Neurosurgery
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Radiofrequency lesioning (RFL) is used to surgically manage trigeminal neuralgia (TN) secondary to multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the long-term outcome of RFL has not been established. ⋯ RFL achieves NPNM status in STN and can be repeated with similar efficacy.
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Statistically significant positive results are more likely to be published than negative or insignificant outcomes. This phenomenon, also termed publication bias, can skew the interpretation of meta-analyses. The widespread presence of publication bias in the biomedical literature has led to the development of various statistical approaches, such as the visual inspection of funnel plots, Begg test, and Egger test, to assess and account for it. ⋯ Taken together, these results indicate that publication bias remains largely unaccounted for in neurosurgical meta-analyses.
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Dystonia is a group of disorders characterized by involuntary slow repetitive twisting movements and/or abnormal posture. Surgical options such as neuromodulation through deep brain stimulation and neuroablative procedures are available for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment. ⋯ Stereotactic radiofrequency unilateral combined thalamotomy, campotomy, and zona incerta lesions may be an effective surgical alternative for patients with dystonia, especially those with secondary dystonia resistant to deep brain stimulation.
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Observational Study
Motor Recovery Depends on Timing of Surgery in Patients With Lumbar Disk Herniation.
Although approximately half of the patients undergoing lumbar disk surgery present with motor deficits, timing of surgery for radicular weakness is largely unclear. ⋯ Timing of surgery is crucial for motor recovery in LDH-associated deficits. Immediate diagnosis, imaging, and referral should be aimed for to allow disk surgery within 3 days in patients with severe and moderate radicular weakness. If functionally disabling, even mild deficits may warrant decompression within a week.