World Neurosurg
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Case Reports Comparative Study
Putting 'CSF-shift' edema hypothesis to test: Comparing cisternal and parenchymal pressures after basal cisternostomy for head injury.
Increased brain edema in head injury is due to shift of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from cisterns at high pressure to brain parenchyma at low pressure. By opening basal cisterns and decreasing the increased cisternal pressure, basal cisternostomy (BC) results in reversal of CSF shift from parenchyma to cisterns, leading to decreased brain edema. Though the CSF-shift edema hypothesis is based on pressure difference between cisterns and brain parenchyma, the relationship of these pressures has not been studied. ⋯ Our study supports the CSF-shift edema hypothesis. Following DHC-BC, cisternal pressure is lowered to near-atmospheric pressure, and its relationship to parenchymal pressure predicts the future course of patients by reversal or re-reversal of CSF shift.
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For patients with multilevel degenerative cervical myelopathy, laminectomy and fusion are widely accepted techniques for ameliorating the disorder. However, the idea of whether one should bridge the cervicothoracic junction to prevent instrument failure or adjacent segment disease has been a subject of controversial discussion. In the present study, we compared the incidence of these complications and the revision rates in multilevel fusions extending to C7 or T1-T3. ⋯ We found that fewer revisions were necessary if the fusion had extended to the thoracic spine. Thus, we recommend bridging the cervicothoracic junction when fusion starts at C0-C3.
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To develop a novel 3D-printer-assisted method to fabricate patient-specific implants for cranioplasty and to demonstrate its feasibility and its use in 16 consecutive cases. ⋯ Our workflow to intraoperatively produce patient-specific implants in a timely manner to cover cranial defects proved to be feasible. The results are cosmetically appealing, and postoperative CT scans show well-fitting implants. As implantable printable substrates are already available, we aim to advance and certify 3D-printed patient-specific implants in the near future.
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Case Reports
Preventive Effect of Bypass Surgery on Rebleeding in Patients with Hemorrhagic Twig-like Middle Cerebral Artery.
Aplastic or twiglike middle cerebral artery (Ap/T-MCA) is a rare cerebrovascular anomaly correlated to stroke. The most common characteristic of the disease is intracerebral hemorrhage. However, treatment measures that can prevent rebleeding have not yet been established. ⋯ EC-IC bypass may be a treatment option that can prevent rebleeding in patients with hemorrhagic Ap/T-MCA.