Flow diverter stent treatment for unruptured supraclinoid segment internal carotid artery aneurysms: a Turkish multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the relatively high success of surgical clipping of supraclinoid segment aneurysms of the internal carotid artery (ICA), flow diverter (FD) stent therapy is becoming increasingly used for these aneurysms. This study aims to evaluate the characteristics of FD placement for unruptured ICA supraclinoid segment aneurysms at 6 different centers with different experience levels in Türkiye. METHODS: In this retrospective, multicenter study, the authors reviewed the demographic information, aneurysm shape/dimensions (neck, aspect ratio, dome/neck ratio, and maximum diameter), preoperative antiplatelet regimen, FD stent brand, perioperative complications, intervention time, clinical (modified Rankin Scale) and radiological (O'Kelly-Marotta [OKM] grading scale) outcomes, and follow-up time of 54 patients. RESULTS: A total of 55 interventions for 61 aneurysms (58 supraclinoid ICA aneurysms) were performed in the 54 patients included in the study. The female/male ratio in this population was 44/10, and the mean age was 53.5 ± 13.6 (range 21-82) years. The most common form and location of the aneurysms were saccular 91.4% (53/58) and ophthalmic segment 69% (40/58), respectively. The preferred antiplatelet regimen was acetylsalicylic acid plus ticagrelor 50% (27/54). The overall complication rate was 25.5% (14/55), and the mean follow-up time was 25.76 ± 17.88 months. The successful radiological outcome (OKM grade C or D) rate at the 6-month follow-up was 92.6%. No perioperative complications led to any permanent or transient neurological deficit. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this first multicenter study evaluating FD stent use for unruptured ICA supraclinoid segment aneurysms showed that FD stent treatment is a feasible method for replacing clipping and coil embolization with manageable complications and a high success rate.

Academic performance after neurosurgery residency training in Turkey: a national survey.

OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgery training programs aim to train specialists. In addition, they are expected to equip the residents with necessary knowledge and skills for academic development. This study aims to gain insights into academic productivity after neurosurgeons graduated from residency training in Turkey. METHODS: An electronic survey was sent to all Turkish Neurosurgical Society members (n = 1662 neurosurgeons) between September and November 2019. The number of participants was 289 (17.4%). Participants were divided into subgroups based on three main factors: training institution type (university hospital [UH] vs training and research hospital [TRH]), training institution annual case volume (low [< 1000 or inadequate cranial/spinal case numbers] vs high [> 1000 and adequate cranial/spinal case numbers]), and training program accreditation status (accredited vs nonaccredited). RESULTS: The majority of the participants (64.7%) graduated from the UHs. Those trained at UHs (vs TRHs) and high- (vs low-) volume centers had their dissertations more frequently published in Science Citation Index/Science Citation Index-Expanded journals, gave more oral presentations after residency, had higher h-indices, had higher rates of reviewership for academic journals, and had greater participation in projects with grant support. In addition, graduates of accredited programs reported more PhD degrees than those of nonaccredited programs. CONCLUSIONS: Neurosurgeons trained in higher-case-volume, accredited programs, mostly in the UHs, performed better in terms of scientific activities and productivity in Turkey. Strong research emphasis and supportive measures should be instituted to increase academic performance during and after residency training.

Delayed Presentation of Aortic Injury by a Thoracic Pedicle Screw.

Delayed presentation of a thoracic aortic injury is an extremely rare complication after spine surgery. We report a case of delayed presentation of a thoracic aortic injury with a vertebral pedicle screw after posterior spinal surgery without periaortic hematoma, hemorrhage or pseudoaneurysm formation and review the relevant literature.

The surgical treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniation: 33 cases.

Surgical approaches to far lateral disc herniation are challenging because of the anatomical limitations in the region. We describe an extraforaminal approach for far lateral lumbar disc herniation (FLLDH) in a group of patients and discuss the results in patients with far lateral disc protrusion or extrusion operated on by an approach to the extraforaminal region via an intertransverse route with median or paramedian incisions. The two methods are compared in terms of the pre- and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, duration of the operation, amount of bleeding, and long-term functional recovery. In addition, data on age, incidence, radiological features and clinical signs and symptoms are compared with reported series. Between January 2006 and January 2011, 33 patients (18 females, 15 males; mean age, 51.2 years) underwent surgery for FLLDH. The majority of patients had herniation at disc levels L3-4 (12 patients) or L4-5 (15 patients). All patients were operated on via either median-paramuscular (20 patients, 61%) or paramedian-intermuscular (13 patients, 39%) approaches. Overall, the mean VAS score improved from 7.3 preoperatively to 2.8 in the short-term. Analyzing the long-term functional outcome of surgery according to the MacNab Criteria, the recovery was excellent, good, fair, and poor in 18, 11, 4, and 0 patients, respectively. The far-lateral approach for FLLDH is a safe, effective procedure that avoids the risk of secondary spinal instability. In treating FLLDH, the use of a long median incision together with an extraforaminal approach is safer and less invasive than a laminectomy together with a medial or total facetectomy.