World Neurosurg
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The purpose of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the differentiation of benign and malignant vertebral compression fractures (VCFxs) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. ⋯ The results of the present meta-analysis have shown high sensitivity and moderate specificity for F-18 FDG PET and PET/CT for differentiation of malignant VCFxs. At present, the reported data regarding the use of F-18 FDG PET for differentiation of malignant VCFxs remain limited; thus, further large multicenter studies are necessary to substantiate the diagnostic accuracy of F-18 FDG PET for the differentiation of malignant VCFxs.
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The increasing competitiveness of the neurosurgical residency match has made it progressively difficult for foreign medical graduates (FMGs) to match in neurosurgery. We compared FMG to U.S. medical graduate (USMG) match rates in neurosurgery and identified factors associated with match outcomes for FMGs in neurosurgery. ⋯ Although FMGs have lower match rates into U.S. neurosurgery residencies than USMGs, several demographic, professional, and academic factors could increase the chances of successful FMG neurosurgical match.
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Acquisition of neurosurgical anatomy knowledge requires the progressive construction of a 3-dimensional (3D) mental image from the study of 2-dimensional pictures. Tridimensional neuroimaging modeling and 3D pictures and videos have facilitated a better understanding of intricate brain anatomy. One of the main limitations of these methods however is that the user is unable to freely change his or her own point of view of the observed structures. The objective of this paper was to develop a 3D reconstruction method to facilitate learning and teaching of neurosurgery. ⋯ 3D VIR is a digital reconstruction method developed with the goal of facilitating the teaching and learning of neurosurgical anatomy by allowing the user to directly explore a surgical field and anatomic structures. The result is an interactive navigable 3D textured model for the analysis of the surgical approach and regional anatomy and for reconstruction of hybrid 3D scenarios.
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Historically, practicing neurosurgeons have been key drivers of neurosurgical innovation. We sought to describe the patents held by U.S. academic neurosurgeons and to explore the relationship between patents and royalties received. ⋯ Few U.S. academic neurosurgeons (7.8%) receive royalties and hold patents (4.7%), with an even smaller select group having a patent h-index of ≥5 (1.6%).
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Regulations limit residency work hours and operating time, limiting the amount of hands-on surgical training. To develop alternative hands-on training, many programs teach surgical skills in laboratories and workshops with the use of simulators. The expense of computer simulators and lack of replication of the manual skills and tactile feedback of surgery limit their usefulness. We have developed 2 replicable simulators constructed from low-cost materials, which allow residents to practice the manual skills required in key portions of minimally invasive lumbar decompression and Chiari decompression surgeries. The objective was to review the efficacy of our lumbar and Chiari decompression simulators in improving resident and medical student surgical skills. ⋯ The simple and inexpensive simulators evaluated in this study were shown to improve the speed, quality of work, and comfort level of the participants.