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Biomedical subjects

W E Strachan

Publications and source records attributed to W E Strachan.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

MRI diagnosis of vertebral arteriovenous malformations in neurofibromatosis.

We describe two patients with neurofibromatosis, each of whom was found to have an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), an uncommon manifestation of the disease, presenting as an extradural space-occupying lesion in the cervical spine. In one patient the finding of an unsuspected AVM at operation led to massive blood loss; in the other magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neck allowed the diagnosis to be made and the hazard of an operation to be avoided. Solid tumours that may occur in the disease of neurofibromatosis are known to cause neurological deficits as the result of space occupation. We wish to draw attention to another pathological entity which may cause neurological deficits: that of AVMs. We also propose that in the investigation of such a patient MRI be borne in mind as a non-invasive radiological tool, particularly as, hopefully, its cost reduces and its availability becomes more widespread.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The long-term results of localised anterior cervical decompression and fusion in spondylotic myelopathy.

A retrospective analysis is presented of 46 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated by anterior cervical decompression and fusion. In each case the spondylosis was localised and a maximum of two intervertebral levels was fused. Operation had been carried out 7.0 to 14.4 years (mean 10.0 years) previously and the mean age at surgery was 60 years. Disability was such that no patient was able to work prior to operation and only 10 patients (22%) could walk unaided. The functional results, in terms of walking ability, show that 36 patients (78%) have been improved, six (13%) remain unchanged and in 4 patients (9%) the disease has progressed. Twenty nine patients (63%) were able to walk without aid at the time of review. On a subjective basis 30 patients (65%) felt that they had benefitted from surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

The role of craniectomy in the treatment of chronic subdural hematomas.

A consecutive series of 48 adult patients with a chronic subdural hematoma is reported. These patients were treated according to a protocol consisting of a sequence of conventional surgical procedures ranging from simple burr-hole drainage to craniotomy and subdural membranectomy. Seven patients (15%) continued to demonstrate severe neurological dysfunction, or suffered acute neurological deterioration after completion of this protocol. However, after undergoing excision of the cranial vault overlying the hematoma site, six of these seven patients demonstrated a significant clinical improvement. Based on analysis of these seven cases, the authors suggest that craniectomy be considered in those patients who suffer a symptomatic reaccumulation of subdural fluid following craniotomy and membranectomy, or who demonstrate further neurological deterioration as a result of cerebral swelling subjacent to the hematoma site. However, this procedure probably has no efficacy once extensive cerebral infarction has occurred.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Spinal epidural abscess presenting as acute abdomen in a child.

Spinal epidural abscess is seldom encountered in children and rarely occurs in the absence of spinal pain. A case is described in which a child with a thoracic epidural abscess presented with abdominal rather than spinal pain. Thoracolumbar radicular inflammation and visceroparietal reflexes initiated by a s'spinal ileus' probably produced the symptoms and signs of acute intra-abdominal disease. Consideration of intraspinal disease is advisable in all cases of acute abdomen which exhibit atypical features.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1978

Intracerebral hemorrhage due to ruptured venous aneurysm. Report of two cases.

Documented rupture of venous aneurysms associated with arteriovenous fistulas is uncommon, and reports of the formation and rupture of venous aneurysms that are not associated with fistulas are distinctly rare. One case is presented in which spontaneous rupture of a saccular aneurysm on a vessel draining an arteriovenous fistula produced an intracerebral hematoma. A second case in described in which fatal intracerebral hemorrhage was produced by a traumatic aneurysm of an otherwise normal superficial cerebral vein.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Tuberculous brain abscess.

Brain abscess is probably the least common manifestation of tuberculous infection of the central nervous system. Some authors have made a rigid distinction between tuberculous brain abscess and variants of cerebral tuberculoma. Such a distinction is not supported by our own case of tuberculous brain abscess, or by review of similar, recently reported cases.

Brain Abscess↗