Thoracic disk herniation and Scheuermann's disease

The authors report 6 cases of thoracic disk herniations in patients with Scheuermann's disease. They underline the relationship between the neurological symptomatology and Scheuermann's disease by the herniation and evolution in their treatment by a new surgical approach.

Transclival transcervical approach to the upper cervical spine and clivus

The transclival-transcervical approach to lesions of the craniocervical junction is described. It gives reasonable access to the lower part of the clivus and to C1 and C2 for removal to tumours and stabilization of fractures and otherwise caused dislocations of this region. Because an opening of the pharynx can be avoided, reconstruction work can be done using bone graft or reinforced methyl-methacrylate without risk of infectious contamination. The results obtained in 6 cases are presented.

[Solitary intraspinal dorsal neurinoma. A case report]

Most spiral neurinomas are intradural extramedullary tumours. Intramedullary neurinomas are rare: only 20 cases have been published. The authors report a new case of solitary intramedullary dorsal neurinoma and review the main diagnostic and therapeutic problems raised by this type of tumour.

Bilateral posterolateral approach to the thoracolumbar spine through transversoarthropediculectomy with corporectomy

Surgery of the dorsolumbar spine is currently benefiting from diverse approaches and the advent of computed tomography. This report describes a bilateral posterolateral approach with transversoarthropediculectomy and corporectomy. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach and its indications are discussed.

Preoperative spinal localization using the hook wire technique

Surgeons are increasingly required to resect disk herniations. Methods for preoperative or perioperative localization of such lesions require precision. This is difficult to achieve using the usual methods. We propose the use of a preoperative invasive technique: needle and marker wire. Its precision has been proved for preoperative localization of nonpalpable breast lesions.

[Preoperative spinal localization by the needle and marker wire technic]

Surgeons are increasingly requested to resect dorsal disk herniation. The methods for pre- or peroperative localization of such lesions require a precision that is difficult to obtain with the usual methods. We suggest the needle and marker wire technique, a preoperative invasive technique the accuracy of which has been proven for preoperative localization of non-palpable breast lesions.

Posterolateral approach to tumours of the dorsolumbar spine

The authors outline the possible approaches to vertebromedullary tumours of the thoraco-lumbar spine using unilateral or bilateral transverso-arthro-pediculectomy and corporectomy. In a personal series of 20 cases. The technique and indications are described and the results.

Cervical intradiskal injection of aprotinin. Technical note and preliminary report

Chemonucleolysis is widely used in the treatment of disease of the lumbar intervertebral disk. From a series of 28 patients, the authors report their experience using this technique at the cervical level using aprotinin instead of chymopapain.

[Pathogenesis of chronic level subdural hematoma. Apropos of 8 cases]

On the basis of eight case studies conducted since 1980 the authors define the concept of subdural hematoma showing a level on the CAT scan image. The concept throws some light on the etiopathogenesis of certain hematoma.

[Cervical neurologic complications of rheumatoid arthritis. Indications for surgical treatment]

The analysis of 8 cases of rheumatoid arthritis involving the cervical spine and resulting in neurological complications leads the authors to change their therapeutic approach. After a study of etiopathological aspects they advocate wider indications of surgical treatment. Clinical and radiological criteria are defined and operative risks are described.