Return to Work Following Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Percutaneous Posterior Pedicle Fixation: A Retrospective Analysis from Two Academic Centers in Germany.

Return to work after spinal surgery is a crucial factor in the recovery process. It can contribute not only to physical rehabilitation but also to psychological well-being. This study aims to evaluate the rate of return to work following elective lumbar spine surgery and identify predictors that predict failure of return to work.

candidemia in children admitted to a tertiary hospital in Turkey: clinical features and antifungal susceptibility.

Unlabelled: In recent years, the incidence and drug resistance of have increased. Our study aimed to determine the antifungal sensitivity of and the clinical and demographic characteristics of children with candidemia. Two hundred pediatric patients with candidemia were included in the study between 1 January 2010 and 1 August 2023.

Comparison of head positioning using the Mayfield skull clamp versus padded headrest in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a commonly implemented surgical intervention for a variety of pathologies affecting the cervical spine. The current literature and daily practice reveal variations on patient head positioning for this procedure with both rigid fixations in the Mayfield skull clamp as well as use of a padded headrest being used. In this study, we therefore examine whether patients undergoing surgery using head positioning in the Mayfield skull clamp versus a padded headrest differ in regard to adverse events, surgical parameters and clinical outcome.

From the Oral Cavity to the Spine: Prevalence of Oral Cavity Infections in Patients with Pyogenic Spinal Infection.

Background incidence of pyogenic spinal infections has increased in recent years. In addition to treating the spinal infection, optimal care also includes identifying the source of the pyogenic spinal infection and the presence of other infections. The aim of this study is to elucidate the prevalence of oral cavity infection (OCI) within this patient cohort.

Effectiveness of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) for patients with cranial infection.

Objective: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is a well-established and cost-effective method for improving the efficient use of healthcare resources. However, only a few centres in Germany perform it. Here we analysed OPAT for the treatment of patients with cranial infections in our neurosurgical department.

Increased Body Mass Index Correlates with Less Favorable Postoperative Outcomes After Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with high morbidity. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) has become a novel (neuro-) surgical treatment strategy for obstructive sleep apnea, demonstrating good success rates. Beyond predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, no precise data are available, enabling individual preoperative risk assessment.

Surgical management and clinical outcome of cervical, thoracic and thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis in a middle-European adult population.

Spinal tuberculosis is due to globalization no longer a disease limited to developing nations. It remains in Germany a rarity and still a difficult diagnosis. Here we analyzed patients with spinal tuberculosis treated at our neurosurgical department.

The Beneficial Effect of Preoperative Exercise on Postoperative Clinical Outcome, Quality of Life and Return to Work after Microsurgical Resection of Spinal Meningiomas.

Objective: While outcomes of surgical treatment for spinal meningiomas are well-described within the literature, factors affecting early return to work as well as long-term health related quality of life remain unclear.

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with spinal meningioma and surgical treatment from two university-level neurosurgical institutions between 2008 and 2021 were analyzed. Time to return to work, physical activities and long-term health related quality of life (assessed by telephone interviews using the EQ-5D-5L health status measure and visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) were analyzed.

Safety and feasibility of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy for patients with spinal infection.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is a cost-effective method of administering intravenous antimicrobial therapy. Although OPAT is well established in the UK and US healthcare systems, few centres in Europe perform it. Here we analysed OPAT for the treatment of patients with spinal infections at our institution.

Cardiac effects of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: One-year follow-up.

Aim: Cardiovascular involvement is common among children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) and can cause shock and death. In this study, we evaluated the early and long-term cardiac effects of MIS-C.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, we included all children treated for MIS-C from October 2020 to November 2021 in the Department of Paediatric Infectious Disease at Cukurova University School of Medicine Hospital.

vHIT results with the synapsis system according to clinicians' dominant hand use.

Background/objective: There exists limited information in the literature on dominant hand preference in relation with vHIT applications. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between the clinician's dominant use of right- or left-hand and vHIT results.

Methods: A Synapsys vHIT Ulmer device was used in the study.

Reappraisal of Intracerebral Hemorrhages and Intracerebral Hemorrhage Grading Scale Score in Surgically and Medically Managed Cerebellar Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background: As compared with supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH), bleeds that occur within the cerebellum require special consideration given the nature of the posterior fossa.

Objective: To validate ICH and ICH grading scale (ICH-GS) scores in patients with cerebellar hemorrhage and examine the outcomes of patients managed surgically as compared with those who underwent conservative treatment.

Methods: This observational multicenter study included 475 patients with cerebellar hemorrhage from 9 different neurosurgical departments in Germany between 2005 and 2021.

Recurrence from the Spinal Region of the Patient Whose Treatment Was Completed with Liver and Lung Cystic Echinococcosis: A Rare Pediatric Case of Spinal Cystic Echinococcosis.

Cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by the Echinococcus tapeworm. The disease can often affect organs such as the liver and lungs, muscles, bones, kidneys, brain, and spleen. Spinal cystic echinococcosis has been reported very rarely in the literature.

Does Recurrence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) after Complete Division of the Transverse Ligament Really Exist?

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) after complete and sufficient division of the transverse ligament really exists. Another goal was to analyze the underlying reasons for recurrent CTS operated on in our department. Over an observation period of eleven years, 156 patients underwent surgical intervention due to CTS.

Functional outcome and morbidity after microsurgical resection of spinal meningiomas.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate functional outcome, surgical morbidity, and factors that affect outcomes of surgically treated patients.

Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent microsurgical resection for spinal meningiomas between 2009 and 2020. Patient data and potential variables were collected and evaluated consecutively.

Impact of Comorbidities and Frailty on Early Shunt Failure in Geriatric Patients With Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

Older patients are considered to bear a higher perioperative risk. Since idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) predominantly concerns older patients, identifying risk factors for early shunt failure for preoperative risk/benefit assessment is indispensable for indication and/or consultation of patients for ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS). We performed a retrospective study design, including data acquired from two university hospital neurosurgical institutions between 2012 and 2019.

Academic output of German neurosurgical residents in 35 academic neurosurgery residency programs.

Background: The scientific activity of neurosurgeons and neurosurgery residents as measured by bibliometric parameters is of increased interest. While data about academic output for neurosurgeons in the USA, the UK, and Canada have been published, no similar results for German neurosurgical residents exist. Within this study, we aim to evaluate the academic output of German neurosurgery residents in 35 academic residency programs.

Thromboembolic infarction caused by an unknown patent foramen ovale 30 years after VA shunt insertion: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Ventriculoatrial shunt (VA) insertion is one of the possible surgical procedures to treat hydrocephalus. However, it is also associated with several complications such as obstruction and shunt infection as well as life-threatening complications like intraatrial thrombus or thrombosis on the distal catheter. In this case report, we share a rare case of a patient with a VA shunt, who was admitted to our hospital with a stroke.

Reliability and Validity Study of the Turkish Version of Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale for Healthy Behaviors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate adaptation, validity, and reliability of the Turkish version of the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale for Healthy Behaviors (CASSS-HB).

Methods: The CASSS-HB was translated using translation and back-translation. This was a methodological study conducted with 860 students (11-14 years old).