World Neurosurg
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Adjacent segment disease (ASD) may occur as a long-term consequence of spinal fusion and is associated with significant back and leg pain. Surgical management of symptomatic ASD consists of neural decompression and extension of fusion. However, conflicting results have been reported with respect to the long-term clinical effectiveness of revision surgery in this setting. We set out to comprehensively assess the long-term clinical outcome after revision surgery and determine its effectiveness in the treatment of adjacent segment disease. ⋯ Patients undergoing decompression and extension of fusion for adjacent segment disease-associated back and leg pain reported long-term improvement in pain, disability, and both physical and mental quality of life, suggesting that revision surgery is a highly effective treatment strategy in this patient population.
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Case Reports
Shunt-related intracranial abscess caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis in a hydranencephalic patient.
Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus with aggressive and rapidly progressive infectious behavior. This organism has emerged as an important pathogen implicated in both community-acquired and nosocomial infections, including meningitis, brain abscess, catheter-related bacteremia, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection. ⋯ This case suggests that if Staphylococcus lugdunensis is identified, a virulent and prolonged clinical course with the production of destructive lesions, similar to those with S. aureus, should be expected. A course of antibiotic therapy and aggressive management that may include surgical treatment will be needed.
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To propose that chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) should be conceived as a sentinel event in elderly patients and offer an analysis of long-term survival after diagnosis. ⋯ The increased mortality rates in patients with CSDHs relative to standardized mortality data corroborate the conception of subdural hematoma as a sentinel health event.
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Case Reports
The transconjunctival transorbital approach: a keyhole approach to the midline anterior skull base.
To report an initial experience with a medial transorbital approach to the midline skull base performed via a transconjunctival incision. ⋯ The transconjunctival medial orbital craniectomy provides a minimally invasive keyhole approach to lesions located anteriorly along the anterior cranial fossa that are in the midline with lateral extension over the orbital roof. Based on our initial experience with this technique, the working space afforded limits complex surgical dissection; this approach is primarily well suited for less extensive pathology.
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Glioblastoma (GB) is rarely found in the cerebellum. Because of its rarity, it is poorly understood if cerebellar GB (CGB) behaves similarly to supratentorial GB. Studies have been limited to case reports and small case series. A better understanding of CGB may help guide treatment strategies. ⋯ CGBs are difficult to analyze using institutional series because of their rarity. This study shows they are clinically different from supratentorial GB. Among patients with CGB, radiation therapy may prolong survival. This may help guide treatment strategies aimed at prolonging survival for patients with these extremely rare lesions.