World Neurosurg
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Medical malpractice litigation is something that every neurosurgeon encounters in his or her career and causes significant strife to amateur physicians attempting to navigate the medicolegal process. Neurosurgery in particular is one of the highest risk specialties for litigation. ⋯ We describe the elements that comprise a medical malpractice claim, details of the lawsuit process including hospital peer review and expert witness selection, and how to communicate appropriately with the patients and their families in an empathetic way. It is imperative to gain an appropriate understanding of the entirety of the malpractice claim process to ease the anxiety of litigation for the physician and decrease the amount of avoidable complications.
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Multicenter Study
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Operative Volume and Residency Training at Two Academic Neurosurgery Centers in New Orleans.
Medical subspecialties including neurosurgery have seen a dramatic shift in operative volume in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The goal of this study was to quantify the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on operative volume at 2 academic neurosurgery centers in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA from equivalent periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on neurosurgical practice and will likely continue to have long-term effects on patients at a time when global gross domestic products decrease and relative health expenditures increase. Clinicians must anticipate and actively prepare for these impacts in the future.
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Review Biography Historical Article
Gangliformis Intumescentia and Beyond: Antonio Scarpa and His Core Contribution to Neuroanatomy, Neurosurgery, and Otoneurosurgery.
Nearly 250 years ago, Antonio Scarpa became a professor of anatomy and surgery only 2 years after he graduated from the University of Padua. The young lecturer soon became one of the most renowned anatomists in Italy and a director of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Pavia. He worked in the fields of general surgery and ophthalmology. ⋯ Scarpa's magnum opus was the book Tabulae Neurologicae, in which he described the path of several cranial nerves including the vagus nerve and innervation of the heart. Since his death in 1832, Scarpa's head has been preserved at the University History Museum of the University of Pavia. In this historical vignette, we aim to describe Antonio Scarpa's troubled life and brilliant career, focusing on his core contributions to neuroanatomy, neurosurgery, and otoneurosurgery.
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Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are highly used among those diagnosed with glioma. Further research is warranted, however, as it remains important to clearly delineate CAM practices that are unproven, disproven, or promising for future research and implementation. ⋯ Despite widespread use, Level I or II evidence for CAM for the treatment of glioma is lacking, representing future research directions to optimally counsel and treat glioma patients.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of hybrid constructs pedicle screws with sublaminar polyester bands versus pedicle screws only treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis.
The choice of implants in neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) surgery remains controversial. Sublaminar polyester bands (SPBs) seem to be a promising alternative implant. The purpose of current study was to compare clinical and radiologic results of posterior instrumentation and fusion using hybrid constructs versus only pedicle screws for NMS treatment. ⋯ SPBs might be a better fixation alternative at the apex of rigid spinal deformity in NMS. The deformity can be corrected with less blood loss and at a similar rate of correction, with similar rate complications compared with pedicle screws.