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Candida utilis and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia co-infections connected to meningitis are uncommon. We describe a patient who developed C. utilis and S. maltophilia after undergoing neurosurgery and received effective nosocomial meningitis treatment. Multiple neurosurgeries were required for a 16-year-old girl due to complications. For probable nosocomial meningitis, she was treated with cefepime with vancomycin. Meropenem and liposomal amphotericin B were prescribed after her seizure and positive CSF culture for Candida utilis. Consequently, S. maltophilia was discovered in the CSF, and ceftazidime and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were prescribed. The patient has been hemodynamically stable for the past two months, and consecutive CSF cultures have been negative. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of C. utilis and S. maltophilia co-infection that has been successfully handled.

BACKGROUND Ganglion Gasseri rhizotomy is a viable therapeutic option for trigeminal pain (TP). For this neurosurgical procedure, different potential operative and technical nuances exist. OBJECTIVE To evaluate a novel peroral trigeminal rhizotomy method and 3-dimensional printed patient-specific guidance tool (3D-PSGT) with respect to their applicability and safety. METHODS Between March 2018 and February 2021, 20 peroral balloon compression rhizotomy procedures with a 3D-PSGT were performed in 18 consecutive TP patients (13 female, mean age 58 yr). We registered the procedure duration, side effects, complications, and trigeminal function. The therapeutic effect was gauged from reduction of TP and use of analgesics. RESULTS All catheter insertions and rhizotomy procedures were successful at the first attempt. Apart from fluoroscopy, no auxiliary material was necessary. The average length of surgery was 19 min (range, 11-27 min). In total, 8 patients indicated complete analgesia and 6 patients pain relief; in 4 patients, persistence of TP was observed during follow-up examinations of up to 20 mo. In total, 6 patients reported of new mild to moderate facial hypesthesia affecting the trigeminal branches V2, V3, or V1-3. No masticatory musculature or corneal affections and device-related complications occurred. CONCLUSION The peroral 3D-PSGT trigeminal rhizotomy is straightforward for the neurosurgeon. This operative approach allows for rapid, safe, and simple foramen ovale cannulation in TP patients and reduces the use of additional equipment, radiation exposure, and procedure time.

Background:Cranioplasty is a commonly performed neurosurgical procedure used to repair defects of the cranial vault. For large defects, 3D printing allows for the creation of patient-specific synthetic cranioplasties. Although these implants provide excellent cosmetic results for patients, costs are quite high. This makes their routine use challenging in the current Canadian healthcare environment. The purpose of this study is to report our experience with a novel, cost-effective method for cranioplasty using desktop 3D printers to manufacture patient-specific molds to aid in the shaping of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cranioplasty intraoperatively.Methods:A retrospective review of patients who underwent cranioplasty utilizing 3D printed custom molds was conducted at a single center between 2018 and 2020. Either a two-piece self-align or open-air mold was utilized. Material cost, as well as demographic, clinical, and radiologic data, was reviewed. A five-point ordinance scale was used to evaluate patient satisfaction with cosmesis.Results:Four patients had previous craniectomies with infected bone flaps, 2 patients had significant bony destruction from tumor invasion, and 1 patient had bone flap resorption. Three patients underwent an open-air mold technique with a Ti-mesh/PMMA-combined implant. The remaining 4 patients underwent two-piece mold with PMMA-only implant. All patients had ‘Good’ to ‘Excellent’ cosmetic outcome with one post-operative acute subdural hematoma and one post-operative infection. Two-piece mold resulted in improved cosmetic outcome and cost savings.Conclusions:3D printing can be used in a cost-effective manner to deliver good cranioplasty cosmesis. Wider adoption of this technique can result in significant healthcare cost savings without compromising patient outcome.

Of great concern to the neurosurgical community is this novel coronavirus pandemic 2019, a result of dissemination to all continents of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Without proper care, there is a very high chance of being infected by the lethal SARS-CoV-2 during a routine neurosurgical procedure. SARS-CoV-2 infected a significant part of the healthcare workers, including neurosurgeons, responsible for direct care for patients with Covid-19, and several of those infected have already died. Drastic modifications should be made in the process the operating room is prepared, and in the attitudes taken by medical personnel in an attempt to minimize a possible contact of the SARS-CoV-2. The novel coronavirus is present not only in the respiratory tract, but the virus may also be encountered in blood, stool, and CSF. In this article, the authors want to address the topic of how the neurosurgeons can mitigate the chance of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 during a surgical procedure performed on a patient with Covid-19. For this, we chose a common condition in neurosurgery practice - and one of the simplest in its execution - the chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). There is still no consensus on how to operate patients with CSDH. This article aimed to elaborate a protocol with effective and minimally invasive techniques to be performed in the patient with both CSDH and Covid-19, with the dual intention of protecting the surgeon from SARS-CoV-2 infection and optimizing the patient's chance of healing.

Background The neurosurgical approach to clipping cerebral aneurysms has been a complex challenge for all neurosurgeon experts in cerebrovascular surgery. The three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA) allows identifying bone and vascular structures close to an aneurysm to simulate in virtual 3D images, the appropriate and safest approach to cerebral aneurysm clipping. Objectives This study aims to share our experience using 3D simulation as a support to the safe planning for cerebrovascular disease surgery. Materials and Methods We reviewed the surgical outcomes from a cerebrovascular neurosurgeon using the 3D-CTA images in 360-degree reconstruction in the planning of the preoperative surgical procedure for the treatment of brain aneurysm. In all patients, the virtual surgical approach was replicated in real-time surgery. Results We analyzed 34 patients around 51 ± 8 years of age. Of these, 76.5% (n = 26) and 23.5% (n = 8) were males and females, respectively. Saccular aneurysms were the most frequent (85%), the Arteries affected by aneurysms were middle cerebral artery (n = 6), basilar tip (n = 6), vertebral artery in V3 and V4 (n = 6), and posterior cerebral artery (n = 5). The virtual surgical pterional approach was the most frequently used (50%), followed by fronto-orbito-zigomático (29%) and far lateral (15%) approaches. There were no intraoperative complications in any patient. Conclusion Preoperative 3D virtual reality simulation is a great support tool to perform a safe surgical procedure in real-time for the treatment of simple and complex brain aneurysms.

Recent studies have recognized similarities between the peptides involved in the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease and prions. The Tau protein and the Amyloid β peptide represent the theoretical pillars of Alzheimer’s disease development. It is probable that there is a shared mechanism for the transmission of these substances and the prion diseases development; this presumption is based on the presentation of several cases of individuals without risk factors who developed dementia decades after a neurosurgical procedure. : This article aims to present the role of Aβ and Tau, which underlie the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the AD and their similarities with the prion diseases infective mechanisms by means of the presentation of the available evidence at molecular (in-vitro), animal, and human levels that support the controversy on whether these diseases might be transmitted in neurosurgical interventions, which may constitute a wide public health issue.

Severe thrombocytopenia (less than 50,000 platelets count per microliter with the normal range of 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter) can complicate the management of neurosurgical patients by significantly increasing the potential risk of bleeding during or after invasive procedures. Even though the current standard-of-care treatment for severe thrombocytopenia is platelet transfusion, the optimal platelet count for safe neurosurgical procedure is still controversial. We report a case of a 57-year-old woman, newly diagnosed with acute leukemia, and followed up in the clinical hematology department that is a candidate for external ventricular shunt (EVS) for acute hydrocephalus revealed by intracranial hypertension and drowsiness. Severe thrombocytopenia was found in her laboratory result of blood analysis. She had been reoperated the same day for acute subdural hematoma as a complication of the drainage. The patient died of septic shock in the ICU two weeks later.

Objective To report on combined surgical and/or endovascular procedures for cerebrovascular disease in a hybrid operating room (OR). Methods Between October 2016 and June 2020, 1832 neurosurgical procedures were performed in a hybrid OR. Our institution's hybrid OR consists of a multi-axis robotic C-arm monoplane digital subtraction angiography (DSA) system with an operating table, 3D-rotational DSA, cone-beam computed tomography (dyna CT), and real-time navigation software. Procedures were categorized into six categories according to purpose (1) simple diagnosis and follow-up, (2) simple endovascular procedure, (3) combination of surgery and endovascular procedures, (4) rescue surgery after endovascular procedures, (5) frameless stereotactic procedure, and (6) other surgeries requiring C-arm. Results Of 1832 neurosurgical procedures in the hybrid OR, 1430 were simple diagnosis and follow-up cases, 330 simple endovascular procedures, 8 combination of surgery and endovascular procedures, 15 rescue after endovascular procedure, 40 frameless stereotactic procedures, and 9 other surgeries. Eight cases of combination of surgery and endovascular procedures, safely performed without wasting time on patient transfer, were performed in seven bypass end endovascular procedures and one case of bow-hunter syndrome in complex cerebrovascular disease. After embolization, craniotomy (or craniectomy) and intracerebral hemorrhage removal were performed in eight patients in-situ. Of the 40 frameless stereotactic procedure, 37 were extraventricular drainage before/after coil embolization in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. They all mounted conduits in their planned locations. Conclusions A hybrid OR for combined endovascular and surgical procedures represents a safe and useful strategy for cerebrovascular disease. In hybrid ORs various neurosurgical procedures can be safely and conveniently performed. Hybrid OR will pioneer a new era in neurosurgical procedures.

OBJECTIVE A major obstacle to improving bedside neurosurgical procedure safety and accuracy with image guidance technologies is the lack of a rapidly deployable, real-time registration and tracking system for a moving patient. This deficiency explains the persistence of freehand placement of external ventricular drains, which has an inherent risk of inaccurate positioning, multiple passes, tract hemorrhage, and injury to adjacent brain parenchyma. Here, the authors introduce and validate a novel image registration and real-time tracking system for frameless stereotactic neuronavigation and catheter placement in the nonimmobilized patient. METHODS Computer vision technology was used to develop an algorithm that performed near-continuous, automatic, and marker-less image registration. The program fuses a subject’s preprocedure CT scans to live 3D camera images (Snap-Surface), and patient movement is incorporated by artificial intelligence–driven recalibration (Real-Track). The surface registration error (SRE) and target registration error (TRE) were calculated for 5 cadaveric heads that underwent serial movements (fast and slow velocity roll, pitch, and yaw motions) and several test conditions, such as surgical draping with limited anatomical exposure and differential subject lighting. Six catheters were placed in each cadaveric head (30 total placements) with a simulated sterile technique. Postprocedure CT scans allowed comparison of planned and actual catheter positions for user error calculation. RESULTS Registration was successful for all 5 cadaveric specimens, with an overall mean (± standard deviation) SRE of 0.429 ± 0.108 mm for the catheter placements. Accuracy of TRE was maintained under 1.2 mm throughout specimen movements of low and high velocities of roll, pitch, and yaw, with the slowest recalibration time of 0.23 seconds. There were no statistically significant differences in SRE when the specimens were draped or fully undraped (p = 0.336). Performing registration in a bright versus a dimly lit environment had no statistically significant effect on SRE (p = 0.742 and 0.859, respectively). For the catheter placements, mean TRE was 0.862 ± 0.322 mm and mean user error (difference between target and actual catheter tip) was 1.674 ± 1.195 mm. CONCLUSIONS This computer vision–based registration system provided real-time tracking of cadaveric heads with a recalibration time of less than one-quarter of a second with submillimetric accuracy and enabled catheter placements with millimetric accuracy. Using this approach to guide bedside ventriculostomy could reduce complications, improve safety, and be extrapolated to other frameless stereotactic applications in awake, nonimmobilized patients.

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is an urgent neurosurgical procedure, effective in the reduction of intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with elevated ICP and in complications of brain infarction that do not respond to clinical treatment; traumatic brain injury (TBI); intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and aneurysmal intracerebral haemorrhage. Symptomatic hydrocephalus is present in 2 to 29% of patients who undergo craniectomy. They may require a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). The literature does not yet show standard management of cranioplasty in patients who have previously undergone a shunt, showing evidence of sinking skin flap syndrome. This case shows parenchymal expansion after VPS occlusion and cranioplasty in the patient’s profile. The 23-year-old male patient, right-handed, went to the hospital in January 2017 due to severe traumatic brain injury following multiple traumas. The patient underwent urgent DC surgery for the management of elevated ICP. The patient developed hydrocephalus. hydrocephalus. It was decided to perform the VPS implant. After 2 years, and with quite a sunken flap, the patient was submitted to cranioplasty procedure after shunt occlusion was performed. The patient left the hospital receiving outpatient care with no more complaints. In spite of the favourable outcome, new studies are fundamental to decide upon the best approach.

Introduction Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality around the world. Few advances regarding surgical approaches have been made in the past few years to improve its outcomes. Microsurgical cisternostomy is a well-established technique used in vascular and skull base surgery and recently emerges as a suitable procedure with lesser costs and morbidity when compared with decompressive craniectomy in patients with diffuse TBI. This study aims to describe the technique, indications, and limitations of cisternostomy and to compare it with decompressive craniectomy (DC). Methods A prospective study is being conducted after obtaining approval of the local human ethics research committee. Once the inclusion and exclusion criteria are applied, the patients are submitted to microsurgical cisternostomy, pre and postoperative neurological status and brain computed tomography (CT) evaluation. A detailed review was also performed, which discusses diffuse TBI, DC, and cisternostomy for the treatment of TBI. Results Two patients were submitted to cisternostomy after TBI and the presence of acute subdural hematoma and huge midline shift at admission computed tomography. The surgery was authorized by the family (the informed consent form was signed). Both patients evolved with a good recovery after the procedure, and had a satisfactory control brain CT. No further surgeries were required after the initial cisternostomy. Conclusions Cisternostomy is an adequate technique for the treatment of selected patients affected by diffuse TBI, and it is a proper alternative to DC with lesser costs and morbidity, since a single neurosurgical procedure is performed. A prospective study is being conducted for a better evaluation and these were the initial cases of this new protocol.

Background Peripheral nerves are constant targets of traumatic injury which may result in neurotmesis and which invariably requires surgical treatment. In view of this, tissue engineering studies developed biomaterials which were first tested in animal models and used as a guide for nerve stumps in the procedure in order to speed up the healing process. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of biomaterials used in tubing technique on healing and histological and functional recovery after peripheral nerve neurotmesis in rats. Methods We will search PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, and CENTRAL (from inception onwards). Grey literature will be identified through searching dissertation databases, guidelines, policy documents, and reports. We will include randomized and non-randomized trials conducted in young adult rats with peripheral neurometsis undergoing surgical repair through tubing technique with biomaterials. Primary outcomes will be histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry of the nerve tissue, and sciatic functional index. Secondary outcome will be nerve macroscopic evaluation. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion. The methodological quality (or risk of bias) of individual studies will be appraised using an appropriate tool. If feasible, we will conduct random effects meta-analysis. Discussion This systematic review of animal studies will identify, evaluate, and synthetize the evidence on the the efficacy of tubing technique with biomaterials compared to direct coaptation technique after peripheral neurotmesis in nerve healing and return to functionality. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42018106042.

IntroductionVentriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is a commonly performed neurosurgical procedure in pediatric surgical practice. It results in a dramatic improvement in patient survival and neurological function but is associated with several complications requiring multiple shunt revisions throughout a patient’s lifetime. The main aimof the study was to evaluate the outcome especially complications of shunt surgery at our center.MethodsA single-institutional, retrospective observational study was conducted in 60 operated cases of congenital hydrocephalus with a minimum follow-up for up to 6 months. Parameters for analysis included demographic data, etiology of hydrocephalus, surgery time, and type of complications.ResultsOut of 86 patients, 60 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients at the time of VP shunt placement was 3 months, range from 8 days to 15 years with male preponderance. The majority of the patients belonged to the 0-1-year age group (76.8%). Thecommonest etiology of hydrocephalus was congenital aqueduct stenosis. Fifteen patients (25%) developed complications within six months follow-up period. Eight patients (13.3%) developed clinical shunt infection with four cases having culture positive. Four (6.67%) had mechanical complications in the form of shuntobstruction. Three patients had ascites, subdural collection, and shunt extrusion from the anus. The shunt related mortality was 1.67%.ConclusionThe shunt infection and obstruction still remain the most important complications. Despite inherent problems, shunt surgery is the procedure of choice until a safer effective alternative is available.Keywords: Complications congenital hydrocephalus, ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Objective To identify factors related to ventricular-peritoneal shunt (VPS) complications in pediatric patients at a high-risk maternity hospital. Methods Prospective study, conducted between September/2018 and June/2019, with selected newborns without previous ventricular bypass who underwent neurosurgery for VPS placement in a high-risk maternity hospital in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Diagnosis of hydrocephalus occurred by transfontanelle ultrasound. The variables were analyzed by Student t-test, adopting p Results Seven newborns participated in the study, 3 male and 4 female. Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy was considered a positive influencing factor in the 1st minute Apgar. Hydrocephalus secondary to premature hemorrhage was present in most newborns. Prematurity, 1st minute Apgar score Conclusion This is the first scientific research that associates the benefits of maternal use of folic acid during pregnancy to better newborn Apgar scores. Only one newborn developed complications after neurosurgery, the only one with an associated comorbidity. Further studies are needed to provide more evidence on risk factors related to complications of VPS implantation in newborns. This neurosurgical procedure in a high-risk maternity contributed to the early management of hydrocephalus.

Infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae (ITF and PPF) represent two complex paramedian skull base areas, which can be defined as jewelry boxes, containing a large number of neurovascular and osteomuscular structures of primary importance. They are in close communication with many craniofacial areas, such as nasal/paranasal sinuses, orbit, middle cranial fossa, and oral cavities. Therefore, they can be involved by tumoral, infective or inflammatory lesions spreading from these spaces. Moreover, they can be the primary site of the development of some primitive tumors. For the deep-seated location of ITF and PPF lesions and their close relationship with the surrounding functional neuro-vascular structures, their surgery represents a challenge. In the last decades, the introduction of the endoscope in skull base surgery has favored the development of an innovative anterior endonasal approach for ITF and PPF tumors: the transmaxillary-pterygoid, which gives a direct and straightforward route for these areas. It has demonstrated that it is effective and safe for the treatment of a large number of benign and malignant neoplasms, located in these fossae, avoiding extensive bone drilling, soft tissue demolition, possibly unaesthetic scars, and reducing the risk of neurological deficits. However, some limits, especially for vascular tumors or lesions with lateral extension, are still present. Based on the experience of our multidisciplinary team, we present our operative technique, surgical indications, and pre- and post-operative management protocol for patients with ITF and PPF tumors.

Background: Rotator cuff (RC) tears have been widely studied as many treatment strategies have been recommended. However, optimal management for patients with RC tears is still unclear. Purpose: The main aim of this systematic review was to analyze randomized controlled trials using meta-analysis to compare repair to conservative treatments for patients with any type of RC tear. Methods: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL database), PEDro, and Scopus databases were used. Two independent reviewers selected randomized controlled trials that compared surgical to conservative treatments for RC tear patients. The studies included were assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tools, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence and to summarize the study conclusions. Results: Six trials were included. Pooled results showed improvement in function and pain perception in favor of the repair group at 6 months (mean difference 1.26, 95% CI –2.34, 4.85, P = .49; and –0.59, 95% CI –0.84, –0.33, P < .001, respectively), at 12 months (mean difference 5.25, 95% CI 1.55, 8.95, P = .005, for function; and –0.41, 95% CI –0.70, –0.12, P = .006, for pain) and at 24 months (mean difference 5.57, 95% CI 1.86, 9.29, P = .003, for function; and –0.92, 95% CI –1.31, –0.52, P < .001, for pain) in RC tear patients. However, these differences did not reach the minimum clinically important difference. The certainty of evidence ranged from low to moderate because of imprecision in the studies included. Conclusions: Overall analysis showed that in patients with RC tear, repair compared with conservative treatment could result in increased pain reduction and functional improvement at 6, 12, and 24 months. Even if these effects were often statistically significant, their clinical relevance was limited. Moreover, the certainty of body of evidence ranged from low to moderate.

IntroductionSciatic nerve injury is an uncommon but potentially devastating complication in hip and pelvis surgery. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) was applied since the seventies in neurosurgery and spine surgery. Nowadays, IONM has gained popularity in other surgical specialities including orthopaedic and trauma surgery. Aim of this systematic review is to resume the literature evidences about the effectiveness of intraoperative monitoring of sciatic nerve during pelvic and hip surgery.MethodsTwo reviewers (GC and MD) independently identified studies by a systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar from inception of database to 10 January 2021. Inclusion criteria were: (a) English written papers, (b) use of any type of intraoperative nerve monitoring during traumatic or elective pelvic and hip surgery, (c) comparison of the outcomes between patients who underwent nerve monitoring and patient who underwent standard procedures, (d) all study types including case reports. The present review was conducted in accordance with the 2009 PRISMA statement.ResultsThe literature search produced 224 papers from PubMed and 594 from Google Scholar, with a total amount of 818 papers. The two reviewer excluded 683 papers by title or duplicates. Of the 135 remaining, 72 were excluded after reading the abstract, and 31 by reading the full text. Thus, 32 papers were finally included in the review.ConclusionsThe use of IONM during hip and pelvis surgery is debated. The review results are insufficient to support the routine use of IONM in hip and pelvis surgery. The different IONM techniques have peculiar advantages and disadvantages and differences in sensitivity and specificity without clear evidence of superiority for any. Results from different studies and different interventions are often in contrast. However, there is general agreement in recognizing a role for IONM to define the critical maneuvers, positions or pathologies that could lead to sciatic nerve intraoperative damage.Level of evidenceLevel 2.

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is an emergency neurosurgical procedure to decrease intracranial pressure through a catheter mediated drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. Most EVD catheters are placed using free hands without direct visualization of the target and catheter trajectory, leading to a high rate of complications- hemorrhage, brain injury and suboptimal catheter placement. Use of stereotactic systems can prevent these complications. However, they have found limited application for this procedure due to their long set-up time and expensive hardware. Therefore, we have developed and pre-clinically validated a novel 3D printed stereotactic system for rapid and accurate implantation of EVD catheters. Its mechanical and imaging accuracies were found to be at par with clinical stereotactic systems. Preclinical trial in human cadaver specimens revealed improved targeting accuracy achieved within an acceptable time frame compared to the free hand technique. CT angiography emulated using cadaver specimen with radio-opaque vascular contrast showed vessel free catheter trajectory. This could potentially translate to reduced hemorrhage rate. Thus, our 3D printed stereotactic system offers the potential to improve the accuracy and safety of EVD catheter placement for patients without significantly increasing the procedure time.

Background and PurposeNo effective treatment is available for most patients who suffer ischemic stroke. Development of novel treatment options is imperative. The brain attempts to self-heal after ischemic stroke via various mechanism mediated by restored blood circulation in affected region of brain but this process is limited by inadequate angiogenesis or neoangiogenesis. Encephalomyosynangiosis (EMS) is a neurosurgical procedure that achieves angiogenesis with low morbidity in patients with moyamoya disease, reducing risk of stroke. However, EMS, surgery has never been studied as an therapeutic option after ischemic stroke. Here we described a novel procedure and feasibility data for EMS after ischemic stroke in mice.MethodsA 60 mins of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) was used to induce ischemic stroke in mice. After 3-4 hours of MCAo onset/sham, EMS was performed. Mortality of EMS, MCAo and. MCAo+EMS mice was recorded up to 21 days after surgery. Graft tissue viability was measured using a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced tetrazolium reductase assay.ResultsEMS surgery after ischemic stroke does not increase mortality compared to stroke alone. Graft muscle tissue remained viable 21 days after surgery.ConclusionsThis novel protocol is effective and well-tolerated, may serve as novel platform for new angiogenesis and thus recovery after ischemic stroke. If successful in mice, EMS can a very feasible and novel treatment option for ischemic stroke in humans.

Highlights • Bone wax, due to its non-resorbable property is known to cause foreign body reaction. • Cholesterol granuloma can possibly manifest as a complication of bone wax usage from previous surgeries. • Surgical excision of the cholesterol granuloma with removal of its inciting agent is one of the management options. • More studies should be conducted with regards to bone wax causing cholesterol granuloma in the petrous apex as this is the first case described in the literature. • Surgeons should be aware of this potential complication and use hemostatic agents, in particular bone wax more judiciously., Background Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is a rare entity but is the commonest lesion in the petrous apex. They are associated with chronic ear disease and previous temporal bone surgery. While bone wax has been known to cause foreign body reaction due to its non-resorbable property in the mastoid, it has not been documented to cause CG formation. Case presentation We described a 43 years old male who presented with a right mastoid swelling, nine years after a right retro-sigmoid craniotomy and excision for a cerebellopontine angle meningioma. He also had multiple cranial neuropathies involving trigeminal, facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. Temporal bone CT and MRI showed features suggestive of cholesterol granuloma with extensive bony erosions. He was treated with surgical excision and drainage where bone wax residues were found intraoperatively. Histopathological analysis of the lesion confirmed the diagnosis of cholesterol granuloma. Post-operatively, the mastoid swelling resolved and his recovery was uneventful. Conclusion Our case showed that CG could manifest as a complication of bone wax usage in a neurosurgical procedure. Even though further study is needed to draw a definitive conclusion on this theory, we believe this paper will contribute to the current literature as it is the only reported case of cholesterol granuloma with bone wax as the possible causative agent. This is important so that surgeons are aware of this potential complication and use this haemostatic agent more judiciously.

A case of roadside accident in which neurosurgeon preserved the skull bone flap in abdominal layers during operation but the facts not explained to family considering it to be a routine neurosurgical procedure. Autopsy surgeon was unaware of such practice and casually informed family about operation on abdomen in spite of the absence of any abdominal injuries, which created hue and cry. With great difficulty finally, the family could be satisfied about the approved procedure. The importance of communicating to the family is stressed on although everything was meticulously documented in the hospital file.

La realización de una craneotomía con el paciente despierto se está utilizando cada vez más en diversas situaciones, como en neurocirugía funcional sobre la estimulación cerebral para tratar la enfermedad de Parkinson y la cirugía para tratar la epilepsia, así como los procedimientos neuroquirúrgicos destinadas a resección de tumores cerebrales en áreas elocuentes. Los principios anestésicos para realizar la craneotomía despierta tienen el objetivo de realización de una analgesia adecuada, sedación, la estabilidad hemodinámica sistémica y la permeabilidad de la vía aérea con el tipo de procedimiento neuroquirúrgico a realizar. El objetivo de este estudio es revisar los principios que rigen la conducta de la anestesia para la neurocirugía que es necesario para lograr la craneotomía con el paciente despierto.

Background: Ependymal cysts remain a very rare cause of neurological symptoms among intracranial cystic lesions. It differs from an arachnoid cyst, as it does not communicate with subarachnoid space. Case description: A 33-year-old woman was admitted in our neurosurgery department with history of headache, vomiting and right unilateral blindness. Neuroimaging studies showed an intraparenchymal cystic lesion in the right frontal lobe with radiologic characteristic as seen in the ependymal cyst or hydatic cyst. She underwent the neurosurgical procedure of marsupialization and was discharged on day 6 post op. At one month follow up, the patient presented with a decrease vision acuity on the left eye, and head CT scan showed a recurrence of the cyst hence, we performed a second surgery with shunt procedure. Histological examination of the resected tissue demonstrated that, it was an ependymal cyst. Conclusion: Since there is often times a clinico-radiological discordance they are generally incidental findings in majority of cases. While complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice for the symptomatic cysts, cystic fluid diversion presents a better compromise nevertheless in cases where this may not be achieved. Keywords: Ependymal cyst, Brain, MRI, Surgery

Objective Our goal was to highlight the prenatal diagnosis and management of central nervous system (CNS) anomalies through sharing our clinic’s experience. Material and methods We evaluated prenatal findings and postnatal outcomes of neonates who had a CNS anomaly diagnosis in our clinic over a ten-year period. A total of 183 cases with various CNS anomalies were included in the study. Birth or termination preferences of mothers were recorded in all cases, and postnatal diagnosis concordance and prognosis after surgical procedures were evaluated in mothers who chose to continue the pregnancy. Results The mean maternal age was 28.2±5.5 years, mean gravida was 2.2±1.3, and the mean gestational age at diagnosis was 30.5±5.5 weeks. Seventy-five out of 183 (41%) patients chose to terminate their pregnancy. Twenty babies (26.6%) in the termination of pregnancy group had additional anomalies. One hundred eight patients gave birth at our institution. The mean birth weight was 3060±647.5 g, the mean gestational week at delivery was 37.9±1.7 weeks, and mean APGAR score (5th minute) was 8.8±2.3. Four neonates died on the postpartum first day. The postnatal diagnosis of 60 of the 108 (55.5%) patients who gave birth was concordant with the prenatal diagnosis, and 32 of the 108 (29.6%) babies underwent surgical interventions. Conclusion CNS anomalies have a broad spectrum and variable prognoses. This study highlights the limitations of prenatal diagnoses, and the need for parents to have this information in order to determine the course of their pregnancy and prepare themselves for the postnatal challenging treatment/rehabilitation process.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a complex disorder and children frequently have multiple impairments. Dystonia is a particularly frustrating impairment that interferes with rehabilitation and function and is difficult to treat. Of the available treatments, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as an option with the potential for large effect size in a subgroup of children. While brain stimulation has been used in CP for more than 40 years, modern devices and targeting methods are improving both the safety and efficacy of the procedure. Successful use of DBS depends on appropriate selection of patients, identification of effective neuroanatomical targets in each patient, careful neurosurgical procedure, and detailed follow-up evaluation and programming. The use of functional neurosurgery for neuromodulation in CP remains a technology in its infancy, but improving experience and knowledge are likely to make this one of the safest and most effective interventions for children with moderate-to-severe motor disorders. This review summarizes the current procedures for patient and target selection, and surgical implantation of DBS electrodes for CP. The history of DBS and future directions when used in secondary dystonia are also examined. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Selection of candidates for deep brain stimulation (DBS) requires understanding of dystonia in cerebral palsy . DBS could become a first-line treatment option in some children.ESTIMULACIÓN CEREBRAL PROFUNDA PARA LA PARÁLISIS CEREBRAL: ¿DÓNDE ESTAMOS AHORA?: La parálisis cerebral (PC) es un trastorno complejo y los niños con frecuencia tienen discapacidades múltiples. La distonía es un deterioro particularmente frustrante que interfiere con la rehabilitación y la función y es difícil de tratar. De los tratamientos disponibles, la estimulación cerebral profunda (DBS, por sus siglas en inglés - deep brain stimulation) ha surgido como una opción con el potencial de un gran tamaño de efecto en un subgrupo de niños. Si bien la estimulación cerebral se ha utilizado en PC durante más de 40 años, los dispositivos modernos y los métodos de detección están mejorando tanto la seguridad como la eficacia del procedimiento. El uso exitoso de la DBS depende de la selección apropiada de los pacientes, la identificación de objetivos neuroanatómicos efectivos en cada paciente, el procedimiento neuroquirúrgico cuidadoso y la evaluación y programación de seguimiento detalladas. El uso de la neurocirugía funcional para la neuromodulación en la PC sigue siendo una tecnología en su infancia, pero es probable que la mejora de la experiencia y los conocimientos hagan de esta una de las intervenciones más seguras y efectivas para los niños con trastornos motores de moderados a graves. Esta revisión resume los procedimientos actuales para la selección de pacientes y objetivos, y la implantación quirúrgica de electrodos DBS para PC. La historia de DBS y las direcciones futuras cuando se utilizan en la distonía secundaria también se examinan.ESTIMULAÇÃO CEREBRAL PROFUNDA PARA PARALISIA CEREBRAL: ONDE ESTAMOS AGORA?: Paralisia cerebral (PC) é uma desordem complexa e crianças frequentemente apresentam múltiplas deficiências. A distonia é uma deficiência particularmente frustrante que interfere com a reabilitação e função, e é difícil de tratar. Dentre dos tratamentos disponíveis, a estimulação cerebral profunda (ECP) emergiu como uma opção com potencial de grande tamanho de efeito em um subgrupo de crianças. Embora a estimulação cerebral seja usada em PC há mais de 40 anos, dispositivos modernos e métodos de identificação de áreas alvo tem melhorado tanto a segurança quanto a eficácia do procedimento. O uso bem sucedido da ECP depende da seleção apropriada dos pacientes, identificação dos alvos neuroanatômicos efetivos para cada paciente, procedimento neurocirúrgico cuidadoso, e avaliação e programação detalhadas no acompanhamento. O uso de neurocirurgia funcional para neuromodulação em PC ainda é uma tecnologia iniciante, mas a crescente experiência e conhecimento provavelmente farão dela uma das mais seguras e efetivas intervenções para crianças com transtornos motores de moderados a severos. Esta revisão sintetiza os procedimentos atuais para seleção de pacientes e alvos, e a implantação cirúrgica de eletrodos de ECP para PC. A história da ECP e direções futuras, quando usados em distonia secundária, também são examinados.

Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt identification and treatment in the emergency department (ED). Medical management is the mainstay of treatment. However, some patients may require neurosurgical intervention. Furthermore, neurological complications may develop, causing significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case report of a 42-year-old Chinese gentleman who presented to the ED and was subsequently diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis. In addition to routine medical management, he also underwent emergent extraventricular drainage procedure to alleviate increased intracranial pressure. He subsequently developed stroke, seizure and sensorineural hearing loss. Not seizure-related hearing loss. After a comprehensive rehabilitation program, he showed good response and recovered without focal neurological deficit. A high index of suspicion and timely interventions in ED are important in minimizing morbidity and mortality from bacterial meningitis. The help of neurosurgeons may be necessary in selected cases. Dexamethasone has an important role in the prevention of neurological complications, as well as in their treatment.