bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with glomus jugulare tumors
Authors: Pollock Bruce E. 
Published: January 2008

Object
Microsurgical removal of glomus jugulare tumors is frequently associated with injury of the lower cranial nerves. To decrease the morbidity associated with tumor management in these patients, gamma knife surgery (GKS) was performed as an alternative to resection.

Methods
Between 1990 and 2003, 42 patients underwent GKS as the primary management (19 patients) or for recurrent glomus jugulare tumors (23 patients). Facial weakness and deafness were more common in patients with recurrent tumors than in those in whom primary GKS was performed (48% compared with 11%, p = 0.02). The mean tumor volume was 13.2 cm3; the mean tumor margin dose was 14.9 Gy. The mean follow-up period for the 39 patients in whom evaluation was possible was 44 months (range 6–149 months). After GKS, 12 tumors (31%) decreased in size, 26 (67%) were unchanged, and one (2%) grew. The patient whose tumor grew underwent repeated GKS. Progression-free survival after GKS was 100% at 3 and 7 years, and 75% at 10 years. Six patients (15%) experienced new deficits (hearing loss alone in three, facial numbness and hearing loss in one, vocal cord paralysis and hearing loss in one, and temporary imbalance and/or vertigo in one). In 26 patients in whom hearing could be tested before GKS, hearing preservation was achieved in 86 and 81% at 1 and 4 years posttreatment, respectively. No patient suffered a new lower cranial nerve deficit after one GKS session; the patient in whom repeated GKS was performed experienced a new vocal cord paralysis 1 year after his second procedure.

Conclusions
Gamma knife surgery provided tumor control with a low risk of new cranial nerve injury in early follow-up review. This procedure can be safely used as a primary management tool in patients with glomus jugulare tumors that do not have significant cervical extension, or in patients with recurrent tumors in this location.
Efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery for glomus jugulare tumors
Authors: Lim Michael , Gibbs Iris C. , Adler John R. , Chang Steven D. 
Published: January 2008

Object
Since the mid-1990s the use of radiosurgery for glomus jugulare tumors has grown in popularity. Despite its increased use, follow-up periods for radiosurgery are short and the numbers of patients reported are small. To add to the available information, the authors report their experience with the application of linear accelerator (LINAC) or CyberKnife modalities in 13 patients with 16 tumors.

Methods
All patients were treated with frame-based LINAC or CyberKnife radiosurgery, with doses ranging from 1400 to 2700 cGy. Patients were retrospectively assessed for posttreatment side effects, which included hearing loss, tongue weakness, and vocal hoarseness. The patients' most recent magnetic resonance (MR) images were also assessed for changes in tumor size.
The median follow-up duration was 41 months and the mean follow-up period was 60 months. All tumors remained stable or decreased in size on follow-up MR images. All patients had stable neurological symptoms, and one experienced transient ipsilateral tongue weakness and hearing loss, both of which subsequently resolved. One patient experienced transient ipsilateral vocal cord paresis; however, this individual had received previous external-beam radiation therapy.

Conclusions
The authors' findings continue to support radiosurgery as an effective and safe method of treatment for glomus jugulare tumors that results in low rates of morbidity.
Long-term outcome after implantation of the Prestige I disc in an end-stage indication: 4-year results from a pilot study
Authors: Robertson James T. , Metcalf Newton H. 
Published: January 2008

Object
The long-term function of an artificial cervical disc device is critical to its clinical success. The Prestige I Cervical Disc System has been used clinically since June 1998, and long-term results can now begin to be assessed. The authors conducted clinical and radiographic examinations at 3 and 4 years postoperatively to evaluate the long-term performance of the Prestige I device.

Methods
A pilot trial was initiated in which the Prestige I disc was implanted in a cohort of patients with end-stage disease, who often had a history of multiple previous fusion procedures. All patients were followed according to a standardized clinical and radiographic protocol until 2 years postoperatively. Outcome measures included the Short Form–36 (SF-36) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaires, neurological status, and radiographic status. To evaluate the long-term function of the device, Ethics Committee approval was obtained to assess the patients at 3 and 4 years postoperatively. All patients were contacted, and after signing an additional informed consent document, were reevaluated according to the standardized protocol.
Of the 17 patients in the original cohort, 13 were evaluated at 3 years and 14 were evaluated at 4 years postoperatively. Clinical outcome measures including the NDI and SF-36 showed good improvement, especially when the end-stage nature of the disease is considered. Radiographic analysis showed that the Prestige I disc maintained motion at the treated segment at 3 and 4 years postoperatively.

Conclusions
In this report the authors demonstrate the clinical viability of the Prestige I cervical disc system at long-term postoperative intervals, even in the more severe biomechanical environment of end-stage disease.
An improved biomechanical testing protocol for evaluating spinal arthroplasty and motion preservation devices in a multilevel human cadaveric cervical model
Authors: DiAngelo Denis J. , Foley Kevin T. 
Published: January 2008

Object
An experimental study was performed to determine the biomechanical end-mounting configurations that replicate in vivo physiological motion of the cervical spine in a multiple-level human cadaveric model. The vertebral motion response for the modified testing protocol was compared to in vivo motion data and traditional pure-moment testing methods.

Methods
Biomechanical tests were performed on fresh human cadaveric cervical spines (C2–T1) mounted in a programmable testing apparatus. Three different end-mounting conditions were studied: pinned–pinned, pinned–fixed, and translational/pinned–fixed. The motion response of the individual segmental vertebral rotations was statistically compared using one-way analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls tests (p < 0.05 unless otherwise stated) to determine differences in the motion responses for different testing methods.

Conclusions
A translational/pinned–fixed mounting configuration induced a bending-moment distribution across the cervical spine, resulting in a motion response that closely matched the in vivo case. In contrast, application of pure-moment loading did not reproduce the physiological response and is less suitable for studying disc arthroplasty and nonfusion devices.
Effects of a cervical disc prosthesis on segmental and cervical spine alignment
Authors: Pickett Gwynedd E. , Mitsis Demytra K. , Sekhon Lali H. , Sears William R. , Duggal Neil 
Published: January 2008

Object
Cervical arthroplasty offers the promise of maintaining motion of the functional spinal unit (FSU) after anterior cervical discectomy. The impact of cervical arthroplasty on sagittal alignment of the FSU needs to be addressed, together with its effect on overall sagittal balance of the cervical spine.

Methods
The authors prospectively reviewed radiographic and clinical outcomes in 14 patients who received the Bryan Cervical Disc prosthesis (Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis, TN), for whom early (< 6 months) and late (6–24 months) follow-up data were available. Static and dynamic radiographs were measured by hand and computer to determine the angles formed by the endplates of the natural disc preoperatively, those formed by the shells of the implanted prosthesis, the angle of the FSU, and the C2–7 Cobb angle. The range of motion (ROM) was also determined radiographically, whereas clinical outcomes were assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Short Form–36 (SF-36) questionnaires.
The ROM was preserved following surgery, with a mean preoperative sagittal rotation angle of 8.96°, which was not significantly different from the late postoperative value of 8.25°. When compared with the preoperative disc space angle, the shell endplate angle in the neutral position became kyphotic in the early and late postoperative periods (mean change −3.8° in the late follow-up period; p = 0.0035). The FSU angles also became significantly more kyphotic post-operatively, with a mean change of −6° (p = 0.0006). The Cobb angles varied widely preoperatively and did not change significantly after surgery. There was no statistical correlation between the NDI and SF-36 outcomes and cervical kyphosis.

Conclusions
Cervical arthroplasty preserves motion of the FSU. Both the endplate angle of the treated disc space and the angle of the FSU became kyphotic after insertion of the Bryan prosthesis. The overall sagittal balance of the cervical spine, however, was preserved.
Cervical arthroplasty in the management of spondylotic myelopathy: 18-month results
Authors: Sekhon Lali H. S. 
Published: January 2008

Object
Cervical spinal cord compression managed via an anterior approach with an arthrodesis may be associated with a decreased range of motion and accelerated adjacent-segment degeneration. Artificial cervical disc replacement may address these problems.

Methods
The author presents a series of 11 patients (seven men and four women, ages 31–55 years) with anterior cervical decompression and placement of a total of 15 artificial disc prostheses. Clinical and radiological follow-up review was performed at 24 hours, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and then yearly (mean follow-up period 18.4 months, range 10–32 months). There were no major complications. There was an improvement in the Nurick grade by 0.91 grades (p < 0.001) and in the Oswestry Neck Disability Index by 41.5 percentage points (p < 0.001). In one case fusion was attained at 17 months postoperatively and one patient had a transient worsening of preoperative symptoms postoperatively, with focal kyphosis. The spinal cord was decompressed on postoperative imaging in all cases.

Conclusions
Cervical arthroplasty after anterior cervical decompression at one or more levels represents an exciting tool in the management of spinal cord compression caused by spondylotic disease or acute disc prolapse. Results obtained in this study add further weight to the potential role of cervical arthroplasty for cervical myelopathy and longer follow up is provided on a previously reported series. It is suggested that care must be taken in using this unconstrained prosthesis if there is a preexisting spinal deformity. Longer follow up will reveal any delayed problems with artificial disc implantation, but in the short to medium term, this technique offers an excellent outcome.
Prophylaxis for deep venous thrombosis in neurosurgical oncology: review of 2779 admissions over a 9-year period
Authors: Smith Sarah F. , Simpson Judy M. , Sekhon Lali H.S. 
Published: January 2008

Object
Management of disease in patients undergoing neurosurgical treatment for tumors requires balancing the competing risks of hemorrhage and thrombosis. The authors compared the incidence of clinically apparent deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients admitted for treatment of intracranial and spinal tumors at three institutions. At the public hospital (the Royal North Shore Hospital [RNSH]) nonsequential calf compression was used, and at the other two private neurosurgery services sequential calf compression with low-molecular-weight heparin was used in patients undergoing spinal surgery. All patients wore compression stockings and underwent follow-up scanning after surgery.

Methods
The authors identified from their neurosurgery databases 2779 discharges of patients with tumor from the RNSH and private hospitals between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2003. Patient admissions were relatively well matched for age, sex, duration of stay, and tumor type. For patients who underwent spinal surgery, the incidence of DVT was higher in the RNSH (2.6% of admissions) than in private hospitals, where no case of DVT was seen (p = 0.02). The incidence of PE was higher in admissions patients who had been treated for cranial tumors in the RNSH (2.9%) than in those treated in the private hospitals (1.3%, p = 0.01).
Possible reasons for these discrepancies include a higher proportion of ambulatory patients before and after surgery in the group treated at private hospitals. More emergency and semi-emergency surgery was performed in the RNSH than in the private hospitals. Nevertheless, fewer patients discharged from the RNSH had undergone surgery, which is a known risk factor for DVT.

Conclusions
Patients with intracranial tumors had a higher incidence of PE than those with spinal tumors. The incidence of DVT and PE was higher in patients admitted to the public hospital. The incidence of DVT in patients undergoing spinal procedures was lower when low-molecular-weight heparin was used judiciously, but the incidence of PE in patients undergoing cranial procedures was lower with the private hospital protocol, which did not include prophylaxis with anticoagulating agents.
Prophylactic placement of an inferior vena cava filter in high-risk patients undergoing spinal reconstruction
Authors: Rosner Michael K. , Kuklo Timothy R. , Tawk Rabih , Moquin Ross , Ondra Stephen L. 
Published: January 2008

Object
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement in high-risk patients who undergo major spine reconstruction.

Methods
In the pilot study, 22 patients undergoing major spine reconstruction received prophylactic IVC filters. These patients were prospectively followed to evaluate complications related to the filter, the rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) formation, and the rate of pulmonary embolism (PE). These data were compared with those obtained in a retrospective review for PE in a matched cohort treated at the same institution. At a second institution the treatment guidelines were implemented in 17 patients undergoing complex spine surgery with the same follow-up criteria.
In the pilot study, no patient experienced PE (0%), whereas two had DVT (9%). Bilateral DVT developed postoperatively in one patient (associated morbidity rate 4.5%), who required thrombolytic therapy. One patient died of unrelated surgical complications. The PE rate in the matched cohort at the same institution was 12%. At the second institution, no patient had PE, and no complications were noted.

Conclusions
In this patient population, prophylactic IVC filter placement appears to decrease the PE rate substantially, from 12 to 0%. The placement of IVC filters appears to be a safe and efficacious intervention for prevention of PE in high-risk patients.
Combined endovascular and microsurgical management of giant and complex unruptured aneurysms
Authors: Ponce Francisco A. , Albuquerque Felipe C. , McDougall Cameron G. , Han Patrick P. , Zabramski Joseph M. , Spetzler Robert F. 
Published: January 2008

Object
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and describe the technical features of combined endovascular and microsurgical treatments for complex and giant unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Methods
A prospectively maintained database was reviewed to identify all patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms who were treated with combined techniques. Twenty-one lesions were treated in as many patients: six lesions involved the posterior cerebral artery (PCA); seven the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA); two the basilar apex; two the basilar trunk; and one each the anterior communicating artery, anterior cerebral artery, petrous ICA, and cervical ICA. Aneurysms were treated with combined extracranial–intracranial bypass procedures and parent-vessel occlusion, flow redirection, or arterial transposition.
Aneurysm occlusion was achieved in 20 patients. In the remaining patient the aneurysm recurred, requiring stent-assisted repeated coil placement. Three patients suffered permanent neurological deficits related to treatment, and three died, two of whom had basilar trunk aneurysms.

Conclusions
Certain complex aneurysms may be treated optimally by combining endovascular and surgical procedures. A low incidence of complications follows treatment of anterior circulation aneurysms. Treatment of complex posterior circulation aneurysms is associated with a higher incidence of complications, although this likely reflects the more complex nature of these lesions. The risks of this combined treatment strategy are likely lower than the risks associated with the natural history of this subset of aneurysms.
Paracervical abscesses as life-threatening complications of outpatient pain treatment
Authors: Schütze Michael , Piek Jürgen 
Published: January 2008

The authors present three cases of iatrogenic paracervical abscesses caused by infiltration therapy of pain medications used in conservative treatment in patients with chronic cervicobrachialgia. All three patients had received this therapy several times before presenting with clinical signs of a local infection. The diagnosis was made based on results of the clinical examination, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging. The organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus in all cases. After immediate surgery and long-term antibiotic therapy, all patients had a good outcome.
The authors conclude that infectious complications after invasive outpatient treatment often go undiagnosed, but as shown in these three cases can lead to acute and sometimes life-threatening complications. If the disease is diagnosed early, immediate surgical evacuation combined with antibiotic therapy results in recovery. For medicolegal reasons it should kept in mind that even a routine injection may lead to such complications.
Sagittal alignment and the Bryan cervical artificial disc
Authors: Johnson J. Patrick , Lauryssen Carl , Cambron Helen O. , Pashman Robert , Regan John J. , Anand Neel , Bray Robert 
Published: January 2008

Object
The authors evaluated cervical spine radiographs to determine sagittal alignment in patients who underwent one- or two-level arthroplasty with the Bryan cervical artificial disc prosthesis.

Methods
The curvature of the surgically treated spinal segments and the overall curvature of the cervical spine were evaluated in 13 patients who underwent 16 cervical arthroplasty device placements. Preoperative and postoperative lateral radiographs were reviewed and compared using standardized techniques for measuring spinal curvature. Patients who underwent a single-level cervical arthroplasty had a 4.7° mean reduction (p < 0.05) in lordosis after cervical artificial disc replacement. The three patients who underwent two-level cervical arthroplasty had no significant changes in the sagittal alignment.

Conclusions
Patients who underwent arthroplasty with a Bryan cervical artificial disc had a focal loss of lordosis (that is, kyphosis) at the treated levels after single-level procedures. Nevertheless, there was no significant change in the overall sagittal curvature of the cervical spine after single-level artificial disc replacements. The patients who underwent two-level artificial disc placement had no significant changes in lordosis at the treated levels or in the overall curvature. The likely source of this outcome appears to be the endplate milling procedures that reorient the vertebral endplates.
Procedure complications of carotid angioplasty and stent placement without cerebral protection devices
Authors: Kadkhodayan Yasha , Derdeyn Colin P. , Cross Dewitte T. , Moran Christopher J. 
Published: January 2008

Object
The goal in this retrospective study was to examine the procedural complication rate for carotid angioplasty and stent placement performed without cerebral protection devices.

Methods
Between March 1996 and December 2003, 167 carotid angioplasty and/or stent placement procedures were performed without cerebral protection devices in 152 patients (57 women and 95 men whose mean age was 64 years, range 19–92 years). Seven of these patients underwent angioplasty alone. Eighty-nine patients presented with focal neurological symptoms. Indications for surgery included atherosclerosis, radiation-associated stenosis, dissection, pseudoaneurysm, and stretched endovascular coils from aneurysm treatment. In this study, the patients' medical records were reviewed for clinical characteristics, techniques used, and resulting intraprocedural and 30-day complication rates.
The intraprocedural stroke rate was four (2.4%) of 167; this included three hemispheric strokes and one retinal embolus. All events occurred in patients who had symptomatic stenosis. The procedural transient ischemic complication rate was six (3.6%) of 167, as was the procedural nonneurological complication rate. During the 30 days post-procedure, one patient had died and three had suffered permanent ischemic events (two cerebral and one ocular). The composite 30-day postprocedural stroke and death rate was eight (5%) of 160. The rate of asymptomatic angiographically confirmed abnormalities was 0.6% (one treated vessel that was occluded but asymptomatic). The 30-day rate of nonneurological complications was 2.5%. A strong association between intraprocedural thromboembolic events (eight cases) and prior ischemic symptoms was found (p = 0.01).

Conclusions
Carotid angioplasty and stent placement without cerebral protection devices is safe, particularly in patients without symptomatic stenosis.
Endovascular management of carotid artery disease after radiation therapy and radical neck dissection
Authors: Ecker Robert D. , Donovan Maureen T. , Hopkins L. Nelson 
Published: January 2008

Object
More patients with head and neck cancers who undergo radical neck dissection and adjuvant radiation are experiencing prolonged survival times. Because of their improved survival, patients are living long enough to suffer the delayed effects of radiation therapy. Radiation-induced carotid artery (CA) stenosis in patients with or without radical neck dissection often requires extensive exposure and vessel reconstruction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of endovascular treatment as an alternative therapy for radiation-induced CA stenosis.

Methods
Coinciding with the improved longevity of these patients, CA angioplasty and stent placement has become a definitive treatment strategy for this particularly challenging group of individuals. Long lesions are easily addressed with multiple telescoped stents. The tendency toward early restenosis can now be addressed with cutting balloon angioplasty. A review of the authors' institutional database yielded five patients (four men and one woman) with a history of radiation treatment ipsilateral to their CA stenosis. Three of five patients were symptomatic, and the interval between radiation therapy and endovascular treatment ranged from 1 to 47 years (mean 16.6 years). Four of the five patients were treated using distal embolic protection devices, and all patients underwent balloon dilation after stent placement.

Conclusions
As advancements are made in the technology and techniques for CA angioplasty and stent placement, the safety and durability of treatments in patients with radiation-induced atherosclerotic disease will improve.