World Neurosurg
-
Previous studies have shown that pedicle screw stimulation thresholds ≤6-8 mA yield a high diagnostic accuracy of detecting misplaced screws. Our objective was to determine the optimal "low" stimulation threshold to predict new postoperative neurologic deficits and identify additional risk factors associated with deficits. ⋯ Our results show that low thresholds are indicative of not only screw proximity to the nerve but also an increased likelihood of postoperative neurologic deficit. Thresholds ≤8 mA prove to be the optimal "low" threshold to help guide a correctly positioned pedicle screw placement and detect postoperative deficits.
-
Cervical chest pain (CCP), as 1 atypical symptom associated with cervical spondylosis, often overlaps with other chest-related diseases. CCP obviously relieved after ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block near a herniated disc should be considered as a potential pathologic source. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether coblation discoplasty can alleviate CCP after positive ultrasound-guided nerve root block. ⋯ After positive ultrasound-guided nerve root block, coblation discoplasty can provide up to 12 months of relief for intractable CCP.
-
To investigate the risk factors for increased surgical drain output after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). ⋯ This study showed that older age, smoking, more fused levels, and intraoperative end plate injury were the independent risk factors, while administration of TXA was a protective factor for increased surgical drain output after TLIF.
-
Stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms often employs a Y configuration stent. A similar stent configuration, termed kissing/double-barrel (KDB), is used often at the aortoiliac bifurcation. Studies of KDB stents in aortoiliac disease show that rates of thromboembolic complications vary with the cross-sectional geometry of the stent pair, a function of the radial crush resistive force of each stent. We assessed cross-sectional geometry of intracranial stent pairs in an in vitro model of the basilar artery using flat-panel computed tomography. ⋯ In constant anatomy, cross-sectional geometry of the KDB stent configuration will vary depending on the design and structure of the stents employed.