Neurosurgery
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To conduct a topic review of studies related to cerebral concussion in athletes, as an aid to improving decision-making and outcomes. ⋯ Neuropsychological testing seems to be an effective way to obtain useful data on the short-term and long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury. Moreover, knowledge of the various definitions and management strategies, as well as the utility of neuropsychological testing, is essential for those involved in decision-making with athletes with mild traumatic brain injuries.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Intraoperative mild hypothermia ameliorates postoperative cerebral blood flow impairment in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Intraoperative mild hypothermia has been used during cerebral aneurysm surgery to reduce ischemic injury induced by temporary vessel occlusion and brain retraction. However, the clinical effects on cerebral hemodynamics are unclear. This study investigated the effects of intraoperative mild hypothermia on cerebral blood flow (CBF) after surgery to treat aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. ⋯ Intraoperative mild hypothermia may reduce the severity of ischemia induced by intraoperative temporary vessel occlusion and brain retraction, thus ameliorating postoperative CBF impairment.
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The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical and paraclinical features, treatment, and outcomes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and coexisting spinal cord compression secondary to either cervical spondylosis or cervical disc disease. Patients with MS commonly experience neurological disabilities that present as myelopathy associated with bladder dysfunction. For some patients with MS, however, this neurological deterioration may result from coexisting spinal cord compression attributable to either spondylosis or a herniated disc. Overlapping symptoms of the two conditions do not allow clear clinical determination of the underlying cause of worsening. ⋯ Carefully selected patients with MS and cervical spinal cord compression secondary to either spondylosis or disc disease may benefit from surgical decompression, with minimal associated morbidity. Clinical features (especially neck pain and cervical radiculopathy) and magnetic resonance imaging may assist clinicians in differentiating between the two conditions and may guide appropriate treatment without undue delay.
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Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and its complications continue to have devastating neurological consequences for patients. Budgetary constraints, especially in developing countries, have made it necessary to select patients for shunting who are likely to experience good recoveries. To date, the value of cerebrospinal fluid shunting for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients with TBM has not been clearly established. ⋯ In the absence of obvious clinical benefit, HIV-positive patients with TBM should undergo a trial of ventricular or lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and only those who exhibit significant neurological improvement should proceed to shunt surgery.
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To evaluate an integrated battery of preoperative functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tasks developed to identify cortical areas associated with tactile, motor, language, and visual functions. ⋯ This integrated fMRI task battery offers standardized and noninvasive preoperative maps of multiple critical functions to facilitate assessment of surgical risk, planning of surgical routes, and direction of conventional, intraoperative electrophysiological procedures. Thus, a greater range of structural and functional relationships is brought to bear in the service of optimal outcomes for neurosurgery.