albendazole. The literature is reviewed regarding the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of spinal echinococcosis.

Albendazole↗
PubMed2004

Multiple fractures of the axis.

Multiple fractures of the axis are not common lesions. A retrospective study was performed to identify the different fracture patterns and to analyze the incidence of these injuries and their long-term behavior. The medical records of 674 consecutive patients with fractures of the cervical spine were reviewed. Nine (1%) of 674 patients (6 men and 3 women) had multiple fractures of the axis. Mean patient age was 48 years. The most common lesion was a combination of traumatic spondylolisthesis with either an odontoid process or a teardrop fracture of the axis body. All patients were treated conservatively with an excellent or good outcome at mean 12-year follow-up (range: 2-18 years). Computed tomography was the imaging modality of choice for the correct diagnosis of these rare lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Thoracic spinal injuries: operative treatments and neurologic outcomes.

Between January 1983 and December 1997, 29 patients with either a fracture (11 patients) or a fracture-dislocation (18 patients) of the thoracic spine were treated operatively. All patients underwent posterior decompression and stabilization within a mean time of 4 days after injury (range, 0-45 days). Patients with complete paraplegia had no postoperative improvement in neurologic status, whereas all patients with incomplete spinal cord lesions improved in neurologic status after surgery. There was no significant association between time from injury to operation and final neurologic outcome. For thoracic fractures, the procedure of surgical decompression and stabilization is safe, and neurologic recovery may be anticipated in patients with incomplete spinal cord lesions.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Scoliosis in Steinert syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Steinert syndrome is described as an autosomal dominant condition characterized by progressive muscular wasting, myotonia, musculoskeletal manifestations and rare spinal defects. Little is reported about spinal deformity associated with this syndrome. PURPOSE: We present a patient with Steinert syndrome complicated by scoliosis. In the literature on muscular dystrophy, other than Duchenne, little mention is given to the problem of scoliosis in general and its treatment in particular. STUDY DESIGN: A case report of a patient with Steinert syndrome associated with thoracic scoliosis and hypokyphosis is presented. METHODS: A 17-year-old boy presented with King type II right thoracic scoliosis (T5-T11, Cobb angle of 40 degrees) and hypokyphosis--10 degrees. He was treated with posterior stabilization and instrumentation at level T3-L2 with a postoperative correction of the scoliotic curve to 20 degrees. Histopathologic examination of the muscles confirmed the diagnosis of Steinert myotonic dystrophy. RESULTS: At 30-month follow-up, the patient was clinically pain free and well balanced. Plain radiographs showed solid spine fusion with no loss of deformity correction. CONCLUSIONS: Scoliosis in Steinert syndrome shares the characteristic of an arthrogrypotic neuromuscular curve and demands the extensive soft tissue release for optimal surgical correction. Intraoperative observations included profound tissue bleeding, abnormally tough soft tissues and a difficult recovery from anaesthesia.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗