World Neurosurg
-
Length of Thromboprophylaxis in Patients Operated on for a High-Grade Glioma: A Retrospective Study.
High-grade gliomas are associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). This retrospective study with a parallel cohort design investigated influence of continuing prophylactic anticoagulation after discharge on rate of VTE and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients operated on for high-grade glioma. ⋯ Prophylactic anticoagulation for 21 days postoperatively was not associated with a decreased rate of VTE compared with thromboprophylaxis until discharge. ICH was more common with prolonged thromboprophylaxis. These results provide insufficient evidence to extend duration of prophylaxis beyond hospitalization. Large-scale randomized prospective studies are needed to clarify safety, efficacy, and optimal timing of postoperative thromboprophylaxis in patients with high-grade glioma.
-
Chordomas are rare tumors of notochordal origin that are known to be locally aggressive and are often treated with surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). The accepted standard of treatment for chordomas of the mobile spine, which includes en-bloc resection with wide margins, cannot be easily applied to the chordomas of the skull base because of their proximity to critical neurovascular structures. We describe our experience with the role of surgery and adjuvant RT in the treatment of chordomas over 16 years. ⋯ The treatment of chordomas remain challenging and requires multimodal treatment strategies spanning different specialties. Initial tumor size and need for second dose of RT for recurrence appear to play a significant role in progression-free survival. Adjuvant RT after gross total resection may play a role in improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with clival chordomas.
-
Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Total Hospital Costs and Length of Stay of Endovascular Coiling Versus Neurosurgical Clipping for Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Comparison of feasibility and safety between endovascular coiling versus neurosurgical clipping for the management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) has been incrementally reported. However, economic comparison has been rarely reported. This meta-analysis aims at qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing the difference of hospital costs and length of stay between endovascular versus neurosurgical treatment in UIA. ⋯ Generally, no significant difference in THCs and 1-year medical costs between coiling versus clipping in UIAs was observed. However, the length of stay of endovascular coiling was much shorter than neurosurgical clipping and decreased over time.
-
Currently, no spinal classification system has achieved universal acceptance. Therefore, it is important to choose a reliable classification within clinical practice. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the intraobserver and interobserver agreement of the Load Sharing Classification (LSC), the Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System (TLICS), and the AOSpine Thoracolumbar Spine Injury Classification System. ⋯ In conclusion, the reliability of the AOSpine fracture classification is superior to the TLICS and the LSC. Therefore, this classification system could best be applied within clinical practice.
-
Cervical myelopathy is a common, acquired cause of spinal cord dysfunction in older patients. It is postulated that a hypoxic or ischemic environment secondary to chronic spinal cord compression plays an important role in the pathogenesis of myelopathy. This study aims to use dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to assess the altered blood flow to the spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). To our knowledge, this study is the first to use DECT in identifying comprised anterior spinal artery blood flow in patients with CSM. ⋯ This study provided evidence for the benefit of DECT as a radiographic tool for identifying the compromised cervical anterior spinal artery in patients with CSM. We believe that DECT is the one of the best radiographic tools available to provide an objective screening tool to detect compromised blood flow in patients with CSM.