bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A history of the Jannetta procedure
Authors: Kaufmann Anthony M. , Price Angela V. 
Published: February 2019

Peter Jannetta was a neurosurgery resident when he proposed the neurovascular compression theory. He built upon the astute observations of Dandy, Gardner, and others who, in the era before the operating microscope, had successfully ventured into the posterior fossa. In 1965, Jannetta performed cranial nerve microdissections for dental students and identified the trigeminal portio intermedia. He proposed that preservation of these sensory fibers may avoid complete facial numbness, and together with Robert Rand developed a subtemporal transtentorial approach for selective rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Such rash surgery, using an operating microscope, was then forbidden at their University of California, Los Angeles center, so they collaborated with John Alksne to perform the first surgery at Harbor General Hospital. Upon visualizing the trigeminal nerve root, Jannetta was surprised to see a pulsating superior cerebellar artery compressing the nerve and said “That’s the cause of the tic.” He also hypothesized that alleviating the observed vascular cross-compression may be curative.A few months later, while assessing a patient with hemifacial spasm, Jannetta had the epiphany that this was the same disease process as TN, but instead affecting the facial nerve. The patient consented to what would become Jannetta’s first microvascular decompression procedure. The senior faculty members who had forbidden such surgery were away, so the supervising neurosurgeon, Paul Crandall, granted the approval to perform the surgery and assisted. Via a retromastoid approach with the patient in the sitting position and using the operating microscope, Jannetta identified and alleviated the culprit neurovascular compression, with a cure resulting.Jannetta presented his neurovascular compression theory and operative findings to the neurosurgical patriarchy of the time. Elders of the field were generally not inclined to accept the bold speculations of an untested neurosurgeon, and were often determined to discredit the new “cure” of the old diseases. Over decades of refining his surgical technique, documenting the outcomes, and enduring the skepticism he often faced, Jannetta’s theory and his microvascular decompression procedure withstood critical analysis and have become recognized as one the great discoveries and advances in neurosurgery and medicine.
Accuracy of robot-assisted versus optical frameless navigated stereoelectroencephalography electrode placement in children
Authors: Sharma Julia D. , Seunarine Kiran K. , Tahir Muhammad Zubair , Tisdall Martin M. 
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of optical frameless neuronavigation (ON) and robot-assisted (RA) stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrode placement in children, and to identify factors that might increase the risk of misplacement.METHODSThe authors undertook a retrospective review of all children who underwent SEEG at their institution. Twenty children were identified who underwent stereotactic placement of a total of 218 electrodes. Six procedures were performed using ON and 14 were placed using a robotic assistant. Placement error was calculated at cortical entry and at the target by calculating the Euclidean distance between the electrode and the planned cortical entry and target points. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare the results for ON and RA placement accuracy. For each electrode placed using robotic assistance, extracranial soft-tissue thickness, bone thickness, and intracranial length were measured. Entry angle of electrode to bone was calculated using stereotactic coordinates. A stepwise linear regression model was used to test for variables that significantly influenced placement error.RESULTSBetween 8 and 17 electrodes (median 10 electrodes) were placed per patient. Median target point localization error was 4.5 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 2.8–6.1 mm) for ON and 1.07 mm (IQR 0.71–1.59) for RA placement. Median entry point localization error was 5.5 mm (IQR 4.0–6.4) for ON and 0.71 mm (IQR 0.47–1.03) for RA placement. The difference in accuracy between Stealth-guided (ON) and RA placement was highly significant for both cortical entry point and target (p < 0.0001 for both). Increased soft-tissue thickness and intracranial length reduced accuracy at the target. Increased soft-tissue thickness, bone thickness, and younger age reduced accuracy at entry. There were no complications.CONCLUSIONSRA stereotactic electrode placement is highly accurate and is significantly more accurate than ON. Larger safety margins away from vascular structures should be used when placing deep electrodes in young children and for trajectories that pass through thicker soft tissues such as the temporal region.
Use of magnetic resonance imaging in severe pediatric traumatic brain injury: assessment of current practice
Authors: Ferrazzano Peter A. , Rosario Bedda L. , Wisniewski Stephen R. , Shafi Nadeem I. , Siefkes Heather M. , Miles Darryl K. , Alexander Andrew L. , Bell Michael J. 
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVEThere is no consensus on the optimal timing and specific brain MRI sequences in the evaluation and management of severe pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), and information on current practices is lacking. The authors performed a survey of MRI practices among sites participating in a multicenter study of severe pediatric TBI to provide information for designing future clinical trials using MRI to assess brain injury after severe pediatric TBI.METHODSInformation on current imaging practices and resources was collected from 27 institutions participating in the Approaches and Decisions after Pediatric TBI Trial. Multiple-choice questions addressed the percentage of patients with TBI who have MRI studies, timing of MRI, MRI sequences used to investigate TBI, as well as the magnetic field strength of MR scanners used at the participating institutions and use of standardized MRI protocols for imaging after severe pediatric TBI.RESULTSOverall, the reported use of MRI in pediatric patients with severe TBI at participating sites was high, with 40% of sites indicating that they obtain MRI studies in > 95% of this patient population. Differences were observed in the frequency of MRI use between US and international sites, with the US sites obtaining MRI in a higher proportion of their pediatric patients with severe TBI (94% of US vs 44% of international sites reported MRI in at least 70% of patients with severe TBI). The reported timing and composition of MRI studies was highly variable across sites. Sixty percent of sites reported typically obtaining an MRI study within the first 7 days postinjury, with the remainder of responses distributed throughout the first 30-day postinjury period. Responses indicated that MRI sequences sensitive for diffuse axonal injury and ischemia are frequently obtained in patients with TBI, whereas perfusion imaging and spectroscopy techniques are less common.CONCLUSIONSResults from this survey suggest that despite the lack of consensus or guidelines, MRI is commonly obtained during the acute clinical setting after severe pediatric TBI. The variation in MRI practices highlights the need for additional studies to determine the utility, optimal timing, and composition of clinical MRI studies after TBI. The information in this survey describes current clinical MRI practices in children with severe TBI and identifies important challenges and objectives that should be considered when designing future studies.
Patients with “benign” Chiari I malformations require surgical decompression at a low rate
Authors: Leon Tofey J. , Kuhn Elizabeth N. , Arynchyna Anastasia A. , Smith Burkely P. , Tubbs R. Shane , Johnston James M. , Blount Jeffrey P. , Rozzelle Curtis J. , Oakes W. Jerry , Rocque Brandon G. 
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVEThere are sparse published data on the natural history of “benign” Chiari I malformation (CM-I)—i.e., Chiari with minimal or no symptoms at presentation and no imaging evidence of syrinx, hydrocephalus, or spinal cord signal abnormality. The purpose of this study was to review a large cohort of children with benign CM-I and to determine whether these children become symptomatic and require surgical treatment.METHODSPatients were identified from institutional outpatient records using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, diagnosis codes for CM-I from 1996 to 2016. After review of the medical records, patients were excluded if they 1) did not have a diagnosis of CM-I, 2) were not evaluated by a neurosurgeon, 3) had previously undergone posterior fossa decompression, or 4) had imaging evidence of syringomyelia at their first appointment. To include only patients with benign Chiari (without syrinx or classic Chiari symptoms that could prompt immediate intervention), any patient who underwent decompression within 9 months of initial evaluation was excluded. After a detailed chart review, patients were excluded if they had classical Chiari malformation symptoms at presentation. The authors then determined what changes in the clinical picture prompted surgical treatment. Patients were excluded from the multivariate logistic regression analysis if they had missing data such as race and insurance; however, these patients were included in the overall survival analysis.RESULTSA total of 427 patients were included for analysis with a median follow-up duration of 25.5 months (range 0.17–179.1 months) after initial evaluation. Fifteen patients had surgery at a median time of 21.0 months (range 11.3–139.3 months) after initial evaluation. The most common indications for surgery were tussive headache in 5 (33.3%), syringomyelia in 5 (33.3%), and nontussive headache in 5 (33.3%). Using the Kaplan-Meier method, rate of freedom from posterior fossa decompression was 95.8%, 94.1%, and 93.1% at 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively.CONCLUSIONSAmong a large cohort of patients with benign CM-I, progression of imaging abnormalities or symptoms that warrant surgical treatment is infrequent. Therefore, these patients should be managed conservatively. However, clinical follow-up of such individuals is justified, as there is a low, but nonzero, rate of new symptom or syringomyelia development. Future analyses will determine whether imaging or clinical features present at initial evaluation are associated with progression and future need for treatment.
Ischemic stroke following elective craniotomy in children
Authors: Khan Nickalus R. , Moore Kenneth , Basma Jaafar , Hersh David S. , Choudhri Asim F. , Vaughn Brandy , Klimo Paul 
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVEAn ischemic stroke following an elective craniotomy in a child is perceived to be a rare event. However, to date there are few papers on this topic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of stroke following elective intracranial surgery at a children’s hospital.METHODSThe authors performed a retrospective review of all patients who developed a perioperative stroke following an elective craniotomy from 2010 through 2017. Data were collected using an institutional database that contained demographic, medical, radiological, and outcome variables.RESULTSA total of 1591 elective craniotomies were performed at the authors’ institution during the study period. Of these, 28 (1.8%) were followed by a perioperative stroke. Radiographic diagnosis of the infarction occurred at a median of 1.7 days (range 0–9 days) from the time of surgery, and neurological deficits were apparent within 24 hours of surgery in 18 patients (62.5%). Infarcts tended to occur adjacent to tumor resection sites (86% of cases), and in a unilateral (89%), unifocal (93%), and supratentorial (93%) location. Overall, 11 (39.3%) strokes were due to a perforating artery, 10 (35.7%) were due to a large vessel, 4 (14.3%) were venous, and 3 (10.7%) were related to hypoperfusion or embolic causes. Intraoperative MRI (iMRI) was used in 11 of the 28 cases, and 6 (55%) infarcts were not detected, all of which were deep.CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of stroke following an elective craniotomy is low, with nearly all cases (86%) occurring after tumor resection. Perforator infarcts were most common but may be missed on iMRI.
Moyamoya syndrome and PHACE syndrome: clinical and radiographic characterization of the intracranial arteriopathy and response to surgical revascularization
Authors: Jernigan Sarah , Storey Armide , Hammer Christine , Riordan Coleman , Orbach Darren B. , Scott R. Michael , Smith Edward 
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVEPHACE syndrome (PHACES) has been linked to cervical and cerebral vascular anomalies, including persistent embryonic anastomoses and progressive steno-occlusive disease. However, no prior studies have documented the long-term response of PHACES patients with moyamoya disease to surgical revascularization with pial or myosynangiosis. The authors present their experience with 8 consecutive patients with PHACES and moyamoya disease.METHODSRetrospective review of patients who underwent pial synangiosis revascularization for moyamoya disease with concurrent diagnosis of PHACES.RESULTSA total of 8 patients out of 456 surgically treated moyamoya patients had a diagnosis of PHACES. All patients were female, and their average age at the time of surgical treatment was 9.3 years (range 1.8–25.8 years). Five patients had associated basilar artery anomalies or stenosis. All patients had symptomatic narrowing of the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery with tortuous collateralization. Three patients underwent unilateral pial or myo-synangiosis and 5 underwent bilateral procedures. The average hospital length of stay was 5.0 days (range 3–7 days). There were no postoperative complications. Follow-up ranged from 8 to 160 months (average 56 months). Seven of 8 patients have had follow-up angiograms and all had Matsushima grade A or B collateralization without progression of stenosis in other locations. All patients had reduced cortical FLAIR signal on 6-month follow-up MRI and no evidence of new radiographic or clinical strokes.CONCLUSIONSPatients with moyamoya disease and PHACES had an intracranial arteriopathy characterized by ectactic anterior vasculature with concomitant basilar artery stenosis, and were all female. The patients had both radiographic and clinical responses to pial synangiosis. The surgical treatment of these patients can be challenging given facial hemangiomas located near the surgical field. Patients with unilateral disease did not have evidence of progression in other cerebral circulation during the given follow-up period.
Risk factor analysis of progressive spinal deformity after resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors in patients who underwent laminoplasty: a report of 105 consecutive cases
Authors: Shi Wei , Wang Shan , Zhang Huifang , Wang Guoqin , Guo Yi , Sun Zhenxing , Wu Youtu , Zhang Peihai , Jing Linkai , Zhao Benqi , MM  , Xing Jian , Wang James , Wang Guihuai 
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVELaminoplasty has been used in recent years as an alternative approach to laminectomy for preventing spinal deformity after resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs). However, controversies exist with regard to its real role in maintaining postoperative spinal alignment. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of progressive spinal deformity in patients who underwent laminoplasty for resection of IMSCT and identify risk factors for progressive spinal deformity.METHODSData from IMSCT patients who had undergone laminoplasty at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital between January 2014 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to assess the statistical relationship between postoperative spinal deformity and radiographic, clinical, and surgical variables.RESULTSOne hundred five patients (mean age 37.0 ± 14.5 years) met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Gross-total resection (> 95%) was obtained in 79 cases (75.2%). Twenty-seven (25.7%) of the 105 patients were found to have spinal deformity preoperatively, and 10 (9.5%) new cases of postoperative progressive deformity were detected. The mean duration of follow-up was 27.6 months (SD 14.5 months, median 26.3 months, range 6.2–40.7 months). At last follow-up, the median functional scores of the patients who did develop progressive spinal deformity were worse than those of the patients who did not (modified McCormick Scale: 3 vs 2, and p = 0.04). In the univariate analysis, age (p = 0.01), preoperative spinal deformity (p < 0.01), extent of tumor involvement (p < 0.01), extent of abnormal tumor signal (p = 0.02), and extent of laminoplasty (p < 0.01) were identified as factors associated with postoperative progressive spinal deformity. However, in subsequent multivariate logistic regression analysis, only age ≤ 25 years and preoperative spinal deformity emerged as independent risk factors (p < 0.05), increasing the odds of postoperative progressive deformity by 4.1- and 12.4-fold, respectively (p < 0.05).CONCLUSIONSProgressive spinal deformity was identified in 25.7% patients who had undergone laminoplasty for IMSCT resection and was related to decreased functional status. Younger age (≤ 25 years) and preoperative spinal deformity increased the risk of postoperative progressive spinal deformity. The risk of postoperative deformity warrants serious reconsideration of providing concurrent fusion during IMSCT resection or close follow-up after laminoplasty.
T2 mapping of lumbosacral nerves in patients suffering from unilateral radicular pain due to degenerative disc disease
Authors: Sollmann Nico , Weidlich Dominik , Cervantes Barbara , Klupp Elisabeth , Ganter Carl , Kooijman Hendrik , Zimmer Claus , Rummeny Ernst J. , Meyer Bernhard , Baum Thomas , Kirschke Jan S. , Karampinos Dimitrios C. 
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVELumbosacral radicular syndrome (LRS) is a very common condition, often requiring diagnostic imaging with the aim of elucidating a structural cause when symptoms are longer lasting. However, findings on conventional anatomical MRI do not necessarily correlate with clinical symptoms, and it is primarily performed for the qualitative evaluation of surrounding compressive structures, such as herniated discs, instead of to evaluate the nerves directly. The present study investigated the performance of quantitative imaging by using magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) in patients with LRS.METHODSEighteen patients (55.6% males, mean age 64.4 ± 10.2 years), with strict unilateral LRS matching at least one dermatome and suspected disc herniation, underwent high-resolution 3-T MRN using T2 mapping. On T2 maps, the presumably affected and contralateral unaffected nerves were identified; subsequent regions of interest (ROIs) were placed at preganglionic, ganglionic, and postganglionic sites; and T2 values were extracted. Patients then underwent an epidural steroid injection (ESI) with local anesthetic agents at the site of suspected nerve affection. T2 values of the affected nerves were compared against the contralateral nerves. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristics were calculated based on the measured T2 values and the responsiveness to ESI.RESULTSThe mean T2 value was 77.3 ± 1.9 msec for affected nerves and 74.8 ± 1.4 msec for contralateral nerves (p < 0.0001). In relation to ESI performed at the site of suspected nerve affection, MRN with T2 mapping had a sensitivity/specificity of 76.9%/60.0% and a positive/negative predictive value of 83.3%/50.0%. Signal alterations in affected nerves according to qualitative visual inspection were present in only 22.2% of patients.CONCLUSIONSAs one of the first of its kind, this study revealed elevated T2 values in patients suffering from LRS. T2 values of lumbosacral nerves might be used as more objective parameters to directly detect nerve affection in such patients.
Safety and accuracy of robot-assisted versus fluoroscopy-assisted pedicle screw insertion in thoracolumbar spinal surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: Han Xiaoguang , Tian Wei , Liu Yajun , Liu Bo , He Da , Sun Yuqing , Han Xiao , Fan Mingxing , Zhao Jingwei , Xu Yunfeng , Zhang Qi 
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVEThe object of this study was to compare the safety and accuracy of pedicle screw placement using the TiRobot system versus conventional fluoroscopy in thoracolumbar spinal surgery.METHODSPatients with degenerative or traumatic thoracolumbar spinal disorders requiring spinal instrumentation were randomly assigned to either the TiRobot-assisted group (RG) or the freehand fluoroscopy-assisted group (FG) at a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome measure was the accuracy of screw placement according to the Gertzbein-Robbins scale; grades A and B (pedicle breach < 2 mm) were considered clinically acceptable. In the RG, discrepancies between the planned and actual screw placements were measured by merging postoperative CT images with the trajectory planning images. Secondary outcome parameters included proximal facet joint violation, duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, conversion to freehand approach in the RG, postoperative hospital stay, and radiation exposure.RESULTSA total of 1116 pedicle screws were implanted in 234 patients (119 in the FG, and 115 in the RG). In the RG, 95.3% of the screws were perfectly positioned (grade A); the remaining screws were graded B (3.4%), C (0.9%), and D (0.4%). In the FG, 86.1% screws were perfectly positioned (grade A); the remaining screws were graded B (7.4%), C (4.6%), D (1.4%), and E (0.5%). The proportion of clinically acceptable screws was significantly greater in the RG than in the FG (p < 0.01). In the RG, the mean deviation was 1.5 ± 0.8 mm for each screw. The most common direction of screw deviation was lateral in the RG and medial in the FG. Two misplaced screws in the FG required revision surgery, whereas no revision was required in the RG. None of the screws in the RG violated the proximal facet joint, whereas 12 screws (2.1%) in the FG violated the proximal facet joint (p < 0.01). The RG had significantly less blood loss (186.0 ± 255.3 ml) than the FG (217.0 ± 174.3 ml; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of surgical time and postoperative hospital stay. The mean cumulative radiation time was 81.5 ± 38.6 seconds in the RG and 71.5 ± 44.2 seconds in the FG (p = 0.07). Surgeon radiation exposure was significantly less in the RG (21.7 ± 11.5 μSv) than in the FG (70.5 ± 42.0 μSv; p < 0.01).CONCLUSIONSTiRobot-guided pedicle screw placement is safe and useful in thoracolumbar spinal surgery.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02890043 (clinicaltrials.gov)