World Neurosurg
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Radiographic adjacent segment disease (ASD) ranges from 10% to 84%, depending on technique. Occurrence of symptomatic ASD is lower, with a range of 1.9% to 13%. ASD can be very debilitating and necessitate further procedures, leading to high morbidity. Herein, we explore the occurrence of adjacent segment disease when performing anterior column release in lateral interbody fusion. ⋯ Higher PI-LL mismatch after lumbar interbody fusion, and performance of an ACR during LLIF increased the likelihood of developing symptomatic ASD in our patients. Considering ACR to achieve the goal of correcting spinopelvic parameters should be carefully evaluated when undertaking a lateral approach.
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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, infection following DBS surgery is a serious complication that can lead to the recurrence and worsening of Parkinson's symptoms or related hardware reimplantation, causing considerable patient suffering and financial burden. ⋯ Scalp incision infections following DBS surgery can affect deep tissues, and the implementation of a comprehensive treatment strategy involving local debridement and removal of potentially affected implants can significantly reduce the risk of infection recurrence and its spread.
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Persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) poses a significant medical challenge, often leading to diminished quality of life for affected individuals. In response to this clinical dilemma, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has emerged as a promising intervention aimed at improving the functional outcomes and overall well-being of patients suffering from this debilitating syndrome. In case a therapy with percutaneous lead fails (e.g., due to a dislocation), surgical lead can be used as a stable alternative. This results in a more invasive procedure and does not allow for intraoperative monitoring. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of the use of surgical leads, as there have been only a few case series published so far. ⋯ SCS with surgical leads is a safe secondary technique to treat PSPS, where treatment with percutaneous leads fail. The results show a promising long-term effect concerning pain intensity and functional outcome.
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Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-related skeletal abnormalities are understudied. Awareness of skull thickening in patients with TSC is important from the surgical standpoint because a thick skull might complicate craniotomy. This study aimed to discover if patients with TSC are generally prone to skull thickening by retrospectively investigating the frequency and characteristics of skull thickening in these patients. ⋯ Patients with TSC have skull thickening, which is often linked to intracerebral calcification. The presence of skull thickening may require modification of surgical approach during craniotomy. Skull thickening and the underlying intracerebral calcification likely share a common precipitating factor given their relationship. Future studies are warranted to clarify the genetic underpinnings of this relationship and even broader skeletal abnormalities in TSC.
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Vascular compression of the optic nerve in a patient with rapid monocular vision loss with otherwise negative diagnostic workup is a rare, but controversial dilemma. The literature is conflicted, advocating for either timely surgical decompression to preserve vision1-6 or observation only given the prevalence of asymptomatic vascular compression and observed arrest of visual decline.7-10 The most frequently reported sources of symptomatic compression are unruptured aneurysms and dolichoectatic vasculature,1-6 with recent consensus reached over a need for extensive perioperative ophthalmologic evaluations and follow-up. We present an illustrative case for microvascular decompression of the prechiasmatic optic nerve. ⋯ Optic canal deroofing, detethering of the optic nerve, and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) patch placement was performed to achieve this decompression. His postoperative course was uncomplicated; only mild improvement of his visual symptoms was noted at 1- and 3-month follow-up. Formal acuity and computerized assessments of vision and extensive follow-up are critical for evaluating the true clinical outcome of patients with microvascular optic nerve compression.