World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
Proximal adjacent segment disease manifesting as retro-odontoid pseudotumour following fusion to C2.
Although adjacent segment disease (ASD) following anterior cervical fusion has been well described in the literature, there is relative paucity of data on this pathology after posterior cervical fusion. To our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of proximal ASD following posterior fusion to C2. ⋯ Proximal ASD can manifest as retroodontoid pseudotumor at variable time intervals following posterior fusion to C2. Clinicians must account for this possibility in their decision making.
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Neurosurgery is a notoriously difficult career to enter and requires medical students to engage in extracurricular activities to demonstrate their commitment to the specialty. The National Undergraduate Neuroanatomy Competition (NUNC) was established in 2013 as a means for students to display this commitment as well as academic ability. ⋯ The NUNC provides the opportunity for medical students to demonstrate their interest in neurosurgery. It has the potential to be used as a tool for recognizing medical students suitable for neurosurgery training.
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Although new imaging tools have been developed for the detection of smaller aneurysms, angiographically negative microaneurysms are still encountered during cerebral microsurgery. Currently, only limited information regarding incidence and efficacy of treatment of these microaneurysms is available. ⋯ This study revealed a 6.4% incidence of IMAs; however, this could be underestimated because of the limited range of inspection. Early detection of an IMA through careful inspection during microvascular surgery could be beneficial, especially in patients with multiple aneurysms.
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The adult spinal cord is typically resistant to hypoxic-ischemic injury because of collateral blood supply; however, congenital or acquired stenosis may result in baseline maximal vasodilation, such as superimposed hemodynamic stresses, that cannot be accommodated, leaving the spinal cord vulnerable to ischemic injury. We present a rare case of spinal cord hypoxic-ischemic injury in an adult with underlying cervical spinal stenosis. ⋯ We hypothesize that vascular dysregulation due to cervical stenosis made the cord parenchyma vulnerable to hypoxic and/or hypoperfusion stresses.
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C2 vertebral body (axis) lesions are often approached anteriorly and combined with posterior stabilization of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). The anterior approach has its limitations. A posterolateral corridor is an alternative access to the C2 body lesions, and this alone may suffice in selected cases. We describe our experience with C2 body lesions, dealt primarily through a posterior approach, and propose an algorithm in the management of such cases. ⋯ Adequate debulking or total excision of lesion, neural decompression, and stabilization of the CVJ for axis body lesions can be achieved through a single midline posterior approach in most cases. If required, an anterior approach may be later added depending on the final histopathology.