Computational Neuroscience Outcomes Center (CNOC), Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Objective: In defensive medicine, practice is motivated by legal rather than medical reasons. Previous studies have analyzed the correlation between perceived medico-legal risk and defensive behavior among neurosurgeons in the United States, Canada, and South Africa, but not yet in Europe. The aim of this study is to explore perceived liability burdens and self-reported defensive behaviors among neurosurgeons in the Netherlands and compare their practices with their non-European counterparts. Read More
Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Background: Severe spasticity adversely affects patient functional status and caregiving. No previous study has compared efficacy between dorsal root entry zone lesioning (DREZL) and selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for reduction of spasticity. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of DREZL and SDR for attenuating spasticity, and to compare efficacy between these two methods. Read More
Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
Craniopharyngiomas are histologically benign but locally aggressive tumors in the sellar region that may cause devastating neurological and endocrine deficits. They tend to recur following surgery with high morbidity; hence, postoperative radiotherapy is recommended following sub-total resection. BRAFV600E mutation is the principal oncogenic driver in the papillary variant of craniopharyngiomas. Read More
Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the context of cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) is an uncommon but potentially lethal complication after carotid revascularization for carotid occlusive disease. Information about its incidence, risk factors and fatality is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of ICH in the context of CHS after carotid revascularization. Read More
Purpose: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the long-term endocrine outcomes and postoperative complications following endoscopic vs. microscopic transsphenoidal resection (TSR) for the treatment of acromegaly.
Methods: A literature review was performed, and studies with at least five patients who underwent TSR for acromegaly, reporting biochemical remission criteria and long-term remission outcomes were included. Read More
Background: Endoscopic treatment of middle fossa arachnoid cysts is an alternative option to microsurgical fenestration and shunting procedures. The procedure is minimally invasive and obviates the morbidity of craniotomy and shunting.
Methods: Operative charts and videos of patients undergoing endoscopic fenestration of middle fossa arachnoid cysts were retrieved from the senior author's database of endoscopic procedures and reviewed. Read More
Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University Hospital, 23, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, South Korea.
Background: A relevant irrigating and flushing maneuver during cerebral microsurgical procedures allows for a neat and optimal operative field. However, when operating on the deep region of the brain, a delicately created slim surgical corridor could unintentionally hinder the assisting surgeon from properly performing this routine maneuver.
Method: To address this problem, the authors devised a useful and convenient irrigation system that can be used during cerebral microsurgery. Read More
Department of Neurosurgery, Subarukai Kotoh Kinen Hospital, 2-1 Hiramatsu-cho, Higashiohmi-shi, Shiga, 527-0134, Japan.
Background: There is still no clear guideline for surgical treatment for patients with medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TN). When it comes to which surgical treatment to choose, microvascular decompression (MVD) or Gamma Knife surgery (GKS), we should know the long-term outcome of each treatment.
Methods: We analyzed 179 patients undergoing MVD and 52 patients undergoing GKS followed for 1 year or longer. Read More
Background: There are conflicting opinions regarding the optimal waiting time to perform surgery after rupture of supratentorial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) to achieve the best possible outcome.
Objective: To analyze factors influencing outcomes for ruptured supratentorial AVMs after surgery, paying particular attention to the timing of the surgery.
Methods: We retrospectively investigated 59 patients admitted to our center between 2000 and 2014 for surgical treatment of ruptured supratentorial AVMs. Read More
Background: A variety of lesions can affect the orbit. Surgical approaches must be available to provide 360 degrees of access. For tumors occupying the superomedial intraconal quadrant, there is a rationale to selecting the medial orbito-frontal approach. Read More
Background: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) has no reliable biomarker to assist in the selection of patients who could benefit from ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt insertion. The neurodegenerative markers T-tau and Aβ1-42 have been found to successfully differentiate between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and INPH and therefore are candidate biomarkers for prognosis and shunt response in INPH. The aim of this study was to test the predictive value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) T-tau and Aβ1-42 for shunt responsiveness. Read More
Department of Neurosurgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Groote Plein-zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Background: The effect of anterior cervical discectomy without fusion (ACD), ACD with fusion by stand-alone cage (ACDF) or with arthroplasty (ACDA) on cervical sagittal alignment is not known and is the subject of this study.
Methods: A total of 142 adult patients with single-level cervical disease were at random allocated to different procedures: ACD (45), ACDF (47) and ACDA (50). Upright cervical spine radiographs were obtained. Read More
Department of Neurosurgery, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka-City, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan.
Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a hereditary kidney disease characterized by the progressive enlargement of innumerable renal cysts. Although the association of intracranial aneurysms (ICANs) with ADPKD is well known, the relationship between the ICAN and the disease severity including total kidney volume (TKV) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is poorly understood.
Methods: We screened 265 patients with ADPKD (mean age, 48. Read More
Differentiating radionecrosis from tumour recurrence is a major issue in neuro-oncology. Conventional imaging is far from being validated as an alternative to histological assessment. We report the case of a patient operated on for suspected recurrence of brain metastasis 9 months after cyberknife radiosurgery. Read More
Background: It could be shown in traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults that the functional status of cerebrovascular autoregulation (AR), determined by the pressure reactivity index (PRx), correlates to and even predicts outcome. We investigated PRx, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) and their correlation to outcome in severe infant and paediatric TBI.
Methods: Seventeen patients (range, 1 day to 14 years) with severe TBI (median GCS at presentation, 4) underwent long-term computerised ICP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) monitoring using dedicated software to determine CPP and PRx and optimal CPP (CPP level where PRx shows best autoregulation) continuously. Read More
Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and West China Brain Research Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Background: Chronic subdural haematoma is a common but retractable neurological disease in the elderly with a high rate of recurrence. Dexamethasone (DX) either as monotherapy or adjuvant therapy has been applied clinically, but its effectiveness and feasibility remain controversial. We conducted this review to clarify this issue. Read More
Background: Monitoring the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) has garnered increasing interest. In German-speaking countries, there is no disease-specific questionnaire available similar to the "Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality-of-life Scale" (PANQOL).
Method: We translated the PANQOL for German-speaking patients based on a multistep protocol that included not only a forward-backward translation but also linguistic and sociocultural adaptations. Read More
A 49-year-old female underwent multiple craniotomies for resection of recurrent malignant meningiomata (WHO grade III). She re-presented with sepsis due to a ventricular empyema. The craniotomy wound was urgently debrided, and isolates of the gram-negative rod, Weeksella virosa, were identified on 16S PCR. Read More
Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2017 Aug 29. Epub 2017 Aug 29.
Department of Neurological Imaging, Refractory Epilepsy Reference Center, Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital Santa Maria (CHLN-EPE), Lisbon, Portugal.
Background: The goal of the present study is the evaluation of the long-term clinical outcome of epilepsy in patients with mesial temporal lobe sclerosis (MTLS) submitted to amygdalohippocampotomy (AHCo). AHCo consists of the lateral ablation of the amygdala and the peri-hippocampal disconnection instead of amygdalohippocampectomy (AHC), which involves the removal of both structures. We previously reported the short-term results of AHCo, so we here present the long-term results (> 5 years of follow-up) of the patients operated on with AHCo. Read More
Autoregulation after traumatic brain injury can be monitored continuously using simple signal processing of intracranial pressure and arterial blood pressure. The pressure reactivity index (PRx) showed several benefits when it was applied to continuous brain monitoring. Among them, a positive and strong correlation with the outcome and possibility of calculation of 'optimal cerebral perfusion pressure' have been listed. Read More
Bilateral chylothorax following anterior cervical spine surgery is very rare. This report documents the first case of chylothorax after anterior cervical spine surgery through a right-side surgical approach. Unidentified chyle leakage can easily remain unrecognized and, thus, is difficult to treat. Read More
Objective: To review current management strategies for olfactory groove meningioma (OGM)s and the recent literature comparing endoscopic endonasal (EEA) with traditional transcranial (TCA) approaches.
Methods: A PubMed search of the recent literature (2011-2016) was performed to examine outcomes following EEA and TCA for OGM. The extent of resection, visual outcome, postoperative complications and recurrence rates were analyzed using percentages and proportions, the Fischer exact test and the Student's t-test using Graphpad PRISM 7. Read More
Background: We examined the safety and efficacy of the access-site hemostasis device Angio-Seal™ STS Plus (AS; St. Jude Medical,St. Paul, MN, USA) compared with the method of hemostasis by manual compression (MC) in neuroendovascular therapy. Read More
Background: Vertebral artery (VA) identification within the suboccipital triangle is a key step in craniocervical junction surgery. Often VA exposition at this level is arduous (space-occupying lesions, previous surgery); to identify VA more proximally may prove useful in complex cases. An alternative triangle is present just below the suboccipital one, where VA can be easily controlled; we named it the inferior suboccipital triangle (IST). Read More
Background: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) diagnosis is challenging as it can be mimicked by other neurological conditions, such as neurodegenerative dementia and motor syndromes. Additionally, outcomes after lumbar puncture (LP) tap test and shunt treatment may vary due to the lack of a common protocol in INPH assessment. The present study aimed to assess whether a post-LP test amelioration of frontal cognitive dysfunctions, characterizing this syndrome, can differentiate INPH from similar neurological conditions and whether this improvement can predict INPH post-shunt outcomes. Read More
Background: Radiographic detection of calcification in pituitary adenoma is relatively rare, and the clinical characteristics of pituitary adenoma with calcification remain unclear. Herein, the clinical characteristics of pituitary adenoma with radiological calcification were investigated.
Methods: A total of 160 patients who underwent surgical resection of pituitary adenomas between February 2004 and December 2016 were reviewed. Read More
Background: Hemodynamic changes frequently occur after carotid artery stenting (CAS), and in some patients these changes, particularly hypotension, may be prolonged. There are discrepant results for predicting patients at high risk for these prolonged hemodynamic changes and identifying the effect on clinical outcome. In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency, predictors and consequences associated with prolonged hypotension (PH) after CAS in our center. Read More
Background: Resection of tumors close to the corticospinal tract (CST) carries a high risk of damage to the CST. For cystic tumors, aspirating the cyst before resection may reduce the risk of damage to vital structures. This study evaluated the effectiveness of cyst aspiration, by comparing the results before and after aspiration of diffusion tensor image (DTI) tractography. Read More
Introduction: There are limited data with regards to the associated risk of post-operative seizures in patients with surgically treated chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs). The use of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) is associated with significant side effects.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients operated via burr hole for CSDH in our institution from 2004 to 2013. Read More
Background: The availability of minimal access instrumentation and endoscopic visualization has revolutionized the field of minimally invasive skull base surgery. The transorbital endoscopic approach using an eyelid incision has been proposed as a new minimally invasive technique for the treatment of skull base pathology, mostly extradural tumors. Our study aims to evaluate the anatomical aspects and potential role of the transorbital endoscopic approach for exposure of the sylvian fissure, middle cerebral artery and crural cistern. Read More
One of the standard surgical approaches to lateral ventricular tumors involves interhemispheric dissection along the falx cerebri. The falx cerebri thus provides an important landmark in guiding the surgeon to the midline. Unrecognized absence of falx may lead to surgical complications. Read More
Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2017 Aug 10. Epub 2017 Aug 10.
Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Turku University Hospital, Hämeentie 11, 20521, Turku, Finland.
Background: The spatial and directional accuracy of the positioning of pedicle screws in the lumbosacral spine with conventional open surgery assessed by computed tomography (CT) has been published in several studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses with a short-term follow-up. Inaccurate pedicle screw insertion may cause neurologic symptoms and weakens the construct.
Methods: The data of 147 patients operated on with transpedicular screw fixation based on anatomical landmarks, supported by fluoroscopy, by a senior neurosurgeon in our clinic between 2000 and 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Read More
Introduction: Autoimmune hypophysitis is a rare disease of the pituitary, which may affect vision by inflammation and compression of the optic chiasm. However, intrachiasmatic abscess formation has not been previously reported.
Methods: In this study, we report a case of a 29-year-old female with bitemporal hemianopia due to a cystic intrasellar tumor. Read More
Background: Elective intraparenchymal intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is useful for the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disorders. This retrospective study analyzes median ICP and pulse amplitude (PA) recordings in neurosurgically naïve patients undergoing elective ICP monitoring for suspected CSF disorders.
Methods: Retrospective review of prospectively collated database of neurosurgically naïve patients undergoing elective ICP monitoring for suspected hydrocephalus and CSF disorders. Read More
Background: An external ventricular drain (EVD) is used to measure intracranial pressure (ICP) and to drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The procedure is generally safe, but parenchymal sequelae are reported as a possible side effect, with variable incidence. We investigated the mechanical sequelae of EVD insertion and their clinical significance in acute brain-injured patients, with a special focus on hemorrhagic lesions. Read More
Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2017 Aug 8. Epub 2017 Aug 8.
Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantanxili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, People's Republic of China, 100050.
Background: This study aimed to elucidate the clinical features, surgical treatment and long-term outcomes of adolescent patients with moyamoya disease.
Methods: We reviewed consecutive patients with moyamoya vasculopathy who were admitted to our hospital from 2009 to 2015 to identify adolescent patients with moyamoya disease. Clinical features, surgical treatment and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Read More
Introduction: Advances in radiological imaging techniques have enabled volumetric measurements of meningiomas to be easily monitored using serial imaging scans. There is limited literature on the relationship between tumour growth rates and the WHO classification of meningiomas despite tumour growth being a major determinant of type and timing of intervention. Volumetric growth has been successfully used to assess growth of low-grade glioma; however, there is limited information on the volumetric growth rate (VGR) of meningiomas. Read More
Background: Despite various treatments to control intracranial pressure (ICP) after brain injury, patients may present a late onset of high ICP or a poor response to medications. External lumbar drainage (ELD) can be considered a therapeutic option if high ICP is due to communicating external hydrocephalus. We aimed at describing the efficacy and safety of ELD used in a cohort of traumatic or non-traumatic brain-injured patients. Read More
Background: Surgical innovation is different from the introduction of novel pharmaceuticals. To help address this, in 2009 the IDEAL Collaboration (Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term follow-up) introduced the five-stage framework for surgical innovation. To evaluate the framework feasibility for novel neurosurgical procedure introduction, two innovative surgical procedures were examined: the endoscopic endonasal approach for skull base meningiomas (EEMS) and the WovenEndobridge (WEB device) for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Read More
Background: Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring of the extraocular cranial nerve (EOCN) is not commonly performed because of technical difficulty and risk, reliability of the result and predictability of the postoperative function of the EOCN.
Methods: We performed oculomotor nerve (CN III) and abducens nerve (CN VI) intraoperative monitoring in patients with skull base surgery by recording the spontaneous muscle activity (SMA) and compound muscle action potential (CMAP). Two types of needle electrodes of different length were percutaneously inserted into the extraocular muscles with the free-hand technique. Read More
Background: Exact positioning of the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) probe for tumor treatment under fluoroscopic guidance can be difficult because of potentially small inaccessible lesions and the radiation dose to the medical staff in RFA. In addition, vertebroplasty (VP) can be significantly high.
Method: Description and workflow of RFA in spinal metastasis using iCT (intraoperative computed tomography) and 3D-navigation-based probe placement followed by VP. Read More
Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2017 Aug 1. Epub 2017 Aug 1.
Department of Radiology, Service of Neuroradiology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Notre-Dame Hospital, 1560 Sherbrooke East, Pavilion Simard, suite Z12909, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Background: The frontal bridging vein, which is the venous drainage route of the frontal cortex into the superior sagittal sinus (SSS), sometimes poses an obstacle in the anterior interhemispheric approach during surgery for anterior cerebral artery aneurysms. Although severe complications including venous infarction or edema due to damage to the bridging vein are well known, only a few reports have discussed how to avoid venous injury when we must sacrifice the bridging vein to obtain an appropriate surgical field. This report describes a microvascular technique performed in two patients who underwent rerouting of the bridging vein to obtain an appropriate anterior interhemispheric surgical corridor to treat a ruptured anterior cerebral artery aneurysm. Read More