British journal of neurosurgery
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A posterior fossa epidural haematoma (EDH) is uncommon and the diagnosis is difficult because the clinical symptoms are non-specific. Therefore, a computed tomography scan is important for the early diagnosis and management. Thirty-four patients with a posterior fossa EDH were admitted between 2001 and 2008. ⋯ The patients admitted with associated intracranial injuries, such as a contrecoup injury including subdural haemorrhage or traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage had a poor outcome. The initial GCS score on admission and the presence of associated intracranial injuries were important factors associated with the patient prognosis. A diastatic fracture of the lambdoid suture was associated with complicated venous sinus injuries making surgery more difficult.
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Adjacent segment vertebral compression fracture after lumbosacral instrumented fusion has been reported to be a significant complication. Recently, percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) has been widely used for the treatment of non-traumatic osteoporotic vertebral fracture. However, the clinical effect of this minimally invasive treatment option to the post-fusion vertebral fracture has rarely been reported. We analysed characteristics of adjacent vertebral fractures following lumbar fusion and evaluated the clinical outcome of PVP. ⋯ Adjacent vertebral fracture following lumbar fusion may occur as a kind of adjacent segment disease. The increased stress around the fusion segment can cause vertebral fracture even with a relatively higher BMD score. Vertebroplasty for the post-fusion vertebral fracture can be as effective as it is for the usual osteoporotic vertebral fracture.
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To explore the relationship between volume of paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) head injury (HI) admissions, specialist paediatric neurosurgical PICU practice, and mortality in England and Wales. ⋯ The health care system in England and Wales for critically ill HI children requiring PICU admission performs as expected in relation to the PIM model. However, the lowest-volume sector, comprising 14 PICUs with little or no paediatric neurosurgical activity on the unit, exhibits worse than expected outcome, particularly in those undergoing ICP monitoring. The best outcomes are seen in units in the mid-volume sector. These data do not support the hypothesis that there is a simple relationship between PICU volume and performance.
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Migration of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter is a rare but well-recognised complication in hydrocephalus treatment. Perforation into different organs or through natural or artificial orifices has been described. In this case, the shunt catheter has extruded through a Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy.
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Craniotomy is considered less painful than other surgical procedures and supratentorial surgeries are thought to be the least painful among them. We studied the intensity of pain in the postoperative period following a supratentorial craniotomy while using oral paracetamol as the sole analgesic. The effect of temporalis muscle incision on the intensity of pain was also studied. ⋯ Pain following craniotomy is adequately addressed in only about 27% of patients with oral paracetamol. However, the long-term analgesic effect is satisfactory. Persistence of pain of moderate or severe intensity 24 h after a craniotomy could suggest an impending postoperative complication.