World Neurosurg
-
Review
Recapitulating flesh with silicon and steel: advancements in upper extremity robotic prosthetics.
With the loss of function of an upper extremity because of stroke or spinal cord injury or a physical loss from amputation, an individual's life is forever changed, and activities that were once routine become a magnitude more difficult. Much research and effort have been put into developing advanced robotic prostheses to restore upper extremity function. For patients with upper extremity amputations, previously crude prostheses have evolved to become exceptionally functional. ⋯ For patients with spinal cord injury or stroke, functional electrical stimulation promises to provide the most sophisticated prosthetic limbs possible by reanimating paralyzed arms of these patients. Advances in technology and robotics continue to help patients recover vital function. This article examines the latest neurorestorative technologies for patients who have either undergone amputation or lost the use of their upper extremities secondary to stroke or spinal cord injury.
-
To analyze the clinical characteristics, immunohistochemistry, and treatment outcomes for skull base chordomas and the correlation between extent of resection/pathology type and outcomes. ⋯ Aggressive surgical resection should be performed for skull base chordomas, considering certain postoperative functional status. Immunohistochemical study is helpful in differential diagnosis. The combination of aggressive surgical resection and gamma knife radiosurgery for skull base chordomas may obtain favorable outcomes.
-
Historical Article
Supplementing the neurosurgical virtuoso: evolution of automation from mythology to operating room adjunct.
A central concept of scientific advancement in the medical and surgical fields is the incorporation of successful emerging ideas and technologies throughout the scope of human endeavors. The field of automation and robotics is a pivotal representation of this concept. ⋯ We trace the growth of this field from the seminal concepts of Homer and Aristotle to early incorporation into neurosurgical practice. Resulting changes provide drastic and welcome advances in areas of visualization, haptics, acoustics, dexterity, tremor reduction, motion scaling, and surgical precision.
-
Coiling of aneurysms 3 mm in diameter or less has been associated with a relatively high rate of complications, including iatrogenic rupture. The present study aimed to determine the clinical outcome of our technique for coiling small aneurysms. ⋯ Aneurysms 3 mm in diameter or smaller can be coiled safely with the use of both bare platinum and hydrogel-coated coils. In most cases, coiling of small aneurysms can be performed without the use of adjunctive devices such as balloons or stents.