title: Spinal hydatid disease.
abstract: Vertebral hydatid cysts are rare and found in less than 1% of all the cases of hydatidosis. Neural compression is common in vertebral hydatidosis. The prognosis is generally regarded as very poor. This paper examines the natural history and complications which may arise during the treatment of vertebral hydatid cyst, and discusses their treatment. Thirteen cases of hydatid disease affecting the vertebrae are presented. The patients were admitted with symptoms of spinal cord compression. Twelve were treated by laminectomy and one by costotransversectomy. Low back pain radiating to the legs and lower extremity weakness were the predominant symptoms. Different degrees of pareses were present in 12 patients. Nine patients had impaired sensation in lower extremities. In 13 patients, 27 operations were performed. The major complication of surgery was the death of one patient due to the formaline irrigation. The surgical goal should be an extensive removal of the cysts and affected bone. The surgical area needs to be irrigated with hypertonic saline. Mebendazole or albendazole therapy seems to retard the recurrences and control the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Işlekel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Erşahin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zileli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oktar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ovül
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozdamar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tunçbay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome