Subdural Fluid Collection and Hydrocephalus After Foramen Magnum Decompression for Chiari Malformation Type I: Management Algorithm of a Rare Complication

Neonatal Ventricular Reservoir Implantation for Hydrocephalus Management in Chiari III Malformations: A Case Report

Chiari III malformation, a rare and severe subtype of Chiari malformations, is frequently associated with hydrocephalus. The conventional treatment approaches for hydrocephalus in Chiari III malformations have mainly focused on ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting, but optimal methods and timing remain uncertain. We report a case of a newborn girl with Chiari III malformation who underwent surgical closure of an occipitocervical encephalocele and ventricular reservoir implantation on her third day of life. This procedure successfully managed her hydrocephalus without significant short-term complications. Three months post-surgery, she developed secondary external hydrocephalus, which was managed through subdural-peritoneal shunting, allowing her to thrive until at least five years of age. This case demonstrates the potential of ventricular reservoir implantation in treating hydrocephalus associated with Chiari III malformation and brings to light secondary external hydrocephalus, subsequently managed by VP shunting.

Knowledge mapping of syringomyelia from 2003 to 2022: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND

Syringomyelia is a chronic, progressive disease of the spinal cord. Syringomyelia is an etiologically diverse affliction caused by disturbance of normal cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics. Lesions are characterized by the formation of tubular cavities in the gray matter of the spinal cord and gliosis; however, the etiology is unknown and treatment methods differ. Many existing studies have focused on the relationship between other diseases and syringomyelia. There is a lack of comprehensive and objective reports on the research status of syringomyelia. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis to quantify studies on Syringomyelia and trending issues in the last 20 years.

METHODS

Articles were acquired from the Web of Science Core Collection database. We used the Library Metrology online analysis platform, BICOMB, gCLUTO, CiteSpace bibliometrics tools for analysis, VOSviewer 1.6.16 (Nees Jan van Eck and Ludo Waltman, 2010), and Microsoft Excel 2019 to perform bibliometric analysis and visualization. Individual impact and collaborative information were quantified by analyzing annual publications, journals, co-cited journals, countries/regions, institutions, authors, and co-cited authors. We then identified the trending research areas of syringomyelia by analyzing the co-occurrence of keywords and co-cited references.

RESULTS

From January 2003 to August 2022, 9,556 authors from 66 countries published a total of 1,902 research articles on syringomyelia in 518 academic journals. Most publications come from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and Japan, with the United States dominating. Nanjing University and the University of Washington are the most active institutions, Dr. Claire Rusbridge has published the most papers, and Miholat has the most co-citations. The Journal of Neurosurgery has the highest number of co-cited articles, which are mainly in the fields of neurology, surgery, and biology. High-frequency keywords included syringomyelia, Chiari-I malformation, children, surgical treatment, and spinal cord.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of articles on syringomyelia has increased steadily over the past two decades. At present, research on syringomyelia is mainly focused on the age of onset, potential therapeutic interventions, surgical treatment, avoidance of recurrence, and delay of pain. The use of surgical treatment of the disease and the mechanism of further treatment are the current hot research topics. The correlation between trauma and congenital factors, translational application, the effect of surgical treatment, postoperative recurrence, and complications are further hot research areas. These may provide ideas for further research into a radical cure for syringomyelia.

Successful resolution of subdural hygromas following foramen magnum decompression for Chiari malformation type I through therapeutic lumbar puncture alone

We report a fairly rare case of postoperative acute subdural hygromas without concurrent hydrocephalus complicating foramen magnum decompression (FMD) for Chiari malformation type I (CM-I). Full resolution of subdural hygromas was achieved through therapeutic lumbar puncture releasing bloody cerebrospinal fluid which has been scarcely advocated in managing post-FMD subdural hygromas. This outcome suggests that bloody cerebrospinal fluid may be related to the formation of subdural hygromas after FMD for CM-I and therapeutic lumbar puncture may provide an effective treatment modality in such conditions.

Diagnosis and treatment of Chiari malformation and syringomyelia in adults: international consensus document

BACKGROUND

Syringomyelia and Chiari malformation are classified as rare diseases on Orphanet, but international guidelines on diagnostic criteria and case definition are missing.

AIM OF THE STUDY

to reach a consensus among international experts on controversial issues in diagnosis and treatment of Chiari 1 malformation and syringomyelia in adults.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of the Chiari and Syringomyelia Consortium (4 neurosurgeons, 2 neurologists, 1 neuroradiologist, 1 pediatric neurologist) appointed an international Jury of experts to elaborate a consensus document. After an evidence-based review and further discussions, 63 draft statements grouped in 4 domains (definition and classification/planning/surgery/isolated syringomyelia) were formulated. A Jury of 32 experts in the field of diagnosis and treatment of Chiari and syringomyelia and patient representatives were invited to take part in a three-round Delphi process. The Jury received a structured questionnaire containing the 63 statements, each to be voted on a 4-point Likert-type scale and commented. Statements with agreement <75% were revised and entered round 2. Round 3 was face-to-face, during the Chiari Consensus Conference (Milan, November 2019).

RESULTS

Thirty-one out of 32 Jury members (6 neurologists, 4 neuroradiologists, 19 neurosurgeons, and 2 patient association representatives) participated in the consensus. After round 2, a consensus was reached on 57/63 statements (90.5%). The six difficult statements were revised and voted in round 3, and the whole set of statements was further discussed and approved.

CONCLUSIONS

The consensus document consists of 63 statements which benefited from expert discussion and fine-tuning, serving clinicians and researchers following adults with Chiari and syringomyelia.

Shifting subdural fluid collection and hydrocephalus after foramen magnum decompression for basilar invagination

Background: Postoperative hydrocephalus and subdural fluid collection (SFC) have been reported as the rare complications following foramen magnum decompression in patients with Chiari malformation.Case Description: The paper reports the case of a 63-year-old female patient who underwent foramen magnum decompression for basilar invagination. The patient developed a shifting, bilateral SFC and subsequent acute hydrocephalus. A ventriculoperitoneal shunting was performed and the clinical symptom resolved. The dramatic change in CSF distribution supported the diagnosis of external hydrocephalus, which was associated with a postoperative cervical pseudomeningocele.Conclusions: Postoperative SFC in patients underwent foramen magnum decompression may harbor different mechanisms. Subdural drainage for patients having external hydrocephalus may have a higher recurrence rate.

Cerebellar slump following removal of haematoma: a manifestation of hydrocephalus?

Cerebellar slump is a rarely reported complication of craniocervical decompression for Chiari malformation. This is known to occur following an oversized bony decompression of the cranio-vertebral junction. The index case is the first reported which developed this phenomenon following cerebellar hemispheric haematoma removal. Disturbance of CSF circulation in the presence of a calvarial defect may have been the cause. The patient was treated with a titanium mesh cranioplasty of the posterior cranial defect, followed by a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.

Management of subdural effusion and hydrocephalus following decompressive craniectomy for posttraumatic cerebral infarction in a patient with traumatic brain injury: a case report

Background

Subdural effusion with hydrocephalus (SDEH) is a rare complication of traumatic brain injury, especially following decompressive craniectomy (DC) for posttraumatic cerebral infarction. The diagnosis and treatment are still difficult and controversial for neurosurgeons.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old man developed traumatic cerebral infarction after traumatic brain injury and underwent DC because of the mass effect of cerebral infarction. Unfortunately, the complications of traumatic subdural effusion (SDE) and hydrocephalus occurred in succession following DC. Burr-hole drainage and subdural peritoneal shunt were performed in sequence because of the mass effect of SDE, which only temporarily improved the symptoms of the patient. Cranioplasty and ventriculoperitoneal shunt were performed ultimately, after which SDE disappeared completely. However, the patient remains severely disabled, with a Glasgow Outcome Scale of 3.

Conclusions

It is important for neurosurgeons to consider the presence of accompanying hydrocephalus when treating patients with SDE. Once the diagnosis of SDEH is established and the SDE has no mass effect, timely ventriculoperitoneal shunt may be needed to avoid multiple surgical procedures, which is a safe and effective surgical method to treat SDEH.