World Neurosurg
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To present a case of a traumatic fracture of a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) patient-specific implant (PSI) for cranioplasty. ⋯ PMMA PSIs are commonly used for large defects and generally have good outcomes with low rates of revision. The case report described involves a shattered PMMA PSI after a traumatic impact, which resulted in hemiparesis. The question arises if this type of complication can be easily avoided with the addition of titanium onlay to restrict displacement in the event of fracture. This onlay represents a minor change of technique that could prevent migration of fracture fragments.
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The aim of this study was to examine the solid bone fusion rates between Plasmapore-coated titanium cages (PPC group) and non-Plasmapore-coated titanium cages (N-PPC group) in patients who received anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF). ⋯ Plasmapore-coated titanium cages enabled more rapid solid bone fusion. We suggest that these types of cages might help to reduce postoperative radiograms.
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Neurosurgical simulation training is becoming increasingly popular. Attitudes toward simulation among residents can contribute to the effectiveness of simulation training, but such attitudes remain poorly explored in neurosurgery with no psychometrically proven measure in the literature. The aim of the present study was to evaluate prospectively a newly developed tool for this purpose: the Neurosurgical Evaluation of Attitudes towards simulation Training (NEAT). ⋯ NEAT is the first psychometrically evaluated tool for evaluating attitudes toward simulation in neurosurgery. Further implementation of NEAT is required in wider neurosurgical populations to establish whether specific population groups differ. Use of NEAT in studies of neurosurgical simulation could offer an additional outcome measure to performance metrics, permitting evaluation of the impact of neurosurgical simulation on attitudes toward simulation both between participants and within the same participants over time.
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It is well known that brainstem dysfunction may be caused by vascular compression of the medulla oblongata (MO). However, only a limited number of reports have found microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery to be an effective treatment for symptomatic patients with MO dysfunction, such as essential hypertension, pyramidal tract signs, dysphagia, and respiratory failure. ⋯ Although the pathogenic mechanisms of symptomatic vertebral artery compression of MO remain unclear, we should recognize that MVD surgery is effective for selected patients with brainstem dysfunction. The transcondylar fossa approach and the stitched sling retraction technique are appropriate in MVD surgery to relieve vertebral artery compression of MO.
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The optimal surgical management of meningiomas involving the major venous sinuses represents a therapeutic dilemma. The decision is whether to leave a fragment of the lesion and have a higher recurrence rate, especially for World Health Organization classification II/III tumors, or to attempt total removal and potentially increase risk to the venous circulation. We present the surgical strategies we follow in managing meningiomas involving the major venous sinuses and the potential benefit of these techniques for higher grade tumors. ⋯ The surgical strategies presented, achieving minimal morbidity, support the practice of aggressive removal of tumors invading the sinus, particularly in the case of higher grade meningiomas.