World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
Endoscope assisted Abscess drainage secondary to endoscope-assisted TLIF - 1 year follow up.
Endoscopic discectomy and fusions have been gaining popularity in the recent past and are noted to be safe for their application in elderly population. The procedure involves ultra-small incision for discectomy followed by placement of percutaneous screws in awake patients. Treatment of advanced spinal pathology with endoscope-assisted techniques is challenging. Although not common with the endoscopic approach, postoperative infection can be problematic, as there are no established guidelines on its management. ⋯ The present case illustrates the successful treatment of a surgical-site infection after endoscope-assisted transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion via a repeat percutaneous endoscopic approach.
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Four layers of ligamentous stabilizers comprise the craniocervical junction, and the second layer is composed of apical and paired alar ligaments. The purpose of this study is to establish the tensile strength of the alar ligaments for better understanding the implications that can arise from trauma and other pathologies in the craniocervical region. ⋯ Further studies will be necessary to determine their importance as secondary stabilizers and measure their ability to support similar forces when subject to rotation and lateral bending forces, as well as with flexion-extension.
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To analyze 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinical features of patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who underwent percutaneous balloon compression and to determine whether these findings had an impact on prognosis of TN. ⋯ Symptom duration was longer and microstructural changes were more apparent in patients with recurrence. In addition to age, comorbidities, and other clinical and radiographic features, symptom duration and FA values obtained with 3T MRI might be valuable information in surgical decision making.
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The techniques and applications of 3-dimensional (3D) printing have progressed at a fast pace. In the last 10 years, there has been significant progress in applying this technology to medical applications. We present a case of osteogenesis imperfecta in which treatment was aided by prospectively using patient-specific, anatomically accurate 3D prints of the calvaria. The patient-specific, anatomically accurate 3D prints were used in the clinic and in the operating room to augment patient education, improve surgical decision making, and enhance preoperative planning. ⋯ The use of patient-specific, anatomically accurate 3D prints may improve patient education, surgeon understanding and visualization, preoperative decision making, and intraoperative management.
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Cervical and thoracic tandem spinal stenosis (ct-TSS) is a rare yet challenging degenerative disease. When the diagnosis is made, surgical decompression is indicated for both lesions. However, literature about the surgical approaches and prognosis of this disease is lacking. ⋯ The types of stenotic lesions should be considered when planning surgery for patients with ct-TSS. One-stage decompression is suitable for patients with adjacent stenotic lesions; staged procedures should be considered for other patients.