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Patients with acute to subacute multifocal neurologic abnormalities often have a unique presentation, and their diagnosis and management can be challenging. We present the case of a 40-year-old patient who presented with a 4-day history of confusion, bradyphrenia, right facial droop, bilateral lower limb weakness, urinary incontinence, and hypothermia. This case highlights the diagnostic approach to patients with subacute multifocal neurologic abnormalities, the importance of considering coexisting systemic illnesses in the diagnosis, and their management. Readers will explore the diagnostic steps our group has considered to reach our final diagnosis and the importance of management for our leading diagnosis., (© 2023 American Academy of Neurology.)

Objective: Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is a devastating complication of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. We aim to characterize current practices pertaining to SCI prevention and treatment across Canada., Methods: Two questionnaires were developed by the Canadian Thoracic Aortic Collaborative and the Canadian Cardiovascular Critical Care Society targeting aortic surgeons and intensivists. A list of experts in the management of patients at risk of SCI was developed, with representation from each of the Canadian centers that perform complex aortic surgery., Results: The response rate was 91% for both intensivists (21/23), and from cardiac and vascular surgeons (39/43). Most surgeons agreed that staging is important during endovascular repair of extent II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (60%) but not for open repair (34%). All of the surgeons felt prophylactic lumbar drains were effective in reducing SCI, whereas only 66.7% of intensivists felt that lumbar drains were effective (P < .001). There was consensus among surgeons over when to employ lumbar drains. A majority of surgeons preferred to keep the hemoglobin over 100 g/L if the patient demonstrated loss of lower-extremity function, whereas most intensivists felt a target of 80 g/L was adequate (P < .001). Management of perioperative antihypertensives, use of intraoperative adjuncts, and management of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in the presence of a lumbar drain, were highly variable., Conclusions: We observed some consensus but considerable variability in the approach to SCI prevention and management across Canada. Future studies focused on the areas of variability may lead to more consistent and improved care for this high-risk population., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Neurological syndromes occur in around 40-70% of HIV-infected people. Direct central nervous system involvement by the virus usually manifests as HIV encephalitis, HIV leucoencephalopathy, vacuolar leucoencephalopathy or vacuolar myelopathy. Indirect involvement is usually associated with neurotropic opportunistic infections which include tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis and viral encephalitis such as herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, cytomegalovirus and Human polyomavirus 2. We report a case of transverse myelitis in a recently diagnosed HIV patient who was otherwise asymptomatic initially and developed paraparesis after 1 month of initiation of antiretroviral therapy. After ruling out opportunistic infections and other causes of compressive and non-compressive myelopathy, development of transverse myelitis was attributed to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in view of baseline low CD4 count and their improvement after HAART initiation. Prompt treatment with corticosteroids successfully reversed the symptoms.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

We describe the case of a 76-year-old man who presented with bilateral lower limb weakness associated with decreased urine output. His initial blood results showed acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 3 with substantially raised serum creatine kinase concentration of 37 950 IU/L (normal range <171 U/L). He had been on high-dose rosuvastatin for 4 years with a recent brand change occurring 1 week prior to onset of symptoms. There was no history of pre-existing neuromuscular disease. Statin-related rhabdomyolysis was suspected and rosuvastatin was withheld. His muscle strength gradually improved. He required haemodialysis for 10 weeks. He was discharged home after a complicated course of hospitalisation. His renal function improved and he became dialysis-independent; however, he was left with residual chronic kidney disease., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: To present a rare neurological complication of dengue fever., Patients and Methods: A 24-year-old female presented with acute myelitis seven days after dengue fever onset., Results: The patient presented with intense fever. The day-7 examination revealed a paraparesis, T2 sensory level, and urinary retention. The patient complained of electric discharges in the four limbs. The sitting and standing positions were impossible. An MRI of the spinal cord performed on day 8 revealed diffuse medullar hyper intense lesions on T2-weighted sequences at the cervical and thoracic levels, with enhancement of the thoracic lesion after gadolinium injection. Laboratory tests revealed positive dengue antigen on day 5 and positive IgM/IgG on day 8. Treatment with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone was initiated., Conclusion: Dengue virus has not often been reported as a cause of myelitis. Physicians must be aware of this rare complication in patients living in or coming from endemic areas., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: The mechanisms of action of MTX (methotrexate) in the treatment of RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and PsA (psoriatic arthritis) is related to its antifolic activity, due to the high affinity for enzymes that require folate cofactors as dihydrofolate reductase and to the anti-inflammatory activity derivated from the inhibition of thymidylate synthetase that leads to the over-production of adenosine., Patient Concerns: Our patient was a 41-year-old female, affected by PsA in treatment since 2 years with low-dose methylprednisolone and low-dose subcutaneous MTX. The treatment was effective. The patient subacutely developed a severe paraparesis with impossibility of gait or standing without aid and was admitted to a Neurology Department where the cause of the paraparesis was not clear in spite of accurate radiological neurophysiologic and laboratory tests. Therefore, she was admitted in a rehabilitation unit., Diagnosis and Interventions: Paraparesis in PsA patient in treatment with methotrexate. MTX toxicity was hypothesized; therefore the drug was discontinued while i.m. folic acid and cyanocobalamin were administered for 20 days. The diagnosis was clinical, based on neurological examination (paraparesis) and on the chronic use of MTX (hypothesis of toxicity)., Outcomes: The patient obtained a complete resolution of paraparesis. Genetic analyses showed associated a compound heterozygosity for the c.1298A>C and c.677C>T variants of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene., Lessons: Neurological side effects of MTX are uncommon. In literature no previous case of MTX induced paraparesis in patients treated with low-dose MTX for chronic arthritis has been described. The association between the gene polymorphisms of MTHFR (c.1298A>C and c.677C>T) and MTX toxicity in arthritis patients is confirmed. The case also confirms that folates are a precious antidote of MTX toxicity.

Purpose of Review: This review aims at updating the clinical and genetic aspects of hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) and hereditary cerebellar ataxias (HCAs), focusing on the concept of spastic-ataxia phenotypic spectrum and on newly identified clinical overlaps with other neurological and nonneurological diseases., Recent Findings: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has allowed the discovery of new genes involved in HSPs and HCAs. They include new HCAs genes such as GRM1 (SCA44), FAT2 (SCA45), PLD3 (SCA46), SCYL1 (SCAR21), UBA5 (SCAR24) and XRCC1 (SCAR26) as well as CAPN1 (SPG76) and CPT1C (SPG73) in HSPs. Furthermore, NGS allowed enriching known genes phenotype, reinforcing the overlap between HSPs and HCAs defining the spastic ataxia spectrum. Clear examples are the expanded phenotypes associated with mutations in SPG7, PNPLA6, GBA2, KIF1C, CYP7B1, FA2H, ATP13A2 and many others. Moreover, other genes not previously linked to HCAs and HSPs have been implicated in spastic or ataxic phenotypes., Summary: The increase of HSPs and HCAs-related phenotypes and the continuous discovery of genes complicate clinical diagnostic in practice but, at the same time, it helps highlighting common pathological pathways, therefore opening new ways to the development of common therapeutic approaches.

The description of the motor deficit of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) varies significantly, leading to confusion within the neurological terminology. This paper proposes a concise and easy to use terminology to describe the motor deficit of patients with SCI. A broad review of the origin of the nomenclature used to describe the motor deficit of patients with SCI was performed and discussed. The prefix: "hemi" should be used to describe paralysis of one half of the body; "mono" for one limb; "para" for lower limbs, di" for two symmetrical segments and/or parts in both sides of the body; "tri" for three limbs, or two limbs and one side of the face; and "tetra" for four limbs. The suffix: "plegia" should be used for total paralysis of a limb or part of the body, and "paresis" for partial paralysis. The term "brachial" refers to the upper limbs; and "podal" to the lower limbs. According to the spinal cord origin of the main key muscles for the limbs, patients with complete injury affecting spinal cord segments C1-5 usually presents with "tetraplegia"; C6-T1 presents with "paraplegia and brachial diparesis"; T2-L2 with "paraplegia"; and L3-S1 with "paraparesis".

Background: Legs burning for treating lumbar radicular pain are still in use nowadays in low socioeconomical environments. They are dangerous as the case we report shows clearly., Clinical Case: A 49-year-old man came to our attention with severe flaccid paraparesis occurred 10 days before, almost immediately after he had immersed his legs in boiling water to treat his severe left lumbocrural pain. This was known to be due to a right L3/4 herniated disk diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. At the examination he showed severe motor paresis and absent reflexes of his lower limbs, while crural pain was mild and sensation and urinary function were unaffected. The results of his neurologic examination led us to suspect an acute motor axon degeneration related to thermal shock. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging, performed before the planned electromyogram as an exception to the established routine, showed instead a giant 5- × 5.5-cm, herniated disk compressing the dural sac at L3., Conclusions: Prompt surgical decompression led to rapid improvement. We discuss here the pathophysiology of this unusual case and point out how medieval practices for treating sciatica-like pain are not only unjustified from a medical viewpoint but also potentially dangerous., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Decompression sickness may involve the central nervous system. The most common site is spinal cord. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between magnetic resonance(MR) imaging findings of spinal damage., Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 12 patients (male=10, female=2) who presented with spinal cord symptoms. We investigated their clinical features, neurological findings and radiologic findings., Results: The depth and bottom time of the dive were 34.5 meters (range 22-56) and 22.7 minutes (range 10-55) respectively. Most divers ascended within appropriate time frame as shown by the decompression tables. The most frequent initial symptoms were lower limb weakness (n=12), followed by sensory disturbances (n=10) and bladder dysfuction (n=5). The chief radiologic abnormalities were continuous (n=3), or non-continuous (n=5) high-signal intensity on T2-weighted images at posterior paramedian portion of the spinal cord, mainly thoracic level. There were no abnormal findings in the remaining four (4) patients, and they showed good prognosis. All patients were treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and some received high-dose dexamethasone. On discharge, five (5) patients had made a full recovery, seven (7) had some residual neurological sequelae, and all patients except one (1) regained normal bladder function., Conclusions: Spinal cord decompression sickness is a neurological emergency. Early recognition and treatment may minimize neurological damage. Initial normal finding in MR imaging was a good predictor for prognosis in spinal decompression sickness., Competing Interests: The authors of this paper declare no conflicts of interest exist with this submission.

Intracerebral hemorrhage is a well-known complication resulting from warfarin use; however, warfarin-associated intraspinal hematoma is very rare. Warfarin-associated intraspinal hematoma may exhibit delayed progression, and patients may present with atypical symptoms, occasionally resulting in delayed diagnosis. We report the case of a 65-year-old man who visited our emergency department (ED) with acute urinary retention. He had been previously diagnosed with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, arterial hypertension, and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and he used warfarin for the prevention of systemic embolism. The patient was initially diagnosed with worsening of the prostatic hyperplasia. After 2 days, he revisited the ED with painless paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine revealed an intraspinal hematoma at Th7-8, and blood coagulation tests indicated a prothrombin time-international normalized ratio of 3.33. Despite attempts to reverse the effects of warfarin with vitamin K administration, the paraparesis progressed to paraplegia, necessitating urgent surgical removal of the hematoma. Partial recovery of motor function was evident after surgery. From the present case, we learned that intraspinal hematoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients using warfarin who present with acute urinary retention. Although there are no evidence-based treatment guidelines for warfarin-associated intraspinal hematoma, surgical treatment may be warranted for those who exhibit neurological deterioration.

Numerous adverse factors are acting in the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal period of life and may be the cause of later mild or severe deviations from normal psychomotor development. Therefore, it is crucial to identify infants with neurological risk factors and infants that already have a delay from orderly development, in order to immediately initiate the rehabilitation process. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is difference in the assessment of psychomotor development in neurological risk children based on the psychomotor development test (Croatian, Razvoj psihomotorike, RPM test) and clinical evaluation of neuromotor development. RPM test is designed for rough estimate of psychomotor development in children in the first two years of life. The study included 15 full term children (8 male and 7 female) with clinical diagnosis of mild paraparesis and mild deviation from normal psychological and social development, and 15 full term children (8 male and 7 female) without neurological risk factors and deviations from normal psychomotor development, all at the age of 12-24 months. Of the 15 children diagnosed with mild paraparesis, none had delayed psychomotor development, 6.7% had suspect development and 93.3% had normal development on RPM test. All children in the control group had normal development on RPM test. According to the results, the RPM test is not sensitive enough to detect mild neurodevelopmental disorders.

Introduction: Complete intraspinal canal rod migration with posterior bone reconstitution has never been described in the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) population. We present an unusual but significant delayed neurological complication after spinal instrumentation surgery., Case Report: A 24-year-old woman presented with lower limb weakness (ASIA D) 8 years after posterior instrumentation from T2 to L4 for AIS. CT scan and MRI demonstrated intra-canal rod migration with complete laminar reconstitution. The C-reactive protein was slightly elevated (fluctuated between 10 and 20 mg/l). Radiographs showed the convex rod had entered the spinal canal. The patient was taken into the operating room for thoracic spinal decompression and removal of the convex rod. This Cotrel-Dubousset rod, which had been placed on the convexity of the thoracic curve had completely entered the canal from T5 to T10 and was totally covered by bone with the eroded laminae entirely healed and closed. There was no pseudarthrosis. Intra-operatively, the fusion mass was opened along the whole length of this rod and the rod carefully removed and the spinal cord decompressed. The bacteriological cultures returned positive for Propionibacterium acnes. The patient recovered fully within 2 months post-operatively., Conclusion: We opine that the progressive laminar erosion with intra-canal rod migration resulted from mechanical and infectious-related factors. The very low virulence of the strain of Propionibacterium acnes is probably involved in this particular presentation where the rod was trapped in the canal, owing to the quite extensive laminar reconstitution.

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are benign but locally aggressive osseous lesions characterized by blood-filled cystic cavities that account for 1-2% of all bone tumors. While pain remains the most common presenting symptom of spinal ABC, extensive anterior column involvement can result in vertebral fractures, spinal instability, and neurological deficits from compression of neural elements. An exceedingly rare case of thoracic ABC presenting as acute paraparesis in a 21-year-old pregnant woman, that was successfully treated with urgent surgical decompression and stabilization, is reported, with discussion of management strategies and review of the pertinent literature., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bilateral obturator nerve injury during pelvic surgery is an infrequent cause of lower limb paraparesis. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman with a large uterine leiomyoma who underwent simple total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy. At 24 h after the surgery, the patient noticed loss of muscle strength when adducting both legs. She had no problem with other movements and no sensory or sphincter abnormalities. Neurological examination confirmed that there was loss of strength only in the adductor muscles, with preserved sensory function and reflexes, suggesting bilateral obturator nerve involvement. Pelvic MRI showed a small postsurgical haematoma in the Douglas recess, but far from the obturator nerves. 2 weeks later, electromyography showed positive sharp waves and low motor unit recruitment in the adductor magnus muscles, confirming acute, bilateral obturator nerve neuropathy. The few cases of bilateral obturator neuropathy that have been reported were mostly related to abdominopelvic interventions., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Purpose: We describe an extremely rare and previously unreported presentation of acute progressive paraparesis secondary to traumatic thoracic disc herniation in a child presenting to our institution., Methods: A 12-year-old girl presented with progressive paraparesis 24 h after falling from standing height while playing at school. She was being lifted up by her friends and fell landing on her feet then rolled onto her back initially with no pain or neurological sequelae. Over the next few hours, she developed back pain followed by progressive paraparesis associated with urinary retention and sensory impairment., Results: MR imaging demonstrated an unusual lateral and dorsally based lesion at T7/8 causing cord compression which was thought to represent an epidural haematoma. Urgent posterior decompressive surgery was performed but no evidence of haematoma was seen, a large well-circumscribed solid piece of soft tissue was found in the extradural space causing significant cord compression. This was sent for histological analysis and subsequently reported as showing cartilaginous disc material. Postoperative MR imaging at 2 weeks and 3 months demonstrates complete resection of this disc material with no significant kyphotic deformity on standing X-ray at 18 months. Complete neurological recovery occurred over the subsequent 3 months following emergent surgery, and at 18-month review, the patient remains asymptomatic and fully independent.

Objective: Arachnoiditis is an inflammatory process resulting with the fibrosis of arachnoid mater. It can vary in severity from mild thickenings to catastrophic adhesions that ruins subarachnoid space. As a result, arachnoid cysts can be formed. Arachnoid cyst induced by symptomatic spinal arachnoiditis is a rare complication of subarachnoid haemorrhages. In this article, we aimed to present a case of spinal arachnoid cyst formation following subarachnoid haemorrhage and examine similar cases in the literature., Case Report: Forty-six years old, previously healthy female patient has been treated medically for headaches due to perimesencephalic subarachnoid bleeding. Approximately two and a half months later, she started to have severe headaches and diplopia. We detected hydrocephalus and performed ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. Two months later, she started to have complaints of weakness in her lower extremities. On neurological examination, she had paraparesis and on spinal magnetic resonance imaging she had an arachnoid cyst lengthening from C7 to T2 and compressing the spinal cord posteriorly. We performed partial laminectomy, drainage of arachnoid cyst and replacement of cystopleural T tube shunt. On follow-up, her lower extremity strength has ameliorated. She was taken into a physical therapy and rehabilitation programme. Three months later she was able to walk with a crutch., Conclusion: Subarachnoiditis and associated arachnoid cyst can cause severe morbidity. This rare situation (which especially occurs following subarachnoid haemorrhage of posterior fossa) should be known and physicians should keep in mind that it requires urgent surgical procedure.

Kikuchi's disease is a rare condition that mainly presents in young females along with lymphadenitis. Involvement of the nervous system is rare. We report a young female who presented with fever, headache, vomiting, lymphadenopathy and neurological manifestations in the form of aseptic meningitis, ataxia and paraparesis. Since the disease can be mistaken clinically and histologically for SLE, lymphoma and tuberculosis it is important to differentiate it from these conditions. Also our case emphasizes the importance of recognising this disorder in diagnosing patients with meningitis.

Periodic paralysis is a muscle disorder that belongs to the family of diseases called channelopathies, manifested by episodes of painless muscle weakness. Periodic paralysis is classified as hypokalemic when episodes occur in association with low potassium levels. Most cases are hereditary. Acquired cases have been described in association with hyperthyroidism. Diagnosis is made on clinical and biochemical grounds. Patients may be markedly hypokalemic during the episode and respond well to potassium supplementation. Episodes can be prevented by achieving a euthyroid state. This report describes a young gentleman presenting with thyrotoxic hypokalemic paraparesis. The condition needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of neuromuscular weakness in the context of hypokalemia by the treating physicians.

The authors reported a case of cervical juxtafacet cyst with extensive rim enhancement on gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacid magnetic resonance imaging. Operative finding revealed the epidural space around the mass filled with abundant venous plexus. Histological examination demonstrated that cyst wall was composed of the well-vascularized fibrous connective tissue with some inflammatory changes. We speculate that extensive rim enhancement of juxtafacet cyst may be attributed not only to the chronic inflammatory changes of cyst wall, but to engorged venous plexus within the widened epidural space., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A 15-year-old female California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) with progressive lameness of the hindlimbs and a chronic skin lesion was presented for clinical examination. The clinical neurological examination, showing a paraparesis, was completed by magnetic resonance imaging. MR images of the cervical and thoracic spine showed a well-defined muscle infiltrating lesion between the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) and the second thoracic vertebra (T2), which extended through the intervertebral foramina between C7 and T1 into the vertebral canal, causing spinal cord compression and displacement. Pathological examination revealed focal purulent meningitis resulting from widespread fistulas of the chronic skin leasion, which was infected with Escherichia coli var. haemolytica and Clostridium perfringens.

Introduction: Spine tuberculosis is caused by Micobacterium tuberculosis. It is localized in the vertebral body or intervertebral disc. Its diagnosis is often delayed because of nonspecific symptoms and neglected presence of tuberculosis, which leads to serious complications., Case Report: This paper presents a case of tuberculous spondylitis, which was complicated with the fracture of vertebra, paraparesis of lower extremities and pleural empyema. The treatment with antituberculous drugs started after the fracture of 10th and 11th thoracic vertebras. The therapy brought some improvement but paraparesis of lower extremities remained. In the further course of disease, inflammatory process affected the pleura. Antibiotic and antitubercular therapy with puncture of pleura were not very effective. Operation was performed on December 20th 2011: Thoracotomia lat. dex. Decorticatio pulmonum lat.dex. Seven months after surgery, the patient was without symptoms., Conclusion: Tuberculous spondylitis occurs relatively frequently in clinical practice. Early diagnosis and adequate therapy of this disease can prevent the occurrence of its serious complications.

Hypokalaemia and its subsequent complications are more often seen in children rather than in adults and are more common with falciparum malaria. This is a case of a 26-year-old male with Plasmodium vivax malaria who had developed paraparesis secondary to hypokalaemia. His treatment involved correction of the potassium level as well as the treatment of malaria. Such an atypical manifestation of malaria in an adult has not been previously documented.

Aim: Spinal cord ischemia is a well-known complication in the treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysms (TAAA). Despite the fact that endovascular treatment of TAAA is less invasive, spinal cord ischemia rate is not reduced if compared to open repair., Methods: We report the results of our experience of spinal cord function monitoring by measuring motor evoked potentials (MEP) during endovascular treatment of TAAA type II and III. Depending on the level of the MEPs the decision is made whether to stage the procedure or not. We treated ten patients according to this protocol., Results: In two patients, MEPs decreased 50% or more and procedures were staged. Both experienced no neurological complications after first and second procedure. No MEPs decrease was seen during the second procedures. One of the other eight patients had a temporary right lower leg pararesis., Conclusion: In conclusion we state that our first experience demonstrates the value of assessing spinal cord function during extensive endovascular TAAA repair with subsequent strategies to prevent paraplegia.

Background: In rare cases of cervical myelopathy, there may be a discrepancy between the sensory level and the site of cord lesion. This phenomenon is not well recognized. This study sought to investigate the characteristics of patients presenting with a false localizing thoracic sensory level., Methods: The databases of the neurology clinics of two major tertiary medical centers were reviewed for all patients who presented in 2000-2010 with a main complaint of paraparesis and a thoracic sensory level. Those whose initial thoracic magnetic resonance scan showed no spinal cord pathology were included in the study., Results: Twelve patients (mean age, 52 ± 31 years) met the study criteria. In all cases, the pathological lesion was visualized on magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine or brain. Eight patients had a compressive lesion of the spinal cord and 4 had demyelinating lesions. The difference between the false localizing sensory level and the level of the cervical lesion ranged from 6 to 11 segments., Conclusion: Patients with a sensory thoracic level and normal findings on thoracic magnetic resonance imaging should be further evaluated with cervical spinal cord and, sometimes, brain imaging to search for potentially treatable lesions., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Two cases of infiltrative lipomas compressing the spinal cord and causing nonambulatory paraparesis in 2 large-breed dogs are reported. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed severe extradural spinal cord compression by inhomogenous masses that infiltrated the adjacent tissues and the muscles of the spine in both dogs. The presumptive clinical diagnoses were infiltrative lipomas, which were confirmed by histopathology. In rare cases infiltrative lipomas are able to compress the spinal cord by the agressive growth of invasive adipocytes causing neurological deficits.

Objective: Brown tumors are nonneoplastic lesions that occur only in the setting of hyperparathyroidism. Although vertebral brown tumors are relatively rare pathologic entities, their incidence seems to be on the rise, as evidenced by multiple case reports published during the past four decades. An extensive review of these lesions is lacking in the literature. We present a case of paraparesis secondary to vertebral brown tumor followed by a detailed review of the literature., Methods: We performed a review of the literature to locate all reported cases to date of vertebral brown tumors resulting in neurologic sequelae. In addition, we present the case of a 33-year-old female with end-stage renal disease and previous subtotal parathyroidectomy who presented with acute-onset paraparesis from an expansile L1 brown tumor and was treated successfully by laminectomy and bracing., Results: Thirty cases of vertebral brown tumor resulting in neurologic deficit were located in our literature search. Most occurred in women (63%), those aged 40 to 49 years (27%), and in the thoracic spine (57%). Lesions occurred roughly equally in primary (47%) and secondary (53%) hyperparathyroidism. Most patients demonstrated either symptomatic or radiographic improvement after neurosurgical intervention and/or subtotal or total parathyroidectomy., Conclusion: In patients presenting with a lytic vertebral lesion and known hyperparathyroidism or end-stage renal disease, brown tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis. In select cases with minimal neurologic symptoms, parathyroidectomy may be warranted prior to neurosurgical intervention., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Progressive paraparesis is a neurosurgical and neurological emergency. The patient's neurological outcome relies on the course of the diagnostics and treatment. Physicians having experience in emergency medicine are familiar with the typical etiologies of paraparesis. Uncommon causes of paraparesis may, however, elicit diagnostic challenges. Intraspinal bleeding causes a rapid progression of the symptoms. Intraspinal epidural hematoma is a rare complication of spinal anaesthesia and may be diffcult to diagnose if the blood is located in the subarachnoidal space. Spinal arteriovenous malformations and arachnoideal cysts causing medullary compression, and myelitis may present with slowly proceeding paraparesis. The diagnostics of the conditions described above is often difficult and typically requires facilities that are available only in larger centers.

Acute non-traumatic weakness may be life-threatening if it involves respiratory muscles or is associated with dysautonomia. Most patients presenting with an acute muscle weakness have a worsening neurologic disorder that requires a rapid, systematic approach, and detailed neurologic localization of the findings. In many patients, urgent laboratory tests are needed and may involve neuroimaging. Because acute weakness is a common presenting sign of neurological emergencies, it was chosen as an Emergency Neurological Life Support protocol. An inclusive list of causes of acute weakness is explored, both by presenting complaint and anatomical location, with an outline of the key features of the history, examination, investigations, and treatment for each diagnosis.

Surfer's myelopathy is a rare, nontraumatic spinal cord injury that typically occurs in beginner surfers. The condition was first described in 2004 by Thompson et al and usually presents in thin young men. We present a 19-year-old man who developed lower back pain, profound bilateral lower limb paraparesis, and hyperesthesia during his first learn to surf class. The event was not associated with trauma. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated features consistent with spinal cord ischemia. The motor recovery due to surfer's myelopathy is variable; our case remained a paraplegic with a T10 sensory level.

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world. We present an unusual case of leptospirosis in a 44-year-old man with severe thrombocytopenia and transient paraparesis. The diagnosis of leptospirosis was confirmed by blood nested polymerase chain reaction, seroconversion of Leptospira IgM and the microscopic agglutination test. Nerve conduction studies were suggestive of early polyneuropathy involving the right peroneal nerve and bilateral sural nerves. Peripheral nerve palsy is a potential clinical feature of leptospirosis., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Delayed neurologic deficits, paraplegia and paraparesis, are devastating complications after repair of a descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). A treatment protocol has not been established, although strategies such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage, maintaining blood pressure and medication have been described. Cerebrospinal drain status /oxygen delivery/patient status (COPS) therapy for delayed neurological deficit can improve spinal cord ischemia through reducing intraspinal pressure, improving oxygen delivery and maintaining high blood pressure. We describe one patient (Case 1), in whom descending thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms were treated by endovascular aortic repair, and another (Case 2) with Crawford type II TAAA, who developed delayed neurological deficits that were treated with immediate COPS therapy (Modified Tarlov scale; Case 1, improved from 2 to 4; Case 2, from 0 to 4). These findings indicate the benefit of COPS for treating delayed neurological deficits after descending thoracic and TAAA.

Symptomatic intradural extramedullary arachnoid cysts in children are rare, and of the previously reported pediatric cases in the current literature, none to our knowledge were associated with a spinal cord syrinx. We describe an 8-year-old child who presented with paraparesis and regression of bowel and bladder control. An intradural extramedullary arachnoid cyst was identified on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, with an associated spinal cord syrinx. We describe the preoperative imaging, surgical management, and clinical course of this patient, who had improvement in his paraparesis. This paper reviews relevant pediatric literature and the etiology of arachnoid cysts and associated spinal cord syrinx formation., (Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.)