World Neurosurg
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Surgical management of extensive skull base tumors, such as chordoma and chondrosarcoma, remains very challenging. The need for gross total removal to improve survival must be weighed against the risk of injury to neurovascular structures and the loss of stability at the craniovertebral junction. In cases of tumors that are already compromising craniovertebral junction stability, the occipital condyle can be exploited as a deep keyhole to reach the clivus, petrous apex, and sphenoid sinus. ⋯ In cases of invasive skull base tumor involving the craniovertebral junction and affecting its stability, the occipital condyle can be exploited as a deep keyhole to the homolateral and contralateral petrous apex, clivus, and sphenoid sinus.
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Comparative Study
Is it necessary to perform the second surgery stage of anterior debridement in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis?
In this retrospective comparative study, the efficacy and clinical outcomes of long posterior instrumentation, with or without laminectomy, were evaluated and the necessity of the second stage of anterior debridement in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis (TB) was discussed. ⋯ Single-stage long posterior instrumentation, with or without laminectomy, is a safe, effective, and feasible method for the treatment of spinal TB. The second stage of anterior debridement surgery may not be necessary for every spinal TB treatment.
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Clinical Trial
Efficacy of Laminoplasty in Improving Sensory Disturbances in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Prospective Study.
Upper extremity sensory disturbances are primary symptoms that affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Although laminoplasty is 1 of the surgical options, its effects on sensory disturbances have remained unclear. We aimed to determine whether surgical intervention would improve the sensory disturbances of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. ⋯ Our findings have indicated that improvement in postoperative subjective sensory disturbances will occur relatively earlier and will be significantly greater than the improvement in objective sensory disturbances. Furthermore, improvement in the subjective sensory disturbances contributes to functional spinal cord recovery and patients' health-related QOL.
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The cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage is more likely to be intracranial than spinal. Bleeding, although common with spinal arteriovenous malformations and spinal cord tumors, rarely occurs with ruptured isolated spinal artery aneurysms. Here, we report a case of isolated thoracic posterior spinal artery aneurysm presenting with thrombosis after subarachnoid hemorrhage. ⋯ Isolated spinal artery aneurysm is a rare cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. It is expected that additional cases will clarify the natural history and indications for treatment.