Effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on the cochlear nuclei after creation of a partial nerve lesion: an experimental study in rats.

OBJECTIVE The risk of injury of the cochlear nerve during angle (CPA) surgery is high. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been found in various experimental models of peripheral and CNS injury to have a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation. However, to the authors' knowledge, the influence of G-CSF on cochlear nerve regeneration has not been reported.

Influence of Prior Cervical Surgery on Surgical Outcome of Endoscopic Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy for Osseous Foraminal Stenosis.

Background: Posterior cervical foraminotomy is a valuable option as a treatment for cervical radiculopathy caused by osseous foraminal stenosis. Here the authors present their technique and results in a series of patients with and without previous surgery.

Methods: Forty-five patients suffering from cervical osseous foraminal stenosis were operated on via a microendoscopic posterior approach with the EasyGO system.

Endoscopic Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy as a Treatment for Osseous Foraminal Stenosis.

Background: Posterior cervical foraminotomy is a valuable treatment option for cervical radiculopathy. Here the authors present their technique and results in the treatment of a series of patients suffering from osseous foraminal stenosis.

Methods: Forty-three patients suffering from cervical osseous foraminal stenosis were operated on via a posterior approach with the EasyGO endoscopic system.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy: preoperative considerations and intraoperative strategy based on 300 procedures.

Purpose: Although successful endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been reported for many indications, peculiarities of the surgical technique in each separate indication require particular respect.

Methods: A detailed account of the authors' surgical technique, their presurgical considerations, and their intraoperative strategies to perform ETV is presented. Surgery of representative obstructive hydrocephalus cases in posterior fossa lesions (cerebellar infarction, posterior fossa tumor), in distortion of the ventricular system (intracranial hemorrhage, basilar artery aneurysm) and in membranous obstruction (aqueductal stenosis, posterior fossa malformation), is illustrated in detail.

Endoscopic transventricular third ventriculostomy through the lamina terminalis.

Object: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has become a well-accepted option for obstructive hydrocephalus. However, standard ventriculostomy at the floor of the third ventricle might not be feasible under certain conditions. Here, the authors report in detail on their initial experience with an alternative option of endoscopic ventriculostomy through the lamina terminalis via a transventricular route.

Endoscopic treatment of arachnoid cysts: a detailed account of surgical techniques and results.

Background: Surgical treatment of arachnoid cysts remains under debate. Although many authors favor endoscopic techniques, others attribute a higher recurrence rate to the endoscope.

Objective: The authors report their experience with endoscopic procedures for arachnoid cyst.

Near-infrared indocyanine green videoangiography versus microvascular Doppler sonography in aneurysm surgery.

Introduction: The quality of surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms is determined by complete aneurysm occlusion and restoration of flow in the parent, branching and perforating vessels. In postoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA), unexpected aneurysm residuals and vessel occlusions are frequently detected. Here, the value of two nearly noninvasive and cost-effective techniques for intraoperative flow evaluation (near-infrared indocyanine green video angiography (ICG-VA) and microvascular Doppler sonography (mDs)) is investigated in a prospective study.

Waterjet dissection in pediatric cranioplasty.

Object: Waterjet dissection has been shown to separate tissues of different resistance, with preservation of blood vessels. In cranioplasty, separation of subcutaneous tissue and dura mater is often difficult to achieve because the various tissue layers strongly adhere to each other after decompressive craniotomy. In the present study, the potential advantages and drawbacks of the waterjet technique in cranioplasty after craniectomy and duraplasty are addressed.

Chronic subdural hematoma--craniotomy versus burr hole trepanation.

The authors present a series of more than 200 surgical procedures for chronic subdural hematoma in a 5-year-period. Clinical presentation and neurosurgical treatment were regarded with a special focus on the surgical technique. Between March 2003 and July 2008, 193 patients (113 male and 80 female, mean age 72.

PEEK cage cervical ventral fusion in spondylodiscitis.

Purpose: Cervical spondylodiscitis is a quite rare finding regarding the number and the common location of spinal abscesses in the lumbar region. While in thoracic and lumbar discitis, single-step surgery with neural decompression, disc space evacuation, and subsequent fusion is well known, there is no such report in cervical discitis. Here the authors present their experience with ventral polyetherketone (PEEK) cage fusion in cervical spondylodiscitis in a single-step procedure.

German neuroendoscopy above the skull base.

Endoscopy plays an important part in current minimally invasive neurosurgery. The concepts, indications, and standards of current neuroendoscopy were developed in the beginning of the 1990s by several groups of neurosurgeons. Several factors contributed to its success and acceptance, including technical development, influence of other disciplines, and adaptation to neurosurgical requirements.

Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of far distal obstructive hydrocephalus.

Purpose: Obstruction of the CSF circulation distal to the fourth ventricle is a rare cause of noncommunicating hydrocephalus. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) represents one of the treatment options, but reports of results are rare.

Methods: Between March 1997 and June 2008, 20 ETVs in 20 patients (mean 32.

A new endoscopic spine system: the first results with "Easy GO".

Purpose: Endoscopy meets increasing interest by spine surgeons. However, endoscopic results are diverging and many spinal endoscopic systems are difficult to apply and handle.

Methods: A system for endoscopic spinal surgery was developed where the main goals were: (1) easy intraoperative handling with standard microsurgical techniques, and (2) avoidance of a prolonged learning curve.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for obstructive hydrocephalus due to intracranial hemorrhage with intraventricular extension.

Object Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is well accepted for obstructive hydrocephalus of various etiologies. Nevertheless, it is seldom considered in intracranial hemorrhage even in cases involving obstruction of the CSF circulation. Methods Between May 1993 and April 2008, 34 endoscopic procedures were performed for hemorrhage-related obstructive hydrocephalus with an intraventricular component.

Endoscopic options in children: experience with 134 procedures.

Object: There are frequent applications for endoscopy in neurosurgery. However, endoscopic surgery in children has peculiar characteristics and is associated with different rates of success. In this study, the authors report on their experience with 134 consecutive endoscopy procedures performed in 126 patients<18 years of age.

Endoscopic stomy of the septum pellucidum: indications, technique, and results.

Objective: Although endoscopic perforation of the septum pellucidum in obstruction of the foramen of Monro is well known, detailed reports on endoscopic septostomy, including surgical technique and results are lacking in the literature.

Methods: All intracranial endoscopic procedures performed between February 1993 and March 2008 were evaluated. All patients with blockage of the foramen of Monro that was treated with endoscopic septostomy were analyzed and prospectively followed.

Endoscopic cystoventriculostomy for treatment of paraxial arachnoid cysts.

Object: The optimal therapy of arachnoid cysts is controversial. In symptomatic extraventricular arachnoid cysts, fenestration into the basal cisterns is the gold standard. If this is not feasible, shunt placement is frequently performed although another endoscopic option is available.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in obstructive hydrocephalus due to giant basilar artery aneurysm.

OBSTRUCTIVE: hydrocephalus due to giant basilar artery (BA) aneurysm is a rare finding, and endoscopic treatment has not been reported. Here the authors present their experience with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in obstructive hydrocephalus due to giant BA aneurysm. Between December 2000 and March 2007, 3 patients (2 men and 1 woman; age range 32-80 years) underwent an ETV for the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus caused by a giant BA aneurysm.