Neurosurgery
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Multicenter Study
A Multicenter Allelic Analysis of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: Nature Versus Nurture?
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is an incompletely defined disease process with no known unifying pathophysiological mechanism. ⋯ We identified 5 SNPs in patients with DISH that occurred more frequently than a global reference. We also identified novel environmental associations. We hypothesize that DISH represents a heterogeneous condition with both multiple genetic and environmental influences.
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Adult spinal deformity (ASD) represents a major cause of disability in the elderly population in the United States. Surgical intervention has been shown to reduce disability and pain in properly indicated patients. However, there is a small subset of patients in whom nonoperative treatment is also able to durably maintain or improve symptoms. ⋯ Success of nonoperative treatment was more frequent among younger patients and those with less severe deformity and frailty at BL, with BL frailty the most important determinant factor. The factors presented here may be useful in informing preoperative discussion and clinical decision-making regarding treatment strategies.
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Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are common in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) and have been suggested as radiological markers of a brain prone to bleeding. The presence of CMBs might be relevant when selecting patients for shunt surgery. ⋯ CMBs were associated with hemorrhagic stroke and mortality. CMBs do not seem to reduce the possibility of gait improvement after shunt surgery or contribute to the risk of hemorrhagic complications regarding subdural hematoma or hygroma.