Role of frameless stereotaxy in the surgical treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations: technique and outcomes in a controlled study of 44 consecutive patients.

Objective: To describe a frameless stereotactic technique used to resect cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and to determine whether frameless stereotaxy during AVM resection could decrease operative times, minimize intraoperative blood losses, reduce postoperative complications, and improve surgical outcomes.

Methods: Data for 44 consecutive patients with surgically resected cerebral AVMs were retrospectively reviewed. The first 22 patients underwent resection without stereotaxy (Group 1), whereas the next 22 patients underwent resection with the assistance of a frameless stereotaxy system (Group 2).

Minimally invasive atlantoaxial fixation with a polyaxial screw-rod construct: technical case report.

Objective And Importance: Posterior C1-C2 fusion with polyaxial screw and rod fixation has become an accepted means of atlanto-axial stabilization. We describe a novel technique for minimally invasive placement of C1 lateral mass screws and C2 pedicle screws for polyaxial screw-rod stabilization.

Clinical Presentation: The patient presented with a history of chronic neck pain, as well as a 6-month history of weakness and paresthesias involving her left hand.

Modern imaging of spinal tuberculosis.

Spinal tuberculosis (Pott disease) is uncommon in developed countries. On imaging studies diagnosis of this lesion may not be considered or it might be mistaken for pyogenic osteomyelitis. Features most strongly indicative of a diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis are relative sparing of the disc space, large paraspinous abscesses, a thick rim of enhancement around the paraspinous and intraosseous abscesses, calcifications within the paraspinous collections, and a fragmentary pattern of osseous destruction.

Plexiform neurofibroma of the cauda equina: case report.

Background: Plexiform neurofibromas are rarely found in the cauda equina. The most recent report of a plexiform neurofibroma of the cauda equina noted only 2 previously described cases.

Case Description: To these we add the current case, as well as 2 additional previously published cases.

Simultaneous dual vessel cerebral angiography in gamma knife planning.

Gamma knife radiosurgery is an effective technique for treating arteriovenous malformations. However, treatment failures can occur as a result of incomplete visualization of the arteriovenous malformation nidus. We describe the use of bilateral femoral artery catheterization and simultaneous dual vessel cerebral angiography to facilitate treatment planning during gamma knife treatment.

Role of frameless stereotaxy in the surgical treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations: technique and outcomes in a controlled study of 44 consecutive patients.

Objective: To describe a frameless stereotactic technique used to resect cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and to determine whether frameless stereotaxy during AVM resection could decrease operative times, minimize intraoperative blood losses, reduce postoperative complications, and improve surgical outcomes.

Methods: Data for 44 consecutive patients with surgically resected cerebral AVMs were retrospectively reviewed. The first 22 patients underwent resection without stereotaxy (Group 1), whereas the next 22 patients underwent resection with the assistance of a frameless stereotaxy system (Group 2).