Neurosurgery
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The management and surgical technique for microsurgical tumor removal of vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuroma) with the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach and semi-sitting patient positioning is described. An emphasis is placed on the preservation of auditory and facial nerve function with a stepwise description of the technical and operative nuances, including presurgical evaluation, positioning, anesthesiological and neurophysiological aspects, approach, microsurgical techniques, and postsurgical care.
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The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine the incidence, bacteriological features, and risk factors for postcraniotomy meningitis. ⋯ Access of upper airway bacteria to the surgical wound, host factors as expressed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and duration of device-related postoperative communication of the cerebrospinal fluid and the environment are major risk factors for postoperative meningitis after craniotomy.
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Comparative Study
Role of radiosurgery in the management of cerebral arteriovenous malformations in the pediatric age group: data from a 100-patient series.
To assess the safety and efficacy of radiosurgery for the management of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the pediatric age group. ⋯ Radiosurgery is a safe and effective treatment for AVMs in the pediatric age group. One criterion for success was the use of a prescription dose similar to that used with adult populations.
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Comparative Study
A pilot study of neurocognitive function in patients with one to three new brain metastases initially treated with stereotactic radiosurgery alone.
Whether to administer or omit adjuvant whole-brain radiation therapy in conjunction with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the initial management of patients with one to three newly diagnosed brain metastases is the subject of debate. This report provides data from a pilot study in which neurocognitive function (NCF) was prospectively measured for patients with one to three newly diagnosed brain metastases treated with initial SRS alone. ⋯ Although two-thirds of the brain metastasis patients had impaired NCF at baseline, the majority of five long-term survivors had stable or improved NCF performance across executive function, learning/memory, and motor dexterity.
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Historical Article
History of spine biomechanics: part I--the pre-Greco-Roman, Greco-Roman, and medieval roots of spine biomechanics.
The roots of spine biomechanics reside in the Antiquity and the Medieval and Renaissance periods. A review of historical treatises reveals detailed information regarding this often historically neglected discipline. ⋯ These documents heavily influenced the portion of the scientific literature that we now regard as "spine biomechanics" up through the Renaissance. The focus of Part I of this two-part series is placed on the ancient and medieval biomechanics-related literature and on associated literature that influenced the development of the field of modern spine biomechanics.