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Biomedical subjects

J Berney

Publications and source records attributed to J Berney.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Pathogenesis of diastematomyelia: can a surgical model in the chick embryo give some clues about the human malformation?

To reproduce diastematomyelia, a sagittal incision was carried out at the level of the rhomboidal sinus of 36- to 40-h-old chick embryos. A small piece of membrane shell, a small agar screen, or a piece of quail isochronous isotopic notochord was inserted into the gap. The embryos were killed and fixed after 9 days' incubation. Diastematomyelia was obtained in several embryos treated with interposition of a membrane screen or a piece of quail notochord. Microscopic examination revealed two hemicords, each containing its own central canal; in some cases one of the cords showed hydromyelia. Absence of the rump was seen in association with experimental diastematomyelia. The interposition of a resorbable agar screen did not succeed in reproducing diastematomyelia. The results of these surgical manipulations suggest that diastematomyelia cannot be explained by a primary disorder of neurulation. It supports the theory of noninvolution of a firm midline structure (probably the neurenteric canal, rapidly surrounded by mesodermal cells originating from the notochord), which prevents the fusion of the separated parts.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The future of neurosurgery.

Many factors influence the future of neurosurgery, among them the general growth of the world population with an increasing number of older persons and the political-economical development which differs markedly from region to region. Another important factor will be the biological and molecular revolution which has just begun and makes it likely, that some of the pathologies, which needed neurosurgical management, become accessible to conservative treatment in the future. Finally the neurosurgical sphere of activity is endangered by take-over tendencies of neighbouring medical specialties. Those of us who are in charge of neurosurgical organization and planning should take these and additional factors into consideration early enough, in order to give neurosurgery and neurosurgeons a chance to adapt to the future.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed1992

Diagnosis of cerebellopontine angle tumors.

Between 1980 and 1990, 9,176 patients suffering from otoneurological disorders were investigated in our clinic. Sixty-six (0.72%) internal auditory canal or other cerebellopontine angle tumors (CPAT) were diagnosed. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), interaural time discrimination, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed to be the most sensitive and efficient tests for the detection of CPAT. However, the investigation of otoneurological symptoms cannot be limited to BAEP and MRI on the a priori of a hypothetical CPAT. Electrophysiologic tests such as impedancemetry, and electronystagmographic testing are also needed to elucidate the many causes of otoneurological symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Cervical meningocele and meningomyelocystocele. Apropos of 4 cases].

Published cases of cervical dysraphic lesions are rare. Their estimated proportion is about 5% of the entire group of spinal dysraphism. Four cases are reported, representing 2 types of lesion: 2 meningoceles with a simple fibrous band fixing the posterior aspect of the cord to the skin and 2 meningomyelocystoceles with other associated anomalies (hydromyelia, hydrocephalus, Chiari II, Peter's ocular anomaly). The clinical presentation is that of a soft posterior cervical mass without marked neurological impairement. The surgical treatment is simple, consisting in the resection of the lesion, intradural exploration to untighten the cord if fixed by a fibrous band, and drainage of the hydrocephalus. Neurological outcome is generally good immediately but may need sometimes secondary surgical exploration.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1991

Anterior-sacral meningocele; value of magnetic resonance imaging and abdominal sonography. A case report.

With the presentation of a case of giant anterior sacral meningocele, the evident superiority of magnetic resonance imaging over any other methods for the diagnosis of this rare condition is demonstrated. Ultrasound as a screening tool is often the first to reveal the presence of the intrabdominal cystic abnormality and furthermore is an excellent means for checking the post-operative course. In addition this particular case is interesting because the dural stalk linking the meningocele to the dural abdominal sac was not entirely free from nervous structures inspite of macroscopic appearances to the contrary.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Acute subdural hematoma of arteriolar origin. Traumatic or spontaneous?].

Acute subdural hematomas are usually related to the rupture of a bridging vein with or without tearing of brain matter. In some instances the origin of the hemorrhage is due to the shearing of a cortical arteriole bleeding directly into the subdural space, generally after a minor head trauma. Ten cases were reviewed at Geneva's Neurosurgical clinic over a period of thirteen years (1973-1986). They represent less than 5% of all acute and subacute subdural hematomas treated during that period. Subdural hematomas of venous origin are usually encountered on previously normal brain whereas those of arteriolar origin are thought to result from the disruption of a small arteriolar knuckle adhering to the arachnoid and dura. While the majority of arteriolar hematomas reported here and in the literature are of traumatic origin, some are undoubtedly spontaneous. The clinical features of these hematomas are characterized by a high incidence of falsely localising motor signs, presumably due to the so called Kernohan's phenomenon. Their treatment requires a wide exposure, allowing identification and coagulation of the bleeding source located in most instances around the Sylvian fissure. Although a rare entity, the existence of arteriolar subdural hematomas must be emphasized, since any delay in their treatment may result in a dramatic outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Tumors of aqueduct of Sylvius. Presentation of 5 cases and review of the literature].

The authors reports their experience of 5 cases of intra- and peri-aqueductal tumors. With the exception of 1 case, a subependymoma of the aqueduct discovered at autopsy in a 77 year old woman, the 4 other patients (2 females and 2 males) are relatively young (respectively 14, 23, 14 and 26) at the time when they presented with signs of chronically raised intracranial pressure due to a triventricular hydrocephalus. One patient presented with a partial Parinaud's sign, but the focal and long tract signs were conspicuously absent in the other patients. The diagnosis of a space occupying lesion in the tectum mesencephali or in the aqueduct could only be ascertained with the recent use of M.R.I. The radiological work-up of the cases suggest that theses lesions, presumably of glial origin, are very slowly growing tumors. Four patients have been treated for their symptomatic hydrocephalus, but no treatment of the tumor has been proposed, as the clinical state and the images remain remarkably stable. (Mean duration of follow up from the time of shunting = 3.7 years, extremes = 1.5-8 years). A review of the literature shows that not more than 48 cases of tumors of the aqueduct have been reported. Because of the small number of such observations, there are, until now, no precise informations on the management of such cases to decide if the patient will benefit of an open or stereotactic biopsy associated with radiotherapy or if one can rely on serial clinical and radiological examinations. Further information on the long term follow up is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Epidemiological factors of lumbar disk herniation].

Two series of patients operated on for an herniated lumbar disc are studied retrospectively for the 484 cases of the first one and prospectively for the 289 cases of the second series. In both series, the large majority of the cases are aged between 30 and 60 years, about 60% are males and the body mass index (B.M.I.) is equally distributed among the patients and in the general swiss population of the same age. Only young men are heavier than the average. All the professions are represented among the patients, as the inactives or housewives, and not very different than in the normal population. Only in the first series heavy workers are considered as more frequent among the patients than in the population of Geneva. This is not confirmed by the second series. Sport is a possible factor implicated in the disease. It is suggested that heavy work or intensive sport in the adolescence can influence this problem. The incidence of herniated disc syndrome calculated from the second series in Geneva for people aged 20 to 69 is 62 cases/100,000/y, 75 for male and 51 for female. This is under the reality because some cases are operated in private clinics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Surgical treatment of congenital fronto-orbitomalar asymmetries.

Congenital fronto-orbital asymmetries can be of various origin. Correction of these malformations, whether due to maldevelopment of the foetus or to a congenital tumour, generally require a combined intracranial and extracranial approach. In recent years, a working group of plastic surgeons and neurosurgeons in the French-speaking part of Switzerland have been particularly interested in these problems. Some of their results are presented here.

Bone Transplantation↗
PubMed1986

[Late complications of closed injuries of the extracranial carotid artery. Apropos of 2 cases].

Closed injury with lesions of the great vessels of the neck are rare and usually due to high energy mechanisms with severe secondary deficit. 2 cases are reported, concerning young patients with relatively mild injury, neurological deficit not developing before 6 months after the traumatism in the first case and 8 months in the second. At this stage, the neurological signs were immediately severe, with cerebral infarction, leading to death in the first case. Pathological lesion of lesion of pseudo-anevrismal type, localised at the right carotid and subclavian artery bifurcation, was evidenced in the first case. In the second case, a bilateral intimal lesion of the carotid arteries at C1 level is illustrated on angiography. The mechanism of these lesions as well as the delayed manifestation of neurological deficits are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Myelopathies in a context of generalized infection: myelitis or compression?].

Four patients with rapidly progressive tetraparesis in relation with skin or joint infection and septicemia are reviewed. Clinical signs of medullary compression was present in all cases, confirmed by neuroradiological examinations. However, all surgical approaches failed to demonstrate clear evidence of compression. Within three weeks, the neurological picture of severe tetraparesis had an excellent clinical evolution in all cases. One of the patients died after developing pulmonary complications: necropsy did not show any signs of compression. The difficulty of differential diagnosis between an infectious compressive surgical pathology and an inflammatory disease (acute transverse myelitis type) is emphasized, with review of literature.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[Hypercoagulability syndrome associated with cerebral lesions. Prospective study of coagulation during surgery of primary brain tumors (17 cases)].

Variations in hemostatic factors have been studied in 17 patients undergoing neurosurgical operations for intracerebral primary tumors. Clotting time (plastic and glass), recalcification time (Howell), plasma fibrinogen level, fibrin split products, partial thromboplastin time, Quick and platelet count were measured before and after the surgical procedure and several times during the following 24 hours. Hemostasis was significantly disturbed, with maximal hypercoagulability 2 hours after operation. In 3 patients, fundus examination showed occlusion of retinal vessels. In all cases the surgical trauma was relatively minor compared with severe cerebral contusion, but was nevertheless enough to disturb the measured parameters, which appear to be sensitive indicators for assessing the severity of cerebral lesions, especially in cases of contusion. A systematic fundus examination is also of diagnostic interest. The state of blood hypercoagulability may lead to disseminated intravascular clotting (DIC) and therefore prophylactic heparin therapy should be administered.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed1986

[Study of the deterioration factors in adult patients with cranio-cerebral injuries who "talk and die"].

Between 1978 and 1984, the University Hospital of Geneva (Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire) received 46 head injured patients who "talked and died" after their brain insult. Only 14 of them had associated systemic lesions whilst two thirds of the series had an isolated head injury. Detailed review of the case records shows that death was preventable in a quarter of the cases. For 28 patients (60%), the factors contributing to death are avoidable or, at least, their management should be greatly improved. The diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy in 31 patients (67%).

Brain Injuries↗