World Neurosurg
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Instrumented circumferential fusion has been used as a primary and salvage procedure in lumbar spine fusion, especially for adult low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis. Recently, instrumented anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has been shown to provide good clinical and radiologic results that are comparable with those attained with traditional lumbar fusion. However, there have been no reports available that compare instrumented circumferential fusion with instrumented ALIF. ⋯ According to the present clinical outcome, instrumented ALIF is at least as effective as instrumented circumferential fusion for the treatment of back pain in adult patients with low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis. Moreover, in terms of operative data including the duration of operation and hospital stay, as well as blood loss, instrumented ALIF demonstrates better results.
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Case Reports
Awake craniotomy, electrophysiologic mapping, and tumor resection with high-field intraoperative MRI.
Awake craniotomy and electrophysiologic mapping (EPM) is an established technique to facilitate the resection of near eloquent cortex. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) is increasingly used to aid in the resection of intracranial lesions. Standard draping protocols in high-field iMRI units make awake craniotomies challenging, and only two groups have previously reported combined EPM and high-field iMRI. ⋯ Standard protocols for positioning and draping in high-field iMRI units make awake craniotomies problematic. This straightforward technique for combined awake EPM and iMRI may facilitate safe removal of large lesions in eloquent cortex.
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To compare facial pain outcomes from different surgical techniques for patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who continue to have persistent or recurrent TN despite multiple operations. ⋯ Although no procedure is best for all patients, PFE gives the operating surgeon the option of performing either a nondestructive (microvascular decompression) or destructive (partial sensory rhizotomy) procedure and is associated with better facial pain outcomes for this difficult patient group.
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Anterior instrumentation has been used for surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis, but there are different regimens of antituberculous chemotherapy used in combination with surgical intervention. The objective of this prospective study was to determine the efficacy of an antituberculous chemotherapy regimen by following a series of patients with spinal tuberculosis, for a minimum of 3 years, who underwent single-stage anterior radical debridement, autogenous bone grafting, and instrumentation. ⋯ In conclusion, postoperative chemotherapy with the 9-month three-drug regimen of isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol is effective when combined with surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis using single-stage anterior autogenous bone grafting and instrumentation.