World Neurosurg
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The overall safety and efficacy of flow diverting stents (FDSs) deployed in small caliber parent arteries (≤2.5 mm) for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms remains unclear. Recent studies have provided additional outcomes data to assess the use of FDSs for such arteries. In the present review, we have summarized the reported clinical and angiographic outcomes of FDS-treated brain aneurysms in small parent arteries. ⋯ FDSs for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms located in small caliber arteries was associated with rates of long-term complete aneurysm occlusion, mortality, and permanent neurologic deficit comparable to the rates with FDS-treated aneurysms in larger parent arteries. However, the relatively increased risk of symptomatic stroke of these FDS-treated aneurysms should not be ignored. Direct comparisons with alternative endovascular approaches are necessary to further define the optimal use of FDS for these aneurysms.
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Review
Diversity in Neurosurgical Recruitment and Training in the United States: A Systematic Review.
The benefits of diversity are particularly salient in neurosurgical training because of treatment of varied patient populations and the importance of close collaboration between trainees and attending neurosurgeons of different backgrounds. However, there is a paucity of literature that comprehensively examines diversity in neurosurgical recruitment and training. The aim of this study is to systematically review the scope of diversity in neurosurgical recruitment and training. ⋯ This systematic review shows the scope of studies of diversity within neurosurgery and provides impetus for efforts to expand our understanding of diversity within the field.
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The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) was originally performed to treat thyroid orbitopathy and proptosis. Since then, this approach also has been used to treat other causes of proptosis. This review systematically identifies surgical outcome and complication rates in patients without thyroid proptosis who underwent endoscopic endonasal orbital decompression. ⋯ Medial orbital decompression using EEA is a feasible approach for orbital decompression in patients with nonthyroid proptosis. While being comparable in primary outcome to transorbital approaches, the EEA seems superior in terms of complication rates.
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Cranial nerve schwannomas almost always arise from sensory or mixed nerves. Motor cranial nerves, such as the trochlear nerve, are rarely associated with schwannomas. No consensus has yet been made for surgical intervention because of the low number of reported cases of trochlear nerve schwannomas. This study comprises a systematic review of the literature and our experience for surgically treated trochlear nerve schwannomas. ⋯ Although trochlear schwannomas are rare and their treatment involves challenges, total resection with the proper approach provides the most desirable results.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Use of three-dimensional printed brain models during deep brain stimulation surgery consultation for patient health literacy: a randomized controlled investigation.
Advanced therapies in neurosurgery, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), would benefit from improved patient education materials. Three-dimensional (3D) printed anatomical models represent a recent development for improving patient education for neurosurgical procedures. ⋯ In the first randomized controlled study to our knowledge of 3D printed models for DBS consultation, our results demonstrate that patients had improved understanding of their therapy with the models. However, the models alone did not affect risk evaluation or comfort with surgery. A 3D printed brain model may help improve patient understanding of DBS surgery.