Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2016
Postconcussion syndrome: demographics and predictors in 221 patients.
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the demographics and predictors of postconcussion syndrome (PCS) in a large series of patients using a novel definition of PCS. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of 284 consecutive concussed patients, 221 of whom had PCS on the basis of at least 3 symptoms persisting at least 1 month. This definition of PCS was uniformly employed and is unique in accepting an expanded list of symptoms, in shortening the postconcussion interval to 1 month from 3 months, and in excluding those with focal injuries such as hemorrhages and contusions. ⋯ This is likely due to differences in the definitions of PCS used in research. These results suggest that the use of ICD-10 and DSM-IV to diagnose PCS may be biased toward those who are vulnerable to concussions or with more severe forms of PCS. It is thus important to redefine PCS based on evidence-based medicine.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2016
Brain tissue oxygen tension and its response to physiological manipulations: influence of distance from injury site in a swine model of traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE The optimal site for placement of tissue oxygen probes following traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unresolved. The authors used a previously described swine model of focal TBI and studied brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) at the sites of contusion, proximal and distal to contusion, and in the contralateral hemisphere to determine the effect of probe location on PbtO2 and to assess the effects of physiological interventions on PbtO2 at these different sites. METHODS A controlled cortical impact device was used to generate a focal lesion in the right frontal lobe in 12 anesthetized swine. ⋯ Physiological alterations, including hyperoxia, hyperventilation, and hypoventilation substantially affect PbtO2 values distal to the site of injury but have little effect in and around the site of contusion. Clinical interpretations of brain tissue oxygen measurements should take into account the spatial relation of probe position to the site of injury. The decision of where to place a brain tissue oxygen probe in TBI patients should also take these factors into consideration.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2016
Case ReportsIodine-125 seed migration within brain parenchyma after brachytherapy for brain metastasis: case report.
This case report documents the migration of 3 iodine-125 (125I) seeds from the tumor resection cavity into brain parenchyma over a 7-year period. A 66-year-old woman had a history of metastatic ovarian carcinoma, nickel allergy, and reaction to a titanium hip implant that required reoperation for hardware removal. In this unique case of parenchymal migration, the seed paths seemed to follow white matter tracts, traveling between 18.5 and 35.5 mm from the initial implant site. ⋯ Considering her previous reactions to nickel and titanium, the authors now speculate that her later clinical course reflected an allergic reaction to the titanium casing of the 125I seeds. Containing a trace amount of nickel, 125I seeds can elicit a delayed hypersensitivity reaction in patients with a history of nickel dermatitis. Preoperative patch testing is recommended in these patients, and 125I seed implantation should be avoided in those who test positive.
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OBJECTIVE The complete clipping of a cerebral aneurysm usually warrants its sustained occlusion, while clip remnants may have far-reaching consequences. The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors for clip remnants requiring retreatment and/or exhibiting growth. METHODS All consecutive patients with primary aneurysm clipping performed at University Hospital of Essen between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2013, were eligible for this study. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS The size and location of the aneurysm are the main risk factors for clip remnants requiring retreatment. Because of the risk for growth, younger individuals (< 45 years old) with clip remnants require a long-term (> 5 years) vascular follow-up. Clinical trial registration no: DRKS00008749 (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien).
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2016
Electrical stimulation of the parahippocampal gyrus for prediction of posthippocampectomy verbal memory decline.
OBJECTIVE Epilepsy surgery is of known benefit for drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE); however, a certain number of patients suffer significant decline in verbal memory after hippocampectomy. To prevent this disabling complication, a reliable test for predicting postoperative memory decline is greatly desired. Therefore, the authors assessed the value of electrical stimulation of the parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) as a provocation test of verbal memory decline after hippocampectomy on the dominant side. ⋯ RESULTS Left hippocampectomy was performed in 7 of the 11 patients. In 3 patients with a positive provocative recognition test, verbal memory function, as assessed by the WMS-R, decreased after hippocampectomy, whereas in 4 patients with a negative provocative recognition test, verbal memory function, as assessed by the WMS-R or MMSE, was preserved. CONCLUSIONS Results of the present study suggest that electrical stimulation of the PHG is a reliable provocative test to predict posthippocampectomy verbal memory decline.