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Biomedical subjects

R Hudgins

Publications and source records attributed to R Hudgins.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Spinal intradural cerebellar ectopia.

An ectopic cerebellum, as in Chiari malformations and ectopic cerebellar dysplastic tissue, is a common finding; however, the presence of an organized ectopic cerebellum is exceedingly rare. We describe the MR imaging, surgical, and histologic appearance of an intraspinal ectopic cerebellum in an infant.

Cerebellum

Geniculate ganglion meningioma.

Primary ectopic meningiomas are rare, but may be seen in the head and neck region. The temporal bone and its neural foramen are rarely the site of a primary meningioma. This report describes the CT and MRI appearance of an ectopic meningioma arising at the anatomic location of the geniculate ganglion, and discusses the differential diagnosis as well as the possible origin of the tumor.

Adolescent

Frontal basilar trauma: classification and treatment.

We report our experience with 14 consecutive cases of frontal basilar trauma occurring in children and adolescents aged 18 months to 18 years (mean 9.5 years). Brain parenchymal injury resulting in functional deficit occurred in 5 patients (36 percent), 2 patients suffered bilateral blindness, and 1 suffered unilateral loss of vision. A classification system and treatment algorithm based on the clinical fracture pattern seen by computed tomography are introduced. Type I, central, is confined to the upper nasoethmoidal complex, central frontal bone, and medial third of the superior orbital rims. Type II, unilateral, involves the entire supraorbital rim and the upper lateral orbital wall, extending into the squamosa of the temporal bone and ipsilateral frontal bone. Type III, bilateral, involves fractures of the upper nasal ethmoidal complex, bilateral supraorbital and upper lateral orbital wall fractures, and bilateral frontal bone fractures. This classification was utilized to plan elective orbital and cranial osteotomies, similar to those used for frontal orbital advancement at the time of acute fracture repair. Frontal orbital osteotomies were used to access the anterior cranial fossa, orbital apices, and nasofrontal ducts and to obtain an intact bony template for side-table reassembly of the fracture fragments. There was no significant operative morbidity, one late cerebrospinal fluid leak, and no infections. Reoperation was necessary in four patients (29 percent) for aesthetic indications.

Adolescent

A longitudinal, statistical study of reoperation rates in craniosynostosis.

A prospective, statistical study of reoperation rates was done in the treatment of 167 consecutive children with nonsyndromic and syndromic craniosynostosis over a 6-year period at Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Mean length of follow-up was 2.8 years, with a range of 3 months to 6 years. Reoperation equal to or exceeding the magnitude of the original procedure occurred in 7 percent of cases. Multiple regression analysis revealed several factors associated with reoperation: Females and children with syndromic synostoses were more likely to require reoperation. Total reoperation rates for syndromic and nonsyndromic synostoses were 27.3 and 5.9 percent, respectively. Age at initial surgery, length of operation, and estimated blood loss did not predict a higher reoperation rate.

Child

The use of porous granular hydroxyapatite in secondary orbitocranial reconstruction.

The search for the ideal bone-graft substitute has been the focus of many research and clinical studies. Hydroxyapatite is one such material that combines osseointegration with maintenance of implant volume and excellent durability. We present our experience in 29 patients ranging in age from 3 to 22 years (mean age 10.5 years) who underwent secondary orbitocranial reconstruction of large contour defects utilizing porous granular hydroxyapatite. Follow-up ranges from 6 to 72 months (mean 30 months). Indications for secondary surgery included residual bony contour defects of the frontal bone, temporal areas, and superior orbital rims that were present 12 months or more after initial surgery. There was one infection secondary to a chronic seroma necessitating removal of the porous hydroxyapatite, and one patient required revision for underfilling and another for overfilling. Excellent permanent contour improvement was obtained with a smooth skin surface in the remainder of our patients. The contour corrections have been long lasting, without evidence of porous hydroxyapatite resorption or migration.

Biocompatible Materials

Cocaine use and risky injection and sexual behaviors.

The association between cocaine use (crack and injection cocaine) and risky behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was investigated among participants in a multi-site study at drug treatment and non-drug treatment sites in Worcester, Massachusetts. Cocaine use was more prevalent among young, African-American men. Compared to heroin injectors cocaine injectors had higher risk injection and sexual behaviors. Among non-injectors, crack users were more likely to have multiple partners and receive money or drugs for sex. Cocaine use, either injected or smoked as crack, should be considered a high risk behavior for HIV infection.

Adult

Primary temporal melanoma without diffuse leptomeningeal involvement: a variant of neurocutaneous melanosis.

Plastic surgeons who treat congenital giant nevi should be aware of the neurocutaneous melanosis syndrome and its variants. When neurologic symptoms are present concurrent with MRI evidence of central nervous system involvement, treatment of the cutaneous lesion must be tempered by knowledge of a poor prognosis. In the otherwise asymptomatic patient, the plastic surgeon should consider screening with MRI imaging, realizing that the clinical significance of a positive MRI scan without neurologic symptoms is unknown.

Humans

Turribrachycephaly: a technical note.

We describe a technique for early correction of the so-called towering skull deformity, or turribrachycephaly. The technique makes use of the natural elasticity and plasticity of cranial bone, and it is best applied during the first year of life. Surgery consist of routine exposure of the cranial bone via a coronal incision. The frontal bone flap is elevated and removed. On either side, a bony osteotomy is then made, commencing low down in the temporal region and running posteriorly and superiorly toward the occiput. This approach leaves a superior bone flap, which may be left attached to the occipital bone via a flexible posterior hinge region, or completely detached by continuing the osteotomy across the midline. After the osteotomy, the bone flap is elevated up to the sagittal sinus on either side of the midline. The bone flap is not removed, but pushed down, compressing the brain along the craniocaudal axis. The lateral edge of the flap overlaps the temporal bone, and it can be fixed in the desired position by means of simple positional screws or Vicryl sutures. A standard fronto-orbital advancement is performed prior to lowering the skull vault, which permits the brain to be moved down and forward, filling the dead space in the anterior cranial fossa. The frontal bone flap is then shaped appropriately and fixed by means of plates and screws to the advanced fronto-orbital bar. Posteriorly, the frontal lobe is left "floating." To date, we have performed this technique on 5 patients, and we find it both faster and simpler than other techniques. Short-term results in terms of cranial shape are good. In older infants (> 2 years of age), this technique may not prove useful because of the loss of the loss of plasticity of the bone.

Cephalometry

Combination of unilateral polydactyly, syndactyly, and clinodactyly with occipitocervical encephalocele and vertebral fusion.

This report describes a 6-year-old Mexican boy presenting with inter alia, hitherto unrepaired cervical encephalocele and associated unilateral syndactyly. There was also ipsilateral clinodactyly of the thumb and possible polydactyly of the foot. In addition, there was unilateral fusion of the first and second cervical vertebrae and a Chiari type III malformation. Motor and language skills were grossly normal for age, with the exception of mild left hemiparesis affecting the arm more than the leg. Medical history was significant for incidental drainage from the encephalocele as well as occasional high fevers and possible episodes of central nervous system infection. The clinical findings were not consistent with Meckel-Gruber or any other well-recognized syndrome. It is our contention that this case documents a previously unreported constellation of congenital anomalies and, as such, may suggest a teratological insult or a new syndrome. Surgical repair was carried out with meticulous excision of dysplastic neural tissue, relocation of neural tissue within the thecal sac, and coverage of the repair site with a trapezius muscle flap. Skin was closed directly. Postoperative recovery was largely uneventful, with the exception of a seroma in the donor muscle bed.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Prenatal marijuana exposure and neonatal outcomes in Jamaica: an ethnographic study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify neurobehavioral effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on neonates in rural Jamaica. DESIGN: Ethnographic field studies and standardized neuro-behavior assessments during the neonatal period. SETTING: Rural Jamaica in heavy-marijuana-using population. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four Jamaican neonates exposed to marijuana prenatally and 20 nonexposed neonates. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Exposed and nonexposed neonates were compared at 3 days and 1 month old, using the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale, including supplementary items to capture possible subtle effects. There were no significant differences between exposed and nonexposed neonates on day 3. At 1 month, the exposed neonates showed better physiological stability and required less examiner facilitation to reach organized states. The neonates of heavy-marijuana-using mothers had better scores on autonomic stability, quality of alertness, irritability, and self-regulation and were judged to be more rewarding for caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of any differences between the exposed on nonexposed groups in the early neonatal period suggest that the better scores of exposed neonates at 1 month are traceable to the cultural positioning and social and economic characteristics of mothers using marijuana that select for the use of marijuana but also promote neonatal development.

Adolescent

Plasma albumin repletion after transfusion with polymerized hemoglobin.

Pyridoxalated polymerized hemoglobin (PPHG) has promise as a blood substitute for transfusing patients with hemorrhage. Exchange transfusion with PPHG depletes plasma proteins. The purpose of this study was to determine if, during the early repletion of intravascular proteins, albumin was transported from the interstitium of skin or skeletal muscle into the vascular compartment. PPHG was prepared from stroma-free human hemoglobin (100-120 mg/ml). The Hct of anesthetized rats dropped from 42 +/- 4% to 10 +/- 1% after exchange transfusion. Immediately postexchange plasma albumin declined from 24 +/- 2 to 6 +/- 3 mg/ml. Five hours postexchange transfusion plasma albumin had doubled and the skin and skeletal muscle albumin content was 80% of control. These data indicate that a shift of interstitial albumin from skin and skeletal muscle can rapidly replace plasma protein deficits after massive transfusion with PPHG.

Animals

Symptomatic hydrocephalus: initial findings in brainstem gliomas not detected on computed tomographic scans.

In a retrospective review of 85 patients younger than 18 years of age with a diagnosis of brainstem glioma treated between 1974 and 1987, seven (8.3%) initially had hydrocephalus and no evidence of tumor on CT scans. Intrinsic brain tumors, six in the pons and one in the diencephalon, were discovered later, either on follow-up CT scans or on magnetic resonance images obtained despite persistently normal CT scan findings. The initial radiologic study of choice for children and adolescents with hydrocephalus should be magnetic resonance imaging, including axial and sagittal T1- and T2-weighted images. If a CT scan is obtained first and hydrocephalus but not tumor is found, magnetic resonance image should be obtained to rule out the possible presence of an intrinsic brainstem tumor.

Adolescent