Does partial coating with titanium improve the radiographic fusion rate of empty PEEK cages in cervical spine surgery? A comparative analysis of clinical data.

Background: Anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a well-established surgical treatment. Several types of intervertebral spacers can be used, but there is increasing evidence that PEEK cages yield insufficient fusion and thus less clinical improvement. The study aim was to assess the outcomes of single-level ACDF with an empty PEEK cage partially coated with titanium.

The value of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring for microsurgical removal of conus medullaris lipomas: a 12-year retrospective cohort study.

Background: Lipomas in the lower spinal canal can lead to progressive neurological deficits, so they may have to be surgically removed. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring serves to minimize the morbidity of the surgical procedure. However, so far there are no evidence-based recommendations which type of monitoring procedure or combination of procedures to choose.

Effect of β-adrenergic stimulation on QT interval accommodation.

Background: QT interval correction formulas are based on instantaneous heart rate (HR), but QT interval adaptation to sudden HR change occurs gradually. In humans, the QT interval has been reported to reach a new steady-state value in about 2 minutes.

Objective: This study sought to assess β-adrenergic stimulation effects on QT interval response to HR change.

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation for preoperative functional diagnostics in brain tumor surgery.

Objective: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method for analyzing cortical function. To utilize TMS for presurgical functional diagnostics, the magnetic impulse must be precisely targeted by stereotactically positioning the coil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of TMS for operation planning when combined with a sensor-based electromagnetic navigation system (nTMS).

Neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring in neurosurgery: aid or handicap? An international survey.

Object: Neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring (IOM) is regarded as a useful tool to provide information about physiological changes during surgery in eloquent areas of the nervous system, to increase safety and reduce morbidity. Nevertheless, numerous older studies report that very few patients benefit from IOM, and that there are high rates of false-positive and false-negative changes of neurophysiological parameters during surgery. There is an ongoing discussion about the effectiveness of neurophysiological IOM.