bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Morphometric analysis of posterior fossa after in utero myelomeningocele repair
Authors: Grant Ryan A. , Heuer Gregory G. , Carrión Geneive M. , Adzick N. Scott , Schwartz Erin S. , Stein Sherman C. , Storm Phillip B. , Sutton Leslie N. 
Published: April 2011

Object
Myelomeningocele (MMC) is characterized by a defect in caudal neurulation and appears at birth with a constellation of neuroanatomical abnormalities, including Chiari malformation Type II. The authors investigated the effects of antenatal versus postnatal repair of MMC through a quantitative analysis of morphometric changes in the posterior fossa (PF).

Methods
The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 29 patients who underwent in utero MMC repair, 24 patients who underwent postnatal repair, and 114 fetal and pediatric controls. Tonsillar displacement, cerebellum length, pons length, clivus-supraocciput (CSO) angle, and PF area were compared in antenatal and postnatal MMC repair groups as well as in controls without neural tube defects by using t-tests and correlation coefficients.

Results
Initially, the in utero CSO angle was significantly more acute in all patients with MMC—prenatally and postnatally repaired—as compared with controls (57.8° vs 75.4°, p < 0.001); however, the angle rapidly changed and became similar to that in controls between 30 and 31 weeks' gestation to approximately 80°, with antenatal repair having little effect. Postnatally, the CSO angle decreased in controls (R = −0.58) and in the antenatal repair group (R = −0.17). The cerebellum and pons length demonstrated no significant differences in any group. Overall, tonsil descent was corrected in the antenatal repair group as compared with postnatal repair (p < 0.001), and the PF area increased in all 3 groups in utero. Growth was less rapid in patients with MMC compared with controls, but this was corrected by antenatal repair (p = 0.015).

Conclusions
Myelomeningocele was associated with tonsillar herniation and a smaller PF than in control fetuses. Antenatal surgical repair corrected both abnormalities. The CSO angle began significantly more acutely in patients with MMC, but normalized with development regardless of when surgery was performed. Determining the clinical effects of antenatal repair requires further follow-up.
Shunt failure due to intracranial migration of BioGlide ventricular catheters
Authors: Chen Hsin-Hung , Riva-Cambrin Jay , Brockmeyer Douglas L. , Walker Marion L. , Kestle John R. W. 
Published: April 2011

Object
In late 2008, the authors recognized a new type of ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure specific to the Bio-Glide Snap Shunt ventricular catheters. This prompted a retrospective review of the patient cohort and resulted in a recall by the FDA in the US.

Methods
After the index cases were identified, the FDA was notified by the hospital, leading to a recall of the product. Hospital operative logs were used to identify patients in whom the affected products were used. A letter describing the risk was sent to all patients offering a free screening CT scan to look for disconnection. A call center was established to respond to patient questions, and an informational video was made available on the hospital website. The authors reviewed the records of the index cases and other cases subsequently identified.

Results
Seven index cases and an additional 16 cases of disconnection were identified in the 466 patients in whom a BioGlide Snap Shunt ventricular catheter had been implanted. Mean time to disconnection was 2.7 years (range 4 days–5.8 years). Computed tomography slices in the plane of the catheter helped visualize disconnections. Retrieval was difficult, and in 5 patients the disconnected catheter was not removable. Three catheters were completely within the ventricle. At presentation, 4 children suffered from severe neurological deficits, including one who died as a result of the shunt malfunction.

Conclusions
BioGlide snap-design ventricular catheters are prone to disconnection. Continued vigilance and specific imaging are important. Catheter removal after disconnection may be difficult. Elective removal prior to disconnection in asymptomatic children has not been performed.
Neurological complications of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children
Authors: Hervey-Jumper Shawn L. , Annich Gail M. , Yancon Andrea R. , Garton Hugh J. L. , Muraszko Karin M. , Maher Cormac O. 
Published: April 2011

Object
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a potentially life-saving treatment for patients in refractory cardiorespiratory failure. Neurological complications that result from ECMO treatment are known to significantly impact patient survival and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to review the incidence of neurological complications of ECMO in the pediatric population and the role of neurosurgery in the treatment of these patients.

Methods
Data were obtained from the national Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry for the years 1990 to 2009. The neurological complications recorded by the registry include CNS hemorrhage, CNS infarction, and seizure. The ECMO Registry at the authors' institution was then searched, and 3 pediatric patients who had undergone craniotomy during ECMO treatment were identified.

Results
Children in the ELSO Registry who were treated with ECMO survived to hospital discharge in 65% of cases. Intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 7.4% of the ECMO-treated patients, with 36% of those surviving to hospital discharge. Hemorrhage was more likely in patients younger than 30 days old and in those requiring ECMO for cardiac indications. Cerebral infarction occurred in 5.7% of all ECMO-treated patients. Clinically diagnosed seizures occurred in 8.4% of all ECMO-treated patients. The ECMO Registry at the authors' institution revealed that 1898 patients were treated there. Intracranial hemorrhage was diagnosed in 81 patients (5.8%), and 3 of these patients were treated with craniotomy. Two of the patients were alive with minimal neurological impairment and normal school performance at 10 and 16 years of follow-up.

Conclusions
Intracranial hemorrhage is a serious complication of ECMO treatment. While the surgical risk is substantial, there may be a role for surgical evacuation of hemorrhage in well-selected patients.
Third ventricular shape: a predictor of endoscopic third ventriculostomy success in pediatric patients
Authors: Foroughi Mansoor , Wong Andrew , Steinbok Paul , Singhal Ash , Sargent Michael A. , Cochrane D. Douglas 
Published: April 2011

Object
The criteria for identifying patients in whom endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) provides control of hydrocephalus remain in evolution. In particular, it is not clear when ETV would be effective if intraventricular obstruction is not found preoperatively. The authors postulated that 1) displacement of the third ventricle floor inferiorly into the interpeduncular cistern and displacement of the lamina terminalis anteriorly into the lamina terminalis cistern could predict clinical success of ETV, and 2) improvement in these displacements would correlate with the success of ETV.

Methods
Magnetic resonance imaging in 38 consecutive patients treated between 2004 and 2010 was reviewed to assess displacement of the lamina terminalis and third ventricular floor prior to and following ETV. Displacements of the floor and lamina terminalis were judged qualitatively and quantitatively, using a newly created index, the Third Ventricular Morphology Index (TVMI). The association between the aforementioned morphological features and clinical success of ETV was analyzed.

Results
Ninety-six percent of patients in whom the authors preoperatively observed displacement of the lamina terminalis and the third ventricular floor were successfully treated with ETV. Displacements of the third ventricular floor and lamina terminalis, as judged qualitatively, correlated with the clinical success of ETV. The TVMI correlated with the qualitative assessments of displacement. Postoperative decrease in the TVMI occurred in the majority of successfully treated patients. Changes in third ventricular morphology preceded changes in other measures of third and lateral ventricular volume following ETV.

Conclusions
Assessment of third ventricular floor and lamina terminalis morphology is useful in predicting clinical success of ETV and in the follow-up in treated patients. The TVMI provided a quantitative assessment of the third ventricular morphology, which may be useful in equivocal cases and in research studies.
C-2 neurectomy during atlantoaxial instrumented fusion in the elderly: patient satisfaction and surgical outcome
Authors: Hamilton D. Kojo , Smith Justin S. , Sansur Charles A. , Dumont Aaron S. , Shaffrey Christopher I. 
Published: April 2011

Object
The originally described technique of atlantoaxial stabilization using C-1 lateral mass and C-2 pars screws includes a C-2 neurectomy to provide adequate hemostasis and visualization for screw placement, enable adequate joint decortication and arthrodesis, and prevent new-onset postoperative C-2 neuralgia. However, inclusion of a C-2 neurectomy for this procedure remains controversial, likely due in part to a lack of studies that have specifically addressed whether it affects patient outcome. The authors' objective was to assess the surgical and clinical impact of routine C-2 neurectomy performed with C1–2 segmental instrumented arthrodesis in a consecutive series of elderly patients with C1–2 instability.

Methods
Forty-four consecutive patients (mean age 71 years) underwent C1–2 instrumented fusion, including C-1 lateral mass screw insertion. Bilateral C-2 neurectomies were performed. Standardized clinical assessments were performed both pre- and postoperatively. Numbness or discomfort in a C-2 distribution was documented at follow-up. Fusion was assessed using the Lenke fusion grade.

Results
Among all 44 patients, mean blood loss was 200 ml (range 100–350 ml) and mean operative time was 129 minutes (range 87–240 minutes). There were no intraoperative complications, and no patients reported new postoperative onset or worsening of C-2 neuralgia postoperatively. Outcomes for the 30 patients with a minimum 13-month follow-up (range 13–72 months) were assessed. At a mean follow-up of 36 months, Nurick grade and pain numeric rating scale scores improved from 3.7 to 1.0 (p < 0.001) and 9.4 to 0.6 (p < 0.001), respectively. The mean postoperative Neck Disability Index score was 7.3%. The fusion rate was 97%, and the patient satisfaction rate was 93%. All 24 patients with preoperative occipital neuralgia reported relief. Seventeen patients noticed C-2 distribution numbness only during examination in the clinic, and 2 patients reported C-2 numbness, but it did not affect their daily function.

Conclusions
In this series of C1–2 instrumented arthrodesis in elderly patients, excellent fusion rates were achieved, and patient satisfaction was not negatively affected by C-2 neurectomy. In the authors' experience, C-2 neurectomy enhanced surgical exposure of the C1–2 joint, thereby facilitating hemostasis, placement of instrumentation, and decortication of the joint space for arthrodesis. Importantly, with C-2 neurectomy in the present series, no cases of new onset postoperative C-2 neuralgia occurred, in contrast to a growing number of reports in the literature documenting new-onset C-2 neuralgia without C-2 neurectomy. On the contrary, 80% of patients in the present series had preoperative occipital neuralgia and in all of these patients this neuralgia was relieved following C1–2 instrumented arthrodesis with C-2 neurectomy.
Early graft of neural precursors in spinal cord compression reduces glial cyst and improves function
Authors: Boido Marina , Garbossa Diego , Vercelli Alessandro 
Published: April 2011

Object
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in irreversible and permanent neurological deficits below the injury site and is considered a pathological state of functional damage to local neurons and axon fibers. There are several experimental treatments to minimize tissue damage, and recently cell transplantation has emerged as a promising approach in spinal cord repair. The authors undertook this study to evaluate grafting of neural tube precursors as a possible therapeutic strategy in a model of spinal cord compression in the mouse.

Methods
Compression SCI was induced at the T-13 level in adult male mice. Immediately after injury, neural precursor cells (NPs) were transplanted into the SCI lesion cavity in 18 mice; the remaining 19 mice received saline injections into the lesion cavity and were used as controls. Spinal cords were examined 12, 19, and 26 days postinjury to investigate the survival of the NPs and their effects on the cellular environment, glial scar and glial cyst formation, astrogliosis, and microglial activation.

Results
Grafted NPs survived well and integrated into the host spinal cord tissue. Some NPs had differentiated into cells expressing glial and neuronal markers at all 3 end points. Analysis of glial cyst volume showed a lesion volume reduction of 63.2% in the NP-treated mice compared with volume in the injured but untreated mice. There appeared to be no difference in astroglial and microglial activation between untreated mice and treated ones. Sensory and motor tests demonstrated that transplantation of NPs promoted improvement in injured and treated animals compared with controls.

Conclusions
These results support the therapeutic potential of NPs, demonstrating that they can survive for a long time, differentiate, integrate into the injured spinal cord, and promote functional recovery after SCI.
Pineal region tumors: an optimal approach for simultaneous endoscopic third ventriculostomy and biopsy
Authors: Morgenstern Peter F. , Osbun Nathan , Schwartz Theodore H. , Greenfield Jeffrey P. , Tsiouris Apostolos John , Souweidane Mark M. 
Published: April 2011

Object
Simultaneous endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and tumor biopsy is a widely accepted therapeutic and diagnostic procedure for patients with noncommunicating hydrocephalus secondary to a pineal region tumor. Multiple approaches have been advocated, including the use of a steerable fiberoptic or rigid lens endoscope via 1 or 2 trajectories. However, the optimal approach has not been established based on the individual anatomical characteristics of the patient.

Methods
A retrospective review of patients undergoing simultaneous ETV and tumor biopsy was undertaken. Preoperative MR images were examined to measure the width of the anterior third ventricle and maximal diameters of the tumor, Monro foramen (right), and massa intermedia. The distances between the tumor and massa intermedia, tumor and anterior commissure, midbrain and massa intermedia, and the dorsum sella and anterior commissure were also recorded. Single and dual trajectory approaches were compared using paired t-tests for each parameter.

Results
Over an 8-year interval, 15 patients underwent simultaneous ETV and tumor management. These patients ranged from 6 to 71 years of age (mean 36.7 years); 5 were younger than 18 years of age. Seven were treated using a dual trajectory approach, and 8 were treated using a single trajectory approach. All cases were completed without complications or the need for an additional CSF diversionary procedure within 6 months. The diagnostic yield at biopsy was 86.7%. There were no statistically significant differences between the single and dual trajectory groups for the measured parameters. However, the dual trajectory group demonstrated a larger anterior third ventricular diameter (1.43 vs 1.21 cm, p = 0.29). The single trajectory group trended toward a smaller tumor–anterior commissure interval (2.23 vs 2.51 cm, p = 0.24) and a larger dorsum sella–anterior commissure distance (1.67 vs 1.49 cm, p = 0.28).

Conclusions
These data confirm the safety and diagnostic efficacy of simultaneous ETV and biopsy for tumors of the pineal region. Although no statistically significant differences were seen in the authors' recorded measurements, several trends suggest a role for a tailored approach to selecting a single or dual trajectory approach when using a rigid endoscope.
Early endoscope-assisted hematoma evacuation in patients with supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage: case selection, surgical technique, and long-term results
Authors: Kuo Lu-Ting , Chen Chien-Min , Li Chien-Hsun , Tsai Jui-Chang , Chiu Hsiu-Chu , Liu Ling-Chun , Tu Yong-Kwang , Huang Abel Po-Hao 
Published: April 2011

Object
Currently, the effectiveness of minimally invasive evacuation of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) utilizing the endoscopic method is uncertain and the technique is considered investigational. The authors analyzed their experience with this method in terms of case selection, surgical technique, and long-term results.

Methods
The authors performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical and radiographic data obtained in 68 patients treated with endoscope-assisted ICH evacuation. Rebleeding, morbidity, and mortality were recorded as primary end points. Hematoma evacuation rate was calculated by comparing the pre- and postoperative CT scans. Glasgow Coma Scale scores and scores on the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) were recorded at the 6-month postoperative follow-up. The technical aspect of this report explains details of the procedure, the instruments that are used, the methods for hemostasis, and the role of hemostatic agents in the management of intraoperative hemorrhage. The pertinent literature was reviewed and summarized.

Results
All surgeries were performed within 12 hours of ictus, and 84% of the surgeries were performed within 4 hours. The mortality rate was 5.9%, and surgery-related morbidity occurred in 3 cases (4.4%). The hematoma evacuation rate was 93% overall—96% in the putaminal group, 86% in the thalamic group, and 98% in the subcortical group. The rebleeding rate was 1.5%. The mean operative time was 85 minutes, and the average blood loss was 56 ml. The mean GOSE score was 4.9 at 6-month follow-up. The authors acknowledge the limitations of these preliminary results in a small number of patients.

Conclusions
The data suggest that early endoscope-assisted ICH evacuation is safe and effective in the management of supratentorial ICH. The rebleeding, morbidity, and mortality rates are low compared with rates reported in the literature for the traditional craniotomy method. This study also showed that early and complete evacuation of ICH may lead to improved outcomes in selected patients. However, the safety and efficacy of endoscope-assisted ICH evacuation should be further investigated in a large, prospective, randomized trial.
Quality assessment of a new surgical simulator for neuroendoscopic training
Authors: Filho Francisco Vaz Guimarães , Coelho Giselle , Cavalheiro Sergio , Lyra Marcos , Zymberg Samuel T. 
Published: April 2011

Object
Ideal surgical training models should be entirely reliable, atoxic, easy to handle, and, if possible, low cost. All available models have their advantages and disadvantages. The choice of one or another will depend on the type of surgery to be performed. The authors created an anatomical model called the S.I.M.O.N.T. (Sinus Model Oto-Rhino Neuro Trainer) Neurosurgical Endotrainer, which can provide reliable neuroendoscopic training. The aim in the present study was to assess both the quality of the model and the development of surgical skills by trainees.

Methods
The S.I.M.O.N.T. is built of a synthetic thermoretractable, thermosensible rubber called Neoderma, which, combined with different polymers, produces more than 30 different formulas. Quality assessment of the model was based on qualitative and quantitative data obtained from training sessions with 9 experienced and 13 inexperienced neurosurgeons. The techniques used for evaluation were face validation, retest and interrater reliability, and construct validation.

Results
The experts considered the S.I.M.O.N.T. capable of reproducing surgical situations as if they were real and presenting great similarity with the human brain. Surgical results of serial training showed that the model could be considered precise. Finally, development and improvement in surgical skills by the trainees were observed and considered relevant to further training. It was also observed that the probability of any single error was dramatically decreased after each training session, with a mean reduction of 41.65% (range 38.7%–45.6%).

Conclusions
Neuroendoscopic training has some specific requirements. A unique set of instruments is required, as is a model that can resemble real-life situations. The S.I.M.O.N.T. is a new alternative model specially designed for this purpose. Validation techniques followed by precision assessments attested to the model's feasibility.
Don't take the plunge: avoiding adverse events with cranial perforators
Authors: Vogel Timothy W. , Dlouhy Brian J. , Howard Matthew A. 
Published: April 2011

Object
The object of this study was to evaluate the causes of plunging events associated with automatic-releasing cranial perforators at the authors' institution.

Methods
The authors analyzed a consecutive series of 1652 cranial procedures involving one type of automaticreleasing cranial perforator over a 2-year period. Plunging occurrences were recorded for 2 drill speeds: 1000 rpm in the 1st year and 800 rpm during the 2nd year. Intraoperative observations, neuroimaging studies, and clinical data were evaluated for each plunging event.

Results
The authors identified 9 plunging events for an overall incidence of 0.54%. In the 1st year, they identified 2 plunging events at a speed of 1000 rpm for an incidence of 0.19%. In an effort to reduce this occurrence, the speed of the drill was lowered to 800 rpm. There were 7 additional events, for a significantly increased incidence of 1.16% (p = 0.014, Fisher exact test) after the change was implemented. These cases spanned a number of procedures in adults and pediatric patients, including ventriculostomy placement, craniotomies for tumor resection, tumor biopsy, and endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Despite plunging, no immediate postoperative complications were noted on clinical examination.

Conclusions
While technology continues to improve cranial perforator performance, the use of such a device is still associated with a risk of complications causing dural lacerations and injury to the underlying cortex. Decreasing the drill speed may not decrease the incidence of plunging.