World Neurosurg
-
Review Comparative Study
Comparative analysis of surgical freedom and angle of attack of two minimal-access endoscopic transmaxillary approaches to the anterolateral skull base.
Surgical freedom and the angle of attack influence approach selection for open cranial base approaches, but these concepts have not been well studied in minimal-access endoscopic approaches. We therefore developed a methodology to study surgical freedom and angle of attack in two endoscopic transmaxillary transpterygoid approaches, the endonasal ipsilateral uninostril medial maxillotomy and the sublabial Caldwell-Luc anterior maxillotomy. ⋯ We have successfully developed a model for comparing endoscopic skull base approaches. Both the endonasal medial maxillotomy approach and Caldwell-Luc approach provided endoscopic access to each target. However, the sublabial Caldwell-Luc approach offered greater surgical freedom and a more head-on approach than the endonasal medial maxillotomy. These differences in surgical freedom and angles of attack may be useful to consider when planning minimal-access approaches.
-
Many studies demonstrate that the accuracy of freehand catheter placement for cerebrospinal fluid drainage is suboptimal. The aim of placement should be a single pass with a free-floating catheter tip in the intended position. The objective of this study was to achieve an accurate and user-friendly system for three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound-navigated catheter placement through a regular burr hole. ⋯ 3D ultrasound with the described setup is a promising technique for accurate, fast, and user-friendly navigated placement of catheters for cerebrospinal fluid diversion.
-
Effective treatments for acute neurologic illness and injury are lacking, particularly for spinal cord injury (SCI). The very structure of clinical trials may be contributing to this because assumptions made during trial planning preclude additional learning within residual important areas of uncertainty, such as dose, timing, and duration of treatment. Adaptive clinical trials offer potential solutions to some of the factors that may be slowing the pace of discovery. ⋯ Within this review, we describe the structure of flexible adaptive clinical trial designs, the process by which they are developed and conducted, and potential opportunities and drawbacks of these approaches. We must accept that there are some uncertainties that remain when both exploratory and confirmatory trials are designed. The process by which teams carefully consider which uncertainties are most important and most likely to potentially compromise the ability to detect an effective treatment can lead to trial designs that are more likely to find the right treatment for the right population of patients.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Revision extension to the pelvis versus primary spinopelvic instrumentation in adult deformity: comparison of clinical outcomes and complications.
To evaluate the outcomes and complications of patients with adult spinal deformity treated in a primary versus revision fashion with long fusions to the sacropelvis. ⋯ Patients requiring revision extension of instrumentation to the pelvis can be treated with the same expectation of radiographic and clinical success as patients treated primarily with fusion to the sacropelvis. The complication rate for the revision procedure is not insignificant and may be similar to a primary procedure that includes pelvic fixation.
-
Rapid visual deterioration may occur as the result of the quick growth of parasellar meningiomas in the high-hormone/increased fluid retention milieu of pregnancy; however, surgery before delivery entails increased maternal-fetal risk. We present our experience in the management of parasellar meningiomas that compress the optic apparatus during pregnancy, with a focus on decisions regarding the timing of surgery. ⋯ We recommend that surgery be offered to patients during pregnancy when a delay may result in severe permanent visual impairment.