Implementation of an Automated Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage System for Early Mobilization in Neurosurgical Patients.

Background: Automated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage systems allow for the mobilization of patients with an external CSF drain. The aim of this study is to describe the implementation of an automated CSF drainage system in neurosurgical patients with external CSF drains.

Methods: A feasibility study was performed using an automated CSF drainage system (LiquoGuard7, Möller Medical GmbH, Fulda, Germany) in adult neurosurgical patients treated with external lumbar or external ventricular drains between December 2017 and June 2020.

Prevention of and dealing with poor performance: an interview study about how professional associations aim to support healthcare professionals.

Objective: To explore how professional associations of nine healthcare professions aim to support professionals to prevent and deal with poor performance.

Design: Qualitative interview study.

Setting: The Netherlands.

Getting back on track: a systematic review of the outcomes of remediation and rehabilitation programmes for healthcare professionals with performance concerns.

Objective: To provide an overview of the evidence regarding outcomes of remediation and rehabilitation programmes for healthcare professionals with performance concerns, and to explore if outcomes differ for specific concerns and professions.

Methods: A search in four databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL) was conducted from 1 January 1990 to 7 May 2017. Studies reporting on outcomes of nationwide and state-wide programmes aimed at remediation and rehabilitating healthcare professionals with performance concerns (ie, dentists, midwives, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists and psychotherapists) were included.

Tubular discectomy versus conventional microdiscectomy for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: long-term results of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: The reference surgical procedure for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation is open microdiscectomy. Minimal invasive discectomy with tubular retractors is hypothesised to cause less tissue damage and result in lower blood loss, less postoperative pain and faster recovery. We previously reported our 1 and 2-year results, and found no better outcomes of tubular discectomy compared with open microdiscectomy.

New Insights in Trigeminal Anatomy: A Double Orofacial Tract for Nociceptive Input.

Orofacial pain in patients relies on the anatomical pathways that conduct nociceptive information, originating from the periphery towards the trigeminal sensory nucleus complex (TSNC) and finally, to the thalami and the somatosensorical cortical regions. The anatomy and function of the so-called trigeminothalamic tracts have been investigated before. In these animal-based studies from the previous century, the intracerebral pathways were mapped using different retro- and anterograde tracing methods.

Flexible dropped head deformity following laminectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a case series and review of literature.

Background Context: Flexible dropped head deformity (FDHD) following laminectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a debilitating entity. Patients need to support their head manually to look forward in standing or sitting position. Flexible dropped head deformity is different from rigid dropped head deformity in patients with post-laminectomy kyphosis or ankylosing spondylitis and has only once been described after surgery to the cervical spine.

Midline shift in relation to thickness of traumatic acute subdural hematoma predicts mortality.

Background: Traumatic acute subdural hematoma has a high mortality despite intensive treatment. Despite the existence of several prediction models, it is very hard to predict an outcome. We investigated whether a specific combination of initial head CT-scan findings is a factor in predicting outcome, especially non-survival.

The Neurological Compromised Spine Due to Ewing Sarcoma. What First: Surgery or Chemotherapy? Therapy, Survival, and Neurological Outcome of 15 Cases With Primary Ewing Sarcoma of the Vertebral Column.

Background: The vertebral column is an infrequent site of primary involvement in Ewing sarcoma. Yet when Ewing sarcoma is found in the spine, the urge for decompression is high because of the often symptomatic compression of neural structures. It is unclear in alleviating a neurological deficit whether chemotherapy is preferred over decompressive laminectomy.

Prediction of life expectancy in patients with spinal epidural metastasis.

Background: The treatment of spinal epidural metastasis is multidisciplinary and usually involves a team of medical oncologists, radiologists, radiotherapists, and spinal surgeons. Life expectancy is one of the factors considered when deciding whether surgery is warranted. Because expert estimates of life expectancy are generally not reliable, a prediction model is needed.

Lamifuse: results of a randomized controlled trial comparing laminectomy with and without fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Background: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is often encountered in daily practice. In this randomized controlled trial, laminectomy without fusion is compared with laminectomy followed by fusion.

Methods: Patients with clinical signs and symptoms of CSM were included.

Aneurysm diameter as a risk factor for pretreatment rebleeding: a meta-analysis.

Object: Aneurysmal rerupture prior to treatment is a major cause of death and morbidity in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Recognizing risk factors for aneurysmal rebleeding is particularly relevant and might help to identify the aneurysms that benefit from acute treatment. It is uncertain if the size of the aneurysm is related to rebleeding.

The value of the Charlson Co-morbidity Index in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Background: Several studies have included different co-morbid conditions in prediction models for stroke patients. For subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), it is not known whether the Charlson Co-morbidity Index (CCI) is associated with outcome. We evaluated if this index was associated with outcome in patients with ruptured intracerebral aneurysms.

Anterior or posterior approach of thoracic disc herniation? A comparative cohort of mini-transthoracic versus transpedicular discectomies.

Background Context: The optimal surgical treatment of thoracic disc herniations remains controversial and depends on the consistency of the herniation and its location related to the spinal cord.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of patients with symptomatic thoracic disc herniations treated with anterolateral mini-transthoracic approach (TTA) versus posterior transpedicular discectomy.

Study Design: This is a prospective comparative cohort study.

Caseload as a factor for outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Object: Increasing evidence exists that treatment of complex medical conditions in high-volume centers is found to improve outcome. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a complex disease, probably also benefit from treatment at a high-volume center. The authors aimed to determine, based on published literature, whether a higher hospital caseload is associated with improved outcomes of patients undergoing treatment after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Prevalence of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Background: Patients with signs and/or symptoms of cervical spondylotic myelopathy are frequently encountered in spinal practice. Exact numbers of prevalence or incidence are not known.

Methods: A literature search was performed by an experienced librarian in Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus.

Incorporation of the experience of patients in the development of a patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Background: Regularly, patients are not involved in development of evaluative tools. Investigators define outcomes according to their interests. These can be different with those of the patients.

Laminoplasty and laminectomy for cervical sponydylotic myelopathy: a systematic review.

Background: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is frequently encountered in neurosurgical practice. The posterior surgical approach includes laminectomy and laminoplasty.

Objective: To perform a systematic review evaluating the effectiveness of posterior laminectomy compared with posterior laminoplasty for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

The Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification System: an external agreement validation study.

Background Context: In 2007, the Subaxial Cervical Spine Injury Classification (SLIC) system was introduced demonstrating moderate reliability in an internal validation study.

Purpose: To assess the agreement on the SLIC system using clinical data from a spinal trauma population and whether the SLIC treatment algorithm outcome improved agreement on treatment decisions among surgeons.

Study Design: An external classification validation study.

Design of COSMIC: a randomized, multi-centre controlled trial comparing conservative or early surgical management of incomplete cervical cord syndrome without spinal instability.

Background: Incomplete cervical cord syndrome without spinal instability is a very devastating event for the patient and the family. It is estimated that up to 25% of all traumatic spinal cord lesions belong to this category. The treatment for this type of spinal cord lesion is still subject of discussion.