World Neurosurg
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Here, we evaluate the evolution and growth of global neurosurgery publications over time, further focusing on the contributions and impact of authors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). ⋯ Despite recent growth, the number of global neurosurgery publications arising from LMICs pales in comparison to those from HICs. Collaborative efforts between certain HICs and LMICs have likely contributed to the observed increase in LMIC author independence over time.
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Primary spinal cord astrocytomas are rare, fatal, and poorly studied. ⋯ Outcomes worsen with higher grades and lead to difficult postoperative periods. Clinicians should be vigilant for thromboembolic complications. Further research is needed to understand these rare tumors.
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Moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major source of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Little is known about long-term mortality in elderly patients following mild, nonfatal TBI and how the injury mechanism predicts survival. This study aimed to compare long-term mortality in elderly patients with mild TBI and traumatic subdural hematoma (tSDH) due to ground-level fall (GLF) versus those with TBI and tSDH due to another cause (i.e., non-ground-level fall [nGLF]). ⋯ Elderly patients with mild TBI and tSDH due to GLF have significantly higher long-term mortality than patients with injuries due to nGLF.
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Lumbar synovial cysts (LSCs) can cause painful radiculopathy and sensory and/or motor deficits. Historically, first-line surgical treatment has been decompression with fusion. Recently, minimally invasive laminectomy without fusion has shown equal or superior results to traditional decompression and fusion methods. ⋯ Minimally invasive laminectomy is an effective first-line treatment for symptomatic LSCs and avoids the need for fusion in most treated patients. Of our patients, 18% required a fusion over 46 months, suggesting that further studies are required to guide patient selection.
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The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological results of lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for lumbar degenerative disease in patients under the age of 80 years with those over the age of 80 years. ⋯ These data suggest a need for awareness of intraoperative endplate injury and postoperative motor weakness. Critically, indirect decompression with LLIF in lumbar degenerative disease in patients over age 80 as well as those under age 80 has shown satisfactory clinical and radiological results. This study shows that age alone should not prevent older people from undergoing LLIF.