The "Skull Flap" a new conceived device for decompressive craniectomy experimental study on dogs to evaluate the safety and efficacy in reducing intracranial pressure and subsequent impact on brain perfusion.

Background: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a procedure performed increasingly often in current neurosurgical practice. Significant perioperative morbidity may be associated to this procedure because of the large skull defect; also, later closure of the skull defect (cranioplasty) may be associated to post-operative morbidity as much as any other reconstructive operation. The authors present a newly conceived/developed device: The "Skull Flap" (SF).

Vertebral artery loop--a cause of cervical radiculopathy.

Objective: To report a case of cervical radiculopathy caused by an anomalous vertebral artery (VA) and illustrate the efficacy of microvascular decompression by the anterolateral approach.

Methods: A 50-year-old woman was referred because of an 8-year history of progressive left C6 radiculopathy refractory to other forms of treatment, including C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy. Clinical and radiologic evaluation showed an abnormally tortuous loop of V2 causing direct neurovascular compression.