Augmented Reality-Supported Rod Bending in Multilevel Spinal Fusion Using the ADVISE Software.

Background: One of the most common reasons for poor patient outcomes and revision surgery in spinal fusion is hardware failure. Screw loosening or pullout occurs in up to one-quarter of all cases. It is known that even small screw-rod misalignments can cause significant mechanical overloads during rod fixation, which can result in hardware failure.

The role of intraoperative microelectrode recording and stimulation in subthalamic lead placement for Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Intraoperative microelectrode recording (MER) and test-stimulation are regarded as the gold standard for proper placement of subthalamic (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes in Parkinson's disease (PD), requiring the patient to be awake during the procedure. In accordance with good clinical practice, most attending neurologists will request the clinically most efficacious trajectory for definite lead placement. However, the necessity of microelectrode-test-stimulation is disputed, as it may limit the access to DBS therapy, excluding those not willing or incapable of undergoing awake surgery.

Predictors of ventricular tension pneumocephalus after posterior fossa surgery in the sitting position.

Background: Ventricular pneumocephalus is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of cranial surgery in the sitting position.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the incidence and risk factors of postoperative ventricular pneumocephalus.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 307 consecutive patients (147 men, 160 women) treated at our institution by intracranial surgery in the sitting position from January 2010 to October 2014.

Asphyxia due to laryngeal spasm as a severe complication of awake deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease: a case report.

Background: In accordance with German neurosurgical and neurological consensus recommendations, lead placements for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are usually performed with the patient awake and in "medication off" state. This allows for optimal lead position adjustment according to the clinical response to intraoperative test stimulation. However, exacerbation of Parkinsonian symptoms after withdrawal of dopaminergic medication may endanger the patient by inducing severe "off" state motor phenomena.

Contrast-enhanced shunt series ("shuntography") compare favorably to other shunt imaging modalities in detecting shunt occlusion.

Background: Obstruction is a common cause of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt failure. Head computed tomography and plain x-ray examinations of shunt tubing ("shunt series") are routinely used in patients readmitted for reemerging symptoms but are of limited value. The validity of shunt series can be improved by applying contrast agent into the system (contrast-enhanced shunt series, a.

Enlightening the Cerebellopontine Angle: Intraoperative Indocyanine Green Angiography in Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia.

In microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve for trigeminal neuralgia (TN), the site of conflict is occasionally difficult to identify. Endoscopy has been described to better evaluate the anatomical conflict in such situations. We hypothesized that indocyanine green (ICG) angiography could allow for better visualization of the compressing artery and its anatomical relation to the nerve.

Use of closed suction devices and other drains in spinal surgery: results of an online, Germany-wide questionnaire.

Purpose: The risks of drains in spine surgery (e.g., increasing venous plexus bleeding, maintaining CSF leakage, and infections) must be balanced with their benefits (e.

Unnecessary dental procedures as a consequence of trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a disorder characterized by repetitive lancinating pain along one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve and is commonly triggered by chewing and manipulation of the gums. The second and third divisions are most commonly affected. Due to these symptoms, patients are likely to consult their local dentist when symptoms first develop and may receive further dental evaluation and treatment before they are referred to a neurologist or neurosurgeon.

Outcome after microsurgery for meningiomas involving the internal auditory canal.

Background: The subset of patients suffering from meningiomas truly originating in or extending into the internal auditory canal is not well described in the literature.

Objective: To evaluate postoperative facial motor and hearing outcomes in patients undergoing resection of meningiomas originating in or extending into the internal auditory canal.

Methods: Chart reviews were done of 19 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for meningiomas originating in or extending into the internal auditory canal at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, with emphasis on clinical exam and audiometry.

Spontaneous regression of vestibular schwannomas after resection of contralateral tumor in neurofibromatosis Type 2.

The authors report on 2 patients with bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) who underwent unilateral surgical tumor removal. One patient was followed up for 4 years, the other for 9; in both cases, the contralateral VS regressed markedly without any additional treatment during the follow-up period. Serial MR imaging was performed to monitor the untreated tumor, which in both cases involved the only hearing ear.

Bilateral basal ganglia infarction following resection of a right parietal parasagittal dural tumour requiring sinus repair -- an atypical complication of an atypical venous drainage.

The case of a 68-year old woman who underwent surgery for a right parietal parasagittal dural tumour is reported. In the preoperative angiography the straight sinus failed to show. During tumour resection the lateral wall of the parietal superior sagittal sinus was opened and reconstructed.

Intracavitary chemotherapy (paclitaxel/carboplatin liquid crystalline cubic phases) for recurrent glioblastoma -- clinical observations.

Human malignant brain tumors have a poor prognosis in spite of surgery and radiation therapy. Cubic phases consist of curved biocontinuous lipid bilayers, separating two congruent networks of water channels. Used as a host for cytotoxic drugs, the gel-like matrix can easily be applied to the walls of a surgical resection cavity.

Local chemotherapy of F98 rat glioblastoma with paclitaxel and carboplatin embedded in liquid crystalline cubic phases.

Implanted drug carrier systems for retarded chemotherapy against gliomas are mainly based upon polymers containing nitrosoureas. The authors have developed an intracavitary carrier system of biodegradable liquid crystalline cubic phases encapsulating carboplatin and paclitaxel and studied it for release kinetics, antitumor activity, and survival prolongation. A total of 61 Fisher rats with F98 tumors were divided into six treatment groups at day 12 post-inoculation, receiving either no treatment, surgery with partial tumor resection, or partial resection with implantation of cubic phases containing either paclitaxel and carboplatin, paclitaxel alone, carboplatin alone, or no drug.