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We present clinical findings, radiological characteristics and surgical modalities of various posterior approaches to thoracic disc herniations and report the clinical results in 27 consecutive patients. Within an 8-year period 27 consecutive patients (17 female, 10 male) aged 30–83 years (mean 53 years.) were surgically treated for 28 symptomatic herniated thoracic discs in our department. Six of these lesions (21%) were calcified. In all cases surgery was performed via individually tailored posterior approaches. We evaluated the pre- and postoperative clinical status and the complication rate in a retrospective study. Nearly one half of the lesions (46.4%) were located at the three lowest thoracic segments. Clinical symptoms included back pain or radicular pain (77.8%), altered sensitivity (77.8%), weakness (40.7%), impaired gait (51.9%) or bladder dysfunction (22%). Costotransversectomy was performed in 8 patients, 1 lateral extracavitary approach, 2 foraminotomies, 15 transfacet and/or transpedicular approaches and 2 interlaminar approaches were used for removing the pathologies. After a mean follow-up of 38.6 months (3–100 months), complete normalization or reduction of local pain was recorded in 87% of the patients and of radicular pain in 70% of the cases, increased motor strength could be achieved in 55%, sensitivity improved in 76.2% and improvement of myelopathy was noted in 71.4%. Two patients suffered from postoperative impairment of sensory deficits, which in one case was discrete. The overall recovery rate within the modified JOA score was 39.5%. In 1 patient, two revisions were required because of instability and a persisting osteophyte, respectively. The rate of major complications was 7.1% (2/28). Surgical treatment of thoracic disc herniations via posterior approaches tailored to the individual patient produces satisfying results referring to clinical outcome. Posterior approaches remain a viable alternative for a large proportion of patients with symptomatic thoracic disc herniations.

Object Surgical treatment of nerve lesions in continuity remains difficult, even in the most experienced hands. The regenerative potential of those injuries can be evaluated by intraoperative electrophysiological studies and/or intraneural dissection. The present study examines the value of intraoperative high-frequency ultrasound as an imaging tool for decision making in the management of traumatic nerve lesions in continuity. Methods Intraoperative high-frequency ultrasound was applied to 19 traumatic or iatrogenic nerve lesions of differing extents. The information obtained was correlated with intraoperative electrophysiological, microsurgical intraneural dissection, and histopathological findings in resected nerve segments. Results The intraoperative application of high-resolution, high-frequency ultrasound enabled morphological examination of nerve lesions in continuity, with good image quality. The assessment of the severity of the underlying nerve injury matched perfectly with the judgment obtained from intraoperative electrophysiological studies. Both intraneural nerve dissection and neuropathological examination of the resected nerve segments confirmed the sonographic findings. In addition, intraoperative ultrasound proved to be very time efficient. Conclusions With intraoperative ultrasound, the extent of traumatic peripheral nerve lesions can be examined morphologically for the first time. It is a promising, noninvasive method that seems capable of assessing the type (intraneural/perineural) and grade of nerve fibrosis. Therefore, in combination with intraoperative neurophysiological studies, intraoperative high-resolution ultrasound may represent a major tool for noninvasive assessment of the regenerative potential of a nerve lesion.

The prevalence of arachnoid cysts (AC) is considerably increased in psychiatric patients, suggesting a possible causal relationship between AC and certain psychiatric disorders. Neurosurgery of AC in psychiatric disorders is, however, not recommended if no accompanying neurological symptoms or signs of increased intracranial pressure are present. In two cases of slow onset personality disorder in persons suffering from so-called asymptomatic AC, we performed AC neurosurgery beyond established rules. Both comparisons before and after neurosurgery of psychopathology and the following long-term course support in retrospect that both cases might be re-diagnosed as having suffered from 'minor' organic personality disorders before AC neurosurgery, which improved thereafter. The two cases did not initially appear to fulfill the established criteria for organic personality disorders either according to ICD-10 or DSM-IV, but in retrospect satisfied most criteria. In themselves, the personality disorders appeared not very severe, but had considerable relevance for the patients' lives. The established rules for AC neurosurgery should be reconsidered at least when therapy-resistant psychiatric disorders are observed in AC sufferers.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about patient satisfaction and disability after brachial plexus surgery. Would patients undergo the procedure again, if they knew the current result beforehand ? How do they rate their result and their disability? METHODS: Of 319 plexus patients who had undergone surgery between 1995 and 2005, 199 received a 65-item questionnaire. Measurement instruments included a new plexus-specific outcome questionnaire (Ulm Questionnaire) with categories of satisfaction, functionality, pain, comorbidities, and work; and the disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire (DASH; scale, 0-100). RESULTS: Of 99 returned questionnaires, 70 were returned in a useful form for evaluation. The results of patients with C5-C6 lesions (21 of 70) are as follows: 90% (19 of 21) would undergo surgery again, 95% (20 of 21) were satisfied with the result, and 86% (18 of 21) subjectively improved. The mean DASH score was 41 (standard deviation [SD], 24). The results of patients with C5-C7 lesions (6 of 70) are as follows: 50% (3 of 6) were satisfied and would undergo surgery again, and 67% (4 of 6) improved. The mean DASH score was 46 (SD, 13). The results of patients with C5-T1 lesions (43 of 70) are as follows: 67% (29 of 43) would undergo surgery again, 81 % (35 of 42) were satisfied, and 74% (32 of 43) reported improvement. The mean DASH score was 58 (SD, 26). The overall mean DASH score was 52 (SD, 26). Pain since the injury was prevalent in 86% of patients (60 of 70), back pain in 53%, and depression/anxiety in 21 %. Fifty-two percent of those who worked before their injury (27 of 53 patients) remained unemployed or incapacitated for work. Forty-five percent of previous workers (24 of 53) returned to their former occupation. Occupational retraining was successful for 70% of patients (16 of 23). The mean duration until return to work was 9 months overall and 5 months for those who returned to their previous occupation. CONCLUSION: Eighty-seven percent of patients were satisfied with the results and 83% would undergo the procedure again. Despite a high satisfaction rate, patients remained considerably disabled, and half of the previous workers did not return to work. Occupational retraining is effective.

The cubital tunnel syndrome is one of the most widespread compression syndromes of a peripheral nerve. In German-speaking countries it is known as the sulcus ulnaris syndrome (retrocondylar groove syndrome), which is anatomically incorrect. The cubital tunnel consists of the retrocondylar groove, the cubital tunnel retinaculum (Lig. arcuatum or Osborne band), the humeroulnar arcade and the deep flexor/pronator aponeurosis. According to Sunderland it can be divided into a primary form (including the ulnar luxation and the epitrocheoanconaeus muscle) and a secondary form caused by deformation or other processes of the elbow joint. The diagnosis has to be confirmed by a thorough clinical examination and nerve conduction studies. Neurosonography and MRI are becoming more and more important with improving resolution and enable the direct identification of morphological changes. Differential diagnosis is essential in atypical cases, especially C8 syndrome and pressure palsy. Double crush (double compression syndrome) may occur. Operative treatment is more effective than conservative treatment, which consists primarily of the prevention of exposure to external noxes. According to actual randomised controlled studies the therapy of choice of the primary form in most cases is the simple in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel. This has to be extended at least up to 5-6 cm distally of the medial epicondyle and can be performed in the open or endoscopic technique, both under local anesthesia. Simple decompression is also the therapy of choice in uncomplicated ulnar luxation and in most post-traumatic cases and other secondary forms. In cases of severe bony or tissue changes of the elbow (especially cubitus valgus) the volar transposition of the ulnar nerve may be indicated. This can be performed in a subcutaneous or submuscular technique. Risks of transposition are impairment of perfusion and, above all, kinking caused by insufficient proximal or distal mobilisation of the nerve has to be avoided. In these cases revision surgery is necessary. The epicondylectomy is not common in our country. Recurrences may occur.

Besides the carpal tunnel syndrome, the cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) represents the second most frequent nerve entrapment syndrome. The current gold standard for surgical therapy consists of simple open decompression. Recently, an endoscopic procedure involving long-distance decompression of the ulnar nerve has been developed and this is the topic of the present study. The first part of this paper describes preliminary anatomic investigations on 22 cadaver arms. In every sample we observed a thickening of the submuscular membrane between the heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) which surrounds the ulnar nerve. This was especially the case for the first 10 cm from the medial epicondyle In the second part we report our experiences with this endoscopic decompression procedure in 36 patients. With this endoscopic decompression we achieved good to very good results according to the Bishop classification in 28 patients (78%). On the basis of anatomic considerations and our current experience, the endoscopic procedure seems to represent a promising alternative to simple decompression.

In the hands of the inexperienced, endoscopic carpal tunnel release bears a substantial risk for neurovascular injury. For those thoroughly trained in this technique, it is a fast and elegant but also more expensive way to achieve carpal tunnel release. If performed uneventfully, it minimizes trauma and avoids a substantial palmar skin incision. The authors think that some basic considerations are useful to prevent complications. This article focuses on some points that are relevant to the safe use of this technique.

As long as humans have been medically treated, unfortunate cases of inadvertent injury to nerves afflicted by the therapist have occurred. Most microsurgically treated iatrogenic nerve injuries occur directly during an operation. Certain nerves are at a higher risk than others, and certain procedures and regions of the body are more prone to sustaining nerve injury. A high degree of insecurity regarding the proper measures to take can be observed among medical practitioners. A major limiting factor in successful treatment is delayed referral for evaluation and reconstructive surgery. This article on iatrogenic nerve injuries intends to focus on relevant aspects of management from a nerve surgeon's perspective.

The aim of this study is to analyse short- and long-term results after surgical treatment of foramen magnum meningiomas and to identify the possible advantages of the posterior suboccipital approach over lateral and anterior approaches. Between 1992 and 2006, 16 patients with foramen magnum meningiomas were operated on in our institution, and in all cases a posterior suboccipital approach was utilised with lateral extension of the bone opening according to the position of the tumour. In 14 patients, intraoperative monitoring of the lower cranial nerves was performed. Localisation of the tumours was ventral (3), ventrolateral (10), dorsal (1) and dorsolateral (2). Mean age of the patients was 61 years (ranging from 40 to 85 years). Preoperative and postoperative function was classified according to the McCormick scale. We found in eight patients a postoperative upgrading of at least one grade, in five patients an unchanged status and a deterioration in only two patients. Complete removal of the tumour was possible in 14 cases (Simpson 1-2). The follow-up period varied from 24 to 119 months (mean 43.5 months), during this time there were no recurrences. Removal of foramen magnum meningiomas can be performed safely today with the use of microsurgical techniques and intraoperative monitoring. In our experience, the posterior suboccipital approach is suitable for the majority of these tumours.

OBJECTIVE Facial nerve paresis and hearing loss are common complications after vestibular schwannoma surgery. Experiments with facial nerves of the rat and retrospectively analyzed clinical studies showed a beneficial effect of vasoactive treatment on the preservation of facial and cochlear nerve functions. This prospective and open-label randomized pilot study is the first study of a prophylactic vasoactive treatment in vestibular schwannoma surgery. METHODS Thirty patients were randomized before surgery. One group (n = 14) received a vasoactive prophylaxis consisting of nimodipine and hydroxyethylstarch which was started the day before surgery and was continued until the seventh postoperative day. The other group (n = 16) did not receive preoperative medication. Intraoperative monitoring, including acoustic evoked potentials and continuous facial electromyelograms, was applied to all patients. However, when electrophysiological signs of a deterioration of facial or cochlear nerve function were detected in the group of patients without medication, vasoactive treatment was started immediately. Cochlear and facial nerve function were documented preoperatively, during the first 7 days postoperatively, and again after long-term observation. RESULTS Despite the limited number of patients, our results were significant using the Fisher's exact test (small no. of patients) for a better outcome after vestibular schwannoma surgery for both hearing (P = 0.041) and facial nerve (P = 0.045) preservation in the group of patients who received a prophylactic vasoactive treatment. CONCLUSION Prophylactic vasoactive treatment consisting of nimodipine and hydroxyethylstarch shows significantly better results concerning preservation of the facial and cochlear nerve function in vestibular schwannoma surgery. The prophylactic use is also superior to intraoperative vasoactive treatment.

The diagnostic workup and surgical therapy for peripheral nerve tumors and tumorlike lesions are challenging. Magnetic resonance imaging is the standard diagnostic tool in the preoperative workup. However, even with advanced pulse sequences such as diffusion tensor imaging for MR neurography, the ability to differentiate tumor entities based on histological features remains limited. In particular, rare tumor entities different from schwannomas and neurofibromas are difficult to anticipate before surgical exploration and histological confirmation. High-resolution ultrasound (HRU) has become another important tool in the preoperative evaluation of peripheral nerves. Ongoing software and technical developments with transducers of up to 17–18 MHz enable high spatial resolution with tissue-differentiating properties. Unfortunately, high-frequency ultrasound provides low tissue penetration. The authors developed a setting in which intraoperative HRU was used and in which the direct sterile contact between the ultrasound transducer and the surgically exposed nerve pathology was enabled to increase structural resolution and contrast. In a case-guided fashion, the authors report the sonographic characteristics of rare tumor entities shown by intraoperative HRU and contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Iatrogenic nerve lesions (INLs) are an integral part of peripheral neurology and require dedicated neurologists to manage them. INLs of peripheral nerves are most frequently caused by surgery, immobilization, injections, radiation, or drugs. Early recognition and diagnosis is important not to delay appropriate therapeutic measures and to improve the outcome. Treatment can be causative or symptomatic, conservative, or surgical. Rehabilitative measures play a key role in the conservative treatment, but the point at which an INL requires surgical intervention should not be missed or delayed. This is why INLs require close multiprofessional monitoring and continuous re-evaluation of the therapeutic effect. With increasing number of surgical interventions and increasing number of drugs applied, it is quite likely that the prevalence of INLs will further increase. To provide an optimal management, more studies about the frequency of the various INLs and studies evaluating therapies need to be conducted. Management of INLs can be particularly improved if those confronted with INLs get state-of-the-art education and advanced training about INLs. Management and outcome of INLs can be further improved if the multiprofessional interplay is optimized and adapted to the needs of the patient, the healthcare system, and those responsible for sustaining medical infrastructure.

Neurogenesis in the adult human brain occurs within two principle neurogenic regions, the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles. Recent reports demonstrated the isolation of human neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs) from these regions, but due to limited tissue availability the knowledge of their phenotype and differentiation behavior is restricted. Here we characterize the phenotype and differentiation capacity of human adult hippocampal NPCs (hNPCs), derived from patients who underwent epilepsy surgery, on various feeder cells including fetal mixed cortical cultures, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and PA6 stromal cells. Isolated hNPCs were cultured in clonal density by transferring the cells to serum-free media supplemented with FGF-2 and EGF in 3% atmospheric oxygen. These hNPCs showed neurosphere formation, expressed high levels of early neuroectodermal markers, such as the proneural genes NeuroD1 and Olig2, the NSC markers Nestin and Musashi1, the proliferation marker Ki67 and significant activity of telomerase. The phenotype was CD15low/-, CD34-, CD45- and CD133-. After removal of mitogens and plating them on poly D-lysine, they spontaneously differentiated into a neuronal (MAP2ab+), astroglial (GFAP+), and oligodendroglial (GalC+) phenotype. Differentiated hNPCs showed functional properties of neurons, such as sodium channels, action potentials and production of the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA. Co-culture of hNPCs with fetal cortical cultures, MEFs and PA6 cells increased neurogenesis of hNPCs in vitro, while only MEFs and PA6 cells also led to a morphological and functional neurogenic maturation. Together we provide a first detailed characterization of the phenotype and differentiation potential of human adult hNPCs in vitro. Our findings reinforce the emerging view that the differentiation capacity of adult hNPCs is critically influenced by non-neuronal mesodermal feeder cells.

In unserer neurochirurgischen Abteilung wurden in den letzten 10 Jahren 22 Patienten mit einer Lasion des Ramus superficialis N. radialis operiert. Allesamt klagten uber einseitige elektrisierende Schmerzen und Parasthesien isoliert im Versorgungsgebiet des Ramus superficialis N. radialis. Die haufigste Ursache war eine Spaltung des ersten Strecksehnenfaches bei Tendovaginitis stenosans de Quervain. In 8 Fallen wurde eine reine Neurolyse bei Erhalt der Kontinuitat durchgefuhrt, in 4 Fallen wurde das Neurom reseziert und der Nerv rekonstruiert (End-zu-End-Naht oder Einsatz eines Vicrylinterponats) und in 10 Fallen wurde das Neurom reseziert und der proximale Nervenstumpf in die Tiefe verlagert. Bei der Auswertung der postoperativen Ergebnisse (19 Patienten konnten uber einen mittleren Beobachtungszeitraum von 51 Monaten verfolgt werden) fiel auf, dass Schmerzfreiheit lediglich in 5 Fallen erzielt werden konnte. Sieben Patienten gaben eine unveranderte Beschwerdesymptomatik an, und in einem Fall trat durch die Intervention sogar eine Zunahme der Schmerzsymptomatik auf. Zufrieden stellende Ergebnisse (in 75% Schmerzfreiheit bzw. -reduktion) waren nur in der Gruppe der Patienten festzustellen, deren Neurom des Ramus superficialis N. radialis reseziert und der Nervenstumpf verlagert wurde. Aus unserer Sicht empfehlen wir deshalb bei Vorliegen einer traumatischen Lasion des Ramus superficialis N. radialis Zuruckhaltung betreffs eines chirurgischen Vorgehens. Des Weiteren ist eine Rekonstruktion des Nerven aus unserer Sicht nicht erstrebenswert.

Object.Surgical therapy for traumatic brachial plexus lesions is still a great challenge in the field of peripheral nerve surgery. The aim of this study was to present the results of different surgical interventions in patients with this lesion type.Methods.One hundred thirty-four patients with traumatic brachial plexus lesions underwent surgery between January 1991 and September 1999. In more than 50% of the patients, injury was caused by a motorbike accident. Patients underwent surgery a mean of 6.3 months posttrauma. The following surgical techniques were applied: neurolysis for nerve lesions in continuity (27 cases), grafting for lesions in discontinuity (149 cases), and neurotization for root avulsions (67 cases). Sixty-five patients were evaluated for at least 30 months (mean follow up 42.1 months) after surgery.Function was graded using the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center classification system. Only 2% of the patients had Grade 3 or better function preoperatively, increasing to 52% postoperatively. The effect of surgical measures on the functional results for different muscles were compared (supra- or infraspinatus, deltoid, biceps, and triceps muscles); the best results were obtained for biceps muscle function (57% of patients with Medical Research Council Grades M3–M5 function). Graft reconstruction yielded a better outcome than neurotization. Surgery within 5 months posttrauma clearly resulted in improved recovery of motor function compared with later interventions. Sural nerve grafts (monofascicular nerves) showed better results.Conclusions.The results of neurosurgical interventions for brachial plexus lesions are satisfactory, especially when the operation is performed between 3 and 6 months after trauma.

Lasionen des N. accessorius sind meist Folge einer iatrogenen Nervenlasion, insbesondere nach Lymphknotenexstirpationen im hinteren Halsdreieck. In der neurochirurgischen Klinik der Universitat Ulm wurden zwischen 1994–2003 31 Patienten aufgrund iatrogener Verletzungen des XI. Hirnnerven operiert. Davon ging allein bei 22/31 Patienten eine Lymphknotenexstirpation voraus. Alle Patienten wiesen eine Parese/Atrophie des M. trapezius auf, die Schulterabduktion war deutlich eingeschrankt. Neunundzwanzig von 31 Patienten auserten Schmerzen im Hals-Schulter-Bereich. Die operative Revision erfolgte 0–19 Monate posttraumatisch durch Neurolyse, End-zu-End-Naht oder Transplantation. Nach einer Nachbeobachtungszeit von durchschnittlich 12,6 Monaten waren 23% Patienten postoperativ komplett beschwerdefrei, bei 61% konnte eine funktionell relevante Verbesserung erreicht werden und lediglich 16% konnten von diesem Eingriff nicht profitieren. Zu einer Verschlechterung kam es in keinem der Falle. Bezuglich der OP-Verfahren sind die klinischen Ergebnisse auch bei der Notwendigkeit einer Nervennaht oder Transplantats nicht schlechter als nach einer externen Neurolyse bei erhaltener Kontinuitat. Insgesamt lasst sich feststellen, dass die Prognose einer mikroneurochirurgischen Therapie nach iatrogenen Lasionen des N. accessorius gunstig ist. Das Intervall zwischen Trauma und Revisionseingriff sollte unter 6 Monaten liegen. Bis zu einem Zeitraum von 12 Monaten kann eine funktionelle Remission erreicht werden, nachfolgend ist das klinische Outcome enttauschend.

Der Zeitpunkt der operativen Behandlung bei den intramedullaren Tumoren wird kontrovers diskutiert. In dieser retrospektiven Studie wird versucht die Frage zu beantworten, ob Patienten mit intramedullaren Ependymomen und Astrozytomen ohne oder mit nur leichten neurologischen Ausfallen eine bessere funktionelle Prognose postoperativ haben, als Patienten mit schweren praoperativen neurologischen Defiziten. In einem Zeitraum von 8,5 Jahren (Januar 1992–August 2000) wurden unter 34 Patienten mit intramedullaren Lasionen 10 Ependymome WHO-Grad-II und 5 Astrozytome WHO-Grad-II operativ behandelt. Zwei Astrozytome und 1 Ependymom mussten wegen Rezidiven nachoperiert werden. Das pra- und postoperative klinische Bild wurde nach der McCormick-Klassifikation in Grad I–IV dokumentiert (Grad I: keine oder milde neurologischen Defizite, Grad IV: schwere neurologische Ausfalle mit Abhangigkeit von fremder Hilfe). Die Nachuntersuchungszeiten schwankten zwischen 4 und 76 Monaten (Durchschnitt: 27,9 Monate). Alle 7 Patienten in Grad I blieben nach der Operation stabil. Zwei von den 4 Patienten in Grad II verbesserten sich, und 2 verschlechterten sich um 1 bzw. 2 Grade. Zwei von den 3 Patienten in Grad III und IV blieben postoperativ unverandert, und 1 verschlechterte sich von Grad III auf IV. Patienten mit intramedullaren Ependymomen und Astrozytomen sollen rechtzeitig operiert werden, wenn sie noch keine oder nur leichte neurologische Ausfalle zeigen, um ein gutes funktionelles Outcome zu erzielen.

Einleitung Ziel war es, die Anzahl und Art iatrogener Verletzungen an einem vergleichsweise aktiven Zentrum fur periphere Nervenoperationen wahrend eines Zeitraumes von 13 Jahren zu analysieren.

We report on a 37-year-old woman with a 10-week history of neck pain and brachialgia along the right C6 dermatome. Neurological findings included weakness of the right biceps muscle and hypesthesia of the right thumb. The patient was diagnosed as having von Recklinghausen’s disease (neurofibromatosis 1) 10 years ago, and a CT scan demonstrated an extraspinal paravertebral mass with osseous arrosion of the right vertebral foramen at C6. The primary diagnosis was neurofibroma, but further diagnostic workup including MRI, MR angiography and digital subtraction angiography revealed an extracranial vertebral artery aneurysm compressing the right C6 root. An attempt to occlude the aneurysm by coil embolization failed in another institution. Further interventions were rejected by the patient who experienced spontaneous resolution of her complaints and complete neurological recovery within a few weeks.

Spinal hematoma has been described in autopsies since 1682 and as a clinical diagnosis since 1867. It is a rare and usually severe neurological disorder that, without adequate treatment, often leads to death or permanent neurological deficit. Epidural as well as subdural and subarachnoid hematomas have been investigated. Some cases of subarachnoid spinal hematoma may present with symptoms similar to those of cerebral hemorrhage. The literature offers no reliable estimates of the incidence of spinal hematoma, perhaps due to the rarity of this disorder. In the present work, 613 case studies published between 1826 and 1996 have been evaluated, which represents the largest review on this topic to date. Most cases of spinal hematoma have a multifactorial etiology whose individual components are not all understood in detail. In up to a third of cases (29.7%) of spinal hematoma, no etiological factor can be identified as the cause of the bleeding. Following idiopathic spinal hematoma, cases related to anticoagulant therapy and vascular malformations represent the second and third most common categories. Spinal and epidural anesthetic procedures in combination with anticoagulant therapy represent the fifth most common etiological group and spinal and epidural anesthetic procedures alone represent the tenth most common cause of spinal hematoma. Anticoagulant therapy alone probably does not trigger spinal hemorrhage. It is likely that there must additionally be a "locus minoris resistentiae" together with increased pressure in the interior vertebral venous plexus in order to cause spinal hemorrhage. The latter two factors are thought to be sufficient to cause spontaneous spinal hematoma. Physicians should require strict indications for the use of spinal anesthetic procedures in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy, even if the incidence of spinal hematoma following this combination is low. If spinal anesthetic procedures are performed before, during, or after anticoagulant treatment, close monitoring of the neurological status of the patient is warranted. Time limits regarding the use of anticoagulant therapy before or after spinal anesthetic procedures have been proposed and are thought to be safe for patients. Investigation of the coagulation status alone does not necessarily provide an accurate estimate of the risk of hemorrhage. The most important measure for recognizing patients at high risk is a thorough clinical history. Most spinal hematomas are localized dorsally to the spinal cord at the level of the cervicothoracic and thoracolumbar regions. Subarachnoid hematomas can extend along the entire length of the subarachnoid space. Epidural and subdural spinal hematoma present with intense, knife-like pain at the location of the hemorrhage ("coup de poignard") that may be followed in some cases by a pain-free interval of minutes to days, after which there is progressive paralysis below the affected spinal level. Subarachnoid hematoma can be associated with meningitis symptoms, disturbances of consciousness, and epileptic seizures and is often misdiagnosed as cerebral hemorrhage based on these symptoms. Most patients are between 55 and 70 years old. Of all patients with spinal hemorrhage, 63.9% are men. The examination of first choice is magnetic resonance imaging. The treatment of choice is surgical decompression. Of the patients investigated in the present work, 39.6% experienced complete recovery. The less severe the preoperative symptoms are and the more quickly surgical decompression can be performed, the better are the chances for complete recovery. It is therefore essential to recognize the relatively typical clinical presentation of spinal hematoma in a timely manner to allow correct diagnostic and therapeutic measures to be taken to maximize the patient's chance of complete recovery.

Die Kompressionsneuropathie des N. cutaneus femoris lateralis in Hohe des Spina iliaca anterior superior gehort zu den relativ seltenen Kompressionssyndromen. Meist ist der Nerv zwischen beiden Blattern des Leistenbandes komprimiert. Bei diesem Kompressionssyndrom sind spontane Heilungen beobachtet worden. Auch durch mehrmalige Infiltrationen konnen die Schmerzen und Missempfindungen zuruckgehen. Bei Therapieresistenz empfehlen wir die Dekompression des Nervs.

Das Thoracic-outlet-Syndrom (TOS) ist ein Beschwerdekomplex, der durch die Kompression des sog. neurovaskularen Bundels, d.h. des Plexus brachialis und/oder der Arteria und Vena subclavia im Bereich der oberen Thoraxapertur erklart wird.

Kompressionen des N. medianus kommen in erster Linie im Bereich des Handgelenkstunnels (Karpaltunnel) vor. Weiter proximal gelegene Kompressionen wie das Pronator- und Interosseus-anterior-Syndrom sind sehr selten und nicht unumstritten.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is by far the most common peripheral nerve compression syndrome, affecting approximately one in every six adults to a greater or lesser extent. Splitting the flexor retinaculum to treat carpal tunnel syndrome is the second most common specialized surgical procedure in Germany. Cubital tunnel syndrome is rarer by a factor of 13, and the other compression syndromes are rarer still.This review is based on publications retrieved by a selective literature search of PubMed and the Cochrane Library, along with current guidelines and the authors' clinical and scientific experience.Randomized controlled trials have shown, with a high level of evidence, that the surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome yields very good results regardless of the particular technique used, as long as the diagnosis and the indication for surgery are well established by the electrophysiologic and radiological findings and the operation is properly performed. The success rates of open surgery, and the single-portal and dual-portal endoscopic methods are 91.6%, 93.4% and 92.5%, respectively. When performed by experienced hands, all these procedures have complication rates below 1%. The surgical treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome has a comparably low complication rate, but worse results overall. Neuro-ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (neuro-MRI) are increasingly being used to complement the diagnostic findings of electrophysiologic studies.Evidence-based diagnostic methods and treatment recommendations are now available for the two most common peripheral nerve compression syndromes. Further controlled trials are needed for most of the rarer syndromes, especially the controversial ones.

Iatrogenic nerve injuries can result from direct surgical trauma, mechanical stress on a nerve due to faulty positioning during anesthesia, the injection of neurotoxic substances into a nerve, and other mechanisms. Treating physicians should know the risk factors and the procedure to be followed when an iatrogenic nerve injury arises.This review is based on pertinent articles retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and on the authors' own data from the years 1990-2012.In large-scale studies, 25% of sciatic nerve lesions that required treatment were iatrogenic, as were 60% of femoral nerve lesions and 94% of accessory nerve lesions. Osteosyntheses, osteotomies, arthrodeses, lymph node biopsies in the posterior triangle of the neck, carpal tunnel operations, and procedures on the wrist and knee were common settings for iatrogenic nerve injury. 340 patients underwent surgery for iatrogenic nerve injuries over a 23-year period in the District Hospital of Günzburg (Neurosurgical Department of the University of Ulm). In a study published by the authors in 2001, 17.4% of the traumatic nerve lesions treated were iatrogenic. 94% of iatrogenic nerve injuries occurred during surgical procedures.A thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the vulnerable nerves and of variants in their course can lessen the risk of iatrogenic nerve injury. When such injuries arise, early diagnosis and planning of further management are the main determinants of outcome. If adequate nerve regeneration does not occur, surgical revision should optimally be performed 3 to 4 months after the injury, and 6 months afterward at the latest. On the other hand, if postoperative high resolution ultrasound reveals either complete transection of the nerve or a neuroma in continuity, surgery should be performed without any further delay. If the surgeon becomes aware of a nerve transection during the initial procedure, then either immediate end-to-end suturing or early secondary management after three weeks is indicated.

Schadigungen des Plexus brachialis treten in den Industrienationen bei 0,19–2,5 Kindern pro 1.000 Lebendgeburten auf, in Entwicklungslandern bei 3,6 Kindern pro 1.000 (Soni et al. 1985). Bei diabetischer Stoffwechsellage der Mutter steigt das Risiko auf uber 10 % (Acker et al. 1988). Aus ca. 800.000 Geburten pro Jahr im deutschen Raum ergibt dies eine Anzahl von 150–2.000 Neugeborenen mit geburtstraumatischer Plexuslasion. Bei mehr als der Halfte dieser Kinder (50–85 %) kommt es zu einer Spontanregeneration mit befriedigenden funktionellen Ergebnissen (Michelow et al. 1994). Es muss das Ziel der therapeutischen Bemuhungen sein, die restlichen Kinder, die keine spontane Regeneration zeigen, rechtzeitig einer chirurgischen Therapie zuzufuhren.

Object. The purpose of this study was to discover the number and types of iatrogenic nerve injuries that were surgically treated during a 9-year period at a relatively busy nerve center. The specific nerves involved, their sites of injury, and the mechanisms of injury were also documented. Methods. The authors retrospectively evaluated the surgically treated iatrogenic lesions by reviewing case histories, operative reports, and follow-up notes in 722 cases of trauma. These cases were treated between January 1990 and December 1998 because of pain, dysesthesias, and sensory and/or motor deficits. Iatrogenic injury was a much larger category of trauma than predicted. One hundred twenty-six (17.4%) of the 722 surgically treated cases were iatrogenic in origin. Most of these injuries occurred during a previous operation. To a major extent, nerves of the extremities were affected, and a relatively large number of injuries occurred in the neck and groin. Incidence was highest in the spinal accessory nerve (14 cases), the common peroneal nerve (11 cases), the superficial radial nerve (10 cases), the genitofemoral nerve branches (10 cases), and the median nerve (nine cases). At least two thirds of the patients did not undergo surgery for the iatrogenic injury within an optimal time interval due to delayed referral. Follow-up data were available in 97 of the 126 patients. Surgical outcomes demonstrated improvement in 70% of patients. Operative results were especially favorable in patients suffering from iatrogenic injuries to the accessory and superficial sensory radial nerves. Conclusions. Iatrogenic injuries should be corrected in a timely fashion just like any other traumatic injury to nerve.

Whereas cranial neuronavigation is widely accepted as a helpful tool, larger series of the in vivo application of spinal neuronavigation do not exist. In the following we report our 4-year experience with spinal navigation in 75 consecutive cases for dorsal transpedicular screw placement. Seventy-five patients were planned for operation employing anatomical reference points defined on a 2-mm high resolution CT. We used single vertebra registration and surface matching. With the above methods, the mean registration deviation ranged from 0.18 mm (cervical spine) to 0.31 mm (lumbar spine). All our screws in the upper cervical spine were navigated correctly (17 patients), thus improving markedly the surgical outcome. The results were not as promising in the lumbar area. In only 84% was navigation reliable. The reason was the lack of a practicable tracking tool. Spinal neuronavigation based on anatomical reference points is able to improve the results in transpedicular screwing, especially in the cervical spine. The lack of a practicable tracking tool still hinders its use in routine clinical application.

Purpose Identification of the precentral gyrus can be difficult in patients with brain tumors. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of functional MRI (fMRI) in identifying motor cortex and speech areas as a part of preoperative neurosurgical planning. Method fMRI was performed using a 1.5 T MR unit in 41 patients with brain tumors. The motor paradigm was finger tapping and foot movement, whereas the language paradigm consisted of a two word semantic test. Statistical analysis of the data was done using the Kolmogorow-Smirnow test. Plots of signal intensities over time were created. Results The precentral gyrus was identified in 38 of 41 patients. In two patients, fMRI was not of acceptable quality due to motion artifacts. Speech areas were localized in 33 patients. In a typical clinical setting, the value of the method was graded “high.” Conclusion fMRI`s efficacy in the preoperative localization of language and motor areas is high. The method should become a routine adjunct for preoperative evaluation of brain tumors in the near future.

Fourteen patients with traumatic brachial plexus injuries underwent intradural inspection of cervical nerve roots to evaluate radiological and intra-operative electrophysiological findings concerning cervical nerve root avulsion from the spinal cord. Four neurosurgeons of our department assessed independently from each other both myelography and CT-myelography concerning intradural nerve root lesions. Each neurosurgeon assessed a total of 26 cervical nerve roots. Two investigators assessed 6/26 and 2 investigators 7/26 nerve roots falsely concerning ventral or/and dorsal root lesions compared with the findings on intradural inspection (23% and 27% false findings). There was a considerable variance concerning the assessibility and findings among the 4 neurosurgeons. Reconstructive surgery was performed after a mean interval of 6.5 months following trauma and 2 weeks following intradural inspection. After exposure of the brachial plexus and the cervical nerve roots in question via a ventral approach, 13 cervical nerve roots were stimulated electrically close to the neuroforamen and cortical evoked potentials (root-SEPs) were recorded from the contralateral postcentral region. All 5 roots with SEPs were intact (no root lesion) and all 8 roots without SEPs showed interrupted (ventral or/and dorsal) rootlets on intradural inspection. Our results demonstrate that false radiological findings concerning root lesions are possible. Intra-operative root-SEPs seem to be a useful aid for evaluation of cervical nerve root lesions. However, more electrophysiological data are necessary to ascertain, if this modality is able to replace intradural inspection in unclear radiological cases in the future.

Die lumbale Spinalkanalstenose gilt heute als eigenstandiges Krankheitsbild. Man unterscheidet klinisch und radiologisch 2 Formen, die zentrale und die laterale Spinalstenose. Die Foramenstenose ist eine Sonderform der lateralen Stenose. Bei 109 von 148 Patienten, die wegen einer Spinalstenose in den Jahren 1990 und 1991 operiert wurden, wurde 3 Jahre nach der Operation anhand eines standardisierten Fragebogens der aktuelle Zustand bezuglich Schmerzen und Gehfahigkeit erfast. Patienten mit nachgewiesener Spondylolisthese oder degenerativer Instabilitat waren ausgeschlossen. 11/109 Patienten machten keine Angaben. 44/109 waren schmerzfrei, 35/109 deutlich gebessert. Bei 19 Patienten waren die Schmerzen nach der Operation nicht besser oder hatten sogar zugenommen. 74/109 Patienten waren postoperativ uneingeschrankt, 14/109 eingeschrankt und 6 weitere nur mit Gehhilfe gehfahig. 7/109 Patienten waren aufgrund anderer Leiden nicht gehfahig und 8 Patienten wurden wegen fehlender Angaben nicht berucksichtigt.

Objective: To determine the neurological outcome in patients with laminar fractures associated with dural tears and nerve root entrapment, operated upon for thoracic and lumbar spine injuries. Patient population: Out of 103 patients operated upon consecutively for thoracic and lumbar spine injuries during the period 1990 to 1994 inclusive, 24 (23.3%) patients had laminar fractures out of whom 3 (2.9%) had an associated dural tear and an other 17 (16.5% or 70.8% of the total patients with laminar fractures) had an associated dural tear and nerve root entrapment. Results: Twelve (70.5%) patients had injury at the thoraculumbar junction, 13 (76.5%) had Magerl's type A3 or above, 10 (58.8) had a kyphotic angle deformity greater than 5°. Seven (41.1%) had their spinal canal's sagittal diameter reduced by at least 50% and two had dislocations. Nine (52.9%) had initial neurological deficits. Four (50%) out of 8 patients with no initial neurological deficits (Frankel E) worsened to Frankel D. However, one patient among the 3 with initial Frankel A improved to Frankel C while both patients with initial Frankel C usefully improved to final Frankel grades D and E respectively. Two of the four patients with initial Frankel D improved to Frankel E, the other 2 remaining unchanged. All in all five patients' neurological status improved, 4 worsened and 8 remained unchanged after neurosurgical treatment. Conclusions: Vertical laminar fractures with dural tears and nerve root entrapment represent a special group of thoracic and lumbar spine injuries that carry a poor prognosis. However, special operative precautions lead to significant improvement in some of them although a majority remain unchanged or even worsened.

Fragestellung: Geburtstraumatische Lasionen des Plexus brachialis treten in 0,6–2,5‰ aller Geburten auf. 80–95% dieser Lasionen bilden sich spontan zuruck. Sollte keine spontane Funktionsruckkehr innerhalb der ersten 6 Monate eintreten, muste nach entsprechender Diagnostik, wie elektrophysiologische und myelocomputertomographische Untersuchungen eine operative Freilegung des Plexus brachialis erfolgen. Methode: In einem Zeitraum von 5 Jahren haben wir 7 Kinder mit postpartaler Plexuslasion unter 99 operativ versorgten Plexuslasionen behandelt. 6/7 Kindern zeigten praoperativ Wurzelausrisse. Bei 2 Kindern wurde eine Neurotisation, bei 4 eine autologe Transplantation und beim letzten eine ausere Neurolyse des Plexus brachialis vorgenommen. Ergebnisse: Bisher wurden nur 3/7 Kindern uber einen langeren Zeitraum (26–42 Monate) nachuntersucht. Alle transplantierten Nerven zeigten klinisch eine Reinnervation. Eine Wiederherstellung der normalen Funktion war durch begleitende Wurzelausrisse limitiert. Schlusfolgerungen: Wir empfehlen als optimalen Zeitpunkt fur die Operation den Zeitraum zwischen dem 6. und 9. Monat. Um optimale Ergebnisse bei diesen Kindern zu erzielen, mus sich zunachst eine intensive krankengymnastische Behandlung anschliesen und spater sollte die Option fur Muskeltransfers und orthopadische Operationen gewahrleistet sein.

OBJECTIVE: Fifty-eight percent of patients who had undergone surgery for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow experienced pain after surgery. Severe pain, mostly radiating from the elbow into the hand, is the main indication for subsequent surgery. METHODS: During a period of 5.5 years, 25 patients underwent 28 operations for ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow and experienced excruciating pain after surgery. Ten patients had undergone a simple decompression and 15 had undergone a nerve transposition. Seven patients underwent surgery at our hospital, whereas 18 patients underwent their primary surgery at other institutions. Various surgical techniques were used during the subsequent surgery, such as external or internal neurolysis, epineurectomy, anterior transposition, and subsequent transfer of the nerve back into the sulcus. RESULTS: The average follow-up after the last procedure was 17 months (2-55 mo). All five patients with subsequent transfer of the ulnar nerve into the sulcus became pain-free, whereas only two of five patients who had secondary intramuscular transposition for subluxation became free of pain. Results after internal neurolysis were unsatisfactory. Only one of six patients was free of pain after secondary surgery. Results after three or four procedures are approximately similar to the results after the first subsequent surgery. CONCLUSION: Simple and less extensive techniques for subsequent surgery have relatively good results in this complicated condition. Although our small number of patients does not allow us to draw general conclusions, we think our report makes a contribution because of the few reports in the literature dealing with the results of subsequent surgery for ulnar nerve neuropathy.

Intraspinale Ganglien- und Synovialzysten (Juxtafacettenzysten) mit Nervenwurzelkompression sind extrem selten. Ihr Nachweis gelingt am besten mit der Kernspintomographie. Die Behandlungsmethode der Wahl ist die operative Resektion der Zyste. Es gibt aber auch spontane Remissionen dieser Zysten. Durch eine CT-gestutzte Kortikosteroidinjektion werden die Symptome in der Regel nur passager behoben. In einer retrospektiven Studie uber einen Zeitraum von 16,5 Jahren fanden wir unter 19107 operierten lumbalen und thorakalen Wurzelkompressionssyndromen 24 Juxtafacettenzysten (10 Ganglien- und 14 Synovialzysten). 16 waren im Segment L4/5, 3 im Segment L5/S1, 2 im Segment L3/4 und je 1 in den Segmenten L2/3, L1/2 und Th10/11 lokalisiert. 7 Patienten hatten nur radikulare Schmerzen, die restlichen 17 zusatzlich neurologische Storungen. Bei 14 Patienten wurde nur die Zyste entfernt, bei 10 Patienten zusatzlich die Bandscheibe ausgeraumt. 23/24 Patienten konnten zwischen 6 Monaten und 10 Jahren (Durchschnitt 26,6 Monate) untersucht werden. 74% der Patienten waren radikular schmerzfrei. In 89% der Falle bildeten sich die motorischen und in 73% die sensiblen Storungen vollstandig zuruck.

The results of 58 dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) thermocoagulation procedures in 51 patients are reported. The postoperative analgesic effect was judged by the patients as being good (more than 75% pain reduction), fair (25–75% pain reduction) or poor (less than 25% pain reduction). Of the 14 patients who underwent surgery for pain due to cervical root avulsion, 10 (77%) had permanently good (8) or fair (2) pain relief after a mean follow up period of 76 months, another 2 (15%) experienced recurrence to the pre-operative level (initially 1 good, 1 fair) after more than 2 and 4 years, respectively. Twenty two paraplegics were operated upon, 3 of whom twice, for intractable pain. After a mean observation time of 54 months, continuing pain relief was reported by 12 (55%) patients (11 good, 1 fair), and one (initially fair) had recurrent pain after 8 months. All 3 (early) re-operations remain successful for an average period of 75 months. Poor results were seen especially in cases of associated spinal cord cysts (5 out of 7), despite combined drainage, and in patients with diffuse pain distribution (5 out of 6). Continuous marked improvement for longer periods (mean follow up: 52 months) after DREZ lesions was reported only by 2 out of 10 patients with postherpetic neuralgia (12 procedures) and by 1 out of 5 with painful states due to radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (2), previous surgery (2) and malignant tumour infiltration of the brachial plexus (1). Three patients died postoperatively due to acute cardiac failure (2) and pulmonary embolism (1). Major complications, especially permanent gait disturbances were observed in 6 patients (12%) following primary procedures and in 2 out of 7 patients after re-operations, most of them suffering from postherpetic neuralgia. Minor neurological deficits were noted in 9 cases (18%). DREZ lesions revealed to be an effective procedure in patients with pain related to root avulsion and paraplegia. In contrast, it seems to be less successful for painful states due to other plexus lesions or postherpetic neuralgia.

Surgical treatment of nerve lesions in continuity remains difficult, even in the most experienced hands. The regenerative potential of those injuries can be evaluated by intraoperative electrophysiological studies and/or intraneural dissection. The present study examines the value of intraoperative high-frequency ultrasound as an imaging tool for decision making in the management of traumatic nerve lesions in continuity.Intraoperative high-frequency ultrasound was applied to 19 traumatic or iatrogenic nerve lesions of differing extents. The information obtained was correlated with intraoperative electrophysiological, microsurgical intraneural dissection, and histopathological findings in resected nerve segments.The intraoperative application of high-resolution, high-frequency ultrasound enabled morphological examination of nerve lesions in continuity, with good image quality. The assessment of the severity of the underlying nerve injury matched perfectly with the judgment obtained from intraoperative electrophysiological studies. Both intraneural nerve dissection and neuropathological examination of the resected nerve segments confirmed the sonographic findings. In addition, intraoperative ultrasound proved to be very time efficient.With intraoperative ultrasound, the extent of traumatic peripheral nerve lesions can be examined morphologically for the first time. It is a promising, noninvasive method that seems capable of assessing the type (intraneural/perineural) and grade of nerve fibrosis. Therefore, in combination with intraoperative neurophysiological studies, intraoperative high-resolution ultrasound may represent a major tool for noninvasive assessment of the regenerative potential of a nerve lesion.

Objective Current literature only gives sparse account of aneurysm surgery in an intraoperative MRI environment. After installation of a BrainSuite® ioMRI Miyabi 1.5T at our institution the aim of the present preliminary study was to evaluate feasibility, pros and cons of aneurysm surgery in this special setting.