World Neurosurg
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Review
Stem Cells in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury: A Review of Currently Registered Clinical Trials.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects around 18,000 individuals annually, representing nearly one-third of all paralysis cases. Stem cell therapy, a focal point in contemporary neuroregeneration research for SCI treatment, holds potential in leveraging undifferentiated stem cells to regenerate damaged tissues. This study seeks to comprehensively analyze current clinical trials exploring the potential use of stem cells in treating spinal cord injuries. ⋯ The promising potential of stem cells in neuroregenerative SCI treatment necessitates further exploration through large-scale, multicenter clinical trials to enhance understanding and guide wider adoption of this emerging treatment paradigm.
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Review Historical Article
Evolution of Neurosurgical Robots: Historical Progress and Future Direction.
In 1985, Professor KWOH first introduced robots into neurosurgery. Since then, advancements of stereotactic frames, radiographic imaging, and neuronavigation have led to the dominance of classic stereotactic robots. A comprehensive retrieval was performed using academic databases and search agents to acquire professional information, with a cutoff date of June, 2024. ⋯ Those technologies have been applied in innovative magnetic resonance-compatible neurosurgical robots, such as Neuroarm and Neurobot, with real-time image-guided surgery. Despite these advancements, the major challenge is considered as magnetic resonance compatibility in terms of space, materials, driving, and imaging. Future research directions are anticipated to focus on 1) robotic precise perception; 2) artificial intelligence; and 3) the advancement of telesurgery.
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Review Historical Article
African Women in Neurosurgery: An Exploration of Historical Perspectives, Current Realities, and Future Prospects.
Gender disparities remain a significant issue, particularly impacting African women in the field of neurosurgery. ⋯ To boost AWIN representation in neurosurgery, concerted and comprehensive efforts are vital. Collaboration among medical schools, training programs, and governments is key to fostering diversity and inclusivity in African neurosurgical settings.
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There is a well-documented association between Cushing's syndrome (CS) and hypercoagulability. However, there is limited data on the risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) after surgery for Cushing's disease (CD). There is no consensus on optimal postoperative anticoagulation strategies in this group. This review gathers information on the rates of VTE after surgery for CD, as well as reported prophylaxis strategies in this population. ⋯ Postoperative VTE in CD is a source of morbidity, with a rate of 2% and mortality rate of 0.2%, highlighting that surgical resection of the corticotroph adenoma does not necessarily result in immediate resolution of hypercoagulability. Increased production of coagulation factors, impaired fibrinolysis, inflammation, and CS-associated metabolic risk factors all factor into the pathogenesis of CS-associated hypercoagulability. Further study is needed on an optimal pharmacologic prophylaxis strategy.
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Postural abnormalities are a debilitating symptom of Parkinson disease (PD) that may require spinal intervention. Camptocormia is a unique abnormality most seen in PD, defined by a severe forward flexion of the trunk that completely resolves when supine. The condition presents a challenge due to an undefined pathophysiology and optimal therapeutic approach in a high-risk patient population. In this study, we systematically reviewed the literature regarding the use of spine surgery for the treatment of camptocormia in PD. ⋯ Despite an increased risk of complication and revision that is inherent to patients with PD, spine surgery has been proven as a reasonable alternative that should be prospectively studied further because 18 of 19 patients had favorable outcomes.