World Neurosurg
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National medical student surveys amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-driven subinternship cancellations have demonstrated the need for supplemental, standardized subspecialty medical education, mentorship, and career planning nationally. We have presented the first live, cross-institutional virtual medical student subspecialty training camp to deliver standardized neurosurgical educational content to medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its results on medical student anxiety and perceptions of neurosurgery. ⋯ COVID-19-driven innovations in medical education have accelerated changes that may have long been necessary. This virtual structure improved resource usage and scalability compared with in-person training, maintained social distancing, and democratized access to standardized, specialized content not often available through traditional medical curricula. Even as a supplement to in-person events, the virtual training camp model could be implemented by national medical societies, which might significantly increase medical students' preparedness for, and education in, neurosurgery and other subspecialties.
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Musculoskeletal and neural alterations secondary to chronic atlantoaxial instability are evaluated. ⋯ The experience with the case showcases wide ranged spinal consequences as a result of chronic atlantoaxial instability.
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We sought to analyze the safety and feasibility of elective sonolucent cranioplasty in the setting of extracranial-to-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery to monitor bypass patency using ultrasound. ⋯ In this study we were able to show that this novel technique is safe, allows for patency assessment of the EC-IC bypass using bedside TCUS technique, and is cosmetically satisfying for patients.
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Robotic surgical systems are used worldwide in various fields. In this study, we present the advantages and disadvantages of the most common robotic surgical system, the da Vinci Xi system, in the supracerebellar transtentorial approach to the mesial temporal region and discuss options for its integration into neurosurgery. ⋯ This study shows the advantages and disadvantages of the robotic surgical approach to the mesial temporal region via the supracerebellar transtentorial route. Robotic surgical systems can play a major role in neurosurgical practices with the tools designed and the innovative solutions determined in this study. Nevertheless, further research and development of these systems and related instruments are necessary to ensure their wider implementation in neurosurgery.
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Giant cell tumors (GCTs) constitute 5% of all primary bone tumors with spinal GCTs (SGCTs) accounting for 2%-15% of all GCTs. The standard of care for SGCT has been maximal surgical resection. However, many adjuvant therapies have been used owing to the difficulty in achieving gross total resection combined with the high local recurrence rate. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the incidence, management, and outcomes of SGCT. ⋯ SGCT is a rare primary bone tumor of the vertebral column. The standard of care has been surgical resection with the goal of gross total resection; however, adjuvant therapies have often been used. Our study found that surgical resection significantly improved OS and that immunotherapy neared significance in improving OS.