Neurosurgery
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Case Reports Comparative Study
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a National Football League player.
We present the results of the autopsy of a retired professional football player that revealed neuropathological changes consistent with long-term repetitive concussive brain injury. This case draws attention to the need for further studies in the cohort of retired National Football League players to elucidate the neuropathological sequelae of repeated mild traumatic brain injury in professional football. ⋯ This case highlights potential long-term neurodegenerative outcomes in retired professional National Football League players subjected to repeated mild traumatic brain injury. The prevalence and pathoetiological mechanisms of these possible adverse long-term outcomes and their relation to duration of years of playing football have not been sufficiently studied. We recommend comprehensive clinical and forensic approaches to understand and further elucidate this emergent professional sport hazard.
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Wide-necked cerebral aneurysms have been particularly difficult to treat using coil embolization. The introduction of the first intracranial flexible stent (Neuroform stent; Boston Scientific/Target, Fremont, CA) has provided a great advantage to this dilemma by forming a bridge across the aneurysm neck and allowing the packing of coils. Despite this advancement, some parent vessel bifurcation aneurysms can still remain elusive to single stent and coiling technique. ⋯ Double stenting in "Y" configuration and coiling is feasible. This technique should increase the ability to endovascularly treat wide-necked aneurysms.
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Effect of the neurosurgeon's surgical experience on outcomes from intraoperative aneurysmal rupture.
The neurosurgeon's surgical experience is one of the most important and least studied factors affecting a patient's outcome after an intraoperative rupture of an aneurysm. Therefore, this analysis was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the neurosurgeon's experience on the management of this catastrophe in a consecutive series of patients treated microsurgically. ⋯ Intraoperative rupture is an unavoidable danger in aneurysm surgery that does not diminish with increasing surgical experience of the neurosurgeon performing the operation. However, experience did improve the neurosurgeon's response to aneurysm rupture and the patients' outcomes. Mental anticipation and technical repetition over time transform into efficiency, confidence, and insight in the management of this distressing intraoperative event.
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Cerebral revascularization is an important part of the treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms that require deliberate occlusion of a parent artery. In situ bypass brings together intracranial donor and recipient arteries that lie parallel and in close proximity to one another rather than using an extracranial donor artery. An experience with in situ bypasses was retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ In situ bypass is a safe and effective alternative to extracranial-intracranial bypasses and high-flow bypasses using saphenous vein or radial artery grafts. Although in situ bypasses are more demanding technically, they do not require harvesting a donor artery, can be accomplished with one anastomosis, and are less vulnerable to injury or occlusion.
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Clinical Trial
Preserving olfactory function in anterior craniofacial surgery through cribriform plate osteotomy applied in selected patients.
Olfaction is often sacrificed to gain access to the cranial base in anterior craniofacial surgery. We describe the long-term results of olfactory function in patients who underwent anterior craniofacial surgery and a cribriform plate osteotomy to preserve olfaction. ⋯ Olfaction can be preserved in selected patients undergoing anterior craniofacial surgery. At least 1 cm of nasal mucosa should remain attached to the cribriform plate, which can be achieved by including the nasal bone in the osteotomy of the orbital bar. A medial orbital canthopexy is therefore necessary after these procedures.