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V Benjamin

Publications and source records attributed to V Benjamin.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Traumatic myelopathy in patients with cervical spinal stenosis without fracture or dislocation: methods of diagnosis, management, and prognosis.

The New York University Spinal Cord Trauma Center recently completed an evaluation of 200 patients seen over a period of four years, from 1974 to 1978. A unique group of 23 patients with cervical spinal stenosis and myelopathy without fracture or dislocation was isolated. The presence of a narrow canal significantly influenced morbidity and prognosis. Based on a review of plain roentgenograms and myelograms, there were seven patients with an average age of 41 who had absolute low levels of narrowing of the spinal canal without evidence of degenerative changes. The remaining 16 patients, averaging 61 years of age, had superimposed spondylosis. In both groups, patients with the lowest anteroposterior diameters of the spinal canal had the most severe myelopathy after trauma. Patients with absolute stenosis were more susceptible to traumatic myelopathy than were those with relative stenosis. Varying the dose of steroids to maximal levels had no effect on prognosis. Patients showing improvement during the initial 48 hours had the greatest degree of eventual recovery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radiologic imaging of symptomatic ligamentum flavum thickening with and without ossification.

Thickening of the ligamenta flava with and without ossification in the thoracic and lumbar regions is a frequent finding on CT scanning; however, it is not widely appreciated as a possible primary cause of compressive cord, cauda equina, and nerve-root symptoms. We present observations from a series of seven patients whose symptoms were caused exclusively or largely by thickened ligamenta flava in the thoracic and lumbar regions. The findings were best demonstrated on myelography. One of our cases had been missed on previous MR, as would be expected with the null signal of calcification. CT scanning necessitates an extended window to ensure discrimination of an ossified ligament from thecal metrizamide. Thickened ligamenta flava are often found in conjunction with degenerative disease and spinal stenosis at multiple levels and should not be ignored as a possible major contributing factor to the patient's symptoms. In addition, those patients with a secondary block from a thickened ligamentum flavum should be studied from above with C1-C2 puncture to rule out other levels of clinically significant disease. Attention to the particular findings of thickened ligamenta flava is important since surgical intervention must involve removal of the entire offending ligament(s); otherwise clinical symptoms may not be relieved.

Adult↗