Journal of neurosurgery
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2024
Meta AnalysisMiddle meningeal artery embolization as standalone treatment versus combined with surgical evacuation for chronic subdural hematomas: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is a novel treatment for chronic subdural hematomas (cSDHs) with high variability of use across practitioners and institutions. This study sought to investigate whether standalone MMAE may be an effective alternative to combined MMAE and surgery for select patients with cSDH. ⋯ Standalone MMAE for cSDH may yield a low rate of surgical recurrence, which may be comparable to that of combined MMAE and surgery. However, studies in this systematic review and meta-analysis were primarily single-arm studies prone to treatment bias. Future studies are needed to further investigate whether standalone MMAE may be an effective alternative to combined MMAE and surgical treatment for cSDH in select patients.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2024
ReviewCavernous venous malformations in and around the central nervous system. Part 2: Intradural.
Cavernous venous malformations (CavVMs) account for a spectrum of lesions with a shared pathogenesis. Their anatomical location dictates their clinical features and surgical treatment. Extradural and dura-based CavVMs were discussed in Part 1 of this review. ⋯ In addition to classic intra-axial CavVMs, cranial nerve CavVMs, intraventricular CavVMs, and intradural extramedullary spinal CavVMs are discussed in this group, given the similar natural history and specific management challenges. Herein the authors focus on critical clinical aspects of and surgical management of these malformations based on their location and discuss optimal surgical approaches at each of these anatomical locations with illustrative cases. The commonalities of the natural history and surgical management that are dictated by anatomical considerations lend to a new location-based taxonomy for classification of CavVMs.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2024
Multicenter StudyEndoscopic endonasal repair of encephaloceles of the lateral sphenoid sinus: multiinstitution confirmation of a new classification.
Encephaloceles of the lateral sphenoid sinus are rare. Originally believed to be due to defects in a patent lateral craniopharyngeal canal (Sternberg canal), they are now thought to originate more commonly from idiopathic intracranial hypertension, not unlike encephaloceles elsewhere in the skull base. A new classification of these encephaloceles was recently introduced, which divided them in relation to the foramen rotundum. Whether this classification can be applied to a larger cohort from multiple institutions and whether it might be useful in predicting outcome is unknown. Thus, the authors' goal was to divide a multiinstitutional cohort of patients with lateral sphenoid encephaloceles into four subtypes to determine their incidence and any correlation with surgical outcome. ⋯ Endoscopic endonasal repair of lateral sphenoid wing encephaloceles is highly successful, but repair may lead to dry eye or facial numbness. True Sternberg (type I) leaks were uncommon. Failures and facial numbness occurred only in patients with type III and type IV leaks.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2024
Long-term outcomes after conservative and EDAS treatment for 111 elderly patients with moyamoya disease: longitudinal and cross-sectional study.
This study aimed to explore the clinical features of moyamoya disease (MMD) and the efficacy of encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS) in elderly patients with MMD and to identify the risk factors for long-term stroke events. ⋯ The postoperative long-term stroke rate among elderly patients with MMD was lower in the EDAS group than in the conservative treatment group. Long-term stroke events were associated with advanced age, aneurysm, and initial ischemia after conservative treatment and only initial hemorrhage after EDAS.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2024
Successful magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound treatment of tremor in patients with a skull density ratio of 0.4 or less.
The use of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for the treatment of tremor-related disorders and other novel indications has been limited by guidelines advocating treatment of patients with a skull density ratio (SDR) above 0.45 ± 0.05 despite reports of successful outcomes in patients with a low SDR (LSDR). The authors' goal was to retrospectively analyze the sonication strategies, adverse effects, and clinical and imaging outcomes in patients with SDR ≤ 0.4 treated for tremor using MRgFUS. ⋯ The authors' results show that treatment of tremor in patients with an LSDR using MRgFUS is technically possible, leading to a safe and lasting therapeutic effect. Limiting the number of sonications and adjusting the energy and duration to achieve the required temperature early during the treatment are suitable strategies in LSDR patients.