Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Mar 2014
Lower thoracic degenerative spondylithesis with concomitant lumbar spondylosis.
Degenerative spondylolisthesis of the spine is less common in the lower thoracic region than in the lumbar and cervical regions. However, lower thoracic degenerative spondylolisthesis may develop secondary to intervertebral disc degeneration. Most of our patients are found to have concomitant lumbar spondylosis. By retrospective review of our cases, current diagnosis and treatments for this rare disease were discussed. ⋯ Lower thoracic degenerative spondylolisthesis is a rare disease, which may occur concomitantly with lumbar spondylosis and confuse clinicians. Diagnosis should be made properly, especially because symptoms/signs cannot be explained purely on the basis of the available images. Micromotion due to facet joint laxity and disc degeneration was believed as the cause of progressive myelopathy. Posterior decompression with fixation/fusion procedure was appropriate for the treatment of thoracic spondylolisthesis secondary to thoracic disc degeneration.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Mar 2014
Prognostic role of the number of involved extraspinal organs in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression.
This study was investigated the prognostic role of the number of involved extraspinal organs in the survival of patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). ⋯ The number of involved extraspinal organs is a new and independent prognostic factor in patients with MSCC and should be considered in future clinical trials.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Mar 2014
Complications and outcomes of surgery for spinal meningioma: a Nationwide Inpatient Sample analysis from 2003 to 2010.
The aim of the present study was to analyze the practice patterns, complications and outcome following surgery for spinal meningioma in the United States. ⋯ Caucasian patients with private insurance without co-morbidity had significantly lower complication rate and good outcome. Occurrence of spinal meningioma in the pediatric and adult age groups does not carry worse prognosis.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Mar 2014
Observational StudyFrequency, magnitude, and distribution of head impacts in Pop Warner football: the cumulative burden.
A growing body of research suggests that subconcussive head impacts or repetitive mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) can have cumulative and deleterious effects. Several studies have investigated head impacts in football at the professional, collegiate, and high school levels, in an attempt to elucidate the biomechanics of head impacts among football players. Youth football players, generally from 7 to 14 years of age, constitute 70% of all football players, yet burden of, and susceptibility to, head injury in this population is not well known. ⋯ Despite smaller players and slower play when compared to high school, collegiate or professional players, those involved in youth football sustain a moderate number of head impacts per season with several high magnitude impacts. Our results suggest that players involved in open-field, tackling plays that have head-to-head contact sustain impacts with the highest linear accelerations. Our data supports previously published data that suggests changes to the rules of play during practice can reduce the burden of hits.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Mar 2014
Endovascular management of cerebral vasospasm following aneurysm rupture: outcomes and predictors in 116 patients.
To retrospectively assess the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of cerebral vasospasm with different modalities and assess predictors of outcome. ⋯ Endovascular therapy for vasospasm has an excellent safety-efficacy profile. Balloon angioplasty and nicardipine are equally effective but effects of nicardipine are less durable. Patients with incipient pre-procedure hypodensities benefit from endovascular intervention and should probably not be excluded from treatment.