Infrared neural stimulation of human spinal nerve roots in vivo.

Infrared neural stimulation (INS) is a neurostimulation modality that uses pulsed infrared light to evoke artifact-free, spatially precise neural activity with a noncontact interface; however, the technique has not been demonstrated in humans. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of INS in humans in vivo. The feasibility of INS in humans was assessed in patients ([Formula: see text]) undergoing selective dorsal root rhizotomy, where hyperactive dorsal roots, identified for transection, were stimulated in vivo with INS on two to three sites per nerve with electromyogram recordings acquired throughout the stimulation.

Repairing Fetal Membranes with a Self-adhesive Ultrathin Polymeric Film: Evaluation in Mid-gestational Rabbit Model.

Preterm premature rupture of membranes causes 40% of all preterm births, affecting 150000 women each year in the United States. Prenatal diagnostic procedures and surgical interventions increase incidence of adverse events, leading to iatrogenic membrane rupture after a fetoscopic procedure in 45% of cases. We propose an ultrathin, self-adherent, poly-L-lactic acid patch ("nanofilm") as a reparative wound closure after endoscopic/fetoscopic procedures.

Reducing perinatal complications and preterm delivery for patients undergoing in utero closure of fetal myelomeningocele: further modifications to the multidisciplinary surgical technique.

Unlabelled: OBJECT.: As more pediatric neurosurgeons become involved with fetal myelomeningocele closure efforts, examining refined techniques in the overall surgical approach that could maximize beneficial outcomes becomes critical. The authors compared outcomes for patients who had undergone a modified technique with those for patients who had undergone fetal repair as part of the earlier Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS).

Effect of symptomatic pseudomeningocele on improvement in pain, disability, and quality of life following suboccipital decompression for adult Chiari malformation type I.

Object: Suboccipital decompression is a common procedure for patients with Chiari malformation Type I (CMI). Published studies have reported complication rates ranging from 3% to 40%, with pseudomeningocele being one of the most common complications. To date, there are no studies assessing the effect of this complication on long-term outcome.

A randomized trial of prenatal versus postnatal repair of myelomeningocele.

Background: Prenatal repair of myelomeningocele, the most common form of spina bifida, may result in better neurologic function than repair deferred until after delivery. We compared outcomes of in utero repair with standard postnatal repair.

Methods: We randomly assigned eligible women to undergo either prenatal surgery before 26 weeks of gestation or standard postnatal repair.

CT-based, fiducial-free frameless stereotaxy for difficult ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion: experience in 26 consecutive patients.

Background: Patients with small or dysmorphic ventricles requiring ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion for hydrocephalus can be challenging. The 'freehand' technique does not always provide for accurate catheter insertion, particularly in patients with slit ventricles, complex hydrocephalus or displaced ventricles. Consequently, many surgeons use stereotaxy for assistance.

Myelomeningocele: prenatal evaluation--comparison between transabdominal US and MR imaging.

Purpose: To compare transabdominal ultrasonography (US) with fetal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the prenatal evaluation of myelomeningocele lesion level.

Materials And Methods: Prenatal US images, pre- and postnatal MR images, and postnatal spinal radiographs obtained in the first 100 fetuses who underwent intrauterine myelomeningocele repair were the basis for this study. Each image was used to assign a lesion level.

Robot-assisted endoscopic intrauterine myelomeningocele repair: a feasibility study.

Background: Animal experiments have suggested that the intrauterine environment causes secondary injury to the congenitally dysplastic spinal cord. This in turn suggests that early closure of the myelomeningocele sac might prevent secondary injury and therefore improve neurologic outcome. This study was designed to examine the technical feasibility of performing intrauterine myelomeningocele repair using a robot-assisted endoscopic system in an animal model.