Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 27. Epub 2022 Jun 27.

Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK.

We describe the first ever-reported occurrence of a post-operative tension pneumosyrinx occurring after a resection of an intradural intramedullary spinal tumour in a 40-year-old patient. Post-operatively, he developed sudden onset paraplegia and imaging revealed a tension pneumosyrinx which was subsequently surgically decompressed. He made a gradual neurological recovery. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 25. Epub 2022 Jun 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.

Background: Transpetrosal approaches are technically complex and require a complete understanding of surgical and radiological anatomy. A careful evaluation of pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan is mandatory, because anatomical or pathological variations are common and may increase the risk of complications related with the approach.

Methods: Pre-operative characteristics of venous and petrous bone anatomy were analysed and correlated with intraoperative findings, using injected magnetic resonance imaging and thin-slices computed tomography scan. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 25. Epub 2022 Jun 25.

Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). While the success of DBS is dependent on careful patient selection and accurate lead placement, programming parameters play a pivotal role in tailoring therapy on the individual level. Various algorithms have been developed to streamline the initial programming process, but the relationship between pre-operative patient characteristics and post-operative device settings is unclear. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 24. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Department of Clinical Sciences - Neurosciences, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.

Background: Early, objective prognostication after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is difficult. A biochemical marker would be desirable. Correlation has been found between levels of the protein S100 beta (S100B) and outcome after aSAH. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 23. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 23. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.

Purpose: Traditional endoscopic endonasal approaches to the cavernous sinus (CS) open the anterior CS wall just medial to the internal carotid artery (ICA), posing risk of vascular injury. This work describes a potentially safer midline sellar entry point for accessing the CS utilizing its connection with the inferior intercavernous sinus (IICS) when anatomically present.

Methods: The technique for the midline intercavernous dural access is described and depicted with cadaveric dissections and a clinical case. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 23. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients admitted to primary stroke centers are often transferred to neurosurgical and endovascular services at tertiary centers. The effect on microsurgical outcomes of the resultant delay in treatment is unknown. We evaluated microsurgical aSAH treatment > 72 h after the ictus. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 22. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Turumai-cho, Nagoya City, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.

Objective: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CMs) presenting with focal neurological symptoms or mass effects require surgical removal. In recent years, cylindrical retractors have been widely utilized for the removal of deep-seated lesions during both microscopic and endoscopic surgery. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic transcylinder removal of CMs using a novel wet-field technique. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 22. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuokashimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan.

Purpose: This study investigated the most significant factor for the preservation of the global neurocognitive status and frontal executive functions in the surgical clipping of unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms, specifically in keyhole and conventional clipping procedures.

Methods: The prospective study that was performed to examine the effects of aneurysm surgery on the patient's global neurocognitive status and frontal executive functions started on April 2016. After exclusion posterior circulation aneurysms, anterior communicating aneurysms treated by interhemispheric approach, giant aneurysms, and paraclinoid aneurysms, 23 patients who were enrolled before May 2017 were treated by conventional clipping, and 18 patients who were enrolled after June 2017 were treated by keyhole clipping. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 18. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Neurosurgery Department, Sainte-Anne Military Teaching Hospital, 2 boulevard Sainte-Anne, 83800, Toulon Cedex 9, France.

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 17. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.

Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the incidence of and independent risk factors for spinal cord stimulator implantations for patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery.

Methods: The PERFormance, Effectiveness, and Cost of Treatment (PERFECT) episodes database, which was established for selected diseases and procedures in Finland, includes all patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery for degenerative spine conditions or spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in Finland from 1986 to 2018. The data on age, sex, hospital diagnoses, surgical procedures, and causes of death were imported from the Finnish national registers into the PERFECT database. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 15. Epub 2022 Jun 15.

Department of Neurosurgery, Stroke Center, Sapporo Teishinkai Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.

Background: The posterior condylar emissary vein (PCEV) and posterior condylar canal (PCC) are anatomical landmarks for identifying important structures like jugular tubercle and occipital condyle in surgical approach to the foramen magnum and condylar fossa. Several anatomical variations have been described. Drainage into the jugular bulb is found to be commonest. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 11. Epub 2022 Jun 11.

Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.

Purpose: Approaches for lumbar corpectomies can be roughly categorized into anterolateral (AL) and posterolateral (PL) approaches. It remains controversial to date whether one approach is superior to the other, and no comparative studies exist for the two approaches for lumbar corpectomies.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed through a MEDLINE/PubMed search. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 10. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

Objective: To clarify the technical pearls of cavernous sinus molding technique with hemostatic agent injection during endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery.

Methods: All patients pretreated with cavernous sinus hemostatic agent injection molding technique for hemostasis in endoscopic endonasal surgery for pituitary adenoma resection between November 2017 and June 2021 were included. A small incision was made in the cavernous sinus wall before intracavernous manipulation. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 6. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Background: Little is known about the extent to which glioma patients experience subjective changes in cognitive function following surgery. We sought to assess patient-reported cognitive function before and after glioma surgery and explore potential factors associated with cognitive change.

Methods: In a prospective population-based study, patient-reported cognitive function was measured in 182 patients undergoing primary surgery for diffuse glioma (141 high-grade gliomas (HGG) and 41 low-grade gliomas (LGG)) by using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 cognitive function subscale preoperatively and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 4. Epub 2022 Jun 4.

School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect of combined selective peripheral neurotomy (cSPN) on the spasm of the lower limbs after spinal cord injury.

Methods: A prospective intervention (before-after trial) with an observational design was conducted in 14 spinal cord injury patients with severe lower limbs spasticity by cSPN. Given the severe spasm of hip adductor, triceps surae, and hamstring muscles in these patients, a total of 26 obturator nerve branches, 26 tibia nerve branches, and 4 sciatic nerve branches partial neurotomy were performed. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 4. Epub 2022 Jun 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute of Thailand, 312, Rajavithi Road, Thung Phayathai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand.

Restoration of hand function after C8-T1 spinal nerve injury is challenging. We report a case of a young patient who underwent single-stage transfer of extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) branch of radial nerve to flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) branch of median nerve and transfer of brachialis branch of musculocutaneous nerve to anterior interosseous nerve (AIN), aiming for restoration of all finger flexion in iatrogenic C8-T1 spinal nerve injury after the resection of a dumbbell-shaped C8 neurofibroma. At 18 months after the operation, the fingers and thumb functions were successfully restored. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jun 3. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

The Pediatric Oncology Research Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Historically, few pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors were thought to result from genetic predisposition. However, within the last decade, new DNA sequencing methods have led to an increased recognition of high-risk cancer predisposition syndromes in children with CNS tumors. Thus, genetic predisposition is increasingly impacting clinical pediatric neuro-oncology. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jul 1;164(7):1889-1890. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

Department of Neurosurgery, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jul 1;164(7):1693-1705. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

Department of Public Health, Center for Medical Decision Making, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Erasmus MC Stroke Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Objective: To compare outcomes between patients with primary external ventricular device (EVD)-driven treatment of intracranial hypertension and those with primary intraparenchymal monitor (IP)-driven treatment.

Methods: The CENTER-TBI study is a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal observational cohort study that enrolled patients of all TBI severities from 62 participating centers (mainly level I trauma centers) across Europe between 2015 and 2017. Functional outcome was assessed at 6 months and a year. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jul 30;164(7):1747-1754. Epub 2022 May 30.

Department of Neurosurgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein-zuid 10, 6525GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the pulsatility curve to predict shunt response in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH).

Methods: Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid dynamics were derived from an automatic lumbar infusion test (LIT) protocol. All patients were treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunting and re-examined 6 months after shunting. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jul 31;164(7):1883-1888. Epub 2022 May 31.

Cense Spine, Department of Neurosurgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Purpose: Incidental durotomy (ID) is one of the most common complications in degenerative surgery. Due to the negative consequences of ID, knowledge about incidence and risk factors is warranted.

Methods: A total of 1,139 surgical procedures for lumbar spinal stenosis (LS) and lumbar herniated disc (LDH) were included from the spine surgery database: DaneSpine. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 May 31. Epub 2022 May 31.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea.

Purpose: The effects of anesthetic technique on intermediate-term postoperative adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) functional outcomes have not been fully determined in non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) patients. Postoperative hypocortisolism is potentially life-threatening and requires steroid replacement after pituitary surgery. The present study determined whether sevoflurane anesthesia was predictive of 3-month postoperative hypocortisolism in NFPA patients with preoperative normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jul 31;164(7):1855-1859. Epub 2022 May 31.

Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, No. 12 Wulumuqi Middle Road, Shanghai, China.

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic progressive disease leading to recurrent stroke due to occlusion of the terminal internal carotid arteries. Surgical revascularization for symptomatic MMD is an effective treatment for preventing further stroke. However, direct revascularization of advanced MMD remains challenging due to small caliber of the recipient vessel and perforators. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jul 31;164(7):1707-1717. Epub 2022 May 31.

Neurology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital (Mr Huovinen, Drs Marinkovic, Isokuortti and Melkas), Haartmaninkatu 4, P.O. Box 340, N00029, Helsinki, HUS, Finland.

Background: Return to work (RTW) might be delayed in patients with complicated mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), i.e., MTBI patients with associated traumatic intracranial lesions. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

Neurocritical Care Unit, Dept. of Neurosurgery and Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: Data on critically ill patients with spontaneous empyema or brain abscess are limited. The aim was to evaluate clinical presentations, factors, and microbiological findings associated with the outcome in patients treated in a Neurocritical Care Unit.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 45 out of 101 screened patients with spontaneous epidural or subdural empyema and/or brain abscess treated at a tertiary care center between January 2012 and December 2019. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jul 26;164(7):1805-1814. Epub 2022 May 26.

Division of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Rescue and Pain Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Background: There is increasing evidence that inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and in the development of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). However, the assessment and interpretation of classically defined inflammatory parameters is difficult in aSAH patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between easily assessable findings (hyperventilation, fever, white blood cell count (WBC), and C-reactive protein (CRP)) and the occurrence of DCI and unfavorable neurological outcome at discharge in aSAH patients. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jul 26;164(7):1793-1803. Epub 2022 May 26.

Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi, India.

Introduction: The ventriculoperitoneal shunt is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures. One of the avoidable complications of shunt surgery is shunt infection. This PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis analysed the effectiveness of topical and/or intraventricular antibiotics in preventing shunt infections in patients undergoing shunt surgery. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 Jul 26;164(7):1967-1972. Epub 2022 May 26.

Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.

Background: The petrous apex is one of the most challenging areas of the skull base to access.

Method: We present a case of residual petrous apex chordoma posterolateral to the paraclival segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) resected with combined endoscopic endonasal and contralateral transmaxillary (CTM) approaches, without lateralization of the ICA.

Conclusion: This case demonstrates the value of the CTM corridor in resecting petrous apex lesions that are posterolateral to the paraclival segment of the ICA. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

Department of Neurosurgery, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey.

Purpose: In terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality, preservation of the perforating arteries branching from the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) during clipping is particularly imperative in patients with ACoA aneurysm. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether perforating arteries originated from ACoA were pushed away in a different location in patients with ACoA aneurysm. Furthermore, if they did so, we aimed to identify the direction in which they were dislocated and how the perforating arteries could be preserved during clipping. Read More