World Neurosurg
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The management of postoperative deep infection after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) remains challenging for spine surgeons. Our institution uses handmade antibiotic-loaded cement spacers to treat these complex cases. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and feasibility of this treatment. ⋯ Good clinical outcomes were achieved in this study. Although 2-stage surgery is required, this technique could be an alternative for patients with postoperative deep infection after ACDF.
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Despite its rising popularity, little has been described about locum tenens employment (locums) in neurosurgery. This study provides the first nationwide overview of the locums neurosurgery experience. ⋯ Locums is utilized by neurosurgeons across multiple practice types and may serve to complement workloads or "fill in gaps" between longer-term employment. Overall, locums neurosurgeons are well compensated, and the majority are satisfied with their experience(s). Inevitably, flaws still exist with locums employment, which may be the focus of organized efforts aiming to improve the experience.
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Preoperative symptom severity in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) can be variable. Radiomic signatures could provide an imaging biomarker for symptom severity in CSM. This study utilizes radiomic signatures of T1-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging images to correlate with preoperative symptom severity based on modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scores for patients with CSM. ⋯ Radiomic models correlate with preoperative mJOA scores using T2 texture features in patients with CSM. This may serve as a surrogate, objective imaging biomarker to measure the preoperative functional status of patients.
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The National Epilepsy Center (NEC) in Sri Lanka was established in 2017. Seizure outcome, effects on quality of life (QOL) and surgical complications among nonpediatric patients who underwent epilepsy surgery from October 2017 to February 2023 are described. ⋯ Epilepsy surgery is effective in developing countries. Seizure outcomes in our patients are comparable to those worldwide. Clinically important QOL improvement was observed in our series. This is the first published data on epilepsy surgery outcomes in nonpediatric patients from Sri Lanka.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Mobile Health Transitional Care Intervention Delivered by Nurses Improves Postdischarge Outcomes of Caregivers of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Caring for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) during the transition from hospital to home can be psychologically challenging to caregivers. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a novel mobile health (m-health) transitional care intervention to reduce stress and burden of caregivers of patients with TBI and to reduce readmissions. ⋯ The m-health transitional care intervention reduced stress and burden of caregivers of patients with moderate or severe TBI. Nurses should consider using m-health technologies to support caregivers in the transition from the hospital into the community.