Neurosurgery
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Corpus callosotomy is a palliative procedure especially for Lennox-Gastaut semiology without localization with drop attacks. ⋯ This preliminary study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of complete callosotomy with anterior, hippocampal, and posterior commissurotomy in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (drop attacks) with moderate to severe mental retardation.
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Concern about radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RION) has governed recent thinking about the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of meningiomas involving the anterior optic pathways. Despite this concern, during the last few years, the use of radiosurgery for such lesions has increased steadily. ⋯ Good local control rate and a low risk of RION indicate that mRS is a safe and effective treatment option in cases of large meningiomas.
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Posterior cervical fusion with cervical interfacet spacer (CIS) is a novel allograft technology offering the potential to provide indirect neuroforaminal decompression while simultaneously enhancing fusion by placing the allograft in compression. ⋯ CIS provides an important fusion technique, allowing placement of an allograft in compression for posterior cervical fusion in patients with anterior cervical pseudarthroses. Although there was improvement in clinical outcome measures after surgery, placement of CIS had no clinically significant impact on cervical lordosis and C2-7 sagittal vertical axis.
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Understanding the role of regional segments of the spine in maintaining global balance has garnered significant attention recently. Long-cassette radiographs (LCR) are necessary to evaluate global spinopelvic alignment. However, it is unclear how LCRs impact operative decision-making for cervical spine pathology. ⋯ In planning for cervical spine surgery, surgeons should maintain a low threshold for obtaining LCRs to assess global spinopelvic alignment.
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Triolein emulsion infusion into the carotid artery has been reported to induce temporary and reversible opening of the blood-brain barrier by increasing vascular permeability. ⋯ Brain permeance to anticancer agents was increased by triolein emulsion infusion, which suggests that triolein infusion might be a useful adjuvant treatment for brain tumors.