Neurosurgery
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Continuous invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) is essential in neurocritical care for surveillance and management of raised ICP. Fluid-based systems and strain gauge microsensors remain the current standard. In the past few decades, several studies with wireless monitoring were developed aiming to reduce invasiveness and complications. ⋯ A Wi-Fi ICP monitoring system was demonstrated in a comprehensive and feasible way. It was possible to observe, using smartphone, an adequate correlation regarding ICP variations. Further adaptations are already being developed.
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Observational Study
Racial Differences in Postoperative Opioid Prescribing Practices in Spine Surgical Patients.
As the opioid epidemic accelerates in the United States, numerous sociodemographic factors have been implicated its development and are, furthermore, a driving factor of the disparities in postoperative pain management. Recent studies have suggested potential associations between the influence of race and ethnicity on pain perception but also the presence of unconscious biases in the treatment of pain in minority patients. ⋯ In a large cohort of opioid-naive postoperative neurosurgical patients, this study demonstrates higher inpatient and outpatient postoperative opioid usage among White patients. Increasing physician awareness to the effect of race on inpatient and outpatient pain management would allow for a modified opioid prescribing practice that ensures limited yet effective opioid dosages void of implicit biases.
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Currently, little is known about the prognostic value of tumor growth rate (TGR) in spinal giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB). ⋯ These data support the use of TGR as a reliable predictive tool for clinically relevant outcomes and response to denosumab therapy of spinal GCTB, which may be helpful in guiding prognostic risk stratification and therapeutic optimization of patients.
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Most professional spine societies have enacted formal guidelines for spine surgeons providing expert witness services. However, there is significant heterogeneity in existing recommendations, with most societies providing information that is limited in detail and scope. ⋯ There remains a paucity in expert witness guidelines provided by professional spine societies. Although existing recommendations are useful, there is a lack of standardized and comprehensive materials for spine surgeons providing expert witness testimony to reference. Moving forward, joint committees comprising surgeons, attorneys, and patient stakeholders may help improve the guidelines.
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Follow-up of aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coil embolization has been performed using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) because in time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography, metal artifacts from the stent often affect visualization. ⋯ Ultrashort TE MRA could evaluate an embolization status treated with stenting, and the findings are in excellent agreement with those of DSA. Aneurysms measuring <7 mm and treated with Neuroform Atlas are evaluative on ultrashort TE, and DSA might not be necessary.