World Neurosurg
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Concerns over increased wound complication rates have been raised when bone morphogenic protein (BMP) is used as an adjunct for fusion in spinal surgery. This study evaluated 87 consecutive patients undergoing long-segment thoracolumbar spinal fusions with BMP to assess drain output and the rates of reoperation for infection or seroma. ⋯ Use of BMP for long-segment posterior thoracolumbar fusions may be associated with significant drain output, requiring multiple days of drainage. However, when drained adequately, infections and seromas occur infrequently.
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To investigate recent trends in surgical volume and associated patient outcomes in the treatment of acoustic neuromas. ⋯ A 41%, or 178 cases per year, reduction in surgical excision of acoustic neuroma cases was observed during the period 2001-2007. A possible explanation for this trend includes increased use of stereotactic radiosurgery. Nonroutine discharge and complications after surgical excision have increased perhaps because of surgery being used for larger tumors.
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Distal intracranial aneurysms are rare, have unclear origins, and are frequently nonsaccular. Published clinical experience with these aneurysms is limited. ⋯ Distal intracranial aneurysms have a predilection for cerebellar arteries and are not as rare as the literature suggests. Application of standardized nomenclature for segmental anatomy to these lesions will increase the precision of anatomic description and clarity of clinical discourse. Although technically difficult, good clinical results can be expected with surgical management.