World Neurosurg
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Subdural empyema (SDE) is a well-known entity in pediatric populations and is associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Large scale evacuation of empyema, although effective, places the bone flap at risk of failure when replaced. ⋯ Endoscopic-assisted burr hole evacuation of large panhemispheric and loculated SDE is feasible, effective, and safe. The primary advantage over conventional open evacuations is that it negates the need for a bone flap and its potential complications related to a secondary infection.
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Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (TICH) is one of the commonest indications for neurosurgical consultation after trauma. Worsening neurologic examination results, size of initial TICH, presence of displaced skull fracture, and concomitant anticoagulant use at the time of injury drive the recommendations for repeat computed tomography of head (RCTH), to assess for stability of intracranial hemorrhage. Chronic alcohol use is not generally considered an indication for repeat head computed tomography (CT). ⋯ Chronic alcohol use was an independent predictor of radiologic progression of TICH in the setting of normal PLT level. Modification of this risk of progression with transfusion of fresh PLTs in chronic alcoholic patients with TICH needs to be investigated in a prospective trial.
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Infantile and non-infantile desmoplastic astrocytoma and ganglioglioma: only different age of onset?
The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical, pathological, and prognostic discrepancies between infantile and noninfantile desmoplastic astrocytoma/ganglioglioma patients. ⋯ Infantile and noninfantile patients with DIA/DIGs share similar clinical and histopathological features. Compared with infantile patients, noninfantile patients tend to have different symptom predominance. Lesions in noninfantile patients are prone to present with different cystic-solid patterns and smaller volume. Patients with DIA/DIGs have favorable prognosis regardless of extent of resection.
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Teaching hospitals are responsible for the training and education of residents and have been centers of research and advancement in an era of evidence-based medicine. Several studies have reported conflicting findings regarding the effects of teaching status on the outcomes of patients. In the present study, we aimed to identify the differences in surgical outcomes among patients who had undergone anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) between teaching and nonteaching hospitals. ⋯ Our results have shown that patients undergoing ACDF at nonteaching hospitals had a greater odds of routine discharge and higher admission costs compared with those at teaching hospitals but similar outcomes in terms of inpatient mortality and morbidity.
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To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a cervical disc prolapse and foraminal stenosis presenting with dystonic tremor in addition to brachialgia. ⋯ This case highlights the potential of cervical disc prolapse to present with dystonic tremor with the likely mechanism being secondary to the painful radiculopathy and highlights the potential benefits of surgical decompression with this atypical presentation.