Neurosurgery
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The prognosis of moyamoya disease (MMD) in young children (younger than 4 years) is worse than that of older adults. The effectiveness of surgery is still inconclusive. ⋯ Indirect bypass could provide a satisfactory long-term outcome and prevent recurrent stroke in young children with MMD.
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The literature on athletes with positive head computed tomography (HCT) findings in the setting of sport head injuries remains sparse. ⋯ Among athletes seen at a regional concussion center who underwent an acute HCT, positive findings were seen in 4%. Although athletes with a positive HCT had longer RTL and RTP, symptom resolution was similar between those with a positive and negative HCT. All athletes with a positive HCT successfully returned to play. Despite a more conservative approach to athletes with a positive HCT, clinical outcomes are similar between those with and without a positive HCT.
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It is estimated that up to 69 million people per year experience traumatic brain injury (TBI) with the highest prevalence found in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A paucity of data suggests that the mortality rate after severe TBI is twice as high in LMICs than in high-income countries. ⋯ TBI-related mortality in LMICs is 3-fold to 4-fold higher than that reported in high-income countries. Within LMICs, parameters associated with poorer outcomes after TBI include factors recognized as social determinants of health. Addressing social determinants of health in LMICs might expedite the quest to close the care delivery gap after TBI.
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Observational Study
Interdisciplinary Infection Prevention and Control Bundle in Neurosurgical Patients: Results of a Prospective Cohort Study.
Surgical site infections (SSIs) account for one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections. Bundle approaches for infection prevention and control do not capture the full complexity of neurosurgical interventions. ⋯ Introducing an interdisciplinary IPCB in neurosurgery leads to a significant reduction of sepsis and decreased in-hospital mortality while a pathogen switch toward gram-negative bacteria was observed. Minimizing diagnostic gap of pathogen detection toward a more efficient anti-infective treatment may be the main reason for the substantial decrease in morbidity and mortality.