Patients with moderate TBI are at a serious risk of developing brain intravascular microthrombosis. Our study supports the early use of low molecular weight heparin.

We report one case of a 78-year-old woman who referred to our hospital because of a progressive right hemiparesis. On clinical examination a painless large soft mass in the left parietal region was observed. CT and MRI revealed an extra-axial mass in the in the left fronto-temporo-parietal region. The lesion was totally excised despite the bleeding tendency. Histology disclosed the presence of a plasmacytoma. Postoperative, the patient developed an epidural hematoma that required immediate evacuation. On further investigation active tuberculosis was detected. On follow up examination 1 year later no tumor recurrence or evidence of multiple myeloma was detected.

Various surgical treatments have been proposed for the treatment of chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH). Herewith, we set out to compare the efficacy of an enlarged single burr hole versus double burr hole drainage for the treatment of CSDH. We studied patients with symptomatic CSDH proven by CT scan that were treated in our institute between January 2002 and January 2009. All patients were treated by an enlarged single or double burr hole drainage. A subdural drain was placed in all cases. A total of 245 patients were included in the study. Double hole drainage was performed in 156 (63.7%) patients (group A) and an enlarged single burr hole drainage in 89 (36.3%) patients (group B). There were nine recurrences in group A and five in group B; however, the difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant relationship between recurrence rate and age, gender, bilateral haematoma and antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy. There was a trend towards higher risk of recurrence for patients with residual clots on postoperative CT scan. The mean hospitalization time was 6.2 days, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. No significant difference was found between patients' outcome, as assessed by Glasgow outcome scale score, and treatment method. Enlarged single burr hole and double burr hole drainage had the same efficacy in the treatment of CSDH.

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Plexiform neurofibroma of the cauda equina is extremely rare. Herein, a case is reported in a 56-year-old man who also had muscle atrophy, severe motor disturbance, and mild sensory disturbance of the left leg due to childhood poliomyelitis. The clinical symptoms manifested insidiously until the patient developed cauda equina syndrome. At operation, the tumor mass was observed to engulf the nerve roots of the cauda equina. After pathological examination, the diagnosis of plexiform neurofibroma was made. Neither the patient described herein nor any previously reported patients had neurofibromatosis.