תוצאת חיפוש

Cerebellar Infarction: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment

Y. Skurnik, S. Brandiner, G. Gandelman, Z. Shtoeger

Medical Dept., Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot (Affiliated with Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem) and Dept. H, Harzfeld Hospital, Gedera

Cerebellar infarction is relatively infrequent and accounts for about 2% of all strokes. Its clinical presentation and course are variable. It may resemble vestibulitis in mild cases, but the presentation may be more dramatic in other cases. Cerebellar infarction may cause life-threatening complications such as acute hydrocephalus or brain stem compression, resulting from their mass effect in the posterior fossa or extension of the infarct to the brain stem.

Clinical features alone are insufficient for the diagnosis and for follow-up of patients with cerebellar infarction. However the advent of CT and MRI and their availability enable early diagnosis of cerebellar infarction, and early recognition of the development of acute hydrocephalus or brain stem compression which require surgical decompression. The prognosis of most cases is good when treatment is appropriate.

Ilizarov Reconstructive Surgery in Complex Problems of the Musculoskeletal System

H. Shtarker, G. Volpin, A. Lerner, H. Stein, S. Wientroub, D. Hendel

Depts. of Orthopedic Surgery, Western Galilee Hospital, Naharyia, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Dana Children Hospital, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, and Rabin Medical Center (Golda Campus, and Hasharon Hospital), Petah Tikva

The Ilizarov technique is an important modality of reconstructive surgery for limb deformities, such as malunion and nonunion of fractures, persistent osteomyelitis, and bone loss following complex limb injuries, as well as in limb- lengthening procedures. It has received wide recognition in the Western world over the past decade. In MEDLINE we found 537 articles published between 1971-1995 that describe the use of this technique. Of these, only 18 were published between 1971-1975, while 261 were published between 1991-1995.

The present paper describes the developments and updates in this method, as a result of the large experience gained by the authors in a number of centers in Israel using this technique. The Ilizarov apparatus is a circular frame that allows accurate control, much more than any other external fixator, during correction of limb deformities and limb-lengthening. It is minimally invasive, and open techniques and use of internal hardware and bone grafts are not needed.

Based on our experience, we suggest that this method requires careful preoperative planning and meticulous surgical technique. More important, cooperation between surgeon and patient throughout the lengthy treatment is a prerequisite to ensure complete success, even in the most complicated cases.

Epidural Spinal Abscess

E. Tamir, Y. Mirovsky, N. Halperin

Orthopedics Dept., Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin

A 42-year-old man was admitted for fever and severe low back pain radiating to both legs. On MRI, an epidural spinal abscess from S1 to D10 was seen. Treatment included laminectomy, drainage of the abscess and antibiotics. Recovery was complete without neurological damage. Increased awareness of this disease may lead to diagnosis and treatment.

Suprascapular Nerve Entrapment in a Basketball Player

Atzmon Tsur, Radi Shahin

Rehabilitation Unit and Dept. of Neurology, Western Galilee Hospital, Nahariya

A basketball player was shown to have a suprascapular nerve lesion without any history of shoulder girdle trauma. This acute neuropathy, never previously described in basketball players, is a result of repeated micro-trauma, due to nerve traction over the coracoid notch during violent movement ("dunking" most probably). Clinically, he was unable to abduct his arm and had some difficulty in external rotation. He developed atrophy in both the supra- and the infraspinatus muscles. Nerve conduction latency to the supraspinatus muscle was 8.0 ms, and to the infraspinatus, 8.5 ms. The compound muscle action potential registered in the supraspinatus was 1.224 mV, and in the infraspinatus, 1.237 mV. After 3 weeks of inactivity, recovery was spontaneous and practically complete.