Bone Morphogenetic Protein in the Repair of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak after Transsphenoidal Surgery.

Background: Recurrent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak carries significant morbidity. We sought to demonstrate that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) use is effective and safe for the repair of recurrent CSF leak after a transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection (TSPTR).

Materials And Methods: We reviewed charts and radiographic data of consecutive patients who underwent BMP repair of recurrent CSF leak after TSPTR from January 2010 to June 2015 and who failed previous multilayer closure.

Management of Thoracic Disc Herniations via Posterior Unilateral Modified Transfacet Pedicle-Sparing Decompression With Segmental Instrumentation and Interbody Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective consecutive case series.

Objective: The objective of this case series was to demonstrate the safety of a modified transfacet pedicle-sparing decompression and instrumented fusion in patients with thoracic disc herniations (TDHs).

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing operative management of TDH from July 2007 to December 2011 using a posterior unilateral modified transfacet pedicle-sparing approach were identified.

Antibiotic-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate as an anterior biomechanical device for the treatment of cervical discitis and vertebral osteomyelitis: technical report of two cases.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of this novel surgical approach for treatment of cervical discitis and vertebral osteomyelitis.

Material And Methods: This is a report of two patients who underwent anterior cervical decompression for discitis and vertebral osteomyelitis (DVO) with cervical spine reconstruction with polymethylmethacrylate impregnated with antibiotics (AI-PMMA).

Results: Both patients had successful procedures that were followed by 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics.

Aneurysm clips for durotomy repair: technical note.

Background: Dural injury is a common complication of lumbar spine surgery. Primary closure is the "gold standard."

Objective: This technical note describes a failed primary closure of a durotomy revised using an aneurysm clip.

Leopard syndrome and Chiari type I malformation: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: The authors present a 31-year-old man with a Chiari type I malformation (CM-1) occurring in conjunction with LEOPARD syndrome. He presented with severe dysphagia requiring placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. Evaluation included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and cervical spine that revealed CM-1 with an extensive cervical syrinx.

Stereotactic aspiration-thrombolysis of intracerebral hemorrhage and its impact on perihematoma brain edema.

Background: Recent reports suggest that when thrombolytic agents are administered within the clot, lysis rate accelerates at the expense of increased risk of worsening edema. To test this hypothesis, we report on the volumetric analysis of (1) the intraparenchymal hematoma and, (2) perihematomal edema in a cohort of ICH patients treated with intraclot rtPA.

Methods: A convenience sample of highly selected ICH patients underwent frameless stereotactic aspiration and thrombolysis (FAST) of the clot.

Frameless stereotactic aspiration and thrombolysis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Introduction: To test the feasibility and safety of a minimally invasive technique, we report our experience in treating spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients by using frameless stereotactic clot aspiration-thrombolysis and its effects on their 30-day survival. We compared the observed cohort mortality with its predicted 30-day ICH mortality, by using previously validated methods.

Methods: Selection criteria were diagnosis of hypertensive ICH > or =35 cc, reduced level of consciousness, and no brainstem compression.

The role of lumbar shunts in the management of slit ventricles: does the slit-ventricle syndrome exist?

Object: Slit-ventricle syndrome (SVS) is a confusing description of presentations in patients with chronic shunt-treated hydrocephalus. These patients are prone to acute deterioration with recurrent malfunction. The authors describe the clinical profile and management outcome of using lumboperitoneal (LP) shunts in this population of patients.