Surg Neurol
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Failure of symptom relief after neurolysis for meralgia paresthetica (MP) is reported frequently, yet systematic outcome analysis is limited in the modern literature. The present operative series of 45 cases aims to address this issue. ⋯ High success rate was recorded in our series of 45 cases. Prolonged duration of symptoms did not preclude favorable outcome but obesity had a negative association with good outcome.
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In the search for a better preoperative knowledge of the position of probes and electrodes, we assessed the feasibility and the usefulness of transcranial sonography during surgery for the implantation of stimulation electrodes into the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of patients with Parkinson's disease. ⋯ Transcranial sonography is easily feasible during stereotactic surgery. In combination with the clinical effects of electrostimulation on the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and with stereotactic x-ray images, it enables the assessment and the documentation of the correct position of implanted STN electrodes in real time.
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Hope, false hope, and self-fulfilling prophecy are important aspects in the practice of medicine for all practitioners but are especially important in the field of neurosurgery, which deals with devastating, terrifying, and often fatal illnesses. The American Board of Medical Specialties and the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education have jointly defined 6 "general competencies" that define a competent physician and should be part of the curriculum of all residency programs. One of these 6 is interpersonal and communication skills. A true test of this competence is the ability to harness the powerfully beneficial forces of hope and motivation and to avoid the destructiveness of false hope and self-fulfilling prophecy.
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Historical Article
History of neurosurgery and neurosurgical applications in Turkey.
Although there is evidence of applications of cranial surgery in ancient times, it is commonly accepted that modern surgery started in the late 19th century. The advancements in anesthesiology and aseptic techniques were the main factors contributing to this process. Surgery of the nervous system, however, has a relatively shorter history than surgery of other systems. ⋯ Today, there are more than 50 neurosurgery training centers and more than 500 neurosurgeons in Turkey. There is an increasing number of publications by Turkish neurosurgeons, contributing to the total body of literature in neurosurgery. The current state of neurosurgery in Turkey is parallel to that of the advanced Western countries.
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To study the visual outcome of patients who became blind after an episode of pituitary apoplexy and who subsequently underwent emergency transsphenoidal decompression of the optic apparatus, and to identify factors that may have a bearing on the visual outcome in such patients. ⋯ This study shows that even completely blind eyes may have remarkable improvement in vision if surgical decompression of the optic apparatus is undertaken early. Awareness regarding pituitary apoplexy and reversibility of vision loss needs to be increased among the medical community, especially ophthalmologists and physicians, so that timely neurosurgical intervention can occur.