Articles tagged with Neurosurgery
A new study questions the need for routinely obtaining repeated CT scans in patients with mild head trauma, suggesting that it is unnecessary when patients are unchanged or improving neurologically. The study found that only two patients had a change in treatment based solely on routine repeated CT scans.
The January issue of Neurosurgical Focus explores the science of neurosurgical practice, shifting priorities from medical discoveries to patient safety, quality of care, and economic implications. Professional societies have launched a national practice data collection platform, N2QOD, to advance quality and outcomes.
The use of virtual reality (VR) and robotic technologies is expanding in neurosurgery, providing opportunities for training, planning, and performance. However, significant technical and economic challenges must be overcome before these technologies become widely used.
A study by neurologists at Henry Ford Hospital found that brain surgery for refractory localization-related epilepsy can lead to significant long-term benefits, with 73% achieving favorable seizure outcomes and 28% experiencing seizure freedom. The researchers tracked 470 patients over 15 years after surgery.
The Pipeline embolization device shows encouraging results in patients with certain types of difficult-to-treat brain aneurysms, including a 68% complete blockage rate. However, the data also show substantial risks, including major complications and fatal bleeding, particularly for aneurysms in specific locations.
New research reveals higher concussion incidence rates in female hockey players compared to males, emphasizing the need for reevaluation of concussion definition. Advanced imaging techniques and neuropsychological assessments were used to track changes in brain function over an entire season.
A higher density of neurologists and neurosurgeons in the US is associated with a decreased risk of death from stroke, according to a new study. The study found that an increase of one neuroscience provider per million population was linked to 0.38 fewer deaths from stroke per million population.
Pituitary centers of excellence could provide optimal clinical management for patients with pituitary tumors, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary collaborative environments. The proposal suggests three key missions: comprehensive patient care, residency training, and research contributions.
A new study found that rapid tumor growth in pregnant women with meningiomas is linked to blood flow changes, not hormonal fluctuations. Most of the tumors showed an unusual 'hypervascular' pattern and high edema rates.
A new Johns Hopkins research suggests that uninsured brain cancer patients are twice as likely to die in the hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor. Despite this, patients with government-subsidized insurance through Medicaid had survival rates closer to those with private insurance.
A study published in Archives of Surgery found that uninsured patients with brain tumors had higher in-hospital mortality rates than privately insured patients. The disparity was pronounced in teaching hospitals, highlighting the need for further research into insurance-related disparities in medical outcomes.
A study published in Neurosurgery found that limiting neurosurgery residents' work hours hasn't decreased complication rates, but actually increased them in teaching hospitals. Complication rates remained stable in non-teaching hospitals.
A recent study in Neurosurgical Focus highlights the importance of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative processes in reducing neurosurgery-related adverse events. The authors propose a national registry for outcome data and monitoring, as well as standardization of specialized equipment and evidence-based guidelines.
A recent Johns Hopkins study found that repeated surgeries to remove glioblastomas, the most aggressive brain tumors, can increase median survival time from 14 months to 26.6 months. This may be due to increased efficacy of radiation and chemotherapy with each successive surgery.
A joint UMCP and UMB research project has been awarded a new $2 million grant to continue developing a small robot that could aid neurosurgeons in removing difficult-to-reach brain tumors. The robot, called MINIR-II, is fully MRI-compatible and will be controlled by the physician, with targeting information obtained from real-time MRI.
Patients who underwent weight loss surgery reported an initial decrease in substance use, but improvements were short-lived. By 24 months post-surgery, there was a significant increase in substance use, including drug use, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking.
A study of 38 premature babies from low-income families found a higher risk of brain bleeds, fewer follow-up appointments, and more ER visits compared to those from higher-income families. The findings highlight the critical need for better identification of high-risk pregnancies and reduction of premature births.
A study by Loyola University Medical Center neurosurgeon Beejal Amin found that 25% of spine surgery patients' readmissions were not due to true quality-of-care issues. This suggests the current calculation method overstated true spine surgery-related readmissions.
A study of 486,000 head impacts in 450 athletes found that concussions diagnosed by trainers had a wide range of symptoms and symptoms onset times. The authors highlight the heterogeneity in concussion diagnoses and emphasize the need for further investigation to determine predictors of long-term risks.
A nationwide hospital database analysis found no significant difference in the risk of death for operations performed in July compared to all other months. The complication rate was also similar, with rates ranging from 1.4% to 7.2%. The results suggest that there is no 'July phenomenon' affecting neurosurgical risks.
A virtual reality simulator called NeuroTouch provides neurosurgery trainees with valuable opportunities to practice essential skills and techniques for brain cancer surgery. The system uses 3-D graphics and haptic technology to simulate common tasks and tools, allowing surgeons to practice basic surgical skills.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that surgery itself has a profound impact on brain pathology and cognition in mice with human Alzheimer disease genes. Surgery causes a lasting increase in Alzheimer's pathology and significant cognitive impairment, primarily through inflammation.
A study published in Neurosurgery found that women with moyamoya disease are at higher risk of adverse outcomes, including stroke, after surgical treatment. Despite this, both men and women experience significant improvements in health and functioning after surgery.
Scientists at UCLA and the Technion have identified two brain regions that encode vowel pronunciation. The discovery may lead to new technology that verbalizes unspoken words of people paralyzed by injury or disease.
Scientists at UCLA and the Technion have unraveled how our brain cells encode vowel pronunciation in speech. They found two distinct areas in the brain responsible for this process, one responding to all vowels and another firing exclusively for specific vowels.
A study published in Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management found that therapeutic hypothermia can limit the devastating consequences of brain injury after cardiac arrest. The survey results show a wide variation in patient selection criteria for therapeutic hypothermia across New Jersey hospitals.
A study found that higher population density of neurosurgeons in the US is associated with lower mortality rates from motor vehicle accidents, which are often caused by traumatic brain injuries. Rural areas tend to experience more MVA-related deaths due to slower medical response times and reduced access to trauma resources.
The study found that while initial results of 2-level axial lumbar interbody fusion were promising, complications arose within 2 years, including screw breakage and rod detachment. Solid spinal fusion was achieved in only 8% of patients at 24 months postoperatively.
New research establishes a link between postoperative delirium and prolonged loss of cognitive function in cardiac surgery patients. Interventions to prevent delirium may help cardiac patients avoid long-term cognitive consequences.
The University of Akron has established a Conquer Chiari Research Center to improve diagnosis and treatment of Chiari malformation, a disorder causing head, neck, and shoulder pain. Researchers will use computational fluid dynamics to simulate brain fluid flow, helping determine if surgery is warranted.
Researchers found that a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury, while a Western diet caused measurable walking problems. The study suggests that dietary supplements may help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.
Researchers found that a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin can protect the injured spinal cord and minimize clinical and biochemical effects of myelopathy in rats. The combination reduces inflammation, provides structural material to plasma membranes, and produces strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
A study in Neurosurgery found that surgeons with low experience (less than 4 procedures/year) have higher complication rates for spinal stenosis surgery. Hospital volume was unrelated to complication rates, suggesting individual surgeon expertise is key.
New research from Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that patients with a past history of skin infection are three times more likely to develop painful and costly surgical site infections during operations. Despite following proper procedures to prevent SSIs, some patients appear to be more susceptible to contracting an infection due to un...
A study published in Neurosurgery found that surgical and nonsurgical treatment for C2 fractures in older adults resulted in similar short- and long-term outcomes, including mortality rates and complication rates. The researchers analyzed the outcomes of 56 older adults treated for C2 fractures over a ten-year period.
A 71-year-old man regained partial thumb and finger movement after undergoing nerve transfer surgery to bypass a cervical spinal cord injury. The procedure, described as reducing the severity of the injury by placing healthy motor nerves close to damaged ones, took less time than traditional repair methods.
A new UCLA study reveals that a high-fructose diet can slow the brain and impair memory and learning. However, adding omega-3 fatty acids to the diet may help minimize this damage.
Researchers developed a non-invasive monitoring technique to assess changes in brain arteries, detecting brain damage in 61 children undergoing heart repair surgery. The 'hemoglobin volume index' allowed for real-time detection of brain injury and potential adjustments to blood pressure management.
A new study from UCSF found that brain surgery for epilepsy has not increased in the decade since a landmark clinical trial demonstrated its effectiveness. Despite this, thousands of Americans suffer from uncontrolled seizures each year, highlighting disparities by race and insurance status.
Scientists from UCSF used brain recordings to decode which speaker a subject was listening to, even when multiple voices were present. The study sheds light on the human brain's ability to focus on one voice in noisy environments, with implications for language learning disorders and neuroprosthetic devices.
Researchers found carotid endarterectomy to be a safe, less expensive treatment option for certain patients at risk for stroke. Mayo Clinic neurosurgeons also present findings on intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas and giant aneurysms using flow diversion.
A case report reveals the devastating consequences of dabigatran-induced brain hemorrhage, emphasizing the importance of rapid assessment and intervention after minor head trauma in patients taking anticoagulant medications. The study's findings underscore the need for medical providers to be aware of this high-risk complication.
A powerful new imaging technique called High Definition Fiber Tracking (HDFT) has been developed to clearly see for the first time neural connections broken by traumatic brain injury. HDFT scans have identified disruptions in neural pathways, allowing researchers to pinpoint breaks in the cables and quantify the proportion of fibers lost.
Researchers found that padding reduced linear impact dosages, but did not eliminate rotational injury risk. They also discovered a heightened risk of brain strain injury in both boxing and MMA, despite padding, emphasizing the need for improved protective measures.
Researchers at UCLA have found that stimulating a critical junction in the brain can improve memory in human patients. The study focuses on the entorhinal cortex, which plays a crucial role in transforming daily experiences into lasting memories.
A 26-year study found that nearly half of epilepsy surgery patients were free of disabling seizures, while 80% reported better quality of life. The study suggests increased use of surgical intervention could offer patients long-term seizure control and improved lives.
Researchers found that downregulation of CD97 gene expression by suppressing Wilms tumor 1 protein results in reduced cellular invasiveness exhibited by glial tumor cells, correlating with glioma cell invasiveness and proposed as a new target for anti-glioma therapies.
A comparative study has found that stenting and surgery for blocked neck arteries are equally effective in preventing repeat blockages. The study showed identical rates of recurring blockage at 5.8% after both procedures, with no significant difference in the risk of stroke.
Researchers tested ice hockey, alpine ski, and bicycling helmets to protect young children's heads during winter sports. The study found that no helmet provided adequate protection for all types of impacts, highlighting the need for a new type of winter play helmet.
Researchers found changes in motor cortex of the brain in patients with spinal cord compression, which may impact surgical procedures and patient outcomes. The study also identified a 15% decrease in N-acetylaspartate levels, suggesting potential implications for reversibility and treatment.
Physicians at Barrow Neurological Institute have written a biography of Ukrainian anatomist Vladimir Betz, who discovered giant pyramidal neurons known as Betz cells. These cells' function with cortical organization was a turning point in neuroscience, revolutionizing cell fixation and staining methods.
Research suggests that surprising good or bad outcomes drive learning, with neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex and caudate nucleus processing unexpected rewards and disappointments similarly. This finding may inform future therapies to accelerate re-learning in patients with brain damage.
Dr. R. Michael Scott has made groundbreaking innovations in pial synangiosis and novel advances in neurosurgery, transforming the field of pediatric neurosurgery. The Children's Department of Neurosurgery under his tenure experienced significant growth, becoming the largest pediatric neurosurgery department worldwide.
A Journal of the American College of Surgeons study found that malpractice lawsuits against US surgeons can lead to depression, stress, and professional dissatisfaction. The study also showed that surgical specialties such as neurosurgery and cardiothoracic surgery report high rates of malpractice lawsuits.
A surgical procedure aimed at bypassing a blocked brain artery did not lower the subsequent stroke rate after 2 years, compared to those who did not have the surgery. Patients who made it through the first month without a stroke had their risk of subsequent stroke almost cut by three-fourths.
University Hospitals neurosurgeons champion brain bypass in select patients with complex brain aneurysms or cerebrovascular disorders. The procedure can reduce stroke risk and improve symptoms in young patients with moyamoya syndrome.
Researchers warn that forced migration due to climate change will have calamitous results if not planned carefully. The team emphasizes the need for informed decision makers and careful planning to avoid community devastation. Resettlement efforts have left millions impoverished in the past, highlighting the complexities of the task.
Scientists developed a new tool to identify cancerous and healthy brain tissue, allowing for more precise tumor removal and reduced risk of recurrence. The tool, combining an ultrasonic aspirator with a mass spectrometer, proved successful on human brain samples in half the time previously needed.
Around half of adults undergoing surgery for epilepsy are seizure-free after 10 years, with improved outcomes seen for those with anterior temporal resections. The study highlights the need for further improvements in presurgical assessment and surgical treatment to increase success rates.
Researchers recorded novel responses to human faces from single neurons in humans, revealing a new insight into the neural basis of social perception. The findings suggest that the brain is highly sensitive to representing entire faces and responding strongly to anything wrong with the face.