Extradural arachnoid cyst in the spine is an uncommon cause of spinal cord compression in the paediatric population. Most reported cysts have communication with the intrathecal subarachnoid space through a small defect in the dura. The reported child had spinal cord compression caused by a large spinal extradural arachnoid cyst in dorsal spine that did not communicate with the intradural subara...

To test the hypothesis that segmental thoracic extradural block causes sympathetic denervation caudally beyond dermatomes rendered analgesic, we have measured regional skin temperatures in six conscious dogs after upper thoracic, mid thoracic, and lumbar extradural injection of 0.5% bupivacaine 0.5, 1 and 2 ml cumulatively (total dose: 3.5 ml) given at 45-min intervals. Dogs were studied at con...

BACKGROUND Anterior clinoidectomy is a difficult but important part of surgery for a variety of parasellar, proximal carotid and central skull base pathologies. First developed intradurally nearly 60 years ago, the promotion of an extradural technique decades later offered an approach with a different set of difficulties, risks and benefits. Many recent studies have demonstrated that there is n...

INTRODUCTION Hemorrhagic complications of arachnoid cysts have been reported, extensively presenting with subdural or intracystic hematoma after trauma, but presentation with extradural hemorrhage is very rare. In this paper, we report the case of a patient with an arachnoid cyst who developed an extradural hematoma after a subtle head injury. Our patient presented with very mild symptoms in sp...

To clarify the effects of the pregnant uterus on the extradural venous plexus in the supine and lateral positions, we studied magnetic resonance (MR) images of the lumbar spine in three parturients. T2-weighted axial MR images were obtained with the parturient in the supine and lateral positions. On each slice level in the same subject, the MR images were compared with the control MR images obt...

Extradural arachnoid cysts in the spine are rare and are seldom a cause of spinal cord compression. They are thought to arise from congenital defects in the dura mater, and they almost always communicate with the intrathecal subarachnoid space through a small defect in the dura. The mainstay of treatment in patients with neurological symptoms is surgical removal of the cyst together with ligati...

After repeated, successful extradural injections in a parturient, the extradural catheter migrated into the subdural space. The injection of 3% chloroprocaine 10 ml resulted in an extensive block, which extended to the cranial nerves and paralysed the respiratory muscles. The position of the catheter tip was confirmed by fluoroscopy. Subdural injection should always be suspected when tests for ...

Four patients are described with proven subacute extradural haematomas, each with an abnormal cerebral scan of diagnostic assistance. A possible mechanism of production of the subacute extradural haematoma is discussed, and appears to be similar to the mechanism involved in the subacute subdural haematoma. The means by which the abnormal scan results in such cases is also examined, from which i...

A 44-year-old woman was examined for progressive left lower extremity weakness and spasticity. Thoracic spine MR imaging and CT myelography showed a ventral dural defect at T7-T8 with an extradural subarachnoid fluid collection and extradural herniation of the spinal cord. Intraoperative sonography confirmed the appropriate level for dural entry and the finding of spinal cord herniation. After ...

Complement activation and anaphylatoxin formation were studied in 28 patients undergoing aortic reconstructive surgery under general anaesthesia. In 12 of the patients an extradural catheter was placed in the L1-2 space and 2% mepivacaine was injected until blockade reached the T4 level. The remaining 16 patients were operated upon under general anaesthesia alone. Complement activation was not ...