[Treatment of multisegmental intramedullary cervical spinal cord ependymomas].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the possibility of microneurosurgery techniques in the treatment of multisegmental intramedullary cervical spinal cord ependymomas.


METHODS
The clinical data of 26 cases of multisegmental intramedullary cervical spinal cord ependymomas patients was reviewed and analyzed.


RESULTS
There were 14 cases of cervical spinal cord ependymomas, 12 cases of cervical and thoracic spinal cord ependymomas. 4.5 spinal cord segments were involved in average. Incompletely inferior paraplegia was in 18 cases, incompletely high paraplegia in 8 cases, dyspnea in 6 cases, sphincter dysfunction in 10 cases. MRI detected syringomyelia formation in 24 cases. Vertebral lamina reposition were done in 20 cases. Muscle strength recovered in 21 cases, no change in 4 cases, aggravated in 1 case. All cases had total resection and 1 cases vertebral had instability in MRI.


CONCLUSIONS
Total resection of intramedullary cervical spinal cord ependymomas can be achieved by microneurosurgery. Most of the symptoms can be released after microsurgical treatment. After multisegmental laminotomy, the vertebral plate reposition should be done to ensure the stability.
Yang
Yu-ming
YM
Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China. yym5182002@yahoo.com.cn
Jiang
Hong-zhi
HZ
Sha
Cheng
C
Yuan
Qing-guo
QG
Wang
Chang-chun
CC
Xie
Hong-wen
HW
Zhou
Kun
K
Wang
Da-ming
DM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome