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The prognosis of patients sustaining severe cervical spine injury (C2-C7 inclusive).

In a study of 145 patients with severe cervical spine injury, it was found that 79 had serious neurological disturbance. A policy of the earliest possible referral to a spinal paralysis service is recommended. Associated injuries and in particular a head injury can make early precise neurological diagnosis difficult, and may affect management of the spinal injury. The use of Gardner Wells Skull Tongs and the Edinburgh Simpson Bed is recommended. Early spinal operation does not influence outcome of neurological function. Anatomical re-alignment of the spine is not essential for neurological recovery. Myelography is very rarely of benefit in assisting diagnosis and treatment. Glucocorticosteroids and Mannitol do not appear to influence neurological recovery. The prognosis in relation to clinical neurological syndromes is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Intensive care after resuscitation from cardiac arrest: a focus on heart and brain injury.

Less than 3% of all patients who have out-of-hospital cardiac arrests have return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survive the hospitalization, and have a reasonable functional recovery. The fact that many patients who have ROSC ultimately die or fail to have favorable neurologic recovery suggests that processes that occur after hospitalization, especially in the ICU, have an impact on survival and neurologic recovery. This article addresses the acute care, with emphasis on the cardiac and neurologic aspects,that patients who have post cardiac arrest are provided in the cardiac ICU.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

Contribution of serotonin neurons to the functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats.

The contribution of serotonin neurons to the functional recovery after spinal cord injury was studied pharmacologically in rats with moderately severe neurologic impairment (complete paraplegia but responsive to tail pinching) 24 h after thoracic spinal cord (T11) compression-induced injury. Fourteen days after cord injury the levels of endogenous norepinephrine (NE, -33%), dopamine (DA, -50%) and serotonin (5-HT, -55%) in the lumbar cord in the injury control rats were decreased and there were significant correlations between the neurologic score and the NE level (rs = 0.562, P less than 0.01) and the 5-HT level (rs = 0.745, P less than 0.001) but not the DA level. Bilateral i.c.v. injection of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (200 micrograms/rat) 24 h after cord injury significantly retarded the neurologic recovery during the 14 days after injury, accompanied by a further reduction in the 5-HT level (-86%) but not in the NE or DA level. On the other hand, neither p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) (300 mg/kg, i.p., once daily starting 24 h after injury for 13 consecutive days) nor reserpine (1 mg/kg, i.p., 4 times, once 24 h after injury and then every fourth day) had any influence on the time course of the neurologic recovery during the 14 days after injury, although PCPA treatment further reduced the levels of NE (-50%) and 5-HT (-91%), and reserpine treatment further reduced the levels of NE (-95%), DA (-73%) and 5-HT (-85%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗

Fractures of cervical spine with neurological lesion treated by reduction and fixation with plates.

A series of 61 cases of cervical spine fracture and dislocation with neurological deficit treated operatively were reviewed. All were reduced and internally fixed with plates and screws. The operative technique was not easy and required a great deal of care and experience. Surgery did not significantly alter the neurological recovery in 12 cases with root involvement and 23 cases with complete tetraplegia. Neurological recovery seemed to be better after surgical intervention in the case of incomplete tetraplegias; 18 out of 26 being able to walk eventually. The main value of surgical fixation of these injuries was to allow early rehabilitation without any external cervical support. However, intensive care of the neuro-cardio-respiratory complications in the post-operative period was necessary to evert the high risk of mortality and morbidity from surgery.

Adolescent↗

Pharmacologic interventions for prevention of spinal cord injury caused by aortic crossclamping.

The efficacy of pharmacologic agents for prevention and control of oxygen-derived free radical damage in ischemia-reperfusion injury of the spinal cord was assessed in a swine model of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic crossclamping. Animals were exposed to 30 minutes of ischemia that induced lethal, irreversible injury and paraplegia. The experimental groups were as follows: group A (n = 7), control group, receiving no pharmacologic intervention; group B (n = 7), deferoxamine 50 mg/kg/day administered intravenously over 3 to 4 hours before ischemia; group C (n = 7), allopurinol pretreatment 50 mg/kg/day for 3 days; and group D (n = 7), superoxide dismutase 60,000 units administered with 50,000 units before removal of the aortic crossclamp and 10,000 units over 10 minutes of reperfusion. Proximal hypertension was controlled with sodium nitroprusside and volume depletion. The methods of assessment were neurologic by a modified Tarlov criteria and blood flow by radiolabeled microspheres. Results of blood flow assessment confirmed a true ischemic episode of 30 minutes for all animals in all groups. The blood flow fell significantly during ischemia (p less than 0.01) and a hyperemic response was evident in the early reperfusion period. All animals in control group A were paraplegic. The group B (deferoxamine) results were superior; 85% had grade III function on a modified Tarlov scale, with animals in the group standing and even walking with difficulty. Only one animal in this group had good movements of hind limbs but was unable to stand or walk. Neurologic recovery was limited in the allopurinol group (group C), with 85% showing slight neurologic recovery with limited movement of the hind limbs. The animals in the superoxide dismutase group (group D) all had good recovery, with strong motor response of hind limbs, but were not able to stand. In summary, the results of this experimental protocol confirmed the possible role of oxygen-derived free radicals in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury, induced by aortic crossclamping. Moreover, it proved that ischemia-reperfusion injury could be altered by pharmacologic interventions.

Allopurinol↗

Improved recovery and delayed cytokine induction after closed head injury in mice with central overexpression of the secreted isoform of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.

The acute inflammatory response following traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been shown to play an important role in the development of secondary tissue damage. The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), are induced early after brain injury and have been implicated in the delayed damage. The IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) has been shown to modulate the proinflammatory cytokine cascade by blocking the binding of IL-1 to its signaling receptor. In this study, we investigated the effect of transgenic overexpression of IL-1ra on the cytokine expression and neurological damage in a closed head injury (CHI) model of TBI. The neurological recovery, as analyzed by neurological severity score (NSS), was significantly higher in transgenic mice overexpressing the human secreted form of IL-1ra in astrocytes, directed by the murine glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter, as compared to wild-type mice. Analysis of tissue levels of cytokines by ELISA showed increased levels of TNFalpha in the cerebral cortex from the wild type mice 1 h after injury. After 4 h significant increases in the levels of IL-1beta and IL-6 were observed in the wild type mice. In the transgenic mice, on the other hand, no effect on TNFalpha levels was observed and no significant increases in IL-1beta and IL-6 levels could be detected until 6 h after injury. Thus, it can be concluded that blockage of IL-1 signaling by elevated levels of IL-1ra has a neuroprotective effect, in agreement with previous reports, and that central overexpression of IL-1ra results in delayed proinflammatory cytokine induction and improved neurological recovery after traumatic brain injury.

Animals↗

Quantitative EEG and effect of hypothermia on brain recovery after cardiac arrest.

In this paper, we provide a quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis to study the effect of hypothermia on the neurological recovery of brain after cardiac arrest. We hypothesize that the brain injury results in a reduction in information of the brain rhythm. To measure the information content of the EEG a new measure called information quantity (IQ), which is the Shannon entropy of decorrelated EEG signals, is developed. For decorrelating EEG signals, we use the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) which is known to have good decorrelating properties and to show a good match to the standard clinical bands in EEG. In measuring the amount of information, IQ shows better tracking capability for dynamic amplitude change and frequency component change than conventional entropy-based measures. Experiments are carried out in rodents (n = 30) to monitor the neurological recovery after cardiac arrest. In addition, EEG signal recovery under normothermic (37 degrees C) and hypothermic (33 degrees C) resuscitation following 5, 7, and 9 min of cardiac arrest is recorded and analyzed. Experimental results show that the IQ is greater for hypothermic than normothermic rats, with an IQ difference of more than 0.20 (0.20 +/- 0.11 is 95% condidence interval). The results quantitatively support the hypothesis that hypothermia accelerates the electrical recovery from brain injury after cardiac arrest.

Algorithms↗

Neurologic complications after total shoulder arthroplasty.

Three hundred sixty-eight patients underwent 417 total shoulder arthroplasties between 1975 and 1989. Seventeen patients with 18 operated shoulders had a neurologic deficit after surgery. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis were the most common diagnoses. Twelve patients (13 shoulders) had neurologic deficits localized to the brachial plexus; the upper and middle trunks were most commonly affected. Three patients had idiopathic brachial plexopathy. One patient had an exacerbation of preexisting dysesthesias in the lower trunk/medial cord distribution. Another patient had a median neuropathy at the wrist. Four patients had lesions that interfered significantly with shoulder rehabilitation and general activity; six had lesions that temporarily interfered with their scheduled rehabilitation program. All but two of these patients were monitored to a point of maximum improvement. Neurologic recovery at 1 year was graded as good in 11 shoulders and fair in five shoulders. The long deltopectoral approach leaving the deltoid attached to the clavicle and acromion was found to be significant in the development of a postoperative neurologic complication (p = 0.003). Use of methotrexate was also significant (p < 0.0001). A correlation was found between operative time and postarthroplasty neurologic complication (p = 0.02), with shorter operative times being associated with more neurologic complications. No other statistically significant risk factors were identified. In most cases the presumed mechanism of injury was traction on the plexus occurring during the operation. In most cases the prognosis for neurologic recovery was good. In this series neurologic injury after total shoulder arthroplasty did not interfere with the long-term outcome of the arthroplasty itself.

Adolescent↗

Intrinsic factors influencing post stroke brain reorganization.

Reorganization of the brain, specifically the motor cortex surrounding the stroke, accounts for much of the observed neurological recovery following stroke. Not surprisingly, size of the stroke lesion has the greatest impact on neurological recovery in both animal and clinical research studies. Spontaneous recovery of lost function is possible after a cortical lesion, particularly if the lesion is small. Age correlates negatively with recovery; older individuals generally demonstrate slower and less complete recovery. However, age by itself is a poor predictor of functional recovery.

Age Factors↗

Tension band stabilization of fractures and luxations of the thoracolumbar vertebrae in dogs and cats: 38 cases (1993-2002).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of dogs and cats in which a tension band technique was used to stabilize traumatic fractures and luxations of the thoracolumbar vertebrae. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 38 client-owned animals (22 dogs and 16 cats) weighing between 1.4 and 45 kg (3 and 99 lb). PROCEDURE: Medical records of cats and dogs that underwent tension band stabilization of thoracolumbar fractures and luxations at the University of Zurich between 1993 and 2002 were reviewed. The stabilization technique was a modification of a spinal stapling technique with a figure 8 hemicerclage wire placed in a tension band fashion across the lesion. Neurologic status, lesion location and type, and concomitant traumatic injuries were assessed from the medical records and preoperative radiographs. Clinical outcome and complications were determined through follow-up examinations or telephone conversations with the owners. RESULTS: Complete or satisfactory neurologic recovery was achieved in 30 (79%) patients. Seven patients were euthanatized (6 owing to poor neurologic recovery and 1 owing to implant failure), and 1 dog was managed at home despite paraplegia. Clinically, only 4 patients (11%) had evidence of implant or fixation failure; all were dogs weighing > 16 kg (35 lb). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that the tension band technique may be appropriate for stabilization of fractures and luxations of the thoracolumbar vertebrae in cats and small- or medium-sized dogs. In larger dogs, fixation strength may be insufficient to stabilize certain fracture types and ancillary external or internal fixation methods may be needed.

Animals↗

Spinal hydatid disease: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Over the past 10 years, 4 cases of spinal hydatid disease (3 men, 1 woman) were diagnosed and treated at our institution, with an average follow-up of 4 years. Hydatid disease of the spine is a rare condition with a poor prognosis that presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. METHODS: The patients were evaluated clinically, using the latest imaging modalities available in our institution. Decompressive surgeries were performed and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examination. All patients received long-term antihelminthic therapy with 400 mg of albendazole 3 times daily for 1 year. RESULTS: After surgery, all patients improved; however, over time, recurrence and residual disease were observed. Two patients had complete neurologic recovery at follow-up at 2 to 3 years, although there were radiographic signs of recurrence. The other 2 patients did not achieve complete neurologic recovery despite anterior decompression; they developed recurrent disease and the neurologic status deteriorated to spastic paraplegia. All patients refused further surgeries for recurrences and 2 patients died of complications of paraplegia. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis was challenging, eradication was difficult, and hydatid disease recurred in all 4 patients. In our experience, morbidity and mortality were high and prognosis was poor.

Adult↗

Surgical approaches for nonneurogenic elbow heterotopic ossification with ulnar neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Few reports are available concerning elbow heterotopic ossification (HO) and its optimal management in nonneurologic or nonburn patients after repetitive elbow manipulation. The unique anatomic relationship of the ulnar nerve at the elbow renders it rather vulnerable to injury when elbow HO occurs medially or posteromedially and extends into the vicinity of the cubital tunnel. METHODS: A total of 16 consecutive patients without neurologic injury were diagnosed with heterotopic ossification formation in the elbow and referred to the Upper Extremity Unit of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. All 16 patients were diagnosed with ulnar palsy, and 14 were found to have sensory dysfunction and muscle wasting for an average of 5.2 months. RESULTS: Fourteen of 16 patients achieved functional range of motion or more after surgery. The final gain in range of motion averaged 80.3 degrees. All except one had complete neurologic recovery postoperatively. The patient who had ulnar palsy for 1 year presurgery did not achieve any neurologic recovery. CONCLUSION: Forceful and repetitive manipulation may add further damage to an already stiffened elbow and should be avoided in an elbow after immobilization or surgery. Early surgical resection of HO and ulnar nerve decompression followed by gentle and aggressive physical therapy terminate the vicious cycle and yield encouraging results.

Adolescent↗

Chemotherapy as an alternative to laminectomy and radiation in the management of epidural tumor.

Nine children with neuroblastoma and five with Ewing sarcoma were found at diagnosis to have epidural extension of tumor. Five children underwent laminectomy prior to referral, with good neurologic recovery in only one. Management in the other nine children did not include laminectomy. All 14 patients were given chemotherapy without radiotherapy. Rapid regression of tumor with neurologic recovery occurred in response to chemotherapy in all patients with neurologic deficits. The responses observed in these children indicate that for chemotherapy-sensitive tumors, effective chemotherapy is a feasible alternative to laminectomy and radiation therapy in the management of epidural disease.

Adolescent↗

Penetrating gunshot wounds of the cervical spine in civilians. Review of 38 cases.

The authors present a series of 38 civilian patients with cervical gunshot injuries, and compare neurological recovery in patients with complete lesions and patients with incomplete lesions according to whether therapy was surgical or nonsurgical. In patients with incomplete injury, ultimate recovery was a function of the initial injury more than surgical or nonsurgical therapy; nor did patients with complete lesions show significant change in outcome with either mode of therapy. Cord pathology at laminectomy rarely provided a clue about neurological recovery, and fural decompression did not alter neurological outcome. The authors conclude that the sole indication for routine surgical intervention appears to be progressive neurological deficit.

California↗

Prognosis for children with neuroblastoma presenting with paralysis.

Since 1947, we have treated 19 children with neuroblastoma whose first symptoms were paralysis or weakness of an extremity, and/or incontinence due to tumor in the spinal canal. In 18 patients, the spine tumor was part of a dumbbell tumor which was present in the adjacent paravertebral area and in one, no extraspinal tumor was found. Aggressive treatment was employed for all. In 17 children, the intraspinal tumor was treated by laminectomy and irradiation with and without chemotherapy. Radiation and chemotherapy were used for two. The extraspinal tumor was excised totally in six and partially in six. All 12 children received postoperative radiation and chemotherapy. In 6 children, the extraspinal tumor was treated only with radiation and chemotherapy. Nine of 19 children are alive without evidence of neuroblastoma. Thirteen patients showed either partial (6) or full (7) neurologic recovery. Survival was related to the child's age at diagnosis and the extent of disease. While 8 of 9 children under 1 yr of age survived, only 1 of 10 children over 1 yr survived. None of the 5 children with Stage IV disease at diagnosis could be saved. The degree and frequency of neurologic recovery were greatest in children whose neurologic symptoms had been present the shortest times and were equal among those who survived and those who died. The outlook for children who became paralyzed by neuroblastoma is not hopeless; therapy aimed at saving life or neurologic function is both worthwhile and rewarding.

Age Factors↗

Combination of alpha-stat strategy and hemodilution exacerbates neurologic injury in a survival piglet model with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

BACKGROUND: The optimal pH strategy and hematocrit during cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) remain controversial. We studied the interaction of pH strategy and hematocrit and their combined impact on cerebral oxygenation and neurological outcome in a survival piglet model including monitoring by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). METHODS: Thirty-six piglets (9.2+/-1.1 kg) underwent DHCA under varying conditions with continuous monitoring by NIRS (pH-stat or alpha-stat strategy, hematocrit 20% or 30%, DHCA time 60, 80, or 100 minutes). Neurological recovery was evaluated daily. The brain was fixed in situ on postoperative day 4 and a histological score (HS) for neurological injury was assessed. RESULTS: Oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) and total hemoglobin signals detected by NIRS were significantly lower with alpha-stat strategy during cooling (p < 0.001), suggesting insufficient cerebral blood supply and oxygenation. HbO2 declined to a plateau (nadir) during DHCA. Time to nadir was significantly shorter in lower hematocrit groups (p < 0.01). Significantly delayed neurologic recovery was seen with alpha-stat strategy compared with pH-stat (p < 0.05). The alpha-stat group had a worse histological score compared with those assigned to pH-stat (p < 0.001). Neurologic impairment was estimated to be over 10 times more likely for animals randomized to alpha-stat compared with pH-stat strategy (odds ratio = 10.7, 95% confidence interval = 3.8 to 25.2). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of alpha-stat strategy and lower hematocrit exacerbates neurological injury after DHCA. The mechanism of injury is inadequate cerebral oxygenation during cooling and a longer plateau period of minimal O2 extraction during DHCA.

Animals↗

Comparison of surgical and conservative management in 208 patients with acute spinal cord injury.

The role of surgery in the management of acute spinal cord or cauda equina injuries remains controversial. The present study analyzed ten admission features and three outcome variables in 208 patients treated in an Acute Spinal Cord Injury Unit, 116 (56%) of whom underwent at least one spinal operation. The surgical and non-surgical groups showed no significant differences in the following seven clinical features: age, sex, distance travelled to the Unit, time interval between trauma and admission, type of accident, severity of injuries to the spinal cord, and severity of associated injuries. However, the two groups showed significant differences in level and type of vertebral column injury, and in the frequency of pre-existing spinal abnormalities. These differences were due to management policies which selected certain injuries for surgical or non-surgical treatment. One-third of the operative procedures were performed primarily for neural decompression, one-third primarily for reduction of bony structures and one-third for fusion. However, 95% of the operative patients had a fusion at the initial operation. Operative treatment was associated with a lower overall mortality rate (6.1%) than non-operative (15.2%), despite a higher frequency of thrombo-embolic complications in the surgical group. Overall, there was no difference between operated and non-operated patients in length of stay or neurological recovery. Surgical management of patients with acute spinal cord injury appears safe in terms of mortality rate and neurological recovery, but it has not been proven to improve the latter.

Acute Disease↗