Cirq Robotic Assistance for Thoracolumbar Pedicle Screw Placement: Overcoming the Disadvantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery.

Introduction: Various minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) techniques have been developed with the goal of reducing approach-related soft-tissue trauma and its associated complications. However, there is still a debate on some of the potential drawbacks of MISS techniques, such as their longer operating times and increased intraoperative radiation. A solution to these disadvantages could be the implementation of new technologies, such as computer-assisted navigation (CAN) and surgical robotics.

Cirq® robotic assistance for thoracolumbar pedicle screw placement - feasibility, accuracy, and safety.

Introduction: New technologies providing higher degree of precision, less risk for damage and less harmful exposure to radiation are necessary for correct transpedicular screw trajectory, but their efficacy should be evaluated.

Research Question: Evaluate the feasibility, accuracy and safety of Brainlab Cirq® navigated robotic arm assistance for pedicle screw placement in comparison to fluoroscopic guidance.

Material And Methods: Group I "Cirq® robotic-assisted group" - 97 screws in 21 prospectively analyzed patients.

Bilateral posterior fracture - dislocation of the shoulders after epileptic seizure in patients with cerebral meningiomas. Triple E syndrome - Review of the literature.

Bilateral posterior fracture-dislocation of the shoulders is a very rare entity with an average rate of 0.6/100000 per year. It was first described in 1902 by Mynter.

Minimally Invasive Transpedicular Screw Fixation: Review of 152 Cases in a Single Institution. Steep or Shallow Learning Curve?

Background:  In this study, we analyze our institutional experience and personal impressions using minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) to describe our learning curve and how experience influenced different parameters of the surgical procedure.

Methods:  The study was conducted prospectively and included the first consecutive 152 patients treated with MISS techniques. Patient demographics, surgical data, length of hospital stay, and clinical outcome were reviewed.

Impact of surgical treatment on the performance status of patients with high-grade gliomas.

Objectives: The objective of our study is to evaluate the impact of neurosurgical operative treatment on the performance status assessed by the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) in patients with HGG for the first, for the second intervention and for the different age groups.

Methods: A group of 425 patients operated consecutively for high-grade gliomas were included in this study. The performance status was evaluated preoperatively and 15 days postoperatively with the KPS.

Delayed intraventricular hemorrhage in moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury: prevalence, associated risk factors, and prognosis.

Background: The presence of traumatic intraventricular hemorrhage (tIVH) on an admission CT scan is related to a worse outcome and increased mortality in patients with moderate and severe TBI. Currently, there is no available data regarding the predictive value of the appearance of tIVH as a delayed finding on follow-up CT scan. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, associated risk factors, and prognosis of delayed tIVH.

IDH1/IDH2 but not TP53 mutations predict prognosis in Bulgarian glioblastoma patients.

Mutations in genes encoding isocitrate dehydrogenase isoforms 1 (IDH1) and 2 (IDH2) have been associated with good prognosis for patients with brain neoplasias and have been commonly found together with mutated TP53 gene. To determine the prevalence of IDH1, IDH2, and TP53 mutations and their impact on overall survival 106 glioblastoma patients were analysed. IDH1 mutations were detected in 13 and IDH2 mutation in one patient.

Histone H1.0--a potential molecular marker with prognostic value for patients with malignant gliomas.

Background: Histones are proteins closely associated with the DNA molecules and serve as a structural scaffold for the organization of chromatin. They play an important role in the regulation of gene expression by changing the level of DNA compaction. The special subtype of the linker histone family-H1 zero (H1.

The premamillary artery--a microanatomical study.

Background: The microanatomical parameters of the premamillary artery (PMA) for the different configurations of the posterior communicating artery-adult (aPComA), hypoplastic (hPComA) and foetal (fPComA) were assessed and analysed. A comparative study with relevance to the neurosurgical practice has been carried out.

Method: Red-coloured latex was injected in 35 human cadaver brains and a microanatomical dissection was performed.

[Epidermoid cysts in the pineal region--analysis of four cases and review of the literature].

Epidermoid cysts represent 0.2-1% of all intracranial tumours. Extremely rare they are found in the pineal region.

[Distal aneurysm of the anterior carotid artery--case report and review of the literature].

Introduction: Aneurysms of the internal carotid artery (ICA)-anterior choroid artery (ACHA) are about 2-5% of all intracerebral aneurysms. The neck of the aneurysm typically engages both arteries. Aneurysms located on the ACHA itself without engaging the ICA present a rare pathology.

[Aneurysmal bone cyst of the 3th cervical vertebra: a case report and review of the literature].

Aneurysmal bone cysts of the cervical spine are rare. They account for 15% of all primitive tumors of the spine. The authors report the case of a 43-year-old man with an aneurysmal bone cyst in the body of the 3th cervical vertebra.

[Paget's disease as a cause for symptomatic basilar impression--a case report and review of the literature].

Introduction: We report a case of a 52-years old women with Paget's disease. A secondary symptomatic basilar impression was observed, causing quadriparesis, bulbar palsy and ataxia

Clinical Presentation: We report a case of a 52-year old woman with history of/periodic headache. In the last 6 months the complaints became more intensive and continuous.