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

Abstract

Study design: Case report. Objective: To report complete recovery after paraplegia in an elderly patient after removal of meningioma at C7-T1 level. Setting: 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. Conclusion: Surgical decompression gave an excellent result. The result raises the possibility of neuronal plasticity.

Primary osteosarcoma of the thoracic spine: report of an unusual elderly patient with autopsy findings

“…During adulthood, neural tissue has less capacity for neuronal plasticity, although plastic changes may be found at any age, 10 in which spinal cord morphological plasticity correlates with neurological function. 11 In the presence of complete paralysis before the operation, surgical treatment does not produce any essential improvement apart from pain relief, however, neurological improvement tends to be provided by immediate decompression in case of paresis.…”