title: Unusual non-osseous compression at the craniovertebral junction--a report of four cases.
abstract: A variety of congenital and acquired non-osseous compression elements at the craniovertebral junction have been known and a fibrous band among them is unusual. Unaccompanied by any bony abnormality, non-osseous compression due to thickened epidural tissue, possibly congenital, presenting in adulthood is described in four cases. The onset of symptoms was in the fourth and sixth decades. Three were males and one was a female. The clinical picture was a slowly progressive spastic quadriparesis except in the only female patient who developed sudden quadriplegia while carrying a weight over her head. MR tomography was diagnostic while CT scan ruled out any bony pathology. Release of the localised epidural constriction was performed in all; in one transorally. Good recovery ensued postoperatively while histopathology excluded infective or neoplastic pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nizam's Institute of Medical Science, Panjagutta, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Naidu
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed