The Inflammatory Biomarkers Behavior Profile of Patients Following Elective Degenerative Spine Surgery and Differences Compared to Those Coursing With a Postoperative Spinal Infection: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: The incidence of postoperative spinal infection (PSI) ranges from 0% to 10%, with devastating effects on the patient prognosis because of higher morbidity while increasing costs to the health care system. PSIs are elusive and difficult to diagnose, especially in the early postoperative state, because of confusing clinical symptoms, rise in serum biomarkers, or imaging studies. Current research on diagnosis has focused on serum biomarkers; nevertheless, most series rely on retrospective cohorts where biomarkers are studied individually and at different time points.

Discrimination of residents during neurosurgical training in Mexico: Results of a survey prior to SARS-CoV-2.

Background: Recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic represents an important negative impact on global training of neurosurgery residents. Even before the pandemic, discrimination is a challenge that neurosurgical residents have consistently faced. In the present study, we evaluated discriminatory conditions experienced by residents during their neurosurgical training in Mexico before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Burnout, Discrimination, Abuse, and Mistreatment in Latin America Neurosurgical Training During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Background: Discrimination, abuse, and mistreatment are prevailing problems reported in neurosurgical training programs globally. Moreover, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may also show a negative impact on burnout levels in neurosurgery residents. This study aims to evaluate burnout, discrimination, and mistreatment in neurosurgical residents training in Latin America during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 era.

Women in Neurosurgery: First Neurosurgeon in Latin America and Current Mexican Leaders.

Background: History has taught us that Mexican culture has been largely supported by women, despite gender prejudice from the society. Neurosurgery has not been the exception. Therefore, we investigated the challenges and influence of female neurosurgeons in Mexico.

Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Working and Training Conditions of Neurosurgery Residents in Latin America and Spain.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exerted a significant impact on health care workers. Recent studies have reported the detrimental effects of the pandemic on neurosurgery residents in North America, Asia, and Italy. However, the impact of the pandemic on neurosurgical training in Latin America and Spain has not yet been reported.

Current Workforce Status of the Neurosurgery Societies Belonging to the Latin American Federation of Neurosurgical Societies: A Survey of the Presidents of These Neurosurgery Societies.

Background: The Latin American Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (FLANC) is a nongovernmental, nonprofit civil association, founded to promote neurosurgery in the Latin American countries. The American College of Surgeons and American Association of Neurological Surgeons has recommended a ratio of 1 neurosurgeon/100,000 inhabitants. We aimed to estimate the neurosurgical workforce of the FLANC in 2020.

Radiological diagnostic accuracy study comparing Lenke, Bridwell, BSF, and CT-HU fusion grading scales for minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion spine surgery and its correlation to clinical outcome.

Prospective randomized double-blinded diagnostic accuracy study about radiological grading of fusion after minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion procedures (MI-LIFP).To determinate the intra and the inter-observer correlation between different radiological lumbar interbody fusion grading scales (RLIFGS) in patients undergoing MI-LIFP and their correlation to clinical outcome.Besides technological improvements in medical diagnosis and the many existing RLIFGS, surgical exploration continues to be the gold-standard to assess fusion in patients with radiological pseudarthrosis, with little if any research on the relationship between RLIFGS and clinical outcome.

Early Report on the Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak in Neurosurgical Practice Among Members of the Latin American Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe economic consequences by local governmental measures to contain the outbreak. We provide insight on the impact that health care restriction has made on neurosurgical activity in Latin Iberoamerica.

Methods: We performed an internet-based survey among presidents and members of the societies of the Latin American Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (FLANC).

OARSI Clinical Trials Recommendations: Hand imaging in clinical trials in osteoarthritis.

Tremendous advances have occurred in our understanding of the pathogenesis of hand osteoarthritis (OA) and these are beginning to be applied to trials targeted at modification of the disease course. The purpose of this expert opinion, consensus driven exercise is to provide detail on how one might use and apply hand imaging assessments in disease modifying clinical trials. It includes information on acquisition methods/techniques (including guidance on positioning for radiography, sequence/protocol recommendations/hardware for MRI); commonly encountered problems (including positioning, hardware and coil failures, sequences artifacts); quality assurance/control procedures; measurement methods; measurement performance (reliability, responsiveness, validity); recommendations for trials; and research recommendations.

Survival after left ventricular free wall rupture in an elderly woman with acute myocardial infarction treated only medically.

Pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle is rare and may occur as a result of transmural myocardial infarction. The course of rupture after acute myocardial infarction varies from a catastrophic event, with an acute tear leading to immediate death (acute rupture), or slow and incomplete tear leading to a late rupture (subacute rupture). Incomplete rupture may occur when the thrombus and haematoma together with the pericardium seal the rupture of the left ventricle and may develop into a pseudoaneurysm.

Neurophysiological monitoring in spinal cord surgery.

Background: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) during spine surgery consists of several functional tests including somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), motor evoked potentials (MEPs), dermatomal potentials (DPs) and EMG (electromyography). Permanent neurological damage after spine surgery performed without intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is frequent and often very costly. The main goal of IOM is the immediate detection, prevention and correction of neurological damage during surgery, which may go unnoticed without using these tests.

Primary repair vs. colostomy in colon injuries.

Background: Colon trauma is frequent and its prevalence is difficult to establish because of the different factors that intervene in its origin. In Mexico, traumatic colon injuries, albeit stab wounds or gunshot wounds, are on the rise. Our objective was to evaluate the most appropriate management for traumatic colon injuries.

[Umbilical artery thrombosis. A report of a case and review of the literature].

The thrombosis of the umbilical vessels is associated to high prenatal mortality. The arterial occlusion can compromise the maternal-fetal circulation with the neonatal death. Only two cases are reported in the literature with antepartum diagnosis and neonatal survival.