Surg Neurol
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Clinical Trial
Double dural patch in decompressive craniectomy to preserve the temporal muscle: technical note.
In frontotemporal decompressive craniectomy and subsequent cranioplasty, temporal muscle damage is frequently observed as a result of surgical manipulation, lack of bone attachment, and prolonged muscle inactivity. We investigated the use of a double dural patch in decompressive craniectomy to favor the safe surgical dissection of the temporal muscle in the subsequent cranioplasty and reduce temporal muscle damage. ⋯ The technique described in this article reduces the damage to the temporal muscle and can improve the functional and cosmetic results after decompressive craniectomy and cranioplasty.
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Clinical Trial
Threaded interbody fusion cage for adjacent segment degenerative disease after previous anterior cervical fusion.
Anterior discectomy and fusion have been used for over 50 years in the treatment of degenerative disease of the cervical spine. However, as these procedures become more common, the long-term consequences are becoming more evident. One such consequence is degeneration of an adjacent segment, which can occur in up to 17% of patients undergoing cervical fusion. A threaded interbody fusion cage has often been used in a primary degenerative disorder of the cervical spine. However, there have been no studies in which these cages have been used in adjacent segments after previous cervical fusion. This is a retrospective review of 7 patients to determine the fusion rate, operative utility, and clinical outcomes using a threaded fusion cage construct in the treatment of cervical adjacent segment degeneration. ⋯ These preliminary results support the use of threaded interbody cages in adjacent segment degeneration of the cervical spine after previous anterior cervical fusion. Pain and functional scores improved in all cases. This technique should be among the possibilities for surgical treatment of degeneration of adjacent segments in patients with previous cervical spinal fusion.