Neurosurgery
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Several hypotheses have been proposed for the pathophysiology of suprascapular nerve (SSN) palsy, including compression, traction, and nerve inflammation. ⋯ The great majority of patients with presumed isolated SSN palsy had clinical, electrophysiological, and/or imaging evidence of a more diffuse pattern of neuromuscular involvement. These data strongly support an inflammatory pathophysiology in many cases of "isolated" SSN palsy.
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Cervical facet dislocations are among the most common traumatic spinal injuries. Posterior, anterior, and combined surgical approaches have been described and are widely debated. ⋯ Anterior approaches are viable for reduction and stabilization of cervical facet dislocations. Further prospective studies are required to evaluate clinical and long-term success.
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Most of the patients with Parkinson's disease suffer from speech disorders characterized mainly by dysarthria and hypophonia. ⋯ Our findings suggest mechanisms of neuronal degradation due to Parkinsonian speech disorders and their possible compensation. As impairment in sharply tuned units may be compensated by broadly tuned ones, the proposed compensation model appears to be suboptimal, lending support to the persistence of speech disorders in the course of the disease.
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Development of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) after correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) undermines sagittal alignment. Minimally invasive anterior column realignment (ACR) is a powerful tool for correction of ASD; however, long-term PJK rates are unknown. ⋯ The incidence of PJK after minimally invasive ACR is slightly lower than reported after open surgery but greater than in LLIF only and increases with PCO utilization. The PJK rate increases when crossing the TL junction, sagittal imbalance severity, and overcorrection. Elderly patients are at an increased risk, suggesting need for age appropriate correction goals.
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Surgery for cervical radiculopathy is often approached by either anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF). ACDF is more common; however, recent single center studies suggest comparable efficacy and significant cost savings with PCF in appropriately selected patients. ⋯ Within the inherent limitations of administrative data, our findings suggest an opportunity for value improvement in managing cervical radiculopathy and indicate a need for large-scale comparative study of clinical outcomes and costs.