Comparative Anatomic Study Between Intradural Suboccipital Retrosigmoid and Extradural Transzygomatic Middle Fossa Approaches to Expose the Trigeminal Nerve.

Background: Meckel cave tumors are relatively rare, especially trigeminal nerve (TN) schwannomas. These tumors frequently project through the trigeminal pore, occupying the middle and posterior fossae. The most used routes to this region are the suboccipital retrosigmoid intradural approach (SORSA) and the transzygomatic middle fossa approach (TZMFA).

Absence of the superior petrosal veins and sinus: Surgical considerations.

Background: The superior petrosal vein, one of the most constant and largest drainage pathways in the posterior fossa, may result in complications if occluded. This study calls attention to a unique variant in which the superior petrosal veins and sinus were absent unilaterally, and the venous drainage was through the galenic and tentorial drainage groups.

Methods: This study examines one venogram and another anatomic specimen in which the superior petrosal vein and sinus were absent.

Head positioning for anterior circulation aneurysms microsurgery.

Objective: To study the ideal patient's head positioning for the anterior circulation aneurysms microsurgery.

Method: We divided the study in two parts. Firstly, 10 fresh cadaveric heads were positioned and dissected in order to ideally expose the anterior circulation aneurysm sites.

Trends in the mortality of non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in Colombia: a 10-year analysis of a nationwide registry.

Objective: To assess trends in mortality from 1999 to 2008 resulting from non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the Colombian population.

Method: This population-based study analyzed all deaths by assuming a Poisson model.

Results: Subarachnoid hemorrhage-related deaths showed a statistically significant increase of 1.

Quality of life in adult intradural primary spinal tumors: 36-Item Short Form Health Survey correlation with McCormick and Aminoff-Logue scales.

Object: The most appropriate method to determine the quality of life of patients with intradural primary spinal tumors (IPSTs) is not still well established.

Methods: Clinical data in 234 patients who underwent surgery for intradural spinal disease were collected prospectively. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), a generic score scale, was administered to 148 patients with IPSTs to demonstrate if the survey can be used to effectively evaluate these patients.

Role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy and ventriculoperitoneal shunt in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: preliminary results of a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Currently, the most common treatment for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) is a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS), generally with programmable valve implantation. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is another treatment option, and it does not require prosthesis implantation.

Objective: To compare the functional neurological outcome in patients after 12 months of treatment with INPH by using 2 different techniques: ETV or VPS.

Intraoperative ultrasonography for presumed brain metastases: a case series study.

Unlabelled: Brain metastases (BM) are one of the most common intracranial tumors and surgical treatment can improve both the functional outcomes and patient survival, particularly when systemic disease is controlled. Image-guided BM resection using intraoperative exams, such as intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS), can lead to better surgical results.

Methods: To evaluate the use of IOUS for BM resection, 20 consecutive patients were operated using IOUS to locate tumors, identify their anatomical relationships and surgical cavity after resection.

Use of low intensity laser treatment in neuropathic pain refractory to clinical treatment in amputation stumps.

Debilitating stump pain following amputation surgery is a major problem when it affects the patient's quality of life, often making the patient totally dependent on others for their day-to-day care. Attempts have been made to treat those patients through pharmacological, psychological, and physical therapies, but in many cases these fail to relieve the pain. This article focuses on three patients with chronic, intense, and debilitating stump pain who were previously treated with pain medications, but with little success.

Spinal cord compression.

Malignant epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) remains a common neuro-oncologic emergency with high associated morbidity. Despite widespread availability of MRI, the diagnosis frequently goes unmade until myelopathy supervenes, which is unfortunate because the strongest predictor of neurologic outcome with treatment is the neurologic status when treatment is initiated. Once the diagnosis of MESCC is suspected, patients with neurologic deficits should be started on high-dose corticosteroids (eg, dexamethasone, 10-100 mg intravenously, followed by 16 to 100 mg/d in divided doses).

Permanent anosmia and ageusia after resection of a left temporoinsular low-grade glioma: anatomofunctional considerations.

Five percent of the general population has olfactory or gustatory disorders, although most do not complain about it. However, in some cases, these symptoms can be disabling and may affect quality of life. Anosmia was reported as a possible complication following head injury and neurosurgical procedures, particularly after the resection of tumors located in the anterior fossa and the treatment of aneurysms in the anterior circulation.