Postnatal myelomeningocele closure in smallest reported neonate: illustrative case.

Background: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is the most serious form of spina bifida, a congenital defect in neural tube development. Defect closure in a patient with an extremely low birth weight presents unique challenges and risks; lower birth weight is associated with multiple organ system concerns, homeostasis is difficult, and local tissue is underdeveloped. To the authors' knowledge, the present case is the lowest reported weight (490 g) for a neonate with postnatal MMC repair.

Pterygoid venous plexus anastomosis in trigeminal percutaneous glycerol rhizotomy: illustrative case.

Background: Percutaneous glycerol rhizotomy (PGR) is a common, effective, and relatively safe treatment for trigeminal neuralgia that is refractory to medical management. Anastomotic skull base venous anatomy should be considered when delivering percutaneous agents.

Observations: The authors report an anastomotic connection, not previously described in the literature, between the bilateral pterygoid venous plexuses upon air injection during PGR with computed tomography (CT) guidance for trigeminal neuralgia.

Early tracheostomy in patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke.

Purpose: Respiratory failure following mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a known complication, and requirement of tracheostomy is associated with worse outcomes. Our objective is to evaluate characteristics associated with tracheostomy timing in AIS patients treated with MT.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was queried for adult patients treated with MT for AIS from 2016 to 2019.

Transient internuclear ophthalmoplegia following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Background: Internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO), characterized by impaired horizontal eye movement, occurred following an anterior cervical discectomy/fusions (ACDF).

Case Description: A 48-year-old female with recurrent C5-6 foraminal stenosis presented with right C6 radiculopathy. She underwent a C5-6 ACDF, but postoperatively, complained of diplopia.