Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2015
ReviewOutcome methods used in clinical studies of Chiari malformation Type I: a systematic review.
Chiari malformation Type I (CM-I) is a common and often debilitating neurological disease. Efforts to improve treatment of CM-I are impeded by inconsistent and limited methods of evaluating clinical outcomes. To understand current approaches and lay a foundation for future research, the authors conducted a systematic review of the methods used in original published research articles to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients treated for CM-I. ⋯ The methods used to evaluate clinical outcomes in CM-I are inconsistent and frequently not comparable, complicating efforts to analyze results across studies. Development, validation, and incorporation of a small number of disease-specific patient-based instruments will improve the quality of research and care of CM-I patients.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2015
Case ReportsClinical features and long-term outcomes of moyamoya disease: a single-center experience with 528 cases in China.
The aim of this study was to describe the baseline clinical features and long-term outcomes of patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) based on a 25-year period at a single center in China. ⋯ There was no difference in the sex distribution of Chinese patients with MMD. Patients with hemorrhagic MMD had a much higher rate of rebleeding and poorer prognosis than those with the ischemic type. Surgical revascularization procedures can improve cerebral perfusion and have a positive impact in preventing rebleeding in patients with hemorrhagic MMD.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2015
Comparative StudyAre there modifiable risk factors to prevent a cerebrospinal fluid leak following vestibular schwannoma surgery?
The following study was conducted to identify risk factors for a postoperative CSF leak after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery. ⋯ Elevated BMI is a risk factor for the development of a postoperative CSF leak following VS surgery. Recognizing this preoperatively can allow surgeons to better counsel patients regarding the risks of surgery as well as perhaps to alter perioperative management in an attempt to decrease the likelihood of a leak. Patients undergoing a TL approach or having longer operative times are also at increased risk of developing a postoperative CSF leak.