Biportal Endoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation of the Sacroiliac Joint Complex in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Technical Note with 1-Year Follow-Up.

Background: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is a common source of low back pain. Previously reported management strategies for this pain include conservative treatment, SIJ injection, radiofrequency denervation ablation, and SIJ fusion. Herein, we describe the use of biportal endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (BERA) to treat patients with low back pain.

Use artificial neural network to recommend the lumbar spinal endoscopic surgical corridor.

Objectives: The transforaminal and interlaminar approaches are the two main surgical corridors of full endoscopic lumbar surgery. However, there are no quantifying methods for assessing the best surgical approach for each patient. This study aimed to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) model using an artificial neural network (ANN).

Ultrasound Guidance for Full Endoscopic Spinal Surgery: A Technical Note.

Background: The use of intraoperative ultrasound (IOU) has proven to be useful in spinal surgery. In this study, we present the techniques of applying IOU in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar full-endoscopic spine surgery (FESS).

Methods: For applying IOU in cervical FESS, first, we localize the surgical level by identifying the unique shape of C6 and C7 under ultrasound and then identify the cervical level subsequently.

Surgical outcomes of full endoscopic spinal surgery for lumbar disc herniation over a 10-year period: A retrospective study.

Objective: Full endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) has become popular in recent years. Previous studies have proven the efficacy, but few have discussed the possible risk factors of poor outcome. In this study, we reviewed patients who underwent FELD at Changhua Christian Hospital in the past 10 years and sought to identify factors associated with poor surgical outcomes and re-operations.

Symptomatic Lumbar Juxtafacet Cyst Treated by Full Endoscopic Surgery.

Background: Juxtafacet cysts (JFCs) include both synovial and ganglion cysts adjacent to a spinal facet joint or arising from the ligamentum flavum of the spinal facet joints. Various treatments have been proposed; however, a surgical approach appears to be most effective. The aim of this study was to review patients with lumbar JFCs treated using a full endoscopic approach and elaborate the details of the surgical routes and techniques and their merits and pitfalls.

Brain metastases in resected non-small cell lung cancer: The impact of different tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on the survival of brain metastases (BM) in patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We selected the patients who had developed metastatic NSCLC; analyzed the differences between brain metastases and other sites of metastases, including patient characteristics, EGFR status, and survival; and selected the patients who had BM for further investigation. We also compared the treatment effects of first-generation TKIs with those of second-/third-generation TKIs.

Spinal intramedullary tuberculoma following pulmonary tuberculosis: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Spinal intramedullary tuberculoma (IMTB) is a rare disease that accounts for 1 to 2/100,000 patients with tuberculosis. We presented a case with pulmonary tuberculosis and concurrent IMTB at C3 to C5 level and reviewed the recent case series and discussed the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.

Patient Concerns: A 33-year-old male had concurrent pulmonary TB and IMTB at the C3 to C5 level.

Outcome of colon cancer initially presenting as colon perforation and obstruction.

Background: Emergency complications of colon cancer include perforation and obstruction which were recognized as poor prognostic factors. Few studies have directly compared the outcomes of these two groups. In this study, we evaluated mortality and morbidity in patients with colon cancer initially presenting as perforation and obstruction.

Treating intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas with gamma knife radiosurgery: A single-center experience.

Objective: We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for the treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dural AVFs) over the past 10 years.

Materials And Methods: The records of 21 patients diagnosed with dural AVFs between 2004 and 2014 and treated with GKRS were reviewed retrospectively. Complete obliteration (CO) was defined as total symptom relief plus confirmation through magnetic resonance imaging or conventional angiography.

Effect of an Anterior Cingulotomy on Pain, Cognition, and Sensory Pathways.

Background: Anterior cingulotomy (AC) was originally used to treat patients with a psychiatric disorder, but it is also useful for treating patients with chronic intractable pain. We reviewed 24 patients at our hospital who underwent AC for chronic intractable pain to determine whether surgery influenced patient cognition and the pain circuit.

Methods: A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate patients' pain scale preoperatively, at 1 month and 3-6 months postoperatively, and at the final follow-up.