World Neurosurg
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Topic review articles have become increasingly popular, even as the neurosurgical community looks to peer-reviewed journals as a source of discovery in basic and clinical science. In this study we quantify the prevalence of topic review articles in top neurosurgery journals. ⋯ The increasing prevalence of topic reviews is seen in most neurosurgery journals, reflecting supply and demand. Although there are benefits to these articles, they do not contribute novel data. Actions such as defining and labeling this publication type in journals and databases will improve the transparency of research methods. Academic neurosurgeons should further expand their knowledge and not become focused only on introspection into and review of neurosurgical understanding and practice.
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Cordotomy is a viable option for patients with intractable cancer pain and limited survival. Open thoracic cordotomy is offered when patients are not candidates for percutaneous cordotomy. After the open procedure, traditionally performed purely based on anatomic landmarks, up to 22% of patients experience postoperative limb weakness. The objective of this study is to report our experience with neurophysiology-guided open cordotomy along with a critical review of the literature. ⋯ Open thoracic cordotomy is a safe and effective procedure for intractable cancer-related pain. Technical advancements significantly reduced mortality and major morbidity of PCC. Our series suggests that neurophysiology monitoring alters the location of the lesion and may help better targeting of pain fibers within the spinothalamic tract and preserve other long tracts. The safety profile of open cordotomy with neurophysiology compares favorably with the PCC.
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Review Case Reports
Pre-incisional Localization: An Overlooked Contribution by Ralph Bingham Cloward.
Preincisional localization has become ubiquitous within spinal neurosurgery and has served as the foundation for modern minimally invasive surgery techniques. Dr. ⋯ In his landmark 1958 article on what is now known as anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion, Cloward commented on a case of wrong-level surgery that motivated him to implement a standardized technique for spinal level localization with the patient under anesthesia in the operating room before skin incision. We trace the origins of the use of preincisional radiographs to localize the pathologic level at the time of diskectomy and highlight this original contribution by Cloward.
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Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) of the nervous system is a rare and highly malignant neoplasm, mainly affecting children, first recognized as a pathologic entity in 1996 and added to the World Health Organization Classification of the Tumors of the Central Nervous System in 2000. AT/RT is even rarer among adults and is associated with a worse prognosis. The aim of the present study was to analyze the different tumor features according to the location in adults. ⋯ AT/RTs show different and peculiar features according to their location, which significantly affects the outcome; precise knowledge of them helps the neurosurgeon in planning the best strategy for treatment.
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Medical students are important team members and future healthcare providers in neurosurgery or other medical fields. We performed a systematic review evaluating studies assessing medical student guidance, mentorship, and career development in neurosurgery. The study aimed to identify the best practices and acknowledge gaps requiring improvement. ⋯ These studies highlight the current endeavors to encourage medical student careers. However, ample gaps and missed opportunities were also identified. Further work at both institutional and national levels is needed to improve the current environment.