World Neurosurg
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Containment measures for COVID-19 have affected surgical training globally. We sought to assess how neurosurgical training has been affected across Africa in April 2020. ⋯ This is the first continental survey of neurosurgery trainees in Africa. COVID-19 has significantly affected clinical and learning opportunities. There are concerns of the long-term effects on their training activities for an uncertain period of time during this pandemic. Although there has been a global increase in e-learning, there is need to evaluate if this is accessible to all trainees.
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Commissural fibers are necessary for bilateral integration, body coordination, and complex cognitive information flow between the hemispheres. The anterior commissure (AC) has a complex architecture interconnecting areas of the frontal, temporal and occipital lobes. The present study aims to demonstrate the connections and the course of the anterior (ACa) and posterior (ACp) limb of the AC using fiber dissection and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the human brain. ⋯ Being aware of the course of the AC is important during transcallosal and interforniceal approaches to the third ventricle tumors and temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. The intermingling fibers of the AC can provide a better understanding of the unexplained deficit that may occur during regional surgery.
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Intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors (ID-EMSCT) make up 40% of all spinal neoplasms. Resection of these tumors is mostly conducted using intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). However, the literature shows heterogenous data on its added value for ID-EMSCT. The aim of this study is to define sensitivity and specificity of IONM in ID-EMSCT resection and to study possible correlations between preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables and neurologic outcomes after ID-EMSCT resection. ⋯ IONM yielded high to perfect sensitivity and high specificity. However, IONM signals did not always determine the extent of resection, and false-positive results did not always result in incomplete tumor resections, because of surgeons overruling IONM. Therefore, IONM cannot fully replace clinical judgment and other perioperative information.
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Dumbbell-shaped thoracic tumors usually arise from neurogenic elements within the spinal canal and are characterized by involvement of both spinal canal and posterior thoracic cavity. The tumor mass becomes frequently very large growing inside and outside of the spinal canal, through the connection of the neural foramen, involving the surrounding structures. Most of the dumbbell tumors are peripheral nerve sheath tumors, of which neurofibromas and schwannomas represent the vast majority. ⋯ However, these operations have significant approach-related morbidity; therefore, in the last decades, thanks to the constant progress of technological devices, minimally invasive techniques have been increasingly used for the surgical management of spinal tumors. In this surgical video (Video 1), we present a minimally invasive, single-step posterolateral approach through a small costotransversectomy (centered with echography and fitted with spine navigation) for the surgical management of a giant dumbbell thoracic neurofibroma. The usefulness of current technology guiding the surgical procedure is underlined with special emphasis.
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Safety and efficacy in surgical treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are dictated by thorough understanding of angioarchitectural features, intraoperative identification of feeding vessels, and appreciation of surrounding eloquent areas. Our aim was to describe the preliminary results of combined application of color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in a consecutive surgical series of AVM. We pointed out the tool's efficacy in distinguishing feeding from bystander vessels and in identifying pattern of venous drainage. We examined its role as an adjunct for semiquantitative evaluation of the nidus inflow. ⋯ The CDUS and CEUS protocol is safe and repeatable and works as real-time imaging, further supporting complete surgical resection of AVMs.