Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Dec 2014
Observational StudyPredictors of deterioration indicating a requirement for surgery in mild to moderate traumatic brain injury.
Careful course observation is necessary for cases of mild to moderate traumatic brain injury even when disturbed consciousness is mild on admission. This is because delayed enlargement of hematoma and progression of cerebral swelling may occur and result in an emergency craniotomy. Here, we investigated coagulopathy and abnormal fibrinolysis as a predictive factor of "deterioration requiring surgery" in mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. ⋯ Coagulopathy and abnormal fibrinolysis, which are measurable in routine medical practice, is associated with deterioration requiring surgery in mild to moderate traumatic brain injury, indicating that careful course observation is necessary.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Dec 2014
Risk factors for failed transverse sinus stenting in pseudotumor cerebri patients.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) when no underlying etiology is found, is a clinical syndrome characterized by elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) (>25 cm H2O), which may lead to headaches and visual symptoms. In patients with IIH who are found to have transverse sinus stenosis, placement of a venous stent across the stenosis has been shown to lower ICP and to resolve the symptoms in several case series, with generally favorable results. In this study, we examine common risk factors associated with failure of transvenous stenting for IIH. If venous sinus stenting fails, CSF diversion should be considered as the next line of treatment. ⋯ In patients with IIH and documented evidence of venous sinus stenosis with a pressure gradient, venous sinus stenting should be the primary treatment of choice; however, some patients may be refractory to stenting and still require permanent CSF diversion, which can be complicated in these chronically anticoagulated patients. Patients with persistent papilledema post-stenting and highly elevated opening pressure pre-stenting should be followed closely as they are at greatest risk of requiring a shunt and failing stenting.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Dec 2014
Peripheral field stimulation for thoracic post herpetic neuropathic pain.
Post herpetic neuralgia is a chronic, debilitating pain with very few management options and is often refractory to treatment. We present our experience with a series of 4 patients who underwent subcutaneous peripheral field stimulation for treatment of thoracic post herpetic neuropathic pain. ⋯ Peripheral field stimulation for the treatment of post herpetic neuropathic pain is a safe and effective method for pain relief for an extremely complex problem with very few solutions. Patient selection and proper lead placement is most important for the success of treatment.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Dec 2014
Impact of body mass index in spinal surgery for degenerative lumbar spine disease.
Obesity is a factor for degenerative lumbar spine disease (DLSD), with increasing prevalence worldwide. Consequently, patients who are overweight or obese have benefited from surgical treatment for DLSD, despite their anatomical and clinical differences. ⋯ BMI is not a complicating factor for the outcome of patients undergoing surgery for DLSD in terms of SSI, surgical complications, and re-operation rates. Furthermore, the extent of surgery was associated with increased postoperative SSI and the need for a second surgery due to the failure of the first procedure.