Anterior Fixation of Floating Facet Fractures in the Cervical Spine: A Prospective Case Series and Biomechanical Analysis.

Background: Unilateral fractures involving complete separation of the lateral mass from the vertebra and lamina (floating lateral mass fractures) are a unique subset of cervical spine fractures. These injuries are at significant risk for displacement without operative fixation. Posterior fixation has proven to facilitate adequate fusion.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the thoracic spine.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a proliferative lesion of the synovial membranes. Knees, hips, and other large weight-bearing joints are most commonly affected. PVNS rarely presents in the spine, in particular the thoracic segments.

Cytokine-mediated inflammatory reaction following posterior cervical decompression and fusion associated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2: a case study.

Study Design: Case study with unique laboratory analysis.

Objective: To present a potentially serious adverse event that may occur in unique individuals when using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) to augment fusion in posterior cervical spine surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: The use of rhBMP-2 to augment posterior cervical decompression and fusion has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration but has been advocated as safe to use by case series studies and multiple authors.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for functional disorders.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with the Gamma Knife and linear accelerator has revolutionized neurosurgery over the past 20 years. The most common indications for radiosurgery today are tumors and arteriovenous malformations of the brain. Functional indications such as treatment of movement disorders or intractable pain only contribute a small percentage of treated patients.

Repair of the dura mater with processed collagen devices.

Background: We evaluated in a canine duraplasty model how specific differences in device physicomechanical properties, porosity, and crosslinking influenced the biological performance of three processed collagen dural substitutes.

Methods: Three collagen dural substitutes were studied: Dura-Guard, DuraGen, and Durepair. The initial strength, stiffness, and suture retention force were measured using standard mechanical test methods.

Targeting the cranial nerve: microradiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia with CISS and 3D-flash MR imaging sequences.

Object: The authors undertook a study to identify magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques that can be used reliably during gamma knife surgery (GKS) to identify the trigeminal nerve, surrounding vasculature, and areas of compression.

Methods: Preoperative visualization of the trigeminal nerve and surrounding vasculature as well as targeting the area of vascular compression may increase the effectiveness of GKS for trigeminal neuralgia. During the past years our gamma knife centers have researched different MR imaging sequences with regard to their ability to visualize cranial nerves and vascular structures.

Brain-machine and brain-computer interfaces.

The idea of connecting the human brain to a computer or machine directly is not novel and its potential has been explored in science fiction. With the rapid advances in the areas of information technology, miniaturization and neurosciences there has been a surge of interest in turning fiction into reality. In this paper the authors review the current state-of-the-art of brain-computer and brain-machine interfaces including neuroprostheses.

Transient choroid plexus cysts and benign asymmetrical ventricles: a case suggesting a possible link: case report.

Objective And Importance: Brain magnetic resonance imaging scans occasionally reveal asymmetrical ventricles with no identifiable cause. A case is presented that highlights a possible connection between transient choroid plexus cysts and benign asymmetrical ventricles.

Clinical Presentation: The patient was a 2.

Nasofrontal dermoid sinus cyst: report of two cases.

Objective And Importance: Nasofrontal dermoid sinus cysts are rare. The embryological origin, presentation, treatment, and genetic associations of two cases of these cysts are discussed. Emphasis is placed on physical findings and the importance of addressing both the intracranial and extracranial components.