Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Oct 2002
Hydroxyapatite laminar spacers and titanium miniplates in cervical laminoplasty.
The authors describe a new surgical technique for cervical laminoplasty that was performed in 25 patients. The posterior elements along with the various ligaments are removed en bloc and are stabilized in a lift-up position by placing hydroxyapatite (HA) laminar spacers and titanium miniplates and screws. The procedure and clinical results are discussed. ⋯ This technique enables rigid laminoplasty while maintaining anatomical and biomechanical integrity of posterior elements of cervical spine. Expansive and nonexpansive laminoplasty procedures are possible.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Oct 2002
Ophthalmological outcome after orbital entry during anterior and anterolateral skull base surgery.
Partial resection of the orbital bones is not uncommon during the excision of anterior and anterolateral skull base tumors. Controversy exists regarding the need for and extent of reconstruction after this procedure. The authors studied this factor in a series of patients. ⋯ In most patients elaborate orbital reconstruction is not necessary after partial excision of the orbital bones. Isolated medial and lateral orbital wall defects, or combined superior and lateral orbital wall defects, especially in cases in which the periorbita is intact, probably do not require primary reconstruction. In cases of orbital floor defects, whether isolated or part of a multiple-wall resection, primary reconstruction is recommended.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Oct 2002
Organization of language areas in bilingual patients: a cortical stimulation study.
In an attempt to gain a better understanding of how multiple languages are represented in the human brain, the authors studied bilingual patients who underwent surgery for brain tumors, during which the authors mapped cortical language sites by using electrostimulation. ⋯ In this series, the authors found that bilingual patients could have common but also different cortical areas for both languages in temporoparietal areas and in frontal areas. In some cases, the authors found that language tasks such as counting, reading, or word retrieval in different languages can be sustained by language- and task-specific cortical areas. In bilingual patients, cortical mapping should ideally be performed using different language tasks in all languages in which the patient is fluent.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Oct 2002
Surgical treatment of spinal deformities associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. Report of 12 cases.
In 10 to 50% of cases with neurofibromatosis, skeletal disorders are present, mainly as various deformities of the spine. These deformities can be divided into dystrophic and nondystrophic groups depending on the absence or presence of bone dystrophy. The nondystrophic curves are highly similar to those in idiopathic scoliosis, whereas the dystrophic curves are manifested early and, by progressing inexorably, may lead to neurological symptoms. In this article the authors report on a series of 12 patients (11 with dystrophic and one with nondystrophic deformities) who underwent surgical treatment. ⋯ The surgical treatment of dystrophic curves always included 360 degrees fusion and the use of a tibial corticocancellous graft, which must be placed on the concave side of the curve in the frontal plane, the graft thereby providing biomechanical support.