P Brandicourt1, J C Sol2, S Aldéa3, F Bonneville4, P Cintas5, D Brauge6. 1. Service de Neurochirurgie, pôle Neuroscience, centre hospitalo-universitaires de Toulouse, université de Toulouse, UPS, 31000 Toulouse, France. Electronic address: brandicourt.p@chu-toulouse.fr. 2. Service de Neurochirurgie, pôle Neuroscience, centre hospitalo-universitaires de Toulouse, université de Toulouse, UPS, 31000 Toulouse, France. 3. Service de Neurochirurgie, hôpital Foch, 92150 Suresnes, France. 4. Service de Neuroradiologie, pôle Neuroscience, centre hospitalo-universitaires de Toulouse, université de Toulouse, UPS, 31000 Toulouse, France. 5. Service de Neurologie, pôle Neuroscience, centre hospitalo-universitaires de Toulouse, université de Toulouse, UPS, 31000 Toulouse, France. 6. Service de Neurochirurgie, pôle Neuroscience, centre hospitalo-universitaires de Toulouse, université de Toulouse, UPS, 31000 Toulouse, France; Institut de Biomécanique Humaine Georges Charpak Arts et Métiers Paris Tech, 75013 Paris, France.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Hirayama disease is a rare cervical myelopathy predominantly affecting young adults and mainly found in Asia. It results in a pure motor distal lesion of the upper limbs with slow progression. Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which allows the diagnosis to be made, shows a typical appearance of anterior compression of the cervical spinal cord associated with enlargement of the posterior epidural spaces due to a dilated venous plexus. Surgery is considered when conservative treatment has failed. However, the type of surgery is not well standardized in this compressive myelopathy. METHODS: We report on three patients with Hirayama disease operated using an original method: cervical decompressive laminectomy and coagulation of the posterior epidural plexus without fixation. The clinical, radiological and surgical data of these three patients were analyzed. Each patient underwent postoperative MR imaging. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 18.6 years (16-20 years) with a history of progressive symptoms lasting 1 to 4 years before treatment. Follow-up was 21 to 66 months after surgery. Neurological and electrophysiological improvement was noted in two patients; the third had stabilized. Postoperative MRI confirmed normalization of flexion imaging on MRI. None of the three patients complained of disabling neck pain. CONCLUSION: Posterior cervical decompression with coagulation of epidural venous plexus is a technique that seems effective in Hirayama disease in young subjects. It effectively treats patients by avoiding permanent cervical fixation.
INTRODUCTION:Hirayama disease is a rare cervical myelopathy predominantly affecting young adults and mainly found in Asia. It results in a pure motor distal lesion of the upper limbs with slow progression. Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which allows the diagnosis to be made, shows a typical appearance of anterior compression of the cervical spinal cord associated with enlargement of the posterior epidural spaces due to a dilated venous plexus. Surgery is considered when conservative treatment has failed. However, the type of surgery is not well standardized in this compressive myelopathy. METHODS: We report on three patients with Hirayama disease operated using an original method: cervical decompressive laminectomy and coagulation of the posterior epidural plexus without fixation. The clinical, radiological and surgical data of these three patients were analyzed. Each patient underwent postoperative MR imaging. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 18.6 years (16-20 years) with a history of progressive symptoms lasting 1 to 4 years before treatment. Follow-up was 21 to 66 months after surgery. Neurological and electrophysiological improvement was noted in two patients; the third had stabilized. Postoperative MRI confirmed normalization of flexion imaging on MRI. None of the three patients complained of disabling neck pain. CONCLUSION: Posterior cervical decompression with coagulation of epidural venous plexus is a technique that seems effective in Hirayama disease in young subjects. It effectively treats patients by avoiding permanent cervical fixation.