Articles tagged with Neurosurgery
Researchers developed a cost-effective two-part model of the skull using multimaterial 3D printers to simulate human tissues. The model's versatility and realism enable more effective neuronavigation techniques training.
A new study by Henry Ford Hospital researchers found that 92% of epilepsy surgery patients are satisfied with the results, experiencing improved driving ability, employment status, and reduced antidepressant use. Patients who underwent temporal resection had significant improvements in these areas, particularly those with favorable sei...
Research reveals that congenital heart defects can have a lasting impact on brain development in children, with smaller brain volumes associated with learning difficulties. Brain changes may already exist before surgery, reducing the risk of neurological complications.
Researchers recorded individual nerve cells in the amygdala of patients with high-functioning autism and found a specific type of neuron responding abnormally to the mouth region. The study provides new insights into mechanisms underlying autism symptoms and opens the door for further studies.
Faculty members with NIH grant funding have significantly higher h-index values than those without funding, indicating greater scholarly impact. Higher academic ranks are also associated with increased h-index and NIH funding amounts among NIH-funded faculty members.
A new biosensor developed by Johns Hopkins University researchers can detect a protein associated with brain injuries, alerting doctors to devise new treatments or begin treatment more quickly. The device could help minimize brain damage and improve long-term outcomes for patients who undergo heart surgery.
Researchers have identified a new way to determine precisely what portions of the brain suffer from epilepsy, improving surgical outcome accuracy and efficiency. Using intracranial electroencephalography, they found that patients' preoperative functional neural connectivity was strongly associated with successful surgery outcomes.
A study published in Neural Regeneration Research found that a nanofibrous PHBV conduit can repair long-segment sciatic nerve defects with similar functional recovery rates to autologous nerve grafting. The conduit's flexible and porous structure allows for optimal nutrient transport, making it suitable for long-term use.
Neurosurgeon residents at UCSF implemented a quality improvement program to reduce unnecessary diagnostic laboratory tests, resulting in a 47% decrease and cost savings of $1.7 million. Patient care was not compromised, and the program improved patient satisfaction and reduced hospital costs.
Researchers found a significant reduction in deaths among New York State patients with severe traumatic brain injury between 2001 and 2009. Adherence to the Guidelines for Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury increased over time, leading to improved outcomes.
A team of pediatric neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists at Johns Hopkins developed a way to minimize radiation exposure in children requiring repeat CT scans of the brain. They reduced exposure without compromising diagnostic accuracy or treatment decisions.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Neurosurgery found that surgery can be an effective treatment option for older epilepsy patients, with 74% remaining seizure-free compared to 58% of younger patients. However, caution is needed regarding postoperative memory decline in older adults.
A telestroke service increased the rate of effective tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) therapy for patients with acute ischemic stroke treated at community hospitals. This improvement in care resulted from the use of remote presence technology, allowing stroke specialists to consult on patient care without specialized equipment.
Researchers identified propofol's binding site on brain cells, paving the way for the development of new anesthetics. The study's findings could lead to safer and more effective treatments with fewer side effects.
Researchers found that the procedure was successful in 89% of patients with symptomatic carotid artery occlusion, allowing for recanalization through imaging examination findings. The study's results suggest a treatment approach based on imaging exam findings can effectively restore blood flow to affected areas.
A study of hospital discharges for subarachnoid hemorrhage reveals racial and ethnic disparities in mortality rates and need for institutional care. Hispanic patients were least likely to die or require institutional care, while Asian/Pacific Islander patients were most likely to experience poor outcomes.
A study published in Neurosurgery found that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) increases the risk of benign tumors, particularly those affecting the nervous system. In contrast, BMP has no association with an increased risk of malignant cancers.
A study by University of Utah bioengineers found that visual cues can dominate sound perception, leading to the McGurk effect. The team used brain signal recordings to demonstrate how vision overrides hearing in certain conditions.
A team of researchers led by WPI's Gregory Fischer will test a new minimally invasive approach to treating brain tumors using a robot designed to work within an MRI scanner. The system promises to accurately destroy malignant tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unaffected, offering a significant improvement over current treatments.
A randomized clinical trial found a significant increase in cerebral vasospasm and EVD-related complications when CSF was drained continuously in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The study, halted early due to high complication rates, suggests continuous drainage may not be the best method for intracranial pressure management.
A new image-guided surgical system uses steerable needles to penetrate the brain and remove blood clots with minimal damage. The system has shown promising results in removing up to 92% of simulated blood clots, offering a new treatment option for patients with life-threatening hemorrhages.
Recent studies have reported discouraging results for endovascular treatment of acute stroke, but a commentary suggests it remains a viable option for certain patients. A new study also finds no evidence that obesity affects outcomes in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.
Researchers found a reliable D-dimer plasma level threshold for detecting venous thromboembolism after craniotomy, indicating high sensitivity and specificity. A postoperative D-dimer threshold of 2 mg/L is proposed, with higher levels associated with pulmonary embolism.
Researchers discovered that significant others' excessive fears about SAH recurrence negatively impact patients' psychosocial recovery. Patients whose significant others were the most fearful experienced compromised recovery, with worse general health and limitations in everyday activities.
A study in Neurosurgery finds that most professional athletes can return to competition within a year after vertebral fusion surgery on the upper (cervical) spine. Another study analyzes variations in treatment for patients with minor head injuries seen in emergency departments versus doctors' offices.
The hospital's aggressive approach helped manage brain swelling, stop seizures, and minimize brain injury in the patient. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the U.S., with a mortality rate of approximately 33%.
Dr. Gary Mathern, a pediatric neurosurgeon at UCLA, was honored with the Ambassador for Epilepsy Award for his significant work in improving clinical care for children with medically refractory epilepsy. His research has led to breakthrough discoveries on mechanisms of the disease process and how seizures develop in the brain.
The study found that it took a mean of 5.2 physician visits to obtain the correct diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), highlighting delays in diagnosis due to lack of awareness among primary care physicians and community-based orthopedic surgeons.
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) improve patient survival prediction in advanced brain cancers, with a pooled voting method correctly predicting risk of death within one year in 84% of patients. A new proposal calls for medical professionals and specialty societies to play an increased role in evaluating 'off-label' uses of medications.
Research findings suggest that active smoking significantly increases perioperative complications, including intraoperative blood loss, delayed wound healing, and adverse cardiopulmonary effects. Neurosurgeons are urged to advise patients to quit smoking before surgery to minimize risks.
A new formula predicts when brain haemorrhage patients need surgery for the best outcome, helping ensure the right treatment at the right time. This study aims to improve patient survival rates and independence.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 can prevent and treat postoperative cognitive dysfunctions by resolving inflammation. The study found that treatment with a single dose of AT-RvD1 protected the brain from memory dysfunction after surgery.
A new study identifies larger arachnoid cysts and recent head trauma as key risk factors for rupture or bleeding in children. The study found that the risk of rupture was significantly higher for children with larger cysts, with an estimated 16 times greater risk for cysts measuring five centimeters or larger.
A study of 16 newborns with posterior fossa subdural hematoma (PFSDH) found that most infants survived and had relatively minor neurological abnormalities, even in severe cases. Surgery was successful in eliminating the hematoma and normalizing intracranial pressure.
Researchers found that all modern helmets provided significantly more protection than vintage leather helmets, reducing concussion risk by up to 96%. Modern helmets with lower star ratings had greater peak accelerations than higher-rated ones, highlighting the importance of helmet testing methodologies.
Two new papers highlight the risks of dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa) in cases of closed head injuries, showing a higher mortality rate and increased risk of hemorrhage progression. The studies emphasize the need for effective anticoagulation reversal protocols to improve patient outcomes.
Michel M. Modo and Thomas B. Freeman received the 2013 Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair for their groundbreaking work in neurorestorative biology, stem cell transplantation, and Parkinson's disease research. The awards recognize their outstanding contributions to advancing neural therapy and brain repair.
During the April 2011 tornado disaster, neurosurgeons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center treated patients with spinal cord injuries, most of which were limited to the thoracic and lumbar regions. The authors highlight the importance of disaster preparedness in treating such injuries.
A nationwide program by the Society of Neurological Surgeons has been shown to retain knowledge and skills acquired by PGY1 residents through hands-on learning. The program, which includes patient care and surgical simulations, has demonstrated significant effectiveness in improving residency experiences and patient outcomes.
Researchers explore the potential of EVs as biomarkers, delivery vehicles, and immune modulatory tools for brain cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Extracellular vesicles may provide a way for tumor cells to alter the microenvironment, enabling growth and spread while evading immune responses.
Researchers developed a quick and simple fMRI task to localize critical brain areas governing speech and other functions. The new protocol accurately localized the anterior and posterior language areas of the brain in about 90% of subjects, including patients undergoing surgery for epilepsy or tumors.
A team of researchers has developed a verification method to detect software bugs in surgical robots, ensuring their safety and effectiveness. The method, based on theorem-proving techniques, identified a critical flaw in the control algorithm for a robot assisting skull-base surgery, allowing the development of a new safe algorithm.
Brain researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have discovered that healthy observers and neurological patients scan visual scenes with the same general strategy, regardless of scene size or fixation status. This finding challenges previous concepts of exploration and fixation as fundamentally different behaviors.
Researchers at Penn Medicine developed a personalized brain mapping technique using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to preserve language, visual, and motor functions during brain tumor surgeries. This technique improved accuracy and extended survival in some cases, with a median survival time of 21.2 months.
Researchers recommend radiosurgery for treating unruptured AVMs due to its reasonable benefit-to-risk profile. The procedure resulted in AVM obliteration in 62% of patients, with a reduced annual hemorrhage rate compared to left untreated AVMs.
A Phase II clinical trial found that combining hyperbaric oxygen therapy with normobaric hyperoxia improves neurological recovery in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. The treatment reduced mortality rates, improved cerebral oxidative metabolism, and lowered intracranial hypertension.
The updated SEEG technique combines sophisticated imaging data reconstructions and robot-assisted surgery to provide essential information in complex cases of drug-resistant epilepsy. The new workflow reduces procedural error risks and improves accuracy in localizing the epileptogenic zone.
Surviving patients with ruptured aneurysms have persistent problems in key areas affecting quality of life, including mobility and anxiety/depression. Long-term follow-up care plans are necessary to address these challenges.
Researchers found a high prevalence of low T3 syndrome before and after surgery, associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes and depressive symptoms. Perioperative low T3 syndrome was linked to a five-fold increased risk of poor outcome.
A study published in Neurosurgery found that patients undergoing cerebral angiography and neurointerventional procedures are at a very low risk of infection, even without preventive antibiotics. The authors suggest that the minimally invasive nature and short duration of these procedures may contribute to this low risk.
A team of UCSF researchers has uncovered the neurological basis of speech motor control, revealing a hierarchical and cyclical structure that exerts split-second control over articulators in fluent speech. The study has potential implications for developing computer-brain interfaces and treating speech disorders.
Researchers describe the use of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence to guide resection of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, revealing a pathway of tumor spread through brain regions inaccessible to MRI. This technique increases the success of achieving maximum resection.
A recent study found that 25% of hospital readmissions for spine surgery patients were not due to true quality-of-care issues. Planned readmissions, unrelated surgeries, and rescheduled procedures were among the cases not counted against hospitals. The study suggests modifying the calculation method to make it more clinically relevant.
A study published in Neurosurgery found that subcortical damage during awake craniotomy for brain tumor surgery can lead to worsening neurological deficits. The researchers analyzed data from 241 patients and found that 36 developed new neurological abnormalities while the surgeon was operating in the subcortex.
A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove blood clots in brain tissue after hemorrhagic stroke appears safe and effective in improving long-term disability and reducing hospital time. The study found that patients treated with the surgery had less disability, spent less time in the hospital, and were less likely to be in a long...
Researchers found that minimally invasive delivery of tPA directly into brain clots improved functional recovery in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, reducing hospital stays and costs. Patients who received the active tPA treatment recovered more quickly and independently after a year.
Researchers confirm the value of the Pipeline embolization device in treating difficult-to-reach brain aneurysms. The study showed that the device is a safe and effective tool for patients, with 68% achieving complete occlusion of their aneurysm.
A new study by UCSF neurosurgeon Christopher Ames and orthopedic surgeon Vedat Deviren found that complex spinal surgeries with two attending physicians were significantly shorter, averaging five hours instead of eight, and resulted in less blood loss, fewer major complications, and shorter hospital stays.
A new robot technology called RP-7 enables remote presence in programming brain and spine stimulators, allowing non-expert nurses to be guided by specialists. The study found no significant difference in accuracy or clinical outcomes between remote-presence and conventional programming.
A new tool has been developed to help brain surgeons diagnose cancer and detect tumor boundaries more accurately. The tool uses mass spectrometry analysis to analyze brain tissue and produces a color-coded image revealing the nature and concentration of tumor cells.