Search

The ischemia/reperfusion mechanism is believed to be responsible for parenchymal damage caused by temporary hypoperfusion and worsened by the subsequent attempt of reperfusion. This represents a true challenge for physicians of several fields, including neurosurgeons. A limited number of papers have shed the light on a rare pathologic condition that affects patients experiencing an unexplained neurologic deficit after spine surgery, the so-called "white cord syndrome." This entity is believed to be caused by an "ischemia/reperfusion" injury on the spinal cord, documented by a postoperative intramedullary hyperintensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging sequences. To date, the cases of white cord syndrome reported in literature mostly refer to cervical spine surgery. However, the analysis of several reviews focusing on spine surgery outcome suggests postoperative neurologic deficits of new onset could be charged to a mechanism of ischemia/reperfusion, even if the physiopathology of this event is seldom explored or at least discussed. The same neuroradiologic finding can suggest mechanical damage due to inappropriate surgical manipulation. On this purpose, we performed a systematic review of the literature with the aim to identify and analyze all the factors potentially contributing to ischemic/reperfusion damage of the spinal cord that may potentially complicate any spinal surgery, without distinction between cervical or thoracic segments. Finally, we believe that postoperative neurologic deficit after spinal surgery constituting the "white cord syndrome" could be under-reported; both neurosurgeons and patients should be fully aware of this rare but potentially devasting complication burdening cervical and thoracic spine surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicine has made progress toward gender equality and has achieved almost equal distribution between men and women among graduates. However, more still needs to be done because most surgical subspecialties are still lacking adequate female representation and this persisting gender gap is particularly evident in both practical neurosurgery and the academic world. Gradual advancements have enabled a few women to pursue a successful career in neurologic surgery, pairing clinical practice with mentoring and involvement in academic research. These efforts show that more needs to be done to bridge the historic and current gap, which has recently aroused increasing interest among the neurosurgical community through internationally relevant studies. In neurosurgical societies worldwide, the existence of gender-related issues and women-reserved sections has started to attract attention and recognition on how to properly address this issue among present and future neurosurgeons. In this study, we discuss the timeline of women's road to gaining their place in neurosurgery, inspired by Hippocrates' motto "Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the future." Although neurosurgery had been traditionally considered too difficult a subject in which to engage, the first female neurosurgeons challenged themselves in this field, previously reserved only for men, at a time when society was not yet ready to embrace women's presence. Their successes paved the way for future generations of women, progressively shedding light on complex themes such as peer considerations, difficulty in reaching academic positions, and work–life balance. Our aim is to analyze the historic reasons for inequality among men and women, which might be found in the themes of personal choice and willingness, aside from cultural bias or stereotypically based thinking. Accordingly, if the difference in numbers were considered a reality related to personal inclination, perhaps, nobody would pay attention to this topic and the presence of even a few women in neurosurgery would be considered less strange. By thinking along those lines on a daily basis, we could all simply write about the history of valuable neurosurgeons in the past, present, and future without any distinction between men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent and chronic low back pain, caused by degenerative lumbar spondylosis, commonly affects elderly patients, even those with no previous low back surgery. These patients, like those affected by failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), may become unresponsive to medical conservative treatment and their quality of life could be easily compromised. Moreover, general comorbidities, obesity, and other typical conditions of the elderly may make surgery under general anesthesia riskier than the natural history of the disease. These patients could be considered affected by surgical back risk syndrome (SBRS). In this article, we report our preliminary observational prospective study on the role of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in 3 groups of patients: the FBSS group, the SBRS group, and the "other" group. Selection criteria, treatment modality, and outcomes for each patient group are described and discussed. Moreover, a potentially useful diagnostic and therapeutic flowchart on the management options for lumbar back diseases is discussed. The FBSS group included 25 patients, the SBRS group included 10 patients, and the other group included 3 patients. In 22/25 patients with FBSS (88% of the total), the implantation of a definitive neurostimulator was successful. In almost all patients in both the SBRS and the other groups, the implantation of a definitive neurostimulator was successful. In our opinion, SCS could be considered as a valid alternative treatment not only in selected patients affected by FBSS but also in selected patients affected by SBRS, in whom back surgery under general anesthesia may be challenging and overcome the potential benefit of the surgery itself. SBRS could be considered a new disease entity to be managed through SCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the most accurate examination to study the spinal cord. Nevertheless, the use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can demonstrate additional key details about spinal cord lesions. We examined the literature to investigate and discuss the role, limitations, and possible evolution as a prognostic tool of DTI in spinal cord injury (SCI). For this systematic literature review, a detailed search was performed using PubMed (2005–2021), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2016–2021), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2016–2021). To be included, studies had to report the use of DTI in SCIs, its clinical relevance, and its use as a prognostic tool. We identified 17 studies comprising 299 patients. The mean age of patients was 41.22 ± 10.62 years. There was a prevalence of males (70.9%) compared with females (29.1%). The main spinal cord tract involved and studied in SCIs was the cervical tract (57.5%), followed by conus terminalis (15.4%) and dorsal tract (13.7%). In all studies based on American Spine Injury Association impairment scale score for neurological assessment, a correlation was found between FA values and American Spine Injury Association impairment scale: patients with complete SCI had a statistically significative lower FA value at the injured site compared with patients with incomplete SCI. Published clinical studies showed promising results for the utility of DTI parameters as noninvasive biomarkers in SCI grade evaluation, remaining an evolving area of further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Only a few anatomic studies of the entire course of the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) have been reported. We analyzed all relationships of the 12th nerve with surrounding structures from the brainstem to the tongue through a microscopic perspective. A comprehensive anatomically and clinically oriented classification of its different segments is proposed. Methods Ten formalin-fixed adult human cadaveric heads (20 sides) were dissected with the aim to explore the entire course of cranial nerve XII via lateral suboccipital, far lateral partial, or total transcondylar routes. Different segments of the nerve were identified based on the hypoglossal course and its relationship with surrounding structures. Measurements of every portion of the nerve were taken in all specimens during dissection. Results The hypoglossal nerve was divided into 5 segments: cisternal, intracanalar, descending, horizontal, and ascending. Detailed and comprehensive examination of basic anatomic relationships through the view of different transcranial and endoscope-assisted approaches was performed. A new perspective of the hypoglossal canal is proposed, and the venous plexus surrounding the intracanalar segment of the nerve is described in detail. Conclusions Classification of 5 segments for the hypoglossal nerve seems anatomically valid, and it is surgically oriented with respect to all surgical approaches. Precise knowledge of the relationships with the surrounding structures may help to prevent some complications during surgery, and it is useful to explain, segment by segment, the pathogenic mechanisms for nerve injuries that are evidenced by lesions that exist along the entire intracranial and extracranial course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]