Extradural arachnoid cysts are rare lesions which may produce symptoms by compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots. Surgery is the treatment of choice in such lesions but asymptomatic patients can be managed conservatively. We present three cases of symptomatic extradural arachnoid cysts managed at our institute. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done in all cases showed an extradural arachnoi...

The CT, MR, and histologic findings of three patients with surgically proved lumbar extradural cavernous and arteriovenous hemangiomas are reported. All three patients suffered from radicular and low back pain that disappeared completely or nearly so after total surgical excision. In each case, neuroimaging studies showed a well-defined ventrally located extradural mass with no bone involvement...

The processed electroencephalogram (pEEG) was monitored in eight patients undergoing gynaecological laparotomy under combined extradural and nitrous oxide-isoflurane anaesthesia. Pre-incisional mean spectral edge frequency 95 percentile (SEF95) and median frequency (MF) were 11.67 (SD 1.63) Hz and 3.74 (0.24) Hz, respectively. After skin incision, both SEF95 and MF decreased to 6.61 (2.04) Hz a...

To clarify pregnancy-induced changes in soft tissue anatomy within the vertebral canal, we have studied magnetic resonance (MR) images of the lumbar spine in three women. In each subject, T2-weighted axial MR images were obtained both before pregnancy and at 32 weeks' gestation, and the paired images were compared. The extradural venous plexus was engorged significantly in supine parturients. I...

Sir,—We thank Dr Sinton for his detailed comments on our case report. The combined spinal-extradural was used to provide analgesia for vaginal examination and rupture of membranes in this woman with a known low lying placenta. In our experience, this technique provides excellent sacral analgesia without motor block, which is obviously undesirable in early labour. We apologize that full details ...

UNLABELLED Haemangiomas of the vertebrae, usually regarded as having little or no consequence, may display aggressive features, including extension into the extradural space, and cause significant neurological symptoms and signs necessitating treatment. Extraosseous haemangiomas in an extradural or intradural extramedullary location are a rare entity. Here we review our radiologic and pathologi...

OBJECTIVE Using the National Health Insurance claim data, we prospectively investigated the age- and sex-specific incidence density and relative hazards of nontraumatic lower-extremity amputation (LEA) and peripheral revascularization procedure (PRP) of the diabetic population in Taiwan. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 500,868 diabetic patients and 500,248 age- and sex-matched control ...

A technique for extradural deafferentation of the S2 to S5 segments and extradural implantation of stimulating electrodes is described, and its application to twelve patients with spinal cord lesions is reported. Nine patients use their implants for micturition, and seven are fully continent. The advantages and disadvantages of this technique compared with the more usual intrathecal procedure a...

We have investigated the effect of age on thoracic extradural dose requirements in 62 patients aged 20-79 yr. Fifteen millilitre of 2% mepivacaine was administered at a constant rate (1 ml s-1) by syringe pump through an extradural needle at the T9-10 interspace. A mean of 15.5 (SD 4.2) spinal segments were blocked 15 min after completion of the administration. The extradural dose requirement d...

A model is described which was used to study the genesis of the pressure in the extradural space. It consists of a Perspex outer tube, with perforations covered with rubber septa to allow the insertion of needles, and Paul's tubing on the inside, representing the dura mater. The Paul's tubing is filled with water through a constant head of pressure apparatus. The response of the model to the in...