Neurosurgery
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Case Reports Comparative Study
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a National Football League player.
We present the results of the autopsy of a retired professional football player that revealed neuropathological changes consistent with long-term repetitive concussive brain injury. This case draws attention to the need for further studies in the cohort of retired National Football League players to elucidate the neuropathological sequelae of repeated mild traumatic brain injury in professional football. ⋯ This case highlights potential long-term neurodegenerative outcomes in retired professional National Football League players subjected to repeated mild traumatic brain injury. The prevalence and pathoetiological mechanisms of these possible adverse long-term outcomes and their relation to duration of years of playing football have not been sufficiently studied. We recommend comprehensive clinical and forensic approaches to understand and further elucidate this emergent professional sport hazard.
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Clinical Trial
Preserving olfactory function in anterior craniofacial surgery through cribriform plate osteotomy applied in selected patients.
Olfaction is often sacrificed to gain access to the cranial base in anterior craniofacial surgery. We describe the long-term results of olfactory function in patients who underwent anterior craniofacial surgery and a cribriform plate osteotomy to preserve olfaction. ⋯ Olfaction can be preserved in selected patients undergoing anterior craniofacial surgery. At least 1 cm of nasal mucosa should remain attached to the cribriform plate, which can be achieved by including the nasal bone in the osteotomy of the orbital bar. A medial orbital canthopexy is therefore necessary after these procedures.
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Cerebral revascularization is an important part of the treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms that require deliberate occlusion of a parent artery. In situ bypass brings together intracranial donor and recipient arteries that lie parallel and in close proximity to one another rather than using an extracranial donor artery. An experience with in situ bypasses was retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ In situ bypass is a safe and effective alternative to extracranial-intracranial bypasses and high-flow bypasses using saphenous vein or radial artery grafts. Although in situ bypasses are more demanding technically, they do not require harvesting a donor artery, can be accomplished with one anastomosis, and are less vulnerable to injury or occlusion.
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To introduce the possibility of volume-rendered helical computed tomographic (CT) angiographic data sets by use of Medtronic StealthStation Treon surgical navigation technology (Medtronic Surgical Navigation Technologies, Louisville, CO) and to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the method in planning and performing surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms. ⋯ Reports in the literature indicate that information gathered by CT angiography with volume rendering shows a significant impact on aneurysm management. The StealthStation system upgraded with the adequate algorithm seems to provide a time- and cost-effective method of performing automated 3-D volume rendering of CT angiography and provides an interesting alternative to the available investigation modalities in case of emergency.
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Case Reports
Functional monitoring for visual pathway using real-time visual evoked potentials and optic-radiation tractography.
It has been difficult to obtain anatomic and functional information about the visual pathway during neurosurgical operations. The aim of this study was to combine the information of the visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and the anatomic navigation of the optic radiation by diffusion tensor imaging-based tractography for functional monitoring of the visual pathway. ⋯ We confirmed functional correlations of the results of diffusion tensor imaging-based tractography by monitoring intraoperative VEPs. The combination of continuous VEP and optic-radiation tractography is reliable to monitor the visual function and is helpful in performing neurosurgical planning near the visual pathway.