World Neurosurg
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In our technical note, we have presented a technique of cranioplasty for large skull defects. ⋯ The presented technique is simple, safe, and time- and cost-effective. The technique and results are reproducible.
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Documentation is the cornerstone of good patient care and vital to proper coding and billing. Consistent and standardized documentation improves communication among physicians and can lead to better reimbursement. By understanding which elements in the neurosurgery history and physical examination are omitted the most often and the effects on the coding level, institutional-specific solutions can be implemented. ⋯ The most common missing elements for inpatient neurosurgery documentation were the review of systems and physical examination. The documents with the highest percentage of missing elements were those that used dynamic documentation without a template. We recommend implementing a dedicated NHPT to improve capturing these elements for improved clinical documentation. Such changes could also improve the coding level and subsequent reimbursement.
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To emphasize the importance of vertebral artery (VA) mobilization by reviewing the anatomy and variations of the VA while performing total resection of VA-associated tumors that develop from different tissues. ⋯ VA mobilization reduces the need for instrumentation in VA-related cases, especially nerve tumors, and increases the possibility of the surgical resection of vertebral tumors.
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Closure of neural tube defects (NTDs) in children is a common neurosurgical procedure in Ethiopia, but we know little about the outcomes. The aim of this study was to study outcomes and to identify predictors of mortality and morbidity of surgically treated NTDs. ⋯ Overall, the prognosis was poor. The study provides a basis for identifying patients at risk to improve the standard of care.
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Neurosurgery is a specialty associated with high risk of malpractice claims, which can be influenced by quality and safety of care. Diagnostic errors have gained increasing attention as a potentially preventable problem. Despite the burden of diagnostic errors, few studies have analyzed diagnostic errors in neurosurgery. We aimed to delineate the effect of diagnostic errors on malpractice claims involving a neurosurgeon. ⋯ DERCs are associated with higher numbers of accepted claims and worse outcomes. Identifying diagnostic errors is important in neurosurgery, and countermeasures are required to reduce the burden on neurosurgeons and improve quality. This is the first study to focus on diagnostic errors in malpractice claims arising from neurosurgery.