World Neurosurg
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Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology presents a promising avenue for the development of affordable neurosurgical simulation models, addressing many challenges related to the use of cadavers, animal models, and direct patient engagement. The aim of this study is to introduce and evaluate a new high-fidelity neurosurgical simulation model targeted for both burr hole and craniotomy procedures. ⋯ The findings indicate that widely accessible and economical desktop SLA 3D printers can provide an effective solution in neurosurgical training, thus promoting their integration in hospitals.
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The purpose is to investigate the impact of cage angle on clinical outcomes and indirect decompression efficacy in patients undergoing lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). ⋯ LLIF effectively treats LDD patients, providing significant short-term clinical and radiographic improvements regardless of cage angle. However, oblique cage placement increases the risk of cage subsidence, requiring careful surgical planning and postoperative following.
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ChatGPT is a natural language processing chatbot with a significant prevalence in modern media with a clear application in the medical triage workflow. ChatGPT has shown significant capacity for understanding clinical vignettes, radiology reports, and even passing the American Board of Neurological Surgery board examination. There has never been an evaluation of the chatbot in triage and diagnosing spinal vignettes common to primary and urgent care practice. ⋯ ChatGPT is a powerful tool for primary triage of spinal issues. It can rapidly and accurately evaluate clinical scenarios and provide clear diagnostic reasoning. GPT-4 is not designed for medical use and will provide a disclaimer as such. It did tend toward over-referring patients to the ER. With specific training, it is likely that artificial intelligence and natural language processing chatbots will become widely used in primary triage of spinal issues.
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Case Reports
An Extremely Rare Case of Collision Tumor: A Craniopharyngioma Coexists Pilocytic Astrocytoma.
A 21-year-old man presented with a 2-day history of cephalalgia and a 1-day history of nausea and vomiting. Neuroradiologic imaging revealed a lesion in the third ventricle accompanied by hydrocephalus. ⋯ Histopathological examination identified it as a rare collision tumor, composed of a mixture of craniopharyngioma and pilocytic astrocytoma. This is an exceedingly rare type of tumor, with no similar cases reported in the existing literature.
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Case Reports
Surgical Video: Percutaneous fusion and endoscopic resection of a thoracic metastatic tumor.
While endoscopic approaches to the spine have become increasingly utilized for spinal degenerative disease, there is a paucity of literature regarding the role of endoscopic approaches in spinal oncology.1 The endoscopic approach offers patients lower risk of wound infection, wound dehiscence, and postoperative hematoma when compared with an open approach.1 In many spinal oncology patients, an endoscopic approach allows for prompt postoperative radiation when compared with an open approach.2 Both the lower complication profile and decreased time to postoperative radiation highlight the importance of considering an endoscopic approach to metastatic spinal tumors. We present a case of a patient with a metastatic carcinoma to the thoracic spine resected via an endoscopic approach. The patient's tumor was first treated with endovascular embolization, followed by endoscopic hemilaminectomy, foraminotomy, and tumor resection. ⋯ Per institutional guidelines, the current case Video 1 did not classify as human subject research or require institutional review board review. In the Video 1, particular focus is placed on the surgical techniques involved in the endoscopic approach for resection a spinal metastatic tumor. With the increasing utilization of endoscopic approaches to the spine, the described technique for resection of spinal metastatic lesions will become increasingly relevant to spinal oncology surgeons.