Neurosurgery
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It remains unclear if minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) is comparable to traditional, open TLIF because of the limitations of the prior small-sample-size, single-center studies reporting comparative effectiveness. ⋯ For single-level grade 1 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, MI-TLIF was associated with less disability, higher quality of life, and higher patient satisfaction compared with traditional, open TLIF. MI-TLIF was associated with higher rates of RTW, less blood loss, but longer operative times. Though we utilized multivariable adjusted analyses, these findings may be susceptible to selection bias.
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Multivariate risk prediction models individualize prediction of adverse outcomes, assisting perioperative decision-making. There are currently no models specifically designed for the neurosurgical population. ⋯ NZRISK-NEURO is a robust multivariate calculator created specifically for neurosurgery, enabling physicians to generate data-driven individualized risk estimates, assisting shared decision-making and perioperative planning.
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The setting of a randomized trial can determine whether its findings are generalizable and can therefore apply to different settings. The contribution of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to neurosurgical randomized trials has not been systematically described before. ⋯ We have established that there is a substantial disparity between HICs and LMICs in the number of published neurosurgical trials. A concerted effort to invest in research capacity building in LMICs is an essential step towards ensuring context- and resource-specific high-quality evidence is generated.
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Central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors (GCT) are rare and complex pediatric neoplasms, the optimal management of which remains an area of active investigation. ⋯ CNS GCTs are clinically heterogeneous lesions, resulting in numerous opportunities for improved understanding and clinical management via novel diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. Samples from second-look surgeries for recurrent germinomas frequently demonstrate teratomatous tissue, suggesting possible underdiagnosis of mixed GCTs-particularly among pineal lesions. GCT subtypes demonstrate differential cell fraction distributions on CSF analysis, a novel and perhaps diagnostically helpful finding that requires validation in external cohorts.
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Pipeline embolization device (PED; Medtronic) and stent-assisted coiling (SAC) are established modalities for treatment of intracranial aneurysms. ⋯ PED placement and SAC offer equally efficacious occlusion rates, functional outcomes, procedural complication rates, and cost profiles for small unruptured anterior circulation saccular aneurysms which do not involve the anterior communicating artery.