Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2023
Outpatient telemedicine in neurosurgery: 15,677 consecutive encounters in a comparative analysis of its effectiveness and impact on the surgical conversion rate.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated the use of telehealth visits (THVs). The effects on neurosurgical practice have not been well characterized, especially concerning new-patient THVs. Therefore, the authors of this study reviewed their institution's experience with outpatient clinic visits and THVs from before the COVID-19 pandemic to the present to focus on clinical metrics, rates of surgery, and the effects of implementing THVs in order to better understand their implications for clinical practice as more data emerge over time. ⋯ Compared to IPVs, THVs lead to decreased surgical conversion for cranial patients but not spine patients. THVs do not appear to increase the catchment area. For patients who live far from the hospital, an IPV is associated with surgical conversion. Surgical conversion is faster following cranial THVs than after spine THVs. THVs did not increase the duration of follow-up.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2023
Effect of shorter nerve graft and selective motor branch of recipient nerve on nerve transfer surgery for elbow flexion in patients with brachial plexus injury.
The spinal accessory nerve (SAN) is commonly used as a donor nerve for reinnervation of elbow flexors in brachial plexus injury (BPI) reconstruction. However, no study has compared the postoperative outcomes between SAN-to-musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) transfer and SAN-to-nerve to biceps (NTB) transfer. Thus, this study aimed to compare the postoperative time to recovery of elbow flexors between the two groups. ⋯ SAN-to-NTB transfer in combination with the proximal dissection technique is the preferred nerve transfer option for restoration of elbow flexion in traumatic pan-plexus palsy.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2023
The influence of tumor topography on the surgical outcome of craniopharyngiomas.
Various topographical classifications for craniopharyngioma have been proposed based on their relationship with optic chiasm and the third ventricular floor. There is a paucity of literature evaluating the surgical outcome based on tumor topography. This study aims to compare the surgical outcomes of retrochiasmatic craniopharyngiomas (RCPs) and nonretrochiasmatic craniopharyngiomas (non-RCPs). ⋯ The tumor topography can influence the postoperative outcome. RCPs can be associated with a higher incidence of hypopituitarism and hypothalamic morbidities postoperatively. The influence of topography on EOR and tumor recurrence is controversial. However, this study did not find a significant difference in EOR and tumor recurrence between RCPs and non-RCPs. PFS and overall mortality are also comparable.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Nov 2023
Cost-effectiveness of postoperative imaging surveillance strategies for nonfunctional pituitary adenomas after resection with curative intent.
The aim of this study was to determine an optimal follow-up imaging surveillance strategy in terms of cost-effectiveness after resection of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas with curative intent. ⋯ Using standard cost-effectiveness thresholds in the US ($100,000/QALY), personalized surveillance that accounted for remnant disease or postoperative changes on MRI was cost-effective compared with alternative surveillance strategies.