World Neurosurg
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The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic poses major risks to health care workers in neurocritical care. Recommendations are in place to limit medical personnel attending to the neurosurgical patient as a protective measure and to conserve personal protective equipment. However, the complexity of the neurosurgical patient proves to be a challenge and an opportunity for innovation. The goal of our study was to determine if telemedicine delivered through smart glasses was feasible and effective in an alternative method of conducting ward round on neurocritical care patients during the pandemic. ⋯ Virtual ward rounds using telemedicine via smart glasses on neurosurgical patients in critical care were feasible, effective, and widely accepted as an alternative to physical ward rounds during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
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Isolated spinal artery aneurysms are an extremely rare cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. A limited number of case reports and case series have been reported in the literature. Treatment options include conservative management, surgical clipping/trapping, and endovascular procedures. Owing to the uncertain natural history of these lesions, there is no consensus about the optimal treatment. ⋯ Treatment decisions for spinal aneurysms should be made on a case-by-case basis, the goal being to offer the patient the best option, while avoiding exposure to unnecessary invasive procedures. As spontaneous resolution of a spinal artery aneurysm is unpredictable, our case highlights the importance of performing a perioperative vascular study if surgery is planned.
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Blast-induced traumatic brain injuries (bTBIs) are increasingly frequent in civilian settings. We present the first study of individuals with bTBI in Iraq. The study focuses on one of the deadliest suicide car bomb attacks in Iraq and uses it to show the devastating nature of bTBIs. ⋯ This study sheds light on the devastating nature of bTBIs. Neurosurgeons worldwide need to be mindful of the unique triaging, diagnostic, and management requirements of these injuries.
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Case Reports
An Uncommon Case of Neuroenteric Cyst Located at the Lateral Cerebellomedullary Cistern.
We present the case of a 42-year-old woman with a 5-week history of headache, progressive dysphagia, dysphonia, and hoarseness. A brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an extra-axial cyst of the left lateral cerebellomedullary cistern. The subsequent histopathologic examination diagnosed a neuroenteric cyst. This case sheds light on the pivotal role of histologic identification of neuroenteric cyst, which could be crucial for further diagnostic investigations, especially in pediatric patients.
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Observational Study
Effect of Disc Height and Degree of Distraction on Heterotopic Ossification After Cervical Disc Replacement.
Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a potential and severe complication of cervical disc replacement (CDR). However, the underlying mechanism of CDR and its association with preoperative disc height loss (DHL) and postoperative degree of distraction remain unclear. We hypothesized that DHL and postoperative degree of distraction could predict HO after CDR. ⋯ DHL and ADD are associated with the development of HO after CDR. The cutoff value of DHL may narrow the criteria for CDR with the aim of reducing HO formation. The combined parameter may help surgeons to select the most suitable implant height to reduce the prevalence of HO.