Progression of Intracranial Hemorrhage After Chemical Prophylaxis Using Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury.

Introduction: Chemical prophylaxis using low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is considered a standard of care for venous thromboembolism in trauma patients. Our center performs a head computed tomography (CT) scan 24 hours after initiation with prophylactic LMWH in the setting of a known traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose was to determine the overall incidence of ICH progression after chemoprophylaxis in patients with a TBI.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on Closure of Myelomeningocele Within 48 Hours to Decrease Infection Risk.

Background: Appropriate timing for closure of myelomeningocele (MM) varies in the literature. Older studies present 48 h as the timeframe after which infection complication rates rise.

Objective: The objective of this guideline is to determine if closing the MM within 48 h decreases the risk of wound infection or ventriculitis.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Management of Patients With Myelomeningocele: Whether Prenatal or Postnatal Closure Affects Future Ambulatory Status.

Background: Myelomeningocele (MM) is an open neural tube defect treated by pediatric neurosurgeons with prenatal or postnatal closure.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to answer the question: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of prenatal vs postnatal closure of MM regarding short and long-term ambulatory status? Treatment recommendations were provided based on the available evidence.

Methods: The National Library of Medicine PubMed database and Embase were queried using MeSH headings and keywords relevant to ambulatory status after prenatal or postnatal closure of MM.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Incidence of Shunt-Dependent Hydrocephalus in Infants With Myelomeningocele After Prenatal Versus Postnatal Repair.

Background: Myelomeningocele (MM) is a condition that is responsible for considerable morbidity in the pediatric population. A significant proportion of the morbidity related to MM is attributable to hydrocephalus and the surgical management thereof. Postnatal repair remains the most common form of treatment; however, increased rates of prenatal diagnosis, advances in fetal surgery, and a hypothesis that neural injury continues in utero until the MM defect is repaired have led to the development and evaluation of prenatal surgery as a means to improve outcomes in afflicted infants.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines for Pediatric Myelomeningocele: Executive Summary.

Background: The incidence of spina bifida (SB) in the developing world is higher than in the United States because of malnutrition and folic acid deficiency during pregnancy. Advances in technology have made prenatal repair of myelomeningocele (MM) possible.

Objective: The objective of the guidelines are, (1) To create clinical recommendations for best practices, based on a systematic review and analysis of available literature, (2) to obtain multi-disciplinary endorsement of these guidelines from relevant organizations, and (3) to disseminate the educational content to physicians to improve the care of infants with MM.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Incidence of Tethered Cord Syndrome in Infants With Myelomeningocele With Prenatal Versus Postnatal Repair.

Background: The incidence of spina bifida (SB) is higher in the developing world as compared to the United States because of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy. Advances in technology have made prenatal repair of myelomeningocele (MM) possible.

Objective: The objective of this guideline was to determine if there is a difference in the rate of development of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) in infants who had prenatal closure compared to infants who had MM repair after birth.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Management of Patients With Myelomeningocele: Whether Persistent Ventriculomegaly Adversely Impacts Neurocognitive Development.

Background: Myelomeningocele (MM) is the most common congenital anomaly to affect the nervous system and affects 1500-2000 newborn infants per year in the United States. It is accompanied by symptomatic hydrocephalus in approximately 70%-80% of patients. Different treatment strategies for hydrocephalus characteristically result in different effects on the size of the ventricles.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Role of Cranial Molding Orthosis (Helmet) Therapy for Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly.

Background: No evidence-based guidelines exist on the role of cranial-molding orthosis (helmet) therapy for patients with positional plagiocephaly.

Objective: To address the clinical question: "Does helmet therapy provide effective treatment for positional plagiocephaly?" and to make treatment recommendations based on the available evidence.

Methods: The US National Library of Medicine Medline database and the Cochrane Library were queried by using MeSH headings and key words relevant to the objective of this systematic review.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Physical Therapy.

Background: Evidence-based guidelines are not currently available for the treatment of positional plagiocephaly and, in particular, for the use of physical therapy for treatment.

Objective: To answer the question: "does physical therapy provide effective treatment for positional plagiocephaly?" Treatment recommendations are created based on the available evidence.

Methods: The PubMed and the Cochrane Library were queried using MeSH headings and key words relevant to the objective of this systematic review.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Repositioning.

Background: Plagiocephaly, involving positional deformity of the calvarium in infants, is one of the most common reasons for pediatric neurosurgical consultation.

Objective: To answer the question: "what is the evidence for the effectiveness of repositioning for positional plagiocephaly?" Treatment recommendations are provided based on the available evidence.

Methods: The National Library of Medicine MEDLINE database and the Cochrane Library were queried using MeSH headings and key words relevant to repositioning as a means to treat plagiocephaly and brachycephaly.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline for the Diagnosis of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Imaging.

Background: No evidence-based guidelines exist for the imaging of patients with positional plagiocephaly.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review and evidence-based guideline is to answer the question, Is imaging necessary for infants with positional plagiocephaly to make a diagnosis?

Methods: The National Library of Medicine Medline database and the Cochrane Library were queried with the use of MeSH headings and key words relevant to imaging as a means to diagnose plagiocephaly. Abstracts were reviewed, and an evidentiary table was assembled summarizing the studies and the quality of evidence (Classes I-III).

Guidelines: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Role of Cranial Molding Orthosis (Helmet) Therapy for Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly.

Background: No evidence-based guidelines exist on the role of cranial-molding orthosis (helmet) therapy for patients with positional plagiocephaly.

Objective: To address the clinical question: "Does helmet therapy provide effective treatment for positional plagiocephaly?" and to make treatment recommendations based on the available evidence.

Methods: The US National Library of Medicine Medline database and the Cochrane Library were queried by using MeSH headings and key words relevant to the objective of this systematic review.

Guidelines: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Physical Therapy.

Background: Evidence-based guidelines are not currently available for the treatment of positional plagiocephaly and, in particular, for the use of physical therapy for treatment.

Objective: To answer the question: "does physical therapy provide effective treatment for positional plagiocephaly?" Treatment recommendations are created based on the available evidence.

Methods: The PubMed and the Cochrane Library were queried using MeSH headings and key words relevant to the objective of this systematic review.

Guidelines: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Repositioning.

Background: Plagiocephaly, involving positional deformity of the calvarium in infants, is one of the most common reasons for pediatric neurosurgical consultation.

Objective: To answer the question: "what is the evidence for the effectiveness of repositioning for positional plagiocephaly?" Treatment recommendations are provided based on the available evidence.

Methods: The National Library of Medicine MEDLINE database and the Cochrane Library were queried using MeSH headings and key words relevant to repositioning as a means to treat plagiocephaly and brachycephaly.

Guidelines: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline for the Diagnosis of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Imaging.

Background: No evidence-based guidelines exist for the imaging of patients with positional plagiocephaly.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review and evidence-based guideline is to answer the question, Is imaging necessary for infants with positional plagiocephaly to make a diagnosis?

Methods: The National Library of Medicine Medline database and the Cochrane Library were queried with the use of MeSH headings and key words relevant to imaging as a means to diagnose plagiocephaly. Abstracts were reviewed, and an evidentiary table was assembled summarizing the studies and the quality of evidence (Classes I-III).

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: Executive Summary.

Background: Positional plagiocephaly is a common problem seen by pediatricians, pediatric neurologists, and pediatric neurosurgeons.

Objective: To create evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of pediatric positional plagiocephaly.

Methods: This guideline was prepared by the Plagiocephaly Guideline Task Force, a multidisciplinary team made up of physician volunteers (clinical experts), medical librarians, and clinical guidelines specialists.