World Neurosurg
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Review Meta Analysis
How best to manage the Spinal Epidural Abscess? A Current Systematic Review.
A spinal epidural abscess is a medical emergency. Despite urgent surgical intervention and adjuvant antibiotic therapy, neurologic prognosis remains variable and guarded. The optimal approach to managing this condition is debated with substantial variability in clinical practice, dependent on patient demographic and pretreatment neurologic status as well as radiologic appearance. ⋯ Surgery with adjuvant antibiotics remains the optimal treatment for the neurologically symptomatic patient with spinal epidural abscess. If antibiotic therapy alone is considered for the neurologically intact patient, we recommend interdisciplinary medical and surgical consultations with an in-depth dialogue on the potential for failure in isolated medical management and the recommendation for close neurologic monitoring.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease in Hong Kong: A prospective territory-wide 2 year follow-up study.
We assessed the effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with Parkinson disease at the 1-year and 2-year follow-up evaluations. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score at "off" medication ("on" DBS) and quality-of-life assessments (39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire [PDQ-39]) were conducted. The percentage of awake "on" time and awake "off" time and levodopa requirement were also assessed. ⋯ The effects of STN DBS in patients with Parkinson disease in Hong Kong were satisfactory. The results showed that reduction in UPDRS motor score, awake "off"-time, and daily levodopa dosage were the major drivers of overall improvement in PDQ-39.
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Glossopharyngeal, nervus intermedius and vagus neuralgias can all present with ear pain. However, to our knowledge, there have been no reports of otalgia as the only symptom of vagus neuralgia. The seventh, ninth and tenth cranial nerves have many interneural connections and the exact anatomy and pathophysiology of these neuralgias is often not clear. ⋯ We report two cases of external auditory canal pain that continued following microvascular treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Intraoperatively and at secondary operation, the posterior inferior cerebellar artery was found to be adherent and to penetrate between the fibers of the vagus nerve. Following microvascular treatment of the vagus nerve, the pain resolved.
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Pleomorphic adenoma is a benign neoplastic tumor of the salivary gland. Salivary gland tumors in the intracranial cavity are generally restricted to the pituitary gland and sellar region. To our knowledge, there has been only 1 previous case report of a primary central nervous system pleomorphic adenoma outside of the sellar region. In that case report of a posterior fossa pleomorphic adenoma, typical myxochondroid stroma was not identified on histology, and its pathogenesis was not explored. ⋯ This case study illustrates a classic primary central nervous system pleomorphic adenoma in an unusual intracranial site. Its pathogenesis is postulated to involve salivary gland heterotopia.
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Review Case Reports
Basiespinal Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak as a Complication after Adenoidectomy: Case Report and Literature Review.
Adenoidectomy is one of the most common procedures in the field of pediatric otolaryngology. Postoperative bleeding is one of the most frequent complications (0.4%). In turn, cerebrospinal fluid fistula is a very uncommon but critical complication in this type of surgery. ⋯ Cerebrospinal fluid leak as a complication after adenoidectomy is exceedingly rare. These pharyngospinal fistulae are determined by the anatomic features associated with intraoperative hemorrhagic complications, and it is essential that we take them into account when facing postoperative complications in the follow-up. The use of vascularized flaps based on the irrigation of the ascending pharyngeal artery with endoscopic techniques offers low-morbidity solutions, which are more efficient than traditional methods.