Neurosurgery
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Precise electrode position is vital for effective deep brain stimulation in treating motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Enlarged perivascular spaces (PVSs) are associated with pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases including PD and may affect the microstructure of surrounding brain tissue. ⋯ This study demonstrated that the presence of enlarged PVS is unlikely to affect targeting of basal ganglia nuclei based on tractography.
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Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSFL) is a feared complication after surgery on intradural pathologies and may cause postoperative complications and subsequently higher treatment costs. ⋯ Prolonged bed rest did not protect patients from developing CSFL after surgery on intradural pathologies. Avoiding laminectomy, large voids, and minimal invasive approaches may play a role in preventing CSFL. Furthermore, special caution is indicated if expansion duraplasty was done.
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Pain evaluation remains largely subjective in neurosurgical practice, but machine learning provides the potential for objective pain assessment tools. ⋯ Our study uses a KNN to model the relationship between speech features and pain levels collected from personal smartphones of patients with spine disease. The proposed model is a stepping stone for the development of objective pain assessment in neurosurgery clinical practice.
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A benchmark of success for the neurosurgeon-scientist includes obtaining individual research funding from the National Institutes of Health. Successful roadmaps to this goal highlight diversity, individual commitment and resiliency, innovative research goals, intentional mentoring, protected research time, and financial support. We must equip neurosurgery residents to surmount obstacles such as long periods of training, gaps in research productivity, and limited protected time for research to ensure successful transition to independent research careers. Strong individual, departmental, and national commitment to scientific development of a diverse cohort of residents and junior faculty will increase the number and diversity of National Institutes of Health-funded neurosurgeon-scientists.
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Currently, there is no consensus recommendation regarding the safety of sports participation for pediatric patients with Chiari I malformation (CM-I). ⋯ No permanent or catastrophic sports-associated neurological injuries were reported. The concussion rates in treated and untreated patients with CM-I were low. Therefore, sports participation in this population should be permitted in most cases.