Neurosurgery
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There is a paucity of investigation on the impact of spondylolisthesis surgery on back pain-related sexual inactivity. ⋯ Over 80% of patients who present for surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis report a negative effect of the disease on sex life. However, most patients (73%) report improvement postoperatively. Sex life improvement was associated with greater satisfaction with surgery. Lower BMI was predictive of improved sex life. In older patients-in addition to lower BMI-lower ASA grade and higher education were predictive of improvement.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Metastatic Spine Disease: Should Patients With Short Life Expectancy Be Denied Surgical Care? An International Retrospective Cohort Study.
Despite our inability to accurately predict survival in many cancer patients, a life expectancy of at least 3 mo is historically necessary to be considered for surgical treatment of spinal metastases. ⋯ When controlled for baseline performance status, quality of life 6 wk after surgery for spinal metastasis is independent of survival. To optimize improvement in HRQOL for this patient population, baseline performance status should take priority over expected survival in the surgical decision-making process.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
High-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation at 10 kHz for the Treatment of Combined Neck and Arm Pain: Results From a Prospective Multicenter Study.
Intractable neck and upper limb pain has historically been challenging to treat with conventional spinal cord stimulation (SCS) being limited by obtaining effective paresthesia coverage. ⋯ In conclusion, 10-kHz SCS can treat intractable neck and upper limb pain with stable long-term outcomes.
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Review Historical Article
Fornicotomy for the Treatment of Epilepsy: An Examination of Historical Literature in the Setting of Modern Operative Techniques.
Fornicotomy has been used to treat intractable temporal lobe epilepsy with mixed success historically; however, modern advances in stereotactic, neurosurgical, and imaging techniques offer new opportunities to target the fornix with greater precision and safety. In this review, we discuss the historical uses and quantify the outcomes of fornicotomy for the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy, highlight the potential mechanisms of benefit, and address what is known about the side effects of the procedure. ⋯ More work is needed to address the true efficacy of fornicotomy in the modern surgical setting. This review is intended to serve as a framework for developing this approach.
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Multicenter Study
Radiosurgery for Unruptured Intervention - Naïve Pediatric Brain Arteriovenous Malformations.
Long-term data regarding stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a standalone therapy for unruptured pediatric brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are incompletely defined. ⋯ Treatment of unruptured, intervention-naïve AVMs in the pediatric population with SRS carries an approximately 2% annual risk of morbidity and mortality, which appears to plateau after 10 yr. The poorly described natural history of pediatric AVMs renders any comparison of SRS vs conservative management imperfect.