Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2015
Medical treatment decision making after total avulsion brachial plexus injury: a qualitative study.
Complete avulsion traumatic brachial plexus injuries (BPIs) can be treated using nerve and musculoskeletal reconstruction procedures. However, these interventions are most viable within certain timeframes, and even then they cannot restore all lost function. Little is known about how patients make decisions regarding surgical treatment or what impediments they face during the decision-making process. Using qualitative methodology, the authors aimed to describe how and why patients elect to pursue or forego surgical reconstruction, identify the barriers precluding adequate information transfer, and determine whether these patients are satisfied with their treatment choices over time. ⋯ Patients with panplexus avulsion injuries are missing opportunities for reconstruction and often not considering the long-term outcomes of surgery. As more Americans gain health insurance coverage, it is very likely that the number of patients able to pursue reconstruction will increase. The authors recommend implementing clinical pathways to help patients meet critical points in care within the ideal timeframe and using a patient- and family-centered care approach combined with patient decision aids to foster shared decision making, increase access to information, and improve patient satisfaction with decisions. These measures could greatly benefit patients with BPI while reducing costs, improving efficiency, and generating better outcomes.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2015
On-demand pulsatile intracerebral delivery of carisbamate with closed-loop direct neurostimulation therapy in an electrically induced self-sustained focal-onset epilepsy rat model.
The authors evaluated the preclinical feasibility of acutely stabilizing an active bihemispheric limbic epileptic circuit using closed-loop direct neurostimulation therapy in tandem with "on-demand'" convection-enhanced intracerebral delivery of the antiepileptic drug (AED) carisbamate. A rat model of electrically induced self-sustained focal-onset epilepsy was employed. ⋯ Unilateral closed-loop direct stimulation therapy delivered to afferent hippocampal white matter pathways concurrent with on-demand ipsilateral intracerebral delivery of nano-bolused carisbamate can rapidly decrease the frequency of electrographic seizures in an active bihemispheric epileptic network. Additionally, direct pulsatile delivery of carisbamate can stabilize seizure frequency variability compared with direct stimulation therapy alone.
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The purpose of this study was to determine the minimum amount of nerve fibers required to maintain normal motor function after nerve injury in rats. ⋯ In this study of rodents, less than half of the motor axons were sufficient to maintain normal motor function of the lower limb.