World Neurosurg
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Isolated abducens nerve palsy can be the presenting sign of a ruptured PICA aneurysm. Few cases have been reported in the literature. In the majority of cases, cranial nerve VI resolved following microsurgical clipping. ⋯ Here, we present the first case of an abducens nerve palsy associated with a ruptured PICA aneurysm to completely resolve following endovascular coil embolization. The direction and amount of subarachnoid hemorrhage extravasation from the ruptured aneurysm are most likely responsible for cranial nerve palsy.
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Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA) is not common. The clinical features and long-term surgical outcomes of patients with CSA are also unclear. We sought to summarize clinical features, assess long-term surgical outcomes, and determine the prognostic factors relevant for patients with CSA. ⋯ Besides significant muscular atrophy in one upper extremity, CSA also occasionally presents with mild atrophy in the other upper extremity, sensory disturbance in the upper extremities, or hyperflexia in the lower extremities. Anterior decompression is generally effective in the treatment of patients with CSA. Preoperative duration of symptoms, type of CSA, and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament are important predictors for the surgical outcome.
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Few studies have been published about percutaneous techniques for management of surgical bed hemorrhage during a stereotactic biopsy, a serious complication that may affect patient outcome. We describe the injection of a thrombin-gelatin matrix through the biopsy cannula as an effective method to arrest surgical bed bleeding that does not respond to conventional methods of hemostasis. ⋯ Our preliminary results suggest that thrombin-gelatin matrix injection is a simple, safe, and effective stereotactic practice to manage persistent surgical bed bleeding that cannot be arrested by standard, conventional hemostatic methods.
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Hypnosis is a technique that could aid awake surgery protocols. The aim of the present study is to describe the results of a preliminary experience of a cohort of patients operated on with an original protocol of hypnosis-aided awake surgery (HAS). ⋯ According to the results, hypnosis-aided resection of intrinsic brain tumor located in eloquent areas is safe and effective, although dissociation phenomena deserve further investigation to be completely understood.
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We assessed the efficacy of "only fixation" as treatment for cervical radiculopathy. ⋯ Instability of the spinal segment is the nodal point of pathogenesis and the primary cause of symptoms related to degenerative spondylotic radiculopathy. The treatment is spinal stabilization. No direct bone or soft tissue decompression is necessary.