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Introduction: Oculomotor nerve palsy following mild traumatic brain injury is uncommon. The exact pathogenesis, management protocol and outcome of such patients is unclear in the absence of large series. This article attempts to analyze the patterns of injury and recovery in a series of twenty one patients with third cranial nerve palsy following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and Methods: All patients admitted with mild head injury and third nerve involvement were included in the study. This retrospective study covered a three-year period from January 2015 to December 2017. Mild head injury was defined as patients with a Glasgow Coma score of 14 -15 and having a normal CT scan at admission. The clinical profile of the injury and recovery of the oculomotor nerve were jointly evaluated and followed up in the department of neurosurgery and ophthalmology. Results: Our study group included twenty one patients. Levator palpebrae superioris involvement with ptosis (95.23%) was the most consistently affected third nerve function followed by extraocular muscles (90.47%) and pupillary fibers (80.9%). Ptosis was partial in 11 patients and complete in nine. Of the extra ocular muscles, the most common muscles to be involved were the inferior rectus and the medial rectus which were involved in 19 patients (90.47%). Superior rectus involvement was seen in 13 patients and inferior oblique in nine patients. Imaging including thin section CT scans (all patients) and FIESTA MRI sequence (2 patients) did not reveal any significant abnormality. All our patients were managed conservatively. Steroids and corrective surgery was not tried in any patient. On follow up, after a mean period of 6 months, partial ptosis recovered completely while complete ptosis recovered only in four patients (44.4%). Of the seventeen patients with pupillary involvement, pupillary size and reaction improved in four (23.5%) and remained static in 13 patients. Of the extraocular muscles superior

Aim: Carotid artery ligation carries a potential risk of ischemic complications even in patients with good collaterals and adequate cross-circulation. Preoperative assessment through balloon test occlusion (BTO) is technically challenging and not feasible in all patients. We analyze our experience with universal bypass without performing detailed cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) studies in 23 patients before carotid artery ligation. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the case records of 23 patients who underwent cervical carotid artery ligation for various indications since January 2009. Results: The study included 21 patients with cavernous carotid aneurysms, one patient with a large fusiform petrous carotid aneurysm, and one patient with recurrent glomus jugulare encasing the cervical internal carotid artery. The initial 12 patients underwent preoperative BTO with hypotensive challenge. All patients underwent a bypass procedure followed by carotid artery ligation irrespective of the BTO findings. Patients who successfully completed a BTO underwent a low-flow superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass. A high-flow extracranial–intracranial bypass using a saphenous vein graft from external carotid artery to middle cerebral artery was done in all patients who either failed the BTO or did not undergo BTO. We had two operative mortalities and one poor outcome. All the other patients had a good recovery with a Glasgow outcome score of 5 at the last follow-up. Graft patency rates were 81.1% in both the low-flow and high-flow groups. Conclusion: Universal high-flow bypass is safe, effective, and should be preferred in all patients before carotid artery ligation. It obviates the need for detailed CVR assessment, especially in centers with limited resources.

Background Spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOMs) constitute a rare cause for orbital proptosis and visual impairment. This study aims to share our outcome experience with regard to vision and exophthalmos following the surgical management of 17 patients with SOM. Methods Retrospective analysis of the case records of all surgically treated SOMs in the last 10 years. Exophthalmos index (EI) was calculated based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography imaging. Vision was assessed using the Snellen’s chart and Goldman’s perimeter. Orbital volume was calculated using three-dimensional volume rendering assisted region-of-interest computation. Preoperative duration of symptoms and extent of surgery were the other predictors analyzed. Results Patients’ age ranged from 17 to 72 years (mean, 50.57 y; median, 50.0 years). Women represented 13 (76.4%) of the entire study group. Proptosis (14/17; 82.4%) and visual impairment (14/17; 82.3%) were the two most common presenting complaints followed by headache (12/17; 70.1%). Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in only 2 of the 17 patients (11.8%). Majority of the tumors were benign World Health Organization Grade I meningiomas (14/17; 84%). Mean follow-up time for the entire cohort was 56 months. Postoperatively, proptosis improved in nine (64.3%) and remained static in the rest five (35.7%) of patients. Four patients (28.6%) improved in vision following surgery. Vision remained static in eight patients (57.1%). Vision deteriorated in two (14.3%) patients who had severe preoperative visual deficits. New onset oculomotor palsy, trigeminal dysfunction, and mechanical ocular motility restriction were noticed in three (17.6%), two (11.2%), and six (35.3%) patients, respectively. The mean preoperative orbital volume was 21.68 ± 3.2 cm 3 and the mean postoperative orbital volume was 23.72 ± 3.4 cm 3. Orbital volume was inversely related to EI. Optic canal (OC) deroofing and extensive orbital wall decompression facilitated visual improvement and proptosis reduction. None of the variables including orbital volume proved to be statistically significant in predicting outcome. Conclusion SOMs constitute a rare subgroup of skull base meningiomas that pose considerable surgical challenges. A surgical strategy aimed at safe maximal resection rather than aggressive GTR provides favorable outcome with less morbidity. Adequate bony decompression of the orbital walls and OC provides satisfactory improvements in proptosis and vision. Residual disease is common, but the risk of symptomatic recurrence is low especially when combined with adjuvant radiotherapy. Visual outcome is likely to be poor in patients presenting with severely compromised vision.

Postoperative visual loss is a dreaded complication following transcranial excision of tuberculum sella meningioma. Visual deterioration is commonly noticed immediately after surgery, and delayed deterioration after 72 h is uncommon. We report a case of delayed postoperative deterioration in a 48-year-old female and discuss the possible mechanisms.

Background: Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) are rare neoplasms where the management strategy is still evolving. The purpose of this study is to present our experience of twenty cases of OPGs with an intent to add to the general fund of knowledge. Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients with OPGs surgically managed in a single tertiary centre over a period of 5 years. Variables analysed include Age at diagnosis, sex, clinical manifestations, neurofibromatosis (NF1) status, tumour location, treatment modality, symptomatic progression, and complications. Results: Of the 20 patients with OPG in the study with a mean age of 12.8 years, four patients had NF1 and 16 had sporadic OPG. Dimness of vision (80%) and headache (55%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Majority of the tumours were chiasmatic (40%) in location and vision was affected bilaterally. Subtotal resection could be achieved in 12 (60%) partial decompression in 4 (30%) and gross total resection in 2 (10%). Four patients required additional shunt surgery for hydrocephalus. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered to thirteen patients and only one patient received chemotherapy. At the end of a mean follow up period of 44 months tumour recurrence was noticed in 11/20 (55%) patients. Vision improved in none, remained stable in fifteen and deteriorated in five. Three patients (15%) succumbed to tumour regrowth in the follow up period. Conclusions: OPGs are uncommon tumours with unpredictable outcome. Visual deficits are often irreversible and progressive. Curative resection is difficult and adjuvant therapy has variable response. Overall survival rates are good but progression free and survival rates are suboptimal.