World Neurosurg
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Participation in the health care and government advocacy arena may represent new and challenging perspectives for the traditional neurosurgeon. However, those with a strong understanding of the laws, rules, regulations, and fiscal allocation process can directly influence the practice of neurosurgery in the United States. We seek to shine light on the black box of how health care laws are passed, the influence and techniques of lobbying, and the role and rules surrounding political action committees. This practical review of health care advocacy is supplemented by a blueprint for engagement in the political arena for the practicing neurosurgeon.
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Credentialing and certification are essential processes during hiring to ensure that the physician is competent and possesses the qualifications and skill sets claimed. Peer review ensures the continuing evolution of these skills to meet a standard of care. We have provided an overview and discussion of these processes in the United States. ⋯ A focus on quality improvement in the peer review process can lead to improved performance and patient outcomes. A thorough understanding of the processes of credentialing, certification, and peer review in the United States will benefit neurosurgeons by allowing them to know what institutions are looking for as well and their rights and responsibilities in any given situation. It could also be useful to compare these policies and practices in the United States to those in other countries.
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Intraosseous pneumatocyst refers to gas-filled cystic lesions inside bone. Whereas ilium and sacrum are the commonest locations for pneumatocysts, vertebral pneumatocysts are rare. Various theories have been proposed to explain the etiopathogenesis of vertebral pneumatocysts and the most widely accepted theory is the extension of air from intervertebral disc or joint spaces into the pneumatocyst cavity. The aim of this systematic review was to study all the cases of vertebral pneumatocyst reported in the literature to understand this rare disease and its clinical importance. ⋯ The prevalence of pneumatocyst increased with increasing age, with most of the reported patients belonging to the 50-70 years age-group. Most of these patients have large pneumatocysts with degenerative changes in spine. Another less common subset of young patients with small pneumatocysts without associated degenerative changes has also been described. Pneumatocysts were most common in the cervical spine, with C5 being the most commonly affected vertebra. Most of the pneumatocysts remain stable in size on follow-up, although 3 cases of enlarging pneumatocyst have also been reported. An enlarging pneumatocyst should be closely followed up, although its benign nature has been reported in the literature.
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Comparative Study
Comparative Analysis of Radiological and Clinical Outcomes between Conventional Open and Minimally Invasive Scoliosis Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.
To compare radiologic and clinical outcomes between conventional open scoliosis surgery (COSS) and minimally invasive scoliosis surgery (MISS) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). ⋯ Although COSS for AIS was superior for correcting the main curve, MISS was associated with shorter hospitalization, less blood loss, and superior cosmesis as well as providing adequate correction in both the coronal and sagittal planes.
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Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images for skull base tumors provide detailed vascular information and localization in regard to surrounding bony structures. We report use of the CBCT fusion technique for skull base meningiomas. ⋯ CBCT fusion images clearly visualized the feeders from each arterial system, the vascular compartments within the tumor, and possible peritumoral anastomoses. This technique provides a substantial contribution to both preoperative embolization and surgical resection of skull base meningiomas.