World Neurosurg
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Despite widespread use of lumbar spinal fusion as a treatment for back pain, outcomes remain variable. Optimizing patient selection can help to reduce adverse outcomes. This literature review was conducted to better understand factors associated with optimal postoperative results after lumbar spinal fusion for chronic back pain and current tools used for evaluation. ⋯ This review summarizes current information and explains commonly used assessment tools to guide clinicians in decision making when caring for patients with lower back pain. When determining a treatment algorithm, physicians must consider predictive psychosocial factors. Use of perioperative cognitive-behavioral therapy and patient education can improve outcomes after lumbar spinal fusion.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Patterns of stroke between university hospitals and non-university hospitals in mainland China: a prospective multicenter hospital-based registry study.
In China, stroke has risen to the first commonest cause of death. Currently published data on stroke come mainly from university hospitals and less from community hospitals, especially lacking information on stroke focusing on the differences between university hospitals and nonuniversity hospitals. Therefore we aimed to investigate the patterns and differences of acute stroke between university hospitals and nonuniversity hospitals in China. ⋯ This survey comparing stroke patients treated in university and nonuniversity hospitals in China showed that both cohorts were largely comparable including most demographic features, such as age and gender, history of stroke, and stroke subtypes. It may be concluded that patient cohorts treated on stroke units in university and nonuniversity hospitals are similar and stroke units in both types of institutions are also comparable in terms of workload and most patient outcomes.
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Review Case Reports
Calcifying Pseudoneoplasm of the Neuraxis Arising from the Sacral Canal: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the spine is an extremely rare lesion and has not yet been reported in the sacral canal. ⋯ Calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the neuraxis can occur throughout the spine, including the sacral canal, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of intraspinal calcified lesions.
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Review Case Reports
The Affinity of Mucormycosis for the Basal Ganglia in Intravenous Drug Users: A case illustration and review of the literature.
Central nervous system mucormycosis is an aggressive fungal infection often ending in fatality. The usual circumstance is an immunocompromised individual presenting with rapidly progressive rhinocerebral involvement. An extremely rare variant of central nervous system mucormycosis isolated to the basal ganglia in an immunocompetent intravenous drug user is detailed in this manuscript. The patient was aggressively treated with aspiration of the fungal abscess and long-term intravenous antifungal agents.
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Review Case Reports
Cranial pilocytic astrocytoma with spinal drop metastasis in an adult: case report and literature review.
Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a benign neoplasm that typically occurs in the brain within the pediatric and adolescent age groups and is uncommon in adults. It rarely occurs within the ventricles, and the overall prognosis is favorable. A PA of the brain with spinal metastasis at presentation has never been reported in an adult. ⋯ This case illustrates a unique instance of hemorrhage into a cerebral PA with a spinal metastasis. To our knowledge, this is the first such case reported in an adult. We review the literature on the subject.