Biomedical subjects

M Ortega-Martínez

Publications and source records attributed to M Ortega-Martínez.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Pyogenic brain abscesses: experience with 60 consecutive cases].

INTRODUCTION: Brain abscess is a focal suppurative process in the brain parenchyma that still carries high mortality rates. Outcome is closely related with a correct and early management. In order to evaluate this management we have reviewed the brain abscesses treated in our Department during the last 14 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors present a retrospective series of 60 consecutive patients with pyogenic brain abscess treated between January of 1990 and February of 2004 paying attention to the epidemiology, etiology, clinical data, microbiology, treatment modalities and outcome. RESULTS: The male to female rate was 5.6 to 1. The average age was 47 years. Hematogenous spread was most frequent, followed by contiguous spread. In 22% of the cases, the origin was unknown. Regarding the causative pathogens, Gram positive cocci are the most frequent (44%), with a 40% incidence of anaerobics. A mixed infection occurred in 39% of the abscesses. Three modalities of treatment were used: non surgical, catheter drainage-aspiration and surgical excision. Outcome was excellent in 52 patients (86.7%) and 4 patients (6.7%) died. Although outcome was similar in both surgical modalities, drainage-aspiration required a second procedure in 20% of the cases while this was necessary in only 10% of the patients with abscess excision. Length of admission was shorter in the drainage-aspiration group than in the excision group (13 and 26 days respectively). Mortality was higher in patients with low level of consciousness and age over 70 years. CONCLUSIONS: The shorter admission time associated with drainage-aspiration of brain abscesses together with its high efficacy and low morbidity suggests that drainage-aspiration should be used as the first mode of treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

[Bilateral pure T11-T12 facet dislocation without neurologic residual deficit].

Bilateral pure facets dislocation in the thoracic spine is rare, but when it does occur in almost every instance produces a severe spinal cord lesion. It is thought to be caused by a flexion distraction mechanisms in most of the cases. A case is presented of a male suffered a polytrauma with important thoracic, abdominal, and esqueletic injuries in a car accident. The patient was in a hospital during two weeks, and one month after the trauma a bilateral pure dislocation of T11-T12 facets was diagnosed. Diagnosis was made with radiographs and CT with sagittal reconstruction. After an open reduction and fixation, recovery was complete within the first postoperative week. Facet dislocation in the thoracic spine is associated in many cases with thoracic and abdominal injuries that worsen the clinical picture, and thus it may contribute to misdiagnosis of the facet dislocation, specially in the cases with no neurological symptoms, adding a risk of secondary spinal cord damage. High-resolution CT with sagittal reconstruction provides an adequate and rapid demonstration of the luxation and associated thoraco-abdominal damages. Facet dislocation are unstable injuries that require open reduction and fixation. Recovery of patients with incomplete lesions is frequent, however, recovery from complete lesions did not occur.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

[Calcified disc herniation in childhood].

Calcification of intervertebral discs is a rare occurrence in children. Although the etiology of the calcification remains uncertain, it is no related with degenerative diseases. The clinical picture is non specific with neck pain, muscle contractures and, sometimes, low-grade fever. These symptoms generally disappear spontaneously, and surgery rarely becomes necessary. In our review of the literature, we have found only seventeen cases requiring surgical management. Two of these children had been previously diagnosed with calcified intervertebral discs, but at the time no herniation had been ruled out with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We report the case of a girl who was diagnosed, when she was ten years old, with intervertebral idiopatic calcifications. Four years later she presented with radiculopathy caused by the posterolateral displacement of a calcified cervical disc, which required operative management. We think that this case supports the theory of Heinrich et al. that considers that the calcified hernia is a complication of a previous pathology, namely intervertebral calcification. Clinical and therapeutic aspects of this entity are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Anterior cervical osteophyte causing dysphagia as a complication of laminectomy.

Asymptomatic osteophytes of the anterior margins of the cervical vertebral bodies (VB) may occur in 20 - 30% of the population. On rare occasions, dysphagia or dyspnoea may be caused by such cervical osteophytes. We present the case of a 27-year-old woman with progressive dysphagia caused by a voluminous osteophyte secondary to chronic cervical instability after a laminectomy performed 8 years before. Progressive growth of the osteophyte was observed in sequential roentgenograms. As far as we know, this complication of cervical laminectomy has never been reported before. After resection of the osteophyte and arthrodesis of the affected segment the patient was cured.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Hemifacial spasm as clinical presentation of intracranial meningiomas. Report of three cases and review of the literature].

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a clinical entity consisting of brief clonic jerking movements of the facial musculature, beginning in the orbicularis oculi with downward spreading to other facial muscles. Apart from vascular loop compression at the root exit zone of the facial nerve, other causes of HFS are rare. It is exceptional as a form of presentation of intracranial meningiomas We report three cases of patients with meningiomas who presented with HFS, either as an isolated sign or associated with symptoms of rise intracranial pressure or focal deficit. We review the literature and discuss the possible physiopathological mechanisms responsible for this association.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Cocaine abuse as precipitating factor of tumoral bleeding in an oligoastrocitoma].

Cocaine abuse has been associated with a variety of intracranial haemorrhagic disorders, such as intracerebral, subdural or subarachnoidal haemorrhage. Frequently, these patients harbour underlying vascular malformations, like cerebral aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations (AVM). To the best of our knowledge only two cases of tumoral haemorrhage induced by cocaine abuse have been previously reported. We describe a new case of intracerebral haemorrhage after cocaine inhalation, in which both the preoperative imaging studies and the pathological examination showed a brain tumour as the origin of the haemorrhage. We think that cocaine abuse may be considered as a new precipitating factor in intratumoral haemorrhage.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Contralateral extradural hematoma during evacuation of a previous one].

The development of an extradural hematoma during the evacuation of a traumatic extracerebral hematoma is a very rare event. It occurs in patients with a severe head injury that present with both an extraaxial hematoma and a contralateral skull fracture. Recognition of the significance of a sudden increase in the cerebral tension after hematoma evacuation is the key for a pront diagnosis of the development of a contralateral lesion. We present the case of a patient with a severe head trauma and an extradural hematoma who developed a contralateral extradural hematoma during evacuation of the initial one. The development of a contralateral lesion was suspected by a sudden and unexpected increase in cerebral tension during evacuation of the first hematoma and confirmed by emergency CT scan. We think that the most important pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of a contralateral extradural hematoma are the rapid fall of intracranial pressure, the loss of tamponade effect achieved by the energetic use of antiedema measures and the evacuation of the ipsilateral hematoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Isolated oculomotor palsy. An unusual presentation of chronic subural hematoma].

Isolated oculomotor palsy is an unusual symptom in chronic subdural hematomas and it is very rare as initial manifestation. We report a patient with a chronic subdural hematoma that presented with a complete third nerve palsy and normal consciousness. Complete recovery was achieved after surgical evacuation. Rebleeding within the hematoma cavity, most possibly favored by antiaggregating agents, was considered responsible for this rare presentation. In these cases expeditious surgical evacuation is indicated.

Chronic Disease↗