British journal of neurosurgery
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Due to their important size and complex localization, the management of thoracic dumbbell tumors is challenging, frequently requiring the need for an anterior approach. Our study aims to first report the feasibility and safety of a single-stage posterior minimally invasive procedure in achieving complete resection of voluminous thoracic dumbbell tumors. ⋯ Thoracic dumbbell tumors can be safely and completely resected using a single-stage minimally invasive procedure. The costotransversectomy can be performed through a non-expandable retractor allowing sufficient access to all parts of the tumor.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of peri-operative and 12-month lifestyle outcomes in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion versus conventional lumbar fusion.
To compare the results of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) versus conventional lumbar interbody fusion in terms of peri-operative and long-term outcome measures. ⋯ MI-TLIF appears to have significant advantages over conventional surgery with statistically significant differences in length of stay, perioperative complications and pain, mobility and anxiety levels.
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Arachnoid cysts are discrete pockets of CSF or CSF-like fluid found adjacent to normal CSF spaces, either spinal or cranial. Spinal arachnoid cysts (SAC) are most commonly extradural, however intradural or perineural are also described. ⋯ Formation and expansion of SAC is not completely understood. Myelography, CT myelography and cinematic MRI can demonstrate the location of the communication site between the spinal subarachnoid space and the cyst cavity. The usual management of SAC is excision of the cyst with closure of the dural defect in extradural cysts, while in case of intradural cysts, especially the ones located anterior to the cord, fenestration of the cyst is usually performed.
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The purpose of this study was to compare clinical features, long-term surgical outcomes between patients with idiopathic and tumor-related trigeminal neuralgia (TN), and to identify factors associated with the maintenance of permanent pain-free state. ⋯ The occurrences of TN at younger age, a shorter duration and preponderance of preclinical neuropathic symptoms are the characteristics of TN patients secondary to intracranial tumor, in contrast to patients with TN caused by a compressed vessel. Microsurgery is an effective and safe treatment modality for TN regardless of the disease etiology, the involvement of a clear-cut vascular offender and total tumor resection are the most important predictors of excellent outcome for microsurgery in idiopathic and tumor-related TN patients, respectively.
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Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common operative treatment of compressive pathology of the cervical spinal cord, when caused by one or more degenerated intervertebral discs or related osteophytes. In addition to intra-operative radiographs to confirm spinal level before discectomy and implant position after insertion, traditional practice is to obtain post-operative antero-posterior and lateral plain radiographs (XR) before hospital discharge, despite a paucity of evidence supporting their benefit to patient care. Minimising unnecessary radiation to radiosensitive neck structures is desirable, and furthermore, with increasing financial pressure on healthcare resources, routine investigations should be clinically justified and evidence-based. We aim to compare the utility of routine post-operative cervical spine X-rays following ACDF. ⋯ We suggest that the practice of obtaining routine radiographs of the cervical spine following ACDF should be abandoned, unless there is a clear clinical indication.