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Biomedical subjects

J Benezech

Publications and source records attributed to J Benezech.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Value of preoperative investigations in the so-called "cervical myelopathy" (author's transl)].

The particular value of clinical, radiological and electromyographical features is compared in 42 patients with motor deficit related to cervicarthrosic myelopathy or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The initial onset of the disease was identical (motor deficit and long tracts pathways involvement). Three different groups were identifyed according to the evolution: -- Group I: (13 cases): true lateral amyotrophic sclerosis which were not operated on. -- Group II (10 cases): myelopathy called "cervicarthrosic" because of radiological findings which were operated on but had the same steady worsened course as a lateral amyotrophic sclerosis. -- Group III (19 cases): cervical myelopathy which had surgery. The operation brought about stabilization or fairly good recovery over the 18 months following at least. From a clinical aspect, the "Lhermitte sign" or objective sensitive deficit are strongly significant for cervical myelopathy. On the contrary, diffuse fasciculations specially in the tongue seem to be mostly found in lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, whereas they are restricted into the paralysed area in cervical myelopathy. Electromyographic examination is decisive: simple activity with high frequency motor units (increased amplitude and polyphasic waves) or "preponderant potentials" into a cranial nerve territory or three segments of the lower limbs are frequently found in lateral amyotrophic sclerosis. These electromyographic features are less significant in the upper limbs. The neuroradiological findings lonely cannot assert definitely the cervicarthrosic origin of the myelopathy but visualize the conflicting situation between the spinal cord and the cervical canal and allow to choose the surgical procedure.

Aged↗

[Entrapment neuropathies of the posterior interosseous nerve. Clinical findings and surgical treatment (author's transl)].

Radial nerve compression palsies at the elbow and forearm result in a lower radial nerve palsy whose clinical data are generally a hardly diagnosed dissociated radial palsy, or a rough paresis in the range of epicondylalgia. Apparently spontaneous non traumatic compressions are rare. They are essentially due to lipomas, to fibromas, or sometimes to synovial cysts of the elbow. In the course of rheumatoid arthritis, palsies must be isolated. Besides, there is an actual inflammatory canal syndrome of epicondylalgias range, in which radial nerve paresis must be investigated. Traumatic compressions are essentially due to Mongeggia fractures. Radial nerve injury at the elbow is explained by a real radial canal being, in which the nerve is entrapped and where it is especially fixed on a level of its entering the supinator brevis. Any addition of a pathological element in that area (traumatic or not, tumoral or inflammatory) will be able to involve a compression and a nerve stretching, on a level of the arch of Frohse, essentially. Surgical treatment in non traumatic compressions enables to give the etiological diagnosis and to warrant healing by opening the radial canal excising the added pathological element. To achieve a total surgical operation, in epicondylalgias, the surgeons will have to open this radial canal, as well. Traumatic compressions will be explored only in cases of non spontaneous recovery, after treating the osteoarticular injury.

Arteritis↗

Auditory brain-stem responses in comatose patients: relationship with brain-stem reflexes and levels of coma.

Auditory brain-stem responses (BSR) were recorded in 20 comatose patients in whom the level of brain-stem dysfunction was defined by clinical assessment of brain-stem reflexes and posture. No BSR abnormalities were found in the 10 cases with cortico-subcortical or diencephalic levels. The other 10 patients showed a clear relationship between alteration of the different components of the BSR and the clinical levels of brain-stem dysfunction caused by the rostro-caudal evolution. Alteration of wave P5 seems related to a midbrain dysfunction, of P3 to a pontine dysfunction and of P1 or P2 to a lower brain-stem dysfunction.

Brain Stem↗

Cerebellar gangliocytoma dysplasticum in an infant.

A boy, 25 months old, presented a cerebellar syndrome with increased intracranial pressure. Despite a ventriculo-peritoneal bypass, death occurred at the age of 4 1/2 years. Autopsy revealed a very large cerebellum, presenting a "glossy" appearance, with swelling of the brain stem. Histologically, there was a very unusual lesion with a diffuse disorganization of the cortex, a neuronoglial mixed proliferation, a large number of calcospherites, small tumour-like nodules and many leptomeningeal glial bridges. The authors consider that their case is not related to L'Hermitte-Duclo's disease, nor to gangliogliomas, and they discuss the hypothesis of hamartoma.

Autopsy↗

[The value of the study of brain stem reflexes in coma (author's transl)].

A better clinical assessment of the comatose state is obtained by the study of brain stem reflexes. Systematic research of the fronto orbicular, pupillar, corneal, masseteric, vestibulo-ocular, oculo-cardiac, palmo-mental and cornéo mandibular reflexes has enabled characterization of functional levels. Degree of comatose stade and other usual physical symptoms have been correlated. Hence brain stem injury and course is followed in acute coma. Six functional levels permit assessment of cranio-caudal disintegration of brain stem functions. According to our opinion, diencéphalo-mesencephalic level is of bad prognosis in the course of follow-up.

Adolescent↗

[Direct surgery of traumatic injuries of the radial nerve (author's transl)].

33 cases of traumatic lesions of the radial nerve are reported. Etiological features, prognosis, surgical treatment including micro-surgical techniques, leading to a larger indication of direct nerve repair are discussed. Recent nerve wounds must be repaired early. Surgical exploration will be carried out on unopened lesions when no recovery occurs within two months. According to the lesion, peri-fascicular neurolysis or fascicular resection-graft will be achieved. Tendon transfer techniques will be proposed only after one or two years without recovering, according to the level of the injury.

Adolescent↗

[Somatosensory evoked potentials and Hoffmann reflex in acute spinal cord lesions; physiopathological and prognostic aspects].

Twenty-four patients with recent and acute spinal cord lesions were examined. The somatosensory cerebral evoked potential (SEP) following stimulation of the peroneus communis nerve tested spinal conduction, whereas the H reflex showed spinal excitability belowe the lesion. After complete spinal cord section, the SEP was always abolished and the H reflex was absent in most cases tested in the first 24 hours. Into other patients, the recruitment curve and the recovery cycle of the H reflex displayed some abnormalities which progressively disappeared. With partial lesions, SEP could occasionally be altered. Some abnormalities of the H reflex recovery cycle, of the same type as those seen in the late stage of complete sections, were also observed. These data give nre information on the physiopathology of spinal shock; they lead to the distinction of several evolutionary stages after acute spinal lesions and also have prognostic disgnificance.

Adolescent↗