Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2020
Nucleus basalis of Meynert neuronal activity in Parkinson's disease.
Neuronal loss within the cholinergic nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM) correlates with cognitive decline in dementing disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease (PD). In nonhuman primates, the nbM firing pattern (5-40 Hz) has also been correlated with working memory and sustained attention. In this study, authors performed microelectrode recordings of the globus pallidus pars interna (GPi) and the nbM immediately prior to the implantation of bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes in PD patients to treat motor symptoms and cognitive impairment, respectively. Here, the authors evaluate the electrophysiological properties of the nbM in patients with PD. ⋯ Neurons along the trajectory through the GPi and nbM have distinct firing patterns. The profile of nbM activity is similar to that observed in nonhuman primates and is altered during a cognitive task associated with cholinergic activation. These findings will serve to identify these targets intraoperatively and form the basis for further research to characterize the role of the nbM in cognition.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2020
Locating the foramen ovale by using molar and inter-eminence planes: a guide for percutaneous trigeminal neuralgia procedures.
The first attempt to cannulate the foramen ovale is oftentimes unsuccessful and requires subsequent reattempts, thereby increasing the risk of an adverse event and radiation exposure to the patient and surgeon. Failure in cannulation may be attributable to variation in soft-tissue-based landmarks used for needle guidance. Also, the incongruity between guiding marks on the face and bony landmarks visible on fluoroscopic images may also complicate cannulation. Therefore, the object of this study was to assess the location of the foramen ovale by way of bony landmarks, exclusive of soft-tissue guidance. ⋯ The results of this study provide a novel means of identifying the location of the foramen ovale. Unlike the soft-tissue landmarks used in the many variations of the route of Härtel, the bony landmarks identified in this study can be palpated, marked on the face, appreciated fluoroscopically, and do not require any measurement from soft-tissue structures. Utilizing the molar and inter-eminence planes as cannulation guides will improve the approach to the foramen ovale and decrease the amount of radiation exposure to both the patient and surgeon.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2020
Various modifications of a vascularized nasoseptal flap for repair of extensive skull base dural defects.
Endonasal surgery of the skull base requires watertight reconstruction of the skull base that can seal the dural defect to prevent postoperative CSF rhinorrhea and consequent intracranial complications. Although the incidence of CSF leakage has decreased significantly since the introduction in 2006 of the vascularized nasoseptal flap (the Hadad-Bassagasteguy flap), reconstruction of extensive skull base dural defects remains challenging. The authors describe a new, modified vascularized nasoseptal flap for reconstruction of extensive skull base dural defects. ⋯ Extended nasoseptal flaps are a reliable and versatile option that can be used to reconstruct extensive skull base dural defects resulting from destruction by large invasive tumors or complex endoscopic endonasal surgery. An extended nasoseptal flap that includes the entire lateral nasal wall mucosa (360° flap) is the largest endonasal vascularized flap reported to date and may be an alternative for the reconstruction of extensive skull base defects while avoiding the need for additional external approaches.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2020
Trends in Medicare reimbursement for neurosurgical procedures: 2000 to 2018.
There is currently a paucity of literature evaluating procedural reimbursements and financial trends in neurosurgery. A comprehensive understanding of the economic trends and financial health of neurosurgery is important to ensure the sustained success and growth of the specialty moving forward. The purpose of this study was to evaluate monetary trends of the 10 most common spinal and cranial neurosurgical procedures in Medicare reimbursement rates from 2000 to 2018. ⋯ This is the first study to evaluate comprehensive trends in Medicare reimbursement in neurosurgery. When adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for all included procedures has steadily decreased from 2000 to 2018, with similar rates of decline observed between cranial and spinal neurosurgery procedures. Increased awareness and consideration of these trends will be important moving forward for policy makers, hospitals, and neurosurgeons as continued progress is made to advance agreeable reimbursement models that allow for the sustained growth of neurosurgery in the United States.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2020
Impact of frailty on short-term outcomes in patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.
Frailty, a state of decreased physiological reserve, has been shown to significantly impact outcomes of surgery. The authors sought to examine the impact of frailty on the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. ⋯ Frailty in patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is associated with worse postoperative outcomes and higher costs, indicating that state's potential role in routine preoperative risk stratification.