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Biomedical subjects

R I Apfelbaum

Publications and source records attributed to R I Apfelbaum.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Anterior cervical fusion with the Caspar instrumentation system.

Twenty-eight patients with a variety of cervical spine abnormalities underwent anterior cervical spine stabilization with the Caspar osteosynthetic plate/intervertebral body bone graft technique. The available hardware and operative technique are presented, and case reports illustrate clinical applications. Complications and results of the series are presented. A brief discussion of applicable biomechanical principles and of technical pitfalls leading to potential fusion failures and a review of experience and developments in cervical plating techniques are included.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Nocardial cerebral abscess in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Nocardial cerebral abscess is an unusual neurologic manifestation of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A 20-year-old woman with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome presented with headache and fever. Nocardia asteroides was cultured from a stereotaxic brain biopsy specimen. Despite antibiotic therapy to which the pathogen was sensitive, resolution of the abscess followed only after complete surgical excision.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Lumbar spinal stenosis associated with renal osteodystrophy.

A case of coexisting lumbar spinal stenosis and renal osteodystrophy is reported. The presence of renal osteodystrophy is known to have predated the onset of neurological complaints. The patient's symptoms were relieved with surgery. Although a causative relationship between renal osteodystrophy and spinal stenosis has not been reported previously, it seems likely in this case.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Surgical decompression of the facial nerve in the treatment of chronic cluster headache.

The nervus intermedius (NI) appears to be the main conduit for the associated symptoms of cluster headache (CH) and perhaps for the pain as well. Subtle injury of the facial nerve and NI might initiate mechanisms responsible for CH. Five patients with chronic CH unresponsive to medication underwent surgical decompression of the root exit-entry zone of the facial nerve, and in two patients the trigeminal nerve root was also decompressed. In two patients, the pain syndrome was markedly relieved for as long as two years. In one patient, initial improvement was obscured by narcotic addiction. In two patients, the operation was a failure. The NI was identified as a separate bundle in only one of five patients and decompressions may not have affected that component of the facial nerve.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The cluster-tic syndrome and its surgical therapy.

The term cluster-tic syndrome (CTS) is used to designate a clinical pain pattern in which symptoms of cluster headache (CH) and tic douloureux (TD) coexist. The TD elements of the attack occur in paroxysms of many seconds or minutes, always affect the maxillary or mandibular divisions of the trigeminal nerve, with spread into the ophthalmic division in some cases, and may be triggered by slight superficial stimuli. These features may occur independent of CH elements but more often the two blend together. Four patients with CTS unresponsive to medication underwent surgery. Blood vessels were found to cross compress the trigeminal nerve in all four patients and the nerve was decompressed. A similar condition was found affecting the facial nerve in two of the three patients in whom that nerve was explored and the facial nerve was decompressed in these two. The TD component of the CTS disappeared after surgery in all four patients. The CH component of the syndrome returned after surgery but in a modified form. In three patients, the CH changed from what had been chronic cluster to infrequent episodic cluster periods; additionally in two patients, the duration of cluster was shorter and the pain was of lesser severity.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Neurosurgical applications of video techniques.

Video technology has advanced to the point that small lightweight cameras can be easily added to the operating microscope. This photodocumentation modality offers major advantages in the performance of the operation by facilitating the participation of the entire operating staff. In addition, it allows review and critical assessment of one's own performance which hopefully will lead to improvements. It has an outstanding educational value with many obvious areas of applicability. With the growth of the home video market, further improvement in equipment and further reductions in cost are likely.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparision of percutaneous radiofrequency trigeminal neurolysis and microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve for the treatment of tic douloureux.

In a 36-month period, 103 consecutive patients have been treated for classical trigeminal neuralgia with either percutaneous radiofrequency trigeminal neurolysis (PTN) (48 patients) or microvascular decompression (MVD) via a suboccipital craniectomy (55 patients). The results of these two procedures are tabulated, emphasizing especially the complications that have occurred with each. Successful initial relief of pain was achieved in 88% of the patients with PTN and 96% of the patients with MVD. Two significant complications occurred in the former group. Severe recurrences have occurred to date in 13% of the patients with PTN and in 5% of those with MVD. It is concluded that both procedures are effective, but that microvascular decompression offers the advantage of avoiding sensory loss and associated dysesthetic sensations. Follow-up is too short to conclude that MVD is a curative procedure, but the early results are very encouraging.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Technical considerations for facilitation of selective percutaneous radiofrequency neurolysis of the trigeminal nerve.

Fine points of the technique of selective percutaneous radiofrequency trigeminal neurolysis relative to patient preparation accurate and rapid foramen ovale puncture, electrode positioning, and neurolytic lesions are discussed. These measures. which have evolved from our experience in treating trigeminal neuralgia by this method over the last 4 years, have made the procedure safer and less painful but also significantly more expedient.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Deflation of detachable balloons in the cavernous sinus by percutaneous puncture.

The authors show that percutaneous puncture of balloons within the cavernous sinus is technically feasible and allows further access to the cavernous sinus after balloon detachment. Complete closure of a large carotid cavernous fistula was achieved in the 37-year-old trauma victim they treated using this technique.

Adult↗