Transdural Thoracic Disk Herniation with Longitudinal Slitlike Dural Defect Causing Intracranial Hypotension: Report of 2 Cases

Epidural Blood Patching in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension-Do we Really Seal the Leak?

PURPOSE

Epidural blood patch (EBP) is a minimally invasive treatment for spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Follow-up after EBP primarily relies on clinical presentation and data demonstrating successful sealing of the underlying spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak are lacking. Our aim was to evaluate the rate of successfully sealed spinal CSF leaks in SIH patients after non-targeted EBP.

METHODS

Patients with SIH and a confirmed spinal CSF leak who had been treated with non-targeted EBP were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcome was persistence of CSF leak on spine MRI or intraoperatively. Secondary outcome was change in clinical symptoms after EBP.

RESULTS

In this study 51 SIH patients (mean age, 47 ± 13 years; 33/51, 65% female) treated with non-targeted EBP (mean, 1.3 EBPs per person; range, 1-4) were analyzed. Overall, 36/51 (71%) patients had a persistent spinal CSF leak after EBP on postinterventional imaging and/or intraoperatively. In a best-case scenario accounting for missing data, the success rate of sealing a spinal CSF leak with an EBP was 29%. Complete or substantial symptom improvement in the short term was reported in 45/51 (88%), and in the long term in 17/51 (33%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Non-targeted EBP is an effective symptomatic treatment providing short-term relief in a substantial number of SIH patients; however, successful sealing of the underlying spinal CSF leak by EBP is rare, which might explain the high rate of delayed symptom recurrence. The potentially irreversible and severe morbidity associated with long-standing intracranial hypotension supports permanent closure of the leak.

Diagnostic approach, therapeutic strategies, and surgical indications in intradural thoracic disc herniation associated with CSF leak, intracranial hypotension, and CNS superficial siderosis

Background and purpose

Intradural disc herniation (IDH) can manifest with radicular or medullary syndrome. In about 15% of cases, IDH may be responsible, through a dural laceration, for a CSF leak, determining spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) and CNS superficial siderosis (CNSss). This paper attempts to present an overview on IDH as the cause for both CSF leak, and subsequent SIH, and CNSss, and to describe a peculiar clinical and neuroradiological scenario related to this condition.

Methods

A search on the PUBMED database was performed. Although the investigation did not rigorously follow the criteria for a systematic review (we consider only articles about thoracic IDH), nonetheless, the best quality evidence was pursued. Furthermore, an illustrative case was presented.

Results

A 69-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for slowly progressive gait disturbances and hearing impairment. Brain imaging revealed diffuse bilateral supratentorial and infratentorial superficial siderosis, mostly of the cerebellum, the eighth cranial nerves, and the brainstem. Spinal imaging disclosed a posterior disc herniation determining a dural tear at D6-D7. Lumbar puncture revealed low opening pressure and hemorrhagic CSF with siderophages. A posterior transdural herniectomy and dural sealing determined a stabilization of hearing and a significant improvement in both gait and balance.

Conclusions

The diagnostic workup of CNSss with suspected CNS leak demands whole neuraxis imaging, especially in cases presenting SIH or myelopathic symptoms. This may avoid delays in detection of IDH and spinal dural leaks. The different forms of treatment available depend on the type and severity of the clinical picture.

Posterior epidural intervertebral disc migration and sequestration: A systematic review

Posterior epidural intervertebral disc migration and sequestration (PEIMS) is a rare and debilitating complication of degenerative disc disease. Radiological differential diagnosis is often challenging, complicating the accurate planning of appropriate treatment strategies. We systematically reviewed the literature on PEIMS, focusing on clinical-radiological features and available treatments. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched to include studies reporting clinical data of patients with PEIMS. Clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and functional outcomes were analyzed. We included 82 studies comprising 157 patients. Median age was 54 years (range, 19-91). PEIMSs occurred spontaneously (49.7%) or acutely in patients with underlying progressive degenerative disc disease (50.3%). The most common symptoms were lower-back pain (77.1%) and radiculopathy (66.2%), mainly involving the L5 nerve root (43.8%). PEIMSs were mostly detected at MRI (93%) and/or CT (7%), frequently located in the lumbar spine (81.5%). Median maximum PEIMS diameter was 2.4 cm (range, 1.2-5.0). Surgical debulking was completed in 150 patients (95.5%), sometimes coupled with decompressive laminectomy (65%) or hemilaminectomy (19.1%). Median follow-up time was 3 months (range, 0.5-36.0). Post-treatment symptomatic improvement was reported in 153 patients (97.5%), with total recovery in 118 (75.2%). All 7 patients (4.5%) who received conservative non-surgical management had total clinical recovery at ≤ 3 months follow-ups. PEIMS is a challenging entity that may severely quality-of-life in patients with degenerative disc disease. Surgical removal represents the gold standard to improve patient's functional status. Spine fusion and conservative strategies proved to be effective in some cases.

Thoracoscopic Microdiscectomy with Preservation of Rib and Costovertebral Joint

INTRODUCTION

Thoracic disc herniations (TDH) may cause major morbidity. While thoracoscopic microdiscectomy (TMD) is an excellent technique, postoperative band-like pain is an important drawback.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed 181 consecutive TMDs (including 39 high-risk cases) with preservation of rib and costovertebral joint (CVJ). We shave a few mm of the rib, drill straight to target, and avoid opening the canal before the TDH is completely free and (in case of giant TDHs) internally debulked, creating initial decompression and limiting epidural venous oozing. Subsequently, we gently mobilize and remove the residual TDH while avoiding leverage.

RESULTS

Skin-to-skin time was <90' in 64, 90-120' in 48, >120' in 20, unknown in 10, and 162' mean in 39 high-risk procedures. Blood loss was <100 mL in 76, <250 mL in 48, and 537 mL mean in 39 high-risk procedures. The technique was successfully applied in all (including nine dural repairs) without a single conversion. We observed an increased neurological deficit in two (1.1%) and inadequate decompression in merely one (wrong level). Complications (mainly pulmonary) were few and managed conservatively, except for a segmental artery pseudoaneurysm treated endovascularly. We observed a substantial decrease in acute and chronic postoperative pain.

DISCUSSION

The technique is fast, straightforward, minimizes bone resection and blood loss, improves orientation, safely and effectively deals with any TDH, and prevents postoperative band-like pain as the CVJ is preserved.

CONCLUSION

We hope this technique will find broader acceptance among a new generation of spine surgeons to benefit patients suffering TDH-related myelopathy or merely intractable pain.

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system with epilepsy originating from traumatic cervical injury: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (SSCNS) is a rare condition that results from hemosiderin deposition in the brain, brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord as a result of chronic, repeated, and recurrent subarachnoid hemorrhage. SSCNS that originates in the spinal cord is rarely reported, and epilepsy as a manifestation of such a case has not been reported before.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors reported a rare case of SSCNS with epilepsy originating from traumatic cervical injury and presented a literature review of all reported SSCNS cases that originated in the spine. The patient was a 29-year-old man with a 16-year history of progressive headache accompanied by seizures, ataxia, and sensorineural hearing loss. He had experienced a traumatic cervical injury at age 7. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a characteristic hypointense rim around the pons and cervical spinal cord on susceptibility-weighted imaging scans. Cerebrospinal fluid examination during a headache episode confirmed subarachnoid hemorrhage and increased intracranial pressure. Surgical exploration revealed a C6 dural defect with bone spurs inserted into the dura mater. After the patient underwent dura mater repair and shunt implantation, his symptoms disappeared completely except for hearing loss.

LESSONS

This rare case indicated that symptomatic epilepsy followed by SSCNS can be eliminated by complete repair of the cervical dura mater.