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Aim: According to the literature, cranioplasty is associated with up to 50% risk of complications. The most common complication is wound infection. Porous polyethylene is considered to be an allogenic material with the lowest rate of infection. The aim of this study was to verify the assumed low rate of wound infections after implantation of porous polyethylene, even in high-risk terrain. The secondary objective was to assess the loosening of the implant fixed with mini-plates and the exposure of the implant. Methods: A group of 12 patients who underwent a customized computer-modeled 3D cranioplasty from porous polyethylene in a high-risk terrain was followed prospectively between 2014 and 2021. The high-risk terrain was defined as a previous wound infection, repeated surgeries with resorption or loosening of the bone or an implant and an open frontal sinus. The occurrence of listed complications was evaluated through physical examination and CT. Results: In total, there were 12 cranioplasties performed in 12 patients. The average follow-up period was 47 months. In five cases, cranioplasty was indicated after an wound infection, four times after repeated surgeries with the resorption or loosening of the bone or implant, and in three cases in the terrain of the open frontal sinus. Eight patients had a combination of two risk factors. No patient had wound infection after cranioplasty. In all cases, fixation with mini-plates was sufficient, and no implant was exposed. Conclusion: Our study confirmed high reliability and low risk of wound infection of porous polyethylene, even in a high-risk terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms has tremendously advanced over the past decades. Nevertheless, aneurysm residual and recurrence remain challenges after embolization. The objective of this study was to elucidate the portion of embolized aneurysms requiring open surgery and evaluate whether newer endovascular treatments have changed the need for open surgery after failed embolization., Methods: All 15 cerebrovascular centers in Austria and the Czech Republic provided overall aneurysm treatment frequency data and retrospectively reviewed consecutive cerebral aneurysms treated with open surgical treatment after failure of embolization from 2000 to 2022. All endovascular modalities were included., Results: On average, 1362 aneurysms were treated annually in the 2 countries. The incidence increased from 0.006% in 2005 to 0.008% in 2020 in the overall population. Open surgery after failed endovascular intervention was necessary in 128 aneurysms (0.8%), a proportion that remained constant over time. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was the initial presentation in 70.3% of aneurysms. The most common location was the anterior communicating artery region (40.6%), followed by the middle cerebral artery (25.0%). The median diameter was 6 mm (2-32). Initial endovascular treatment included coiling (107 aneurysms), balloon-assist (10), stent-assist (4), intrasaccular device (3), flow diversion (2), and others (2). Complete occlusion after initial embolization was recorded in 40.6%. Seventy-one percent of aneurysms were operated within 3 years after embolization. In 7%, the indication for surgery was (re-)rupture and, in 88.3%, reperfusion. Device removal was performed in 16.4%. Symptomatic intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred in 10.2%. Complete aneurysm occlusion after open surgery was achieved in 94%., Conclusion: Open surgery remains a rare indication for cerebral aneurysms after failed endovascular embolization even in the age of novel endovascular technology, such as flow diverters and intrasaccular devices. Regardless, it is mostly performed for ruptured aneurysms initially treated with primary coiling that are in the anterior circulation., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2024. All rights reserved.)

Background:  Pineal apoplexy is a rare condition, with unknown incidence and clinical significance. To elucidate this clinical condition, we analyzed our own case series and performed a review of the literature., Methods:  We enrolled all patients with a hemorrhagic pineal apoplexy who were referred to our department between January 2000 and January 2020. Hemorrhagic pineal apoplexy was defined as the presence of fluid-fluid levels inside the pineal cyst (PC) on an axial or sagittal magnetic resonance scan. In one patient, after PC apoplexy, we performed a circadian melatonin sampling from peripheral blood to determine the function of the pineal gland. The PubMed database was searched for publications using the terms "pineal" and "apoplexy.", Results:  Eight patients were enrolled, of which three patients underwent surgical treatment and five patients were managed conservatively. One patient was tested for circadian melatonin secretion. Results confirmed melatonin secretion with preserved physiologic circadian rhythm.Our search of the literature led us to 31 studies that comprised 30 patients with apoplectic PC, 9 with apoplectic pineal tumor, and 1 with bleeding into the normal pineal gland. Most patients presented with headache, nausea, and vomiting, less frequently with acute hydrocephalus and gaze palsy. Twenty patients with a PC underwent resection or aspiration. Two patients underwent shunt placement as the only procedure and five received both shunt and surgical removal. Six patients with a PC were observed without surgical treatment. All the nine patients with a pineal tumor were operated on. In indicated cases, four patients received radiation therapy and one received chemotherapy., Conclusion:  Clinical significance of hemorrhagic pineal apoplexy ranges from an asymptomatic course to rapid deterioration and death. In patients with mild symptoms, observation is indicated, whereas surgical treatment is reserved for severe cases presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus and includes cerebrospinal fluid diversion, resection of apoplectic pineal lesions, or both., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)