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OBJECTIVES Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is being increasingly used in non-surgical intractable low back pain. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of high-dose (HD) SCS utilizing sub-perception stimulation with higher frequency and pulse width in non-surgical predominant low-back pain population at 12 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 20 patients were recruited (280 screened between March 2017 and July 2018) to undergo percutaneous fluoroscopic-guided SCS (Medtronic 8 contact standard leads and RestoreR IPG), with T8 and T9 midline anatomical parallel placement. Sixteen patients completed 12 months follow-up (500 Hz frequency, 500 μs pulse width, and 25% pulse density). Differences in patients' clinical outcome (NRS back, NRS leg, ODI, PGIC, and PSQ) and medication usage (MQS) at 1, 3, and 12 months from the baseline were assessed using non-parametric Wilcoxon paired test. RESULTS The mean NRS scores for back pain (baseline 7.53) improved significantly at 1, 3, and 12 months; 2.78 (p

Object The authors assess the utility of routine biopsy at vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fracture (VCF) as a tool in the early detection of malignancy in presumed benign VCF. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted on a cohort of consecutive patients undergoing vertebroplasty over a 5-year period between April 2006 and March 2011 at the Royal London Hospital. Polymethylmethacrylate cement injection was used in every procedure. Intraoperative vertebral body biopsy was performed routinely at every level of VCF. Pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, analgesic usage, and complications were recorded preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Results A total of 202 levels were augmented in 147 patients. The most common levels augmented were T-12 (17%), L-1 (18%), and L-4 (10%). Analysis of 184 routine vertebral biopsies in 135 patients revealed that in 86 patients with presumed osteoporosis and no prior cancer diagnosis, 4 (4.7%) had a malignant VCF. In 20 known cancer patients presumed to be in remission, 2 (10%) had a malignant VCF. Routine vertebral biopsy returned an overall cancer diagnosis rate of 5.5% (6 of 109) when combining the 2 groups (patients with no prior history of cancer or cancer thought to be in remission). In these 6 patients, history, examination, laboratory tests, and preprocedure imaging all failed to suggest malignancy diagnosed at routine biopsy. Significant reductions in pain VAS and ODI scores were evident at Day 1 and were sustained at up to 1 year postoperatively (p < 0.001). They were not dependent on the level of fracture (T3–10, T11–L2, or L3–S1) (p > 0.05), number of levels treated (single level, 2 levels, or > 2 levels) (p > 0.05), or etiology of VCF (p > 0.05). The complication rate was 6% (9 of 147). There were 5 deaths, none of which were directly related to surgery. Conclusions Routine vertebral biopsy performed at vertebroplasty may demonstrate cancer-related VCFs in unsuspected patients with no previous cancer diagnosis or active malignancy in patients previously thought to be in remission. This early diagnosis of cancer or relapsed disease will play an important role in expediting patients' subsequent cancer management. In cases of multiple-level VCF, the authors advocate biopsy at each level to maximize the diagnostic yield from the specimens and to avoid missing a malignancy at a single level.

Pituitary tumours usually present with visual field defects; extraocular palsy is usually a sign of cavernous sinus extension and is a sign of advanced disease. We report a case of a pituitary adenoma presenting with complete, bilateral oculomotor nerve palsies, but minimal loss of visual fields, and intact abducens and trochlear nerves.

There is a dearth of comparative outcome data on vertebroplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCF) according to vertebral level, the number of levels and aetiology. The aim of this study was to investigate the improvement of pain and function following vertebroplasty for a heterogeneous cohort of patients with medically refractory VCF.A prospective observational study was conducted on a cohort of consecutive patients undergoing vertebroplasty following at least 4 weeks of failed medical management, between April 2007 and March 2012 at a single neurosurgical centre. Pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, analgesic usage and complications were recorded preoperatively and at day 1, week 1, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. Intraoperative vertebral body biopsy was performed routinely.Two hundred and two levels were augmented in 147 patients. The most common levels augmented were T12 (17%), L1 (18%) and L4 (10%). Significant reductions in pain VAS and ODI scores were evident at day 1 and sustained at up to 1 year postoperatively (p 0.001). They were not dependent on the level of fracture (T3-10, T11-L2 and L3-S1) (p 0.05), the number of levels treated (single level, two-level and two level) (p 0.05) or aetiology of VCF (p 0.05). At 1 year postoperatively, 79% (113/142) had no or reduced analgesic usage. The complication rate was 6% (9/147). There were five mortalities, none of which was directly related to surgery.Vertebroplasty for medically refractory VCF may offer sustained improvement in pain and function. The procedure is associated with low morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE: This is a retrospective analysis of 25 consecutive pediatric patients with Cushing's disease who underwent transsphenoidal surgery performed by a single neurosurgeon in a specialist center during a 20-year period. This article discusses the presentation of Cushing's disease, the endocrinological investigation with particular reference to bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS), the operative management with reference to specific pediatric difficulties of the transsphenoidal approach and the use of intraoperative image guidance, and the analysis of these cases as regards postoperative complications and outcomes of this rare condition in young patients. METHODS: All patients underwent detailed endocrine investigation and imaging in the form of computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. BIPSS was performed in 19 patients (76%), with successful lateralization of the side of the microadenoma in 14 (74%) and prediction of a central tumor in four (94% total prediction rate). Surgical removal was via the sublabial, paraseptal, transsphenoidal route. RESULTS: There were 15 male and 10 female patients, with a mean age of 13.4 years (range, 6.6–17.8 yr). Weight gain was the most common presentation (100%), and then growth impairment (96%), fatigue and skin changes (64%), and hypertension (32%). Postoperative complications included growth hormone deficiency (36%), transient diabetes insipidus (12%), panhypopituitarism (4%), and transient cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (4%). The median follow-up period was 59.5 months (range, 6–126 mo). Overall, 15 patients (60%) achieved surgical cure or remission, of which 14 outcomes were obtained using the results of BIPSS. Ten patients (40%) required postoperative radiotherapy to achieve “remission.” There were no cases of meningitis, no neurological deficits, no reoperations, and no mortality. CONCLUSION: Cushing's disease in children and adolescents is a rare illness. The accurate preoperative localization of the adenoma is essential for achieving good results. In this series, BIPSS was far more accurate in localizing the adenoma than computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Imaging, however, is useful for the exclusion of other intracranial problems. Transsphenoidal surgery was safe and efficacious in achieving cure in the majority of cases. The challenge of transsphenoidal surgery in this age group is the small pituitary fossa and the absence of sphenoid sinus aeration in some cases. We found the use of intraoperative neuronavigation to be an excellent aid in overcoming such anatomic difficulties.

Nogo receptor 1 (NgR1) mediates the inhibitory effects of several myelin-associated inhibitors (MAIs) on axonal regeneration in the central nervous system. A truncated soluble NgR1 (sNgR) has been reported to act as a decoy receptor to block the actions of MAIs. In this study, we fused the sNgR to nerve growth factor (NGF) and used NGF as a carrier to deliver sNgR to the intercellular space to neutralize MAIs. NGF in NGF–sNgR remained biologically active and induced sprouting of calcitonin gene related peptide containing axons when expressed in the spinal cord using a lentiviral vector (LV). Secreted NGF–sNgR promoted neurite outgrowth of dissociated dorsal root ganglion neurons on myelin protein substrate. In a rat dorsal column transection model, regenerating sensory axons were found to grow into the lesion cavity in animals injected with LV/NGF–sNgR, while in animals injected with LV/GFP or LV/NGF–GFP few sensory axons entered the lesion cavity. The results indicate that NGF–sNgR fusion protein can reduce the inhibition of MAIs and facilitate sensory axon regeneration. The fusion constructs may be modified to target other molecules to promote axonal regeneration and the concept may also be adapted to develop gene therapy strategies to treat other disorders.

Renal osteodystrophy is a spectrum of musculoskeletal abnormalities. Bony fractures can occur spontaneously or with minor trauma in this condition. The authors report the first case of balloon kyphoplasty treatment for painful renal osteodystrophy vertebral body collapse secondary to end-stage renal failure on dialysis. The authors have demonstrated that kyphoplasty is a safe procedure for pain management in severe dystrophic patients. In addition, pain treatment with kyphoplasty can be achieved without anatomical restoration of vertebral body height.

Intracranial endodermal cysts are most commonly located in the posterior cranial fossa anterior to the brainstem. We report a rare case of an endodermal cyst of the posterior fossa located dorsal to the brainstem and is to our knowledge the only other such case reported in the literature.

Spinal extradural cyst is a rare cause of spinal cord or nerve root compression. We present a case which is unique due to both the young age of the patient and its distinctly acute haemorrhagic presentation. In what is normally considered a degenerative disease in older patients this has implications for the possibility of a traumatic aetiology in children. The literature on the classification of extradural cysts is reviewed.

Background Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is most commonly related to vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia associated with Chiari's malformation and associated hydrocephalus are rare. Case Description A 31-year-old male presented with classical TN affecting the mandibular division of the right trigeminal nerve. His symptoms were poorly controlled with increasing doses of carbamazepine. Magnetic resonance imaging scan of brain revealed Chiari's type I malformation and associated hydrocephalus. Approximately 1 month after insertion of a programmable ventriculoperitoneal shunt, his TN resolved. Conclusions Chiari's malformation and hydrocephalus are rare associates of TN. The pathophysiology of TN in these cases may be due to neurovascular conflict, related to raised intracranial pressure from the hydrocephalus and/or the small posterior fossa volume in these patients. Drainage of associated hydrocephalus may be an effective surgical treatment.