World Neurosurg
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Review
Riluzole for acute traumatic spinal cord injury: a promising neuroprotective treatment strategy.
Over the years, understanding of the specific secondary injury mechanisms that follow traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) has improved. These pathologic mechanisms collectively serve to increase the extent of neural tissue injury, reducing prospects for neurologic recovery. An enhanced understanding of the pathobiology of SCI has permitted investigation of therapies targeting specific elements of this pathologic cascade. It is now known that the continuous posttraumatic activation of neuronal voltage-gated sodium ion channels leads to increased rates of cell death through the development of cellular swelling, acidosis, and glutaminergic excitotoxicity. The objective herein is to provide an update regarding the current status of the potential neuroprotective drug riluzole in the treatment of traumatic SCI. ⋯ This article reviews the biologic rationale, existing preclinical evidence, and emerging clinical data for riluzole in the treatment of traumatic SCI.
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To report five patients who underwent cervical decompressive surgeries and developed persistent postoperative neurologic deficits compatible with spinal cord infarctions and evaluate causes for these rare complications. ⋯ Neuroimaging evaluation of spinal cord infarction after decompressive surgery is done to exclude spinal cord compression, to ensure adequate surgical decompression, and to confirm infarction by imaging. Antecedent, unrecognized preoperative vascular compromise may be a significant contributor to spinal cord infarction by itself or in combination with hypotension.
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This study was designed to evaluate the clinical, radiologic, histologic, and surgical outcome characteristics of this disease treated in a single institution. ⋯ Primary adult infradiaphragmatic craniopharyngiomas are relatively rare lesions occurring in young adults. Pituitary dysfunction, visual acuity and/or field deterioration, and headache were the most common chief symptoms. Transsphenoidal surgery, including tearing the cyst walls off the diaphragma sellae and protecting normal pituitary tissue as much as possible, is recommended. Although at the risk of impairing the function of anterior pituitary, transsphenoidal surgery results in a high rate of both visual field and hyperprolactinemia improvement with a low associated risk of recurrence. In terms of pathological aspects, the adamantinous subtype was more common.
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Schwannomas originating from the oculomotor nerve are extremely rare. We report our experience in the management of oculomotor schwannomas and other lesions mimicking them, and discuss operative strategy for these rare tumors emphasizing oculomotor nerve preservation. ⋯ The microsurgical resection of oculomotor schwannomas carries a risk of worsening preoperative oculomotor nerve function; however, this is often transient. Considerable technical training and microanatomical knowledge of the region is required to optimize outcome.