Cecal perforation: A rare complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Hydrocephalus can be the result of an infection, obstruction, impaired reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or an abnormal increase in CSF. Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is the gold standard treatment for hydrocephalus despite its high rate of complications, including catheter obstruction and infection. Spontaneous cecal perforation by a VP shunt is extremely rare.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion: comparison of single intervertebral cage and single side pedicle screw fixation versus bilateral cages and screw fixation.

Introduction: The efficacy and economy of an alternative sparing method for posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using a single cage fixed with pedicle screws placed on a single side (SS group, n=22) was compared to that of a standard bilateral protocol using two cages and pedicle screws placed bilaterally (BL group, n=15).

Methods: All PLIFs were non-compensation cases done at a single level by a single surgeon and were similar in most background characteristics. Significant differences were not found between the two groups in fusion rates, complications or in 2-year prospectively collected outcomes including percent improvement in back and leg pain (visual analog scales) and the Oswestry disability index.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with implantable titanium cage: initial impressions, patient outcomes and comparison to fusion with allograft.

Background Context: The use of metal cage prosthetic devices in anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) has increased rapidly. One of these devices is the titanium Rabea cage (Signus, Alzenau, Germany) [correction]. There are no peer-reviewed objective reports on the use of these cages in cervical discectomy.

Endoscopic endonasal hemisphenoidotomy for resection of pituitary lesions confined to the sella: report of 3 cases and technical note.

The authors report use of a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, unilateral endonasal hemisphenoidotomy, for removal of lesions contained in the sella. The entire procedure was performed through a single nostril with the use of an endoscope. A unilateral endonasal hemisphenoidotomy (1.

Endoscopic resection of pituitary lesions through the nostril.

The endoscope has been used in paranasal sinus surgery for many years. More recently, cooperation between neurosurgeons and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons has resulted in an extension of use of the endoscope to resection of lesions in the sella turcica region. The procedure described herein involves insertion of the endoscope and surgical instruments through one nostril to provide improved visualization of the pituitary gland and an economy of perioperative trauma.