Neurosurgery
-
This investigation was performed to construct a grading system for cranial base meningiomas that augments the current system of topographic labeling. This new system classifies cranial base meningiomas based on predicted surgical resection and patient outcomes. ⋯ The current system of classifying cranial base meningiomas provides no information regarding the tumor except location and no information concerning patient prognosis. We present a more useful system to categorize these tumors. Our scheme must be tested at other centers to corroborate our findings. This new grading system should serve to guide surgical treatment, inform patients, and improve communication among surgeons.
-
To determine whether perioperative subcutaneous heparin is safe to use for patients undergoing craniotomy and to determine the incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing craniotomy. ⋯ Perioperative heparin may be safe to administer to patients undergoing craniotomy, but a larger study is needed to demonstrate efficacy.
-
The discovery of the arachnoid membrane is a relatively recent advance. Ancient anatomists noted the presence of the dura mater and pia mater, but the intervening arachnoid membrane was left undescribed. It was not until the 17th century that anatomists discovered a layer separating the pia mater from the dura mater and named this cobweb-like layer the "arachnoid." Arachnoid means "spider-like" and has an interesting etymology that can be traced to the ancient Greek myth of Arachne.
-
A preliminary study of subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation was performed to determine its applicability for the treatment of gait and postural disturbances in Parkinson's disease. ⋯ Our findings showed that STN stimulation effectively alleviates freezing gait and improves walking to its status during the preoperative on-drug phase and can be applied for treatment of Parkinson's disease patients with these symptoms.
-
Case Reports
Symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis after local epidural corticosteroid injections: case report.
Spinal epidural lipomatosis, which causes symptomatic compression of neural elements, is a well known but uncommon complication of Cushing's syndrome. Spinal epidural lipomatosis has been reported frequently in association with chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy, but thus far only one case has been attributed to local epidural corticosteroid injections. ⋯ This case should alert clinicians that epidural lipomatosis, which causes symptomatic thecal sac compression, is a possible complication, not only of systemic glucocorticoid therapy, but also of local epidural corticosteroid injections.