Background Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) may be complicated by intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and hydrocephalus, which can require the placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). ICH and IVH risk scores using radiographic and clinical characteristics have been developed but utilization for assessment of future need for VPS placement is limited. Methods This is a single-institution retrospective review for patients with primary ICH with IVH from 2018-2020.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction Vasospasm is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The purpose of this study is to evaluate a possible link between vasospasm in patients with aneurysmal SAH and magnesium and blood pressure levels. Methods Subjects were selected based on chart review of patients presenting to a comprehensive stroke center in Southern California with aneurysmal SAH.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSurg Neurol Int
December 2021
Background: Pneumorrhachis (PNR) is the presence of air within the spinal canal and may be either intramedullary or extramedullary in location. The etiology is most commonly iatrogenic or traumatic in nature. Treatment is dependent on underlying cause and physical exam.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction Surgical specialties consistently remain among the most competitive residency and fellowship programs with some of the highest rates of unmatched applicants. Attrition in surgical specialties is as high as 30% and particularly problematic given the extended duration of training and limited number of positions. Applicants are traditionally evaluated using a streamlined set of objective metrics, such as board scores, class rank, leadership, letters of recommendation, research productivity, and volunteerism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSimulators for surgical procedures and interventions have undergone significant technological advancement in the past decade and are becoming more commonplace in medical training. Neurosurgery residents across multiple training levels underwent performance evaluation using a neuro-interventional simulator, employing a variety of metrics for assessment. We identified seven core metrics used in the evaluation of neurosurgery residents performing simulated mechanical thrombectomies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS2-CoV-2) induced pandemic (COVID-19 pandemic) has affected healthcare in all aspects, including stroke care. We sought to investigate this effect with analysis of our hospital's stroke treatment protocols as well as stroke volume on state, regional, and national levels. Methods This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from our stroke registry to assess the impact of the SARS2-CoV-2 induced pandemic on the volume of stroke patients presenting to our facility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground Feedback in physician graduate medical education is not clearly defined. Some parties may view questioning as a form of feedback, others the conversations over lunch, some the comments in the operating room (OR), and still others the written evaluation at planned meetings. The lack of clarity in defining what constitutes feedback is concerning when this is considered a fundamental means of education to enhance practices and care for patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction The Journal of Neurosurgery (JNS) published its first volume in 1944 and has evolved into the top cited journal in the field of neurosurgery. The aim of this study was to determine and characterize the 100 most cited (based on the total number of citations) vs. most relevant (based on the number of citations per year) articles originating in JNS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Spinal Disord Tech
April 2007
Esophageal injury is a rare but serious complication occurring after anterior cervical spine surgery. Pharyngoesophageal, or Zenker, diverticulum is an acquired outpouching of the pharyngeal musculature just proximal to a functional esophageal stricture, clinically manifesting as dysphagia, aspiration, and weight loss. We report a case in which a patient developed a pharyngoesophageal diverticulum, accompanied by retropharyngeal abscess, first identified 2 years after a 3-level anterior cervical fusion with allograft and anterior plating.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective And Importance: Penetrating injuries of the cranium and spine are frequent to the civilian neurosurgical practice. Although a variety of unusual objects have been reported, to our knowledge, there has never been a craniocerebral or spinal injury caused by a fish. An unusual case of transoral penetration of the foramen magnum by a billed fish is described.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10, an autosomal dominant disease characterized by ataxia and seizures, is caused by a large expansion of an unstable ATTCT pentanucleotide repeat.
Objectives: To characterize the phenotypic expression of spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 and to examine the genotype-phenotype correlations in 2 large families.
Design: Clinical characterization and genotype-phenotype correlation.