Incidence and management of traumatic vertebral artery injuries: wartime experience in Ukraine.

OBJECTIVE: Modern combat-related vertebral artery (VA) injuries are increasingly being diagnosed, but the management of such injuries remains controversial. The authors report the frequency and characteristics of combat-related penetrating VA injuries and the indications for endovascular treatment, as well as analyze their treatment outcomes. METHODS: A 1-year prospective study was completed at a civilian medical center in Dnipro, Ukraine, in all patients with VA injuries sustained during the Russian invasion in the 1st year of war. The authors evaluated the location, type, and severity of the VA injuries and concomitant injuries, as well as the type of intervention and outcomes at 1 month. RESULTS: In total, 279 wounded patients underwent cerebral angiography and 30 (10.8%) patients had VA injuries. All patients were male. There were 28 soldiers and 2 civilians with a mean age of 37.5 years. Four (13.3%) patients had Bissl grade I injuries, 4 (13.3%) had grade II injuries, 4 (13.3%) had grade III injuries (pseudoaneurysm), and 18 (60.0%) had grade IV injuries (occlusion). Four (13.3%) patients underwent emergency open surgical intervention. Fourteen (46.7%) patients underwent endovascular intervention. There was a significant relationship between the anatomical level of the VA injury and surgical intervention (p < 0.05). Endovascular intervention was correlated with the severity of vascular injury to the VA, with 12.5% of the patients receiving intervention for grade I and II lesions and 59.1% receiving intervention for grade III and IV lesions (p < 0.05). The overall mortality in the study group was 6.7% (n = 2), and both died of ischemic complications. CONCLUSIONS: In modern armed conflicts, VA injuries are much more common than reported for previous wars. With the available modern endovascular technology, cerebral angiography is warranted for suspected VA injury and allows for both the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries. Whether endovascular intervention is performed depends on the level and severity of VA injury, severity of concomitant injuries, and presence of collateral circulation.

Wartime penetrating skull base trauma with unpredictable internal fragment ricochet and migration: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Transnasal transsphenoidal penetrating craniocerebral injury is very rare even in wartime. Cases with good outcomes are even less common. OBSERVATIONS: A 20-year-old male sustained multiple fragment wounds to his head and face from a landmine explosion. One metal fragment entered his right nostril, traversed the nasal septum and anterior sphenoid sinus, and ricocheted superiorly off the clivus. The fragment then traveled almost to the surface of the left parietal lobe. Subsequently, under its own weight, it migrated back down its original track. The patient suffered cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, pneumocephalus, and right-sided hemiparesis. Digital subtraction angiography was followed by microscopic transnasal skull base reconstruction supplemented by external lumbar drainage. Follow-up brain computed tomogrpahy showed further metallic fragment migration through the ventricular system. The fragment was removed through a transcortical approach. The patient's neurological examination and brain magnetic resonance imaging results demonstrated good recovery. LESSONS: The absence of external signs of deep injuries does not exclude the presence of a penetrating craniocerebral injury. Metal fragments may undergo ricochet and internal migration in both the brain parenchyma and the ventricular system. Timely diagnosis including three-dimensional reconstruction of a projectile's trajectory may facilitate appropriate surgical planning in complex cases. Intraventricular fragment migration may necessitate microsurgical removal. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24128.

Early Challenges in the Implementation of Automated CranialRebuild Freeware for Generation of Patient-Specific Cranial Implant Using Additive Manufacturing: A Pilot Project in Review.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a significant global health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to medical resources is limited. Decompressive craniectomy (DHC) is a common procedure to alleviate elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) following TBI, but the cost of subsequent cranioplasty can be prohibitive, especially in resource-constrained settings. We describe challenges encountered during the beta-testing phase of CranialRebuild 1.0, an automated software program tasked with creating patient-specific cranial implants (PSCIs) from CT images. Two pilot clinical teams in the Philippines and Ukraine tested the software, providing feedback on its functionality and challenges encountered. The constructive feedback from the Philippine and Ukrainian teams highlighted challenges related to CT scan parameters, DICOM file arrays, software limitations, and the need for further software improvements. CranialRebuild 1.0 shows promise in addressing the need for affordable PSCIs in LMICs. Challenges and improvement suggestions identified throughout the beta-testing phase will shape the development of CranialRebuild 2.0, with the aim of enhancing its functionality and usability. Further research is needed to validate the software's efficacy in a clinical setting and assess its cost-effectiveness.