The Correlation Between Paraspinal Muscular Morphology, Spinopelvic Parameters, and Back Pain: A Comparative Cohort Study.

Background: The relationship between paraspinal muscle degeneration and low back pain (LBP), disability, and structural changes has been investigated in the literature, but it is still a matter of debate. We differentiated paraspinal muscle magnetic resonance imaging by quality and quantity, focusing on fatty infiltration (FI) and paraspinal muscles cross-sectional area (CSA) from T12 to S1 in patients with and without chronic LBP. We aimed to determine whether paraspinal muscle quantity (CSA) and quality (FI) are positively associated with LBP or degenerative/spinopelvic changes in the spine.

Bibliographic Study and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes of Full-Endoscopic Spine Surgery for Painful Lumbar Spine Conditions.

Background: Full-endoscopic spine surgery (FESS) indications already cover degenerative, infectious, and neoplastic diseases. This study aimed to use a bibliometric search and meta-analysis of the highest-quality studies in the last 20 years to determine the quantity and quality of FESS research, geographic distribution, and the outcomes for lumbar conditions.

Methods: Articles on FESS published from 2000 to 2022 were screened and assessed through Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus.

Treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures: SpineJack posterior arthrodesis-comparison of clinical and radiological outcomes.

Background: Thoracolumbar fractures sometimes require anterior support and post-traumatic deformity correction. SpineJack proved favorable results in cadaveric and clinical studies, with satisfactory pain relief, vertebral height restoration, and low rates of above adjacent fractures, in neurologically intact fractures. We compared patients' clinical and radiological outcomes of thoracolumbar fractures treated either with posterior arthrodesis or SpineJack.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes and Adverse Events for Juxtafacet Cysts Treatment.

Background: Different procedures have been used for the treatment of lumbar juxtafacet cysts (JFCs). Recently, full-endoscopic cyst excision has been suggested as a reasonable alternative. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the overall rates of favorable outcomes and adverse events for each available treatment and determine the outcome and complication rates concerning spine stability.

Where the central canal begins: endoscopic in vivo description.

Objective: Although evidence and descriptions of the central canal (CC) along the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord have been provided by several anatomical and radiological studies, a clear picture and assessment of the opening of the CC, or apertura canalis centralis (ACC), into the fourth ventricle is lacking, due to its submillimetric size and hidden position in the calamus scriptorius.

Methods: The authors reviewed all of their cases in which patients underwent ventricular transaqueductal flexible endoscopic procedures and selected 44 cases in which an inspection of the region of the calamus scriptorius had been performed and was suitable for study inclusion. Patients were divided into different groups, based on the presence or absence of a chronic pathological process involving the fourth ventricle.

The extent of resection of T2-flair hyperintense area for eloquent glioblastomas: outcomes analysis between awake and general anesthesia patients.

Background: Maximum safe resection for eloquent areas glioblastomas (GBMs) is the greatest tumor resection achievable without causing neurological deficits. This study aims to assess, through quantitative volumetric analysis, the outcomes of patients with eloquent areas GBMs and correlate the extent of resection (EOR), based on MRI T1-contrast enhanced (CE) and T2- fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences, with patient outcomes and overall survival.

Methods: We prospectively collected and analyzed patients with a diagnosis of primary GBM located in an eloquent area operated between January 2012 and April 2018.

Homologous amniotic membrane as a dural substitute in decompressive craniectomies.

Introduction: A dura mater substitute in decompressive craniectomies must protect the brain while providing a dissection plane between the cortex and myocutaneous layer. The human amniotic membrane (AM) has anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and differentiation properties. We tested AM properties as a dural substitute by comparing the outcomes to biological ones.

Opto-chiasmatic apoplexy as a compartment syndrome? Anatomical and surgical considerations on two bleeding cavernous malformations.

Objective: Opto-chiasmatic (OC) cavernous malformations are sporadic lesions that are often misdiagnosed clinically and radiologically. Presenting symptoms range from incidental findings to the more frequent and dramatic "chiasmal apoplexy." The present study aims to evaluate the potential role of arachnoidal membranes of the basal cisterns in the onset of OC apoplexy.

Multifocal Medulloblastoma in an Adult Patient: Description of a Rare Presentation and Review of the Literature.

Medulloblastoma is an embryonal neuroepithelial tumor that affects mainly childhood and more rarely adults. Medulloblastoma occurring as multiple nodules at diagnosis is a rare and tricky presentation. Here, we describe the case of a previously healthy 47-year-old woman with multiple posterior fossa cerebellar tumors.

A light on the dark side: in vivo endoscopic anatomy of the posterior third ventricle and its variations in hydrocephalus.

Objective: Despite the technological advancements of neurosurgery, the posterior part of the third ventricle has always been the "dark side" of the ventricle. However, flexible endoscopy offers the opportunity for a direct, in vivo inspection and detailed description of the posterior third ventricle in physiological and pathological conditions. The purposes of this study were to describe the posterior wall of the third ventricle, detailing its normal anatomy and surgical landmarks, and to assess the effect of chronic hydrocephalus on the anatomy of this hidden region.

A review of solitary fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytoma tumor and a comparison of risk factors for recurrence, metastases, and death among patients with spinal and intracranial tumors.

Meningeal solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) and hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) had been combined into a single classification until 2016. Recurrence and metastases rates are still understudied, especially for spinal SFT/HPCs. Here, we describe CNS SFT/HPCs and predictors for recurrence, metastases, and death, in spinal and intracranial SFT/HPCs, separately.

New perspectives in the endoscopic treatment of brain purulent collections: targets, techniques, results in a case series, and overview of the literature.

Background: Purulent intracranial infections are threatening conditions. Different surgical approaches have been described, respecting the rationale of evacuating the fluid component of the purulent collection. Emerging evidence supports the use of the endoscope for the treatment of cerebral abscesses and subdural empyemas; especially the peculiarities of flexible endoscopes could potentially offer a more effective and conclusive management as compared with the drainage through catheters.

Classification of orbitocranial wooden foreign body penetration injuries: what to do when they violate the intracranial space? A systematic review.

Introduction: Orbitocranial wooden foreign body (OWF) penetrations are rare but challenging occurrences that may violate the intracranial space resulting in brain damage and hemorrhagic, as well as infectious, complications. Moreover, there is a specific subset of cases of OWF penetrations that are particularly challenging to treat. Although there are well-defined management guidelines for pure intraorbital localization, there is not yet a defined treatment protocol for foreign bodies reaching the intracranial space.

Over ten years overall survival in glioblastoma: A different disease?

Purpose: The reasons why a specific subset of glioblastoma (GBM) patients survive longer than others is still unclear. This study analyzed a cohort of long-term and very-long-term GBM survivors to determine which genetic alterations or patient's characteristics influence survival time.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of GBM patients treated at our institution over the last 20 years, stratifying patients in three groups: those with a survival time ≥ 36 months and < 120 months (LTS), ≥120 months (VLTS), and < 36 months, respectively.

Prone versus sitting position in pediatric low-grade posterior fossa tumors.

Purpose: The choice between sitting and prone position to access the infratentorial space in a suboccipital craniotomy is still a matter of debate. The comparisons in terms of complications and outcome of both positions are scarce, and the pediatric population is indeed more infrequent in these in scientific reviews. In this paper, we assess intraoperative and postoperative complications and neurological outcome in pediatric patients undergoing posterior cranial fossa surgery for pilocytic astrocytoma in sitting and prone position respectively.

Homologous cryopreserved amniotic membrane in the repair of myelomeningocele: preliminary experience.

Objective: Surgical management of spinal dysraphism often requires the use of dural substitutes. Amniotic membrane (AM) has drawn the interest of clinicians for its valuable concentration of cytokines and factors capable of promoting wound healing, re-epithelialization, inhibiting fibrosis and regulating angiogenesis. These beneficial qualities could make AM an interesting dural substitute for spina bifida repair.

Osteoblastoma Mimicking an Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Syndrome.

Osteoblastomas are rare, benign bone tumors mainly arising from the long bones and the posterior vertebral arches. Skull localizations account for approximately 15% of cases. A total amount of thirty cases involving the temporal bone are reported in the literature.

Spindle cell oncocytoma: Report of two cases with massive bleeding and review of the literature.

Spindle cell oncocytoma (SCO) is a rare pituitary tumor, classified as a WHO grade I neoplasm. Due to its rarity, SCO is often preoperatively misdiagnosed as a pituitary macroadenoma. In the present study we report two recent cases of SCO, a 61-year-old male and a 65-year-old female presenting at Treviso General Hospital between March 2014 and April 2015.

Carbon dioxide field flooding reduces the hemodynamic effects of venous air embolism occurring in the sitting position.

Purpose: Although the utility of the sitting position is undisputed for biomechanical and ergonomic reasons, it has been debated in recent years for its risks, particularly venous air embolism (VAE). In order to reduce the hemodynamic effect of VAE, we changed the composition of the surgical field air partially replacing nitrogen with carbon dioxide (CO2) that better dissolves in human tissues.

Methods: First, we tested our method on a test dummy in the sitting position.

Anaplastic ependymoma of the third ventricle.

Supratentorial ependymomas are rare, especially in the third ventricle. We report the case of an ependymoma of the posterior third ventricle that was endoscopically removed just by aspiration through a flexible scope. Histologically, beside the typical pattern of growth with perivascular pseudorosettes, the tumor featured hypercellular areas with more than 10 mitoses per 10 high-power fields, consistent with grade III-anaplastic tumor.

Prognostic value of somatosensory-evoked potentials and CT scan evaluation in acute traumatic brain injury.

Background: The aim of this study is to assess whether a complete analysis of all early cortical somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) components and computed tomography (CT) scan features can provide a better prognostic measure than the early cortical component N20/P25 alone, in patients with severe head injury.

Materials And Methods: We studied 81 consecutive patients admitted to intensive care unit with diagnosis of severe head injury. All patients underwent neurophysiological assessment with SEPs and electroencephalography within the first 6 days after trauma.

The marionette technique for treatment of isolated fourth ventricle: technical note.

Isolated fourth ventricle is not uncommon in complex posthemorrhagic or postinfectious hydrocephalus. When the condition is symptomatic, the current surgical treatment is endoscopic aqueductoplasty, followed by endoscope-assisted placement of a catheter in the fourth ventricle. The authors suggest a very simple method of steering the tip of standard ventricular catheters by using materials commonly available in all operating rooms.

Gliomas of the pineal region.

Although several series of pineal region tumors are available, the issue of pineal gliomas has been scarcely faced in the literature. Gliomas are usually included in largest series of pineal neoplasms. Therefore, whether pineal gliomas share the biological behavior of either hemispheric gliomas or other midline lesions is not yet defined.

Neuroendoscopic aspiration of tumors in the posterior third ventricle and aqueduct lumen: a technical update.

Background: Small soft ventricular tumors are good candidates for complete removal by a purely endoscopic technique. This approach is particularly interesting for lesions located in the posterior third ventricle and aqueductal lumen.

Methods: We present our method of endoscospic aspiration through direct contact between the tumor and the working channel of a flexible scope.

External ventricular drainage alone versus endoscopic surgery for severe intraventricular hemorrhage: a comparative retrospective analysis on outcome and shunt dependency.

Object: Massive intraventricular hemorrhages (IVHs) require aggressive and rapid management to decrease intracranial hypertension, because the amount of intraventricular blood is a strong negative prognostic predictor on outcome. Neuroendoscopy may offer some advantages over more traditional surgical approaches on outcome and may decrease the number of shunt procedures that need to be performed.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological data in 96 patients treated for massive IVH who were admitted between January 1996 and June 2008 to the neurosurgery unit after undergoing emergency CT scanning.