Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Oct 2013
Clinical success of transforaminal endoscopic discectomy with foraminotomy: a retrospective evaluation.
Transforaminal endoscopic surgery has evolved from an intradiscal procedure to a true foraminal epidural procedure where both a targeted discectomy and foraminal decompression can be performed. The success of transforaminal decompression for radiculopathy using preoperative selective nerve root block as part of a treatment algorithm for single level and multilevel lumbar disc herniations is described here. ⋯ Patients with single level lumbar herniations receiving one endoscopic discectomy have excellent outcomes, but with a good response to a selective nerve root block as a preoperative adjunct, patients with multilevel disc herniations also have significant benefit from single level endoscopic discectomy.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Oct 2013
Management and outcome of primary spinal ependymomas: a single center experience from Taiwan.
Surgical treatment of spinal ependymomas requires careful consideration of the relative risks of neurological worsening from surgery. Our aim was to determine the risk factors of neurological deterioration after surgery for spinal ependymomas. ⋯ The risk associated with surgical resection of spinal ependymomas should not be overlooked because of the significant incidence of neurological deterioration. The male gender and long-standing symptom (≥24 months) are risk factors of postoperative neurological worsening. Early diagnosis and surgery are therefore critical for successful treatment of spinal ependymomas.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Oct 2013
Initial experiences with Multiplate® for rapid assessment of antiplatelet agent activity in neurosurgical emergencies.
As the population ages, physicians encounter a growing number of patients who are treated with antiplatelet agents and present with severe conditions requiring urgent neurosurgical therapy. Standard laboratory investigations are insufficient to evaluate platelet activity and furthermore, it is difficult to evaluate effects of haemostatic measures on platelet function. In this article we report our initial experiences with the point-of-care device Multiplate® for assessment of platelet activity in neurosurgical emergencies on patients with a reported intake of antiplatelet medication. ⋯ The Multiplate® device allowed rapid assessment of antiplatelet agent activity and evaluation of haemostatic measures on platelet activity. Further studies with larger patient numbers are needed, but this device may represent a valuable tool to improve treatment modalities in patients treated with antiplatelet medication and conditions requiring urgent neurosurgical therapy.