The Lone Star Retractor System in Neurosurgery.

Background: We investigated the role of a self-retaining retractor system, commonly used in ear, abdominal, vascular, urologic and gynecologic surgeries: the Lone Star retractor system. We report our experience in using the Lone Star retractor in different brain surgeries, at a single neurosurgical department.

Methods: In 2019, patients who underwent brain surgery and in which the Lone Star Retractor System was used were considered for inclusion.

Ruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: Surgical Timing and Outcomes-A Retrospective Study of 25 Cases.

 One important problem in treatment of ruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) is surgical timing. The aim of the study was to understand which parameters affect surgical timing and outcomes the most.  Between January 2010 and December 2018, 25 patients underwent surgery for a ruptured bAVM at our institute.

Entrapment of the temporal horn: case series and systematic review of literature.

Introduction: Entrapment of the temporal horn (ETH) is a form of focal, obstructive hydrocephalus. Etiology and clinical presentation are diversified. Though known since 1947, standard treatment has not yet been defined.

Odontoid screw placement for Anderson type II odontoid fractures: how do duration from injury to surgery and clinical and radiological factors influence the union rate? A multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: Anderson type II odontoid fractures are severe conditions, mostly affecting elderly people (≥ 70 years old). Surgery can be performed as a primary treatment or in cases of failed conservative management. This study aimed to investigate how duration from injury to surgery, as well as clinical, radiological, and surgical risk factors, may influence the union rate after anterior odontoid screw placement for Anderson type II odontoid fractures.

Multidisciplinary management of spontaneous spinal infections: is there a correlation between timing, type of treatment and outcome?

Background: Spontaneous spinal infections (SSIs) represent a rare and serious pathological entity. We tried to study a correlation between type of treatment, timing of treatment and clinical outcome through a multivariate analysis of an observational cohort study with the aim to define what is the optimal clinico-therapeutic management.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study on all consecutive patients observed in our Institute in a period of 13 years; from 2001 to 2014 we enrolled 50 consecutive patients with symptomatic spontaneous spinal infections (no previous surgery or recent infection in other site), confirmed with diagnostic imaging.