World Neurosurg
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Although microvascular decompression (MVD) has been widely accepted as an effective treatment for hemifacial spasm (HFS), some patients may experience delayed relief instead of immediate improvement after the surgery. The need for and timing of repeat MVD has been controversial to date; thus, we conducted the present study with emphasis on those unrelieved patients. ⋯ Our findings demonstrate that MVD is the most effective treatment for patients with HFS. An early reoperation is easier and safer than a later reoperation and may improve the likelihood of immediate relief.
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Complex hydrocephalus affecting lateral and fourth ventricles separately is occasionally managed with cerebrospinal fluid diversion via supratentorial and infratentorial ventricular catheters. The optimal configuration to reduce complications is currently unknown in adults. We describe a consistently similar clinical presentation of patients with complex hydrocephalus and a fourth ventricle separately drained by infratentorial shunt insertion. ⋯ To prevent transtentorial distortion syndrome, supratentorial and infratentorial shunt constructs in adults with encysted fourth ventricles should be similar to the shunt systems widely known in the pediatric population with Dandy-Walker syndrome (i.e., joint output to a single valve distal to the connection of the 2 proximal drainage catheters).
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The authors analyze 124 cases with fracture of odontoid process. All patients were surgically treated by posterior atlantoaxial fixation. ⋯ Posterior atlantoaxial stabilization forms a safe surgical strategy for all kinds of odontoid fractures. Additional characteristics of odontoid fractures further subclassified them and assisted in surgical decision-making and in formulating the surgical strategy.
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To study the clinical and morphologic characteristics associated with risk factors for the rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). ⋯ Morphologic characteristics, such as being located at bifurcations, being irregularly shaped, having a high AR (>1), and having a small MD (<3.70 mm), were better predictors of rupture.
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The causes of chronic diskogenic back pain have not yet been clearly identified. Neural ingrowth around the annulus is widely considered to be one of the possible cause. However, neuropathy around the annulus has yet to be observed visually. We report a case of a hotspot that was observed in an epiduroscopic view, but not in imaging findings. ⋯ In this study, we observed annulus hotspots, which have not been observed in imaging studies such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in patients with chronic back pain and leg pain, and observed remarkable symptom improvement after transforaminal epiduroscopic laser ablation.