World Neurosurg
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Stereotactic Radiosurgery for A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations (ARUBA)-Eligible Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II Arteriovenous Malformations: A Multicenter Study.
ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations) found better short-term outcomes after conservative management compared with intervention for unruptured arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). However, because Spetzler-Martin (SM) grade I-II AVMs have the lowest treatment morbidity, sufficient follow-up of these lesions may show a long-term benefit from intervention. The aim of this multicenter, retrospective cohort study is to assess the outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for ARUBA-eligible SM grade I-II AVMs. ⋯ For ARUBA-eligible SM grade I-II AVMs, long-term SRS outcomes compare favorably with the natural history. SRS should be considered for adult patients harboring unruptured, previously untreated low-grade AVMs with a minimum life expectancy of a decade.
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Although high-grade AVMs pose a particularly high lifetime hemorrhage risk to pediatric patients (age <18 years), little is known about the treatment outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the outcomes after single-session stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for pediatric high-grade AVMs. ⋯ The efficacy of single-session SRS for the treatment of high-grade AVMs in the pediatric population is limited, particularly for those with unruptured nidi. Multimodal therapies should be considered in the management of selected pediatric high-grade AVMs. However, further prospective analyses are warranted to define the optimal management strategy for these challenging vascular malformations.
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Review Historical Article
History, Evolution and Continuing Innovations of Intracranial Aneurysm Surgery.
Evolution in the surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms is driven by the need to refine and innovate. From an early application of the Hunterian carotid ligation to modern-day sophisticated aneurysm clip designs, progress has been made through dedication and technical maturation of cerebrovascular neurosurgeons to overcome challenges in their practices. ⋯ Concepts of how to best treat intracranial aneurysms have evolved over generations and will continue to do so with further technological innovations. As with the evolution of any type of surgery, innovations frequently arise from the criticism of current techniques.
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Review Case Reports
Acute Spinal Epidural Hematoma after Acupuncture: Personal Case and Literature Review.
Spinal acupuncture is a relatively safe and common analgesic treatment, but it may be complicated by serious adverse effects, such as direct spinal cord and nerve root injury, subdural empyema, and epidural abscesses. In this report we compare our case of an extremely uncommon spinal epidural hematoma, which appeared after treatment by acupuncture, with other similar documented cases. ⋯ Although a post-acupuncture spinal epidural hematoma (paSEH) is very rare, there are only 6 documented cases, it is a possible complication from acupuncture on the back. The use of very thin needles can produce bleeding, probably venous, in the epidural space. In general, this evolves more slowly than other kinds of epidural hematomas. The symptoms are also less severe, warranting less frequent surgical intervention, and in general there is a good outcome. The possibility of hematoma makes acupuncture contraindicated in patients who have coagulation disorders. The onset of severe spinal pain after spinal or paraspinal acupuncture treatment should lead to the suspicion of a paSEH, and a spinal MRI should be carried out.
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Multicenter Study
Early Patient-Reported Outcomes Predict 3-Year Outcomes in Operatively Treated Patients with Adult Spinal Deformity.
For patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD), surgical treatment may improve their health-related quality of life. This study investigates when the greatest improvement in outcomes occurs and whether incremental improvements in patient-reported outcomes during the first postoperative year predict outcomes at 3 years. ⋯ In surgically treated patients with ASD, the greatest improvements in outcomes occurred between 6 weeks and 1 year postoperatively. A model with incremental improvements from baseline to 6 weeks and from 6 weeks to 1 year can be used to predict ODI and SRS-22r scores at 3 years.