Neurosurgery
-
Persistent postconcussive symptoms (PCS) are poorly understood in children. Research has been limited by an assumption that children with concussion are a homogenous group. ⋯ This study indicates variability in postconcussive recovery according to 5 differential trajectories, with groups distinguished by the number of reported symptoms, levels of child internalizing behavior problems, and parental psychological distress. Identification of differential recovery trajectories may allow for targeted early intervention for children at risk of poorer outcomes.
-
Compressive optic neuropathy is the most common indication for transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a useful visual assessment tool for predicting postoperative visual field recovery. ⋯ Patients with thin preoperative RNFL may experience visual recovery similar to those with normal preoperative RNFL; however, the probability of normalized visual fields was not comparable. RNFL thickness showed a strong correlation with preoperative visual field defect. Long-term follow-up observation revealed a discrepancy between anatomic and functional recovery.
-
The Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) score, measuring maximal thickness of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), has previously shown to predict symptomatic cerebral vasospasms (CVSs), delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and functional outcome. ⋯ We developed the HATCH score, which is a moderate predictor of DCI, but excellent predictor of functional outcome at 1 yr after aSAH.
-
Brain metastases (BM) are the most common type of brain tumor malignancy in the US. They are also the most common indication for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). However, the incidence of both local recurrence and radiation necrosis (RN) is increasing as treatments improve. MRI imagery often fails to differentiate BM from RN; thus, patients must often undergo surgical biopsy or resection to obtain a definitive diagnosis. ⋯ These results suggest that DVI could be a useful diagnostic tool to differentiate recurrent BM from RN using a minimally invasive blood sample.
-
Microvascular decompression (MVD) and vagoglossopharyngeal rhizotomy (VGR) are effective treatment for glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN). However, surgical choice is controversial due to the need to maximize pain relief and reduce complications. ⋯ Although VGR resulted in lower postoperative QOL due to a high complication rate, most of these complications were mild. The overall satisfaction rates for the 2 surgeries were similar.