Purpose: To report two quite rare cases of giant schwannomas of the cervical and thoracic spine. Surgical resection is usually the treatment of choice for these neoplasms. Methods: The first patient is a 48-year-old m...Purpose: To report two quite rare cases of giant schwannomas of the cervical and thoracic spine. Surgical resection is usually the treatment of choice for these neoplasms. Methods: The first patient is a 48-year-old male that came to our department, complaining about weakness and paresthesia of both lower extremities and upper left extremity, and a considerably big dorsal palpable lump. MRI and CT scan were used to diagnose giant cervical schwannoma. Because of the intensity of symptoms, he was subjected to surgery. Multidisciplinary resection involving neurosurgical and oncosurgicalteamn was performed for intravertebral and extravertebral approaches. The second patient is a 55-year-old female that came to the hospital complaining about incapacitating pain and dysesthesia involving T6, T7, and T8 dermatomes, with no other deficits. MRI and CT scan were used to diagnose giant thoracic schwannoma. Because of the intensity of the pain, surgery was decided as the treatment of choice. Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed and total resection was achieved, with improvement of the symptoms. Results: Both patients showed complete remission of the symptoms, with no major deficits after surgery. Conclusion: Although infrequent, giant spinal schwannomas may be the cause of visible lumps in the back with radicular symptoms. When asymptomatic, conservative treatment could be viable, but when they present symptoms, surgery offers good results.展开更多
Introduction: Since the earliest description of spinal fusion in 1911 and later by Dr. Fred H. Albee, it has become one of the most commonly performed procedures by orthopedist and neurosurgeons. The spinal fusion is ...Introduction: Since the earliest description of spinal fusion in 1911 and later by Dr. Fred H. Albee, it has become one of the most commonly performed procedures by orthopedist and neurosurgeons. The spinal fusion is now used to treat a variety of indications, such as traumatic injuries, deformities, primary and secondary tumors, infections and degenerative conditions of the spine. The risk of iatrogenic injury during traditional anterior, posterior, and transforaminal open fusion surgery is significant. The axial lumbar interbody fusion (Axia-LIF) is a minimal invasive technique which uses the retroperitoneumpresacral anatomical corridor to fuse the lumbar vertebral bodies L4-L5-S1 avoiding manipulation of the annular ligament, paravertebral muscles and facet joints. Methods: In this retrospective series, we report all the cases made in the Centro Medico Naval in México City in two years. A total of eleven patients with degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis underwent Axia-LIF one or two level systems with a 36 months clinical and radiographic follow-up. The outcomes included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score and leg/back pain severity. Radiographic outcome was evaluated with dynamics and orthogonal x-ray, as well as lumbosacral tomography scan to evaluate fusion status. Results: Nine patients underwent Axia-LIF one level system (L5-S1) and the rest two levels system (L4-S1). Ten patients were fixated with transpedicular percutaneous screws and one with facets joints screws. No intraoperative complications were reported. The mean back pain severity improved 57% in 12 months, and the mean leg pain severity improved 50% in the same time (P < 0.001). Mean ODI scores improved 58%, from 60% ± 16% at baseline to 25% ± 8% at twelve months (P < 0.001). At one year, a patient developed pseudoarthrosis that required posterolateral arthrodesis with transpedicular percutaneous screws. At 36 months monitoring, 100% patients presented a total interbody fusion in the tomography scans. At final follow-up, mean ODI score improved 73% (16% ± 5%;P < 0.001). Conclusion: The Axial Lumbar Interbody Fusion has demonstrated to be a safe treatment for the degenerative disc disease L5-S1 and L4-S1. The patients who underwent one or two level Axia-LIF showed an improvement in ODI and back/leg pain severity scores, with no intraoperative complications. The use of this technique and its indications are still in controversy;nevertheless, its use has increased as for pathologies such as spondylitis, scoliosis, patients with residual pain with previous surgeries. We recommended complementary pedicular fixation to avoid complications and improved interbody fusion.展开更多
文摘Purpose: To report two quite rare cases of giant schwannomas of the cervical and thoracic spine. Surgical resection is usually the treatment of choice for these neoplasms. Methods: The first patient is a 48-year-old male that came to our department, complaining about weakness and paresthesia of both lower extremities and upper left extremity, and a considerably big dorsal palpable lump. MRI and CT scan were used to diagnose giant cervical schwannoma. Because of the intensity of symptoms, he was subjected to surgery. Multidisciplinary resection involving neurosurgical and oncosurgicalteamn was performed for intravertebral and extravertebral approaches. The second patient is a 55-year-old female that came to the hospital complaining about incapacitating pain and dysesthesia involving T6, T7, and T8 dermatomes, with no other deficits. MRI and CT scan were used to diagnose giant thoracic schwannoma. Because of the intensity of the pain, surgery was decided as the treatment of choice. Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed and total resection was achieved, with improvement of the symptoms. Results: Both patients showed complete remission of the symptoms, with no major deficits after surgery. Conclusion: Although infrequent, giant spinal schwannomas may be the cause of visible lumps in the back with radicular symptoms. When asymptomatic, conservative treatment could be viable, but when they present symptoms, surgery offers good results.
文摘Introduction: Since the earliest description of spinal fusion in 1911 and later by Dr. Fred H. Albee, it has become one of the most commonly performed procedures by orthopedist and neurosurgeons. The spinal fusion is now used to treat a variety of indications, such as traumatic injuries, deformities, primary and secondary tumors, infections and degenerative conditions of the spine. The risk of iatrogenic injury during traditional anterior, posterior, and transforaminal open fusion surgery is significant. The axial lumbar interbody fusion (Axia-LIF) is a minimal invasive technique which uses the retroperitoneumpresacral anatomical corridor to fuse the lumbar vertebral bodies L4-L5-S1 avoiding manipulation of the annular ligament, paravertebral muscles and facet joints. Methods: In this retrospective series, we report all the cases made in the Centro Medico Naval in México City in two years. A total of eleven patients with degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis underwent Axia-LIF one or two level systems with a 36 months clinical and radiographic follow-up. The outcomes included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score and leg/back pain severity. Radiographic outcome was evaluated with dynamics and orthogonal x-ray, as well as lumbosacral tomography scan to evaluate fusion status. Results: Nine patients underwent Axia-LIF one level system (L5-S1) and the rest two levels system (L4-S1). Ten patients were fixated with transpedicular percutaneous screws and one with facets joints screws. No intraoperative complications were reported. The mean back pain severity improved 57% in 12 months, and the mean leg pain severity improved 50% in the same time (P < 0.001). Mean ODI scores improved 58%, from 60% ± 16% at baseline to 25% ± 8% at twelve months (P < 0.001). At one year, a patient developed pseudoarthrosis that required posterolateral arthrodesis with transpedicular percutaneous screws. At 36 months monitoring, 100% patients presented a total interbody fusion in the tomography scans. At final follow-up, mean ODI score improved 73% (16% ± 5%;P < 0.001). Conclusion: The Axial Lumbar Interbody Fusion has demonstrated to be a safe treatment for the degenerative disc disease L5-S1 and L4-S1. The patients who underwent one or two level Axia-LIF showed an improvement in ODI and back/leg pain severity scores, with no intraoperative complications. The use of this technique and its indications are still in controversy;nevertheless, its use has increased as for pathologies such as spondylitis, scoliosis, patients with residual pain with previous surgeries. We recommended complementary pedicular fixation to avoid complications and improved interbody fusion.
