World Neurosurg
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Atlanto-occipital transarticular screw fixation (AOTSF) has rarely been reported for fixation of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). ⋯ AOTSF was feasible in half of pediatric patients suffering from traumatic CVJ instability. Therefore, intraoperative salvage options and strategies should be on hand readily. In the pediatric population, where bony anatomy may pose challenges to fixation, this technique may offer a viable first-line option in selected cases, despite the overall modest success rate.
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Over the past few years, a reorganization of the educational pathways has been promoted with the purpose of optimizing the acquisition of competences and their assessment, so as to reduce the risks to both health care professionals and end users. Virtual reality (VR) has been repeatedly tested, initially as a positive reinforcement for more traditional educational pathways and, more recently, as their potential substitute. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potentiality of VR simulation training in spine surgery. ⋯ VR-based training pathways might promote a high standard of care. Our preliminary experience suggests an effective implementation of the traditional coaching process.
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Most articles describing the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on neurosurgical services have been from developed countries. We report our experience in carrying out neurosurgical services at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, during the time of the pandemic. ⋯ A pandemic, such as COVID-19, reduces both inpatient and outpatient neurosurgical activities. A comprehensive plan can improve both utilization and safety of the neurosurgical staff.
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Review
COVID-19 and SARS-Cov-2 Infection: Pathophysiology and Clinical Effects on the Nervous System.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-Cov-2, resulting in severe acute respiratory syndrome, with high potential of spreading and infecting humans worldwide. Since December 2019, when the virus was identified in humans, the literature on COVID-19 has grown exponentially and extrarespiratory symptoms including neurologic symptoms are increasingly highlighted. ⋯ Management of COVID-19 patients should include early clinical, radiologic, and laboratory neurologic assessment, with a close follow-up, especially in severe forms. Future studies should assess late and long-term consequences of current COVID-19 patients with neurologic involvement.
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Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a powerful tool for replicating patient-specific anatomic features for education and surgical planning. The advent of "desktop" 3D printing has created a cost-effective and widely available means for institutions with limited resources to implement a 3D-printing workflow into their clinical applications. The ability to physically manipulate the desired components of a "dynamic" 3D-printed model provides an additional dimension of anatomic understanding. There is currently a gap in the literature describing a cost-effective and time-efficient means of creating dynamic brain tumor 3D-printed models. ⋯ In this technical note, we describe in detail the specific functions of free, open-access software and desktop 3D printing techniques to create dynamic and patient-specific brain tumor models for education and surgical planning.