Does the neuronal plasticity exist in elderly patients? report of an unusual clinical case.
METHODS
Case report.


OBJECTIVE
To report complete recovery after paraplegia in an elderly patient after removal of meningioma at C7-T1 level.


METHODS
Department of Neurosurgery, Reggio Calabria, Italy.


METHODS
An 82-year-old lady with 48 months of progressive weakness and numbness was admitted with complete paraplegia lasting 15 days. Investigations (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) demonstrated a meningioma at C7-T1. The tumour compressed the extremely thinned spinal cord. MRI after surgery showed no evidence of residual tumour and the spinal cord was of normal dimensions. The patient recovered fully and locomotion was restored.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical decompression gave an excellent result. The result raises the possibility of neuronal plasticity.
Gambardella
G
G
Department of Neurosurgery, Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli Hospital, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
Gervasio
O
O
Zaccone
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery