World Neurosurg
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Isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (iTSAH) in mild head injuries has more evidence that triage to a tertiary care facility, intensive care unit admission, and repeat imaging is not warranted. Certain factors were identified that predict radiographic and clinical progression in hopes of preventing avoidable cost, which occur with transfer and subsequent management. ⋯ In this series of patients with mild traumatic brain injury, the rate of neurological deterioration due to expansion of iTSAH in patients is low, regardless of the use of antiplatelets/anticoagulants. Triage to a tertiary care facility generally is not warranted and can prove costly to patients with iTSAH without other injures.
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Case Reports
Thoracic Radiculopathy following Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation Treated with Corticosteroids.
Spinal cord stimulation has been used since 1967 to manage chronic neuropathic pain. Although effective, the literature describes the complication rate to be as high as 35%. One rare complication following spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation is the development of radicular pain. We present a case series of 2 patients implanted with SCSs who developed thoracic radiculopathy following implantation that resolved with corticosteroids. ⋯ In conclusion, postsurgical radicular pain is a rare but troubling complication of SCS implantation. In order to avoid further surgical complications or the need to explant a device that provides satisfactory paresthesia coverage, pharmacologic management is desirable. This case series has demonstrated that the use of corticosteroids can effectively resolve postimplantation thoracic radicular pain in a specific subgroup of patients.
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Case Reports
Three dimensional anatomy of the white matter fibers of the temporal lobe: Surgical implications.
The aim of this work is to describe in detail the complex 3-dimensional organization of the white matter of the temporal lobe and discuss the surgical implications of the approaches to lesions located into the mesial temporal region and within the temporal horn and the atrium of the lateral ventricles. ⋯ The complex 3-dimensional organization of the white matter substance of the temporal lobe is characterized by 2 main systems of boundaries: the sagittal stratum and the temporal stem. Their knowledge is essential for the appropriate treatment of pathologies localized in this region as demonstrated by the 2 clinical cases presented in this work.
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Case Reports
Application of far-lateral approach to sub-axial spine-Application, technical difficulties and results.
The far-lateral approach has traditionally been used as an approach to ventral foramen magnum pathologies. Ventral pathologies in the cervical spine and cervicodorsal regions also provide unique surgical challenges. Traditional posterior surgical approaches to the ventral cervical pathologies require significant cord retraction, and anterior approaches require significant bone removal with implant stabilization. We approached these lesions using a modification of the far-lateral approach for lesions in the subaxial spine. ⋯ We propose extension of far-lateral approach to ventral intradural extramedullary lesions in the subaxial spine up to the cervicothoracic junction. The far-lateral approach can be extended safely to the ventral and ventrolateral lesions of the subaxial cervical spine, especially for recurrent or residual lesions previously approached from the midline posteriorly.
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Observational Study
Clinical course and monitoring parameters after continuous interventional intraarterial treatment in patients with refractory cerebral vasospasm.
In aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage cerebral vasospasm leads to clinical worsening and poor outcome. Interventional treatment with nimodipine might be a therapeutic option. ⋯ Facing the poor clinical outcome and the greater complication rate, continuous intra-arterial infusion of nimodipine in patients with angiographically refractory cerebral vasospasm has to be indicated strictly. Transcranial Doppler and brain tissue oxygenation monitoring seem to be reliable tools for evaluation of the clinical postinterventional course.