World Neurosurg
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Hard or calcified discs are often adherent to surrounding nerve tissue. The whole herniated disc is difficult to remove by pulling part of the hernia mass, which makes obtaining good results through endoscopic treatment difficult. The purpose of this study was to describe the details of the transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy technique for a hard or calcified disc and report the clinical results. ⋯ Transforaminal endoscopic discectomy could be an effective treatment method for a selected group of patients with hard or calcified lumbar disc herniation.
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Case Reports
Atlanto-occipital dissociation in the setting of relatively normal radiological findings: A case report.
Craniocervical junction (CCJ) dislocations are often fatal. Atlanto-occipital dissociation can be challenging to diagnose, especially in patients who present with absent or subtle radiologic signs. ⋯ Normal occiput-C1 craniometric parameters in the setting of unexplained perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage does not eliminate the possibility of missed or delayed diagnosis of traumatic atlanto-occipital dissociation injuries. Cervical MRI without contrast should be considered in patients with vertebral artery dissection or perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage after a blunt injury with neck pain. When MRI shows evidence of disruption of ≥2 atlanto-occipital ligaments, surgical stabilization should be considered, as these are clinically very unstable injuries.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global problem and is the greatest contributor to death and disability among all trauma-related injuries worldwide. Road traffic accidents are an important cause of TBI. The purpose of this paper is to present the first data on TBI in Angola. ⋯ This first report of TBI in Angola reveals major problems with TBI management, road accident prevention, prehospital management, and loss of lives of young patients.
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Flow diverters (FDs) are an excellent option for the management of giant carotid artery aneurysms. However, in a nonnegligible percent of cases, the aneurysm may continue to grow despite multiple endovascular treatments and apparent occlusion on the angiogram. Due to the recent introduction of FDs, surgical experience after their failure is scarce and neurosurgeons have to face these challenging cases without much previous reference. Here we describe a giant ophthalmic-carotid aneurysm that presented with new severe mass effect 5 years after initially successful treatment with FDs and coils. We investigate the likely advantages of partial trapping versus complete trapping in this particular type of case. ⋯ In selected patients with previous long-term FDs, partial trapping may be a choice even if aneurysm debulking is needed. After years of stent placement, some endothelialization and neointimal membrane formation could have a summing effect to facilitate surgical exclusion and enable a safe thrombectomy. Classic revascularization techniques must be rethought and retested in this new FD era scenario.
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Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the Bartholin gland is an extremely uncommon gynecologic tumor. Brain metastasis from a malignant gynecologic lesion is rarely encountered and the prognosis for this type of metastasis is quite poor. ⋯ Different treatment options, including resection, stereotactic radiosurgery, and whole-brain radiation therapy, as well as chemotherapy, are available and should each be considered on an individual basis.