The Three-Step Approach for Lumbar Disk Herniation with Anatomical Insights Tailored for the Next Generation of Young Spine Surgeons.

Background/Objectives: Lumbar disc herniation, a complex challenge in spinal health, significantly impacts individuals across diverse age groups. This article delves into the intricacies of this condition, emphasising the pivotal role of anatomical considerations in its understanding and management. Additionally, lumbar discectomy might be considered an "easy" surgery; nevertheless, it carries significant risks. The aim of the study was to present a groundbreaking "three-step approach" with some anatomical insight derived from our comprehensive clinical experiences, designed to systematise the surgical approach and optimise the outcomes, especially for young spine surgeons. We highlighted the purpose of the study and introduced our research question(s) and the context surrounding them. Methods: This retrospective study involved patients treated for lumbar disc herniation at a single institution. The patient demographics, surgical details, and postoperative assessments were meticulously recorded. All surgeries were performed by a consistent surgical team. Results: A total of 847 patients of the 998 patients initially included completed the follow-up period. A three-step approach was performed for every patient. The recurrence rate was 1.89%. Furthermore, the incidence of lumbar instability and the need for reoperation were carefully examined, presenting a holistic view of the outcomes. Conclusions: The three-step approach emerged as a robust and effective strategy for addressing lumbar disc herniation. This structured approach ensures a safe and educational experience for young spinal surgeons.

The Role of Psychosomatic Traits in Tailored Workup for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion-A Case Series.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of preoperatively assessed psychosomatic traits on postoperative pain, disability, and quality of life outcomes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a widely employed surgical procedure for treating cervical spondylosis. Despite its effectiveness, various studies have reported non-success rates in terms of alleviating disability and pain. Psychological factors have become increasingly recognized as critical determinants of surgical outcomes in various medical disciplines. The full extent of their impact within the context of ACDF remains insufficiently explored. This case series aims to assess the influence of preoperative psychological profiling on long-term pain, disability and quality of life outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of prospectively collected data from 76 consecutive patients who underwent ACDF with PEEK inter-fixed cages from July 2019 to November 2021. The preoperative psychological traits were assessed using the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) questionnaire. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neck Disability index (NDI), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were collected preoperatively, one month postoperatively, and at least one year after the surgical procedure. RESULTS: The correlation analyses revealed associations between psychosomatic traits and multiple preoperative and postoperative outcome measures. The univariate analyses and linear regression analyses demonstrated the influence of the Global Severity Index (GSI) over the final follow-up scores for the ODI, VAS, NDI, EQ-5D, and SF-36. The GSI consistently exhibited a stronger correlation with the final follow-up pain, disability, and quality of life outcomes with respect to the correspondent preoperative values. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of psychosomatic traits as predictive factors for ACDF outcomes and emphasizes their relevance in preoperative assessment for informing patients about realistic expectations. The findings underscore the need to consider psychological profiles in the preoperative workup, opening avenues for research into medications and psychological therapies. Recognizing the influence of psychosocial elements informs treatment strategies, fostering tailored surgical approaches and patient care.

Combination of Tractography, Intraoperative Computed Tomography and 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Fluorescence in Stereotactic Brain Biopsies: A Case Series.

Stereotactic needle biopsy (SNB) may be performed to collect tissue samples from lesions not amenable to open surgery. Integration of tractography, intraoperative imaging and fluorescence has been applied to reduce risk of complications and confirm the adequacy of bioptic specimens. Clinical and radiological data from patients who underwent stereotactic needle biopsy with the use of intraoperative CT, tractography and 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence in a single Hospital were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the accuracy and safety of the procedure. Seven patients were included in the study, and all the collected specimens showed red fluorescence. In six of them, the final histopathological diagnosis was grade 4 glioblastoma IDH-wt and in the other case it was Diffuse large B-Cell Lymphoma. The integration of tractography, intraoperative CT and 5-ALA as an intraoperative marker of diagnostic samples may be suggested in biopsies of suspect gliomas and lymphomas. The cost-effectiveness of the procedure should be evaluated in future studies.

Safety and Efficacy of Zero-Profile Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Cages Filled with Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): A Case Series.

Background: In the evolving landscape of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), the integration of biomechanical advancements and proper fusion-enhancing materials is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. This case series evaluates the efficacy and clinical implications of employing zero-profile polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages filled with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) in ACDF procedures, focusing on fusion and subsidence rates alongside patient disability, residual pain, and quality of life. Methods: This case series comprises 76 consecutive patients, with a median follow-up of 581 days. The Bridwell classification system was used for assessing fusion rates while subsidence occurrence was recorded, correlating these radiographic outcomes with clinical implications. Results: The results demonstrated a satisfactory fusion rate (76.4% for grades I and II). The subsidence rate was low (6.74% of segments). Significant clinical improvements were observed in pain, disability, and quality-of-life metrics, aligning with the minimum clinically important difference thresholds; however, subgroup analyses demonstrated that subsidence or pseudoarthrosis group improvement of PROMs was not statistically significant with respect to baseline. ANOVA analyses documented that subsidence has a significant weight over final follow-up pain and disability outcomes. No dysphagia cases were reported. Conclusions: These findings underscore the efficacy of zero-profile PEEK cages filled with BCP in ACDF, highlighting their potential to improve patient outcomes while minimizing complications. Pseudoarthrosis and subsidence have major implications over long-term PROMs. The study reinforces the importance of selecting appropriate surgical materials to enhance the success of ACDF procedures.

Evaluation of the extent of resection of intracranial tumors with virtual intraoperative MRI: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: Intraoperative MRI (iMRI) is the gold-standard technique for intraoperative evaluation of the extent of resection in brain tumor surgery. Unfortunately, it is currently available at only a few neurosurgical centers. A commercially available software, Virtual iMRI Cranial, provides an elastic fusion between preoperative MRI and intraoperative CT (iCT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of this software in determining the presence of residual tumor. METHODS: Virtual iMRI was performed in patients who underwent iCT after intracranial tumor resection. The results of the software in terms of presence or absence of tumor residual were then compared with postoperative MRI performed within 48 hours after surgery to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of virtual iMRI. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were included in the present study. The virtual iMRI findings were concordant with the postoperative MRI data in 35 cases (53%) in the detection of tumor residual (p = 0.006). No false-negative findings (i.e., presence of residual on postoperative MRI and absence of residual on virtual iMRI) were encountered. Virtual iMRI had a sensitivity of 1 (95% CI 0.86-1), specificity of 0.26 (95% CI 0.14-0.42), positive predictive value of 0.44 (95% CI 0.3-0.58), and negative predictive value of 1 (95% CI 0.72-1). Subgroup analysis revealed that the virtual iMRI findings were concordant with postoperative MRI findings in all cases (n = 9) of lower-grade glioma (LGG) with a sensitivity of 1 (95% CI 0.59-1) and a specificity of 1 (95% CI 0.16-1) (p = 0.003); a statistically significant association was also found for grade 4 gliomas with a sensitivity of 1 (95% CI 0.69-1) and a specificity of 0.33 (95% CI 0.08-0.7) (p = 0.046) (19 patients). No significant association was found when considering meningiomas or metastases. CONCLUSIONS: The commercially available virtual iMRI can predict the presence or absence of tumor residual with high sensitivity. The diagnostic accuracy of this method was higher in LGGs and much lower for meningiomas or metastases; these findings must be evaluated in prospective studies in a larger population.

Navigated, percutaneous, three-step technique for lumbar and sacral screw placement: a novel, minimally invasive, and maximally safe strategy.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive spine surgery is a field of active and intense research. Image-guided percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) placement is a valid alternative to the standard free-hand technique, thanks to technological advancements that provide potential improvement in accuracy and safety. Herein, we describe the clinical results of a surgical technique exploiting integration of neuronavigation and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) for minimally invasive PPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An intraoperative-computed tomography (CT)-based neuronavigation system was combined with IONM in a three-step technique for PPS. Clinical and radiological data were collected to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the procedure. The accuracy of PPS placement was classified according to the Gertzbein-Robbins scale. RESULTS: A total of 230 screws were placed in 49 patients. Only two screws were misplaced (0.8%); nevertheless, no clinical sign of radiculopathy was experienced by these patients. The majority of the screws (221, 96.1%) were classified as grade A according to Gertzbein-Robbins scale, seven screws were classified as grade B, one screw was classified as grade D, and one last screw was classified as grade E. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed three-step, navigated, percutaneous procedure offers a safe and accurate alternative to traditional techniques for lumbar and sacral pedicle screw placement. Level of Evidence Level 3. Trial registration Not applicable.

The role of psychopathological symptoms in lumbar stenosis: A prediction model of disability after lumbar decompression and fusion.

Introduction: Pre-operative psychological factors may influence outcome after spine surgery. The identification of patients at risk of persisting disability may be useful for patient selection and possibly to improve treatment outcome. Methods: Patients with neurogenic claudication associated with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) performed a psychological assessment before lumbar decompression and fusion (LDF) surgery. The following tests were administrated: Visual Analogic Scale; Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90-R), Short Form-36 and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The primary outcome was ODI score lower than 20. A cross correlation matrix (CCM) was carried out with significant variables after univariate analysis and a linear logistic regression model was calculated considering the most significant variable. Results: 125 patient (61 men and 64 women) were included in the study. Seven parameters of the SCL-90-R scale showed statistical significance at the univariate analysis: obsessivity (p < 0.001), Current Symptom Index (p = 0.001), Global Severity Index (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001), positive Symptom Total (p = 0.002), somatization (p = 0.001) and anxiety (p = 0.036). Obsessivity was correlated with other significant parameters, except GSI (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.11).The ROC curve for the logistic model considering obsessivity as risk factor, has an area under the curve of 0.75. Conclusion: Pre-operative psychopathological symptoms can predict persistence of disability after LDF for DLSS. Future studies will evaluate the possibility of modifying post operative outcome through targeted treatment for psychological features emerged during pre-operative assessment.

Automatic rigid image Fusion of preoperative MR and intraoperative US acquired after craniotomy.

BACKGROUND: Neuronavigation of preoperative MRI is limited by several errors. Intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) with navigated probes that provide automatic superposition of pre-operative MRI and iUS and three-dimensional iUS reconstruction may overcome some of these limitations. Aim of the present study is to verify the accuracy of an automatic MRI - iUS fusion algorithm to improve MR-based neuronavigation accuracy. METHODS: An algorithm using Linear Correlation of Linear Combination (LC2)-based similarity metric has been retrospectively evaluated for twelve datasets acquired in patients with brain tumor. A series of landmarks were defined both in MRI and iUS scans. The Target Registration Error (TRE) was determined for each pair of landmarks before and after the automatic Rigid Image Fusion (RIF). The algorithm has been tested on two conditions of the initial image alignment: registration-based fusion (RBF), as given by the navigated ultrasound probe, and different simulated course alignments during convergence test. RESULTS: Except for one case RIF was successfully applied in all patients considering the RBF as initial alignment. Here, mean TRE after RBF was significantly reduced from 4.03 (± 1.40) mm to (2.08 ± 0.96 mm) (p = 0.002), after RIF. For convergence test, the mean TRE value after initial perturbations was 8.82 (± 0.23) mm which has been reduced to a mean TRE of 2.64 (± 1.20) mm after RIF (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The integration of an automatic image fusion method for co-registration of pre-operative MRI and iUS data may improve the accuracy in MR-based neuronavigation.

Intraoperative CT-guided navigation versus fluoroscopy for percutaneous pedicle screw placement in 192 patients: a comparative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) placement is a key step in several minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) procedures. Traditional technique for PPS makes use of C-arm fluoroscopy assistance (FA). More recently, newer intraoperative imaging techniques have been developed for PPS, including CT-guided navigation (CTNav). The aim of this study was to compare FA and CTNav techniques for PPS with regard to accuracy, complications, and radiation dosage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 192 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and canal stenosis who underwent MISS posterior fusion ± interbody fusion through transforaminal approach (TLIF) were retrospectively reviewed. Pedicle screws were placed percutaneously using either standard C-arm fluoroscopy guidance (FA group) or CT navigation (CTNav group). Intraoperative effective dose (ED, mSv) was measured. Screw placement accuracy was assessed postoperatively on a CT scan using Gertzbein and Robbins classification (grades A-E). Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were compared in both groups before and after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 101 and 91 procedures were performed with FA (FA group) and CTNav approach (CTNav group), respectively. Median age was 61 years in both groups, and the most commonly treated level was L4-L5. Median ED received from patients was 1.504 mSv (0.494-4.406) in FA technique and 21.130 mSv (10.840-30.390) in CTNav approach (p < 0.001). Percentage of grade A and B screws was significantly higher for the CTNav group (96.4% versus 92%, p < 0.001), whereas there were 16 grade E screws in the FA group and 0 grade E screws in the CTNav group (p < 0.001). A total of seven and five complications were reported in the FA and CTNav group, respectively (p = 0.771). CONCLUSIONS: CTNav technique increases accuracy of pedicle screw placement compared with FA technique without affecting operative time. Nevertheless, no significant difference was noted in terms of reoperation rate due to screw malpositioning between CTNav and FA techniques. Radiation exposure of patients was significantly higher with CTNav technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.

Intraoperative Integration of Multimodal Imaging to Improve Neuronavigation: A Technical Note.

BACKGROUND: Brain shift may cause significant error in neuronavigation, leading the surgeon to possible mistakes. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most reliable technique in brain tumor surgery. Unfortunately, it is highly expensive and time consuming and, at the moment, it is available only in few neurosurgical centers. METHODS: In this case series the surgical workflow for brain tumor surgery is described where neuronavigation of preoperative MRI, intraoperative computed tomography (CT) scan, and ultrasound (US) as well as rigid and elastic image fusion between preoperative MRI and intraoperative US and CT, respectively, was applied to 4 brain tumor patients in order to compensate for surgically induced brain shift by using a commercially available software (Elements Image Fusion 4.0 with Virtual iMRI Cranial; Brainlab AG, München, Germany). RESULTS: Four illustrative cases demonstrated successful integration of different components of the described intraoperative surgical workflow. The data indicate that intraoperative navigation update is feasible by applying intraoperative 3-dimensional US and CT scanning as well as rigid and elastic image fusion applied depending on the degree of observed brain shift. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of multiple intraoperative imaging techniques combined with rigid and elastic image fusion of preoperative MRI may reduce the risk of incorrect neuronavigation during brain tumor resection. Further studies are needed to confirm the present findings in a larger population.

Single-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Interbody Fusion: A Comparison between Porous Tantalum and Polyetheretherketone Cages.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion (ACDF) may be performed with different kinds of stand-alone cages. Tantalum and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) are two of the most commonly used materials in this procedure. Few comparisons between different stand-alone implants for ACDF have been reported in the literature. Methods: We performed a comparison between patients who underwent ACDF with either a porous tantalum or a PEEK stand-alone cage, in two spine surgery units for single-level disc herniation. Clinical outcome [Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Short Form-36 (SF-36)] and radiological outcome (lordosis, fusion and subsidence) were measured before surgery and at least one year after surgery in both groups. Results: Thirty-eight patients underwent ACDF with a porous tantalum cage, and thirty-one with a PEEK cage. The improvement of NDI and SF-36 was significantly superior in the PEEK group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.049 respectively). Moreover, the variation of the Cobb angle for the cervical spine was significantly higher in the PEEK group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In a retrospective analysis of two groups of patients with at least one year of follow-up, a stand-alone PEEK cage showed superior clinical results, with improved cervical lordosis, compared to a stand-alone porous tantalum cage. Further studies are needed to confirm these data.

The persistence of seizures after tumor resection negatively affects survival in low-grade glioma patients: a clinical retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Seizures are the most common clinical manifestation of low-grade glioma (LGG). Many papers hypothesized an influence of epilepsy on glioma progression. To our knowledge, no clinical study demonstrated a direct relationship between persistence of epileptic seizures after surgery and overall survival (OS) in LGG patients. The present study aims at investigating the correlation between post-operative seizure outcome and survival in tumor-related epilepsy (TRE) patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of adult patients affected by TRE who underwent surgery for resection of LGG in a single high-volume neurosurgical center. Seizure outcome was assessed 1 year after surgery and categorized according to Engel classification. Clinical, molecular and radiological features were evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate the correlation with OS. RESULTS: A total of 146 patients met the inclusion criteria. Histopathological diagnosis was Diffuse Astrocytoma isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild type in 16 patients (11%), Diffuse astrocytoma IDH mutated in 89 patients (61%) and oligodendroglioma IDH mutated, 1p 19q codeleted in 41 patients (28%). 1 year after surgery, 103 (70.6%) patients were in Engel class 1. Median duration of follow-up period was 69.5 months. Median OS was 79.3 (72.2-86.4) months in the whole population, while it was 86.8 (78.4-95.2), 63.9 (45.7-82), 63.7 (45.2-82.2) and 47.5 (18.3-76.6) months for patients in Engel class 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. In a univariate analysis, Engel class evaluated 1 year after surgery significantly influenced OS (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that OS was independently associated with extent of resection (p = 0.02), molecular class (p < 0.01) and Engel class (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Seizure control 1 year after surgery significantly predicted survival of patients affected by LGG-related epilepsy in a large monocentric retrospective series. Future studies are needed to confirm these results and to assess if an epilepsy-surgical therapeutic approach may improve OS.

Return to Martial Arts after Surgical Treatment of the Cervical Spine: Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature for an Evidence-Based Approach.

Background: Cervical spine injuries are considered common in athlete populations, especially in those involved in high-contact sports. In some cases, surgical treatment can be necessary, and, therefore, return-to-play (RTP) after surgery represent a notable issue. Methods: We performed a systematic review of literature according to the PRISMA statement guidelines using the following search algorithm: (("ACDF") OR ("cervical spine surgery") OR ("neck surgery") OR ("cervical discectomy") OR ("foraminotomy") OR ("cervical disc replacement")) AND (("return to play") OR ("athlete") OR ("contact sports") OR ("martial arts")). The search was performed on 21 October 2022. We included only articles in which operative treatment for the cervical spine was performed and return to martial art activity was declared in the text. Results: Eight articles were selected, including 23 athletes who practice wrestling (n = 16), kickboxing (n = 1), sumo (n = 1) or other unspecified martial arts (n = 5). We also included the case of a young judoka who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at our hospital. About 88% (21 of 24 cases) of martial arts practitioners returned to play after cervical spine surgery, and no major complications were reported after RTP. Four patients (16.7%) returned in 0-3 months; 41.7% (10 of 24) returned in 3-6 months; 29.2% (7 of 24) returned after a period longer than 6 months. ACDF is the most used procedure. The level of evidence in the included articles is low: only case reports are available, including some single-case studies. Moreover, a small number of cases have been reported, and the examined data are very heterogeneous. Conclusions: Return to martial arts within one year after cervical spine surgery is generally safe, even if case-by-case evaluation is, however, necessary. Further studies are necessary to corroborate the present findings in a larger population.

Chimeric Anterolateral Thigh Flap in Skull Base Reconstruction: A Case-Based Update and Literature Review.

Oncologic and traumatic neurosurgery may have to cope with the issue of skull base defects, which are associated with increased risk of meningitis, epidural abscess and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) leak. The aim of skull base reconstruction is to repair the dural exposure and to separate the intracranial contents from the nonsterile sino-nasal cavities and extracranial space. Currently, many different surgical techniques have been described, and one of the most performed is the use free flap. In the present paper we performed a case-based update and literature review of the use of chimeric anterolateral thigh free flap harvested from rectus femoris, reporting the case of a 68-year-old man with recurrent spheno-ethmoidalis plane meningioma.

Multimodal integrated approaches in low grade glioma surgery.

Surgical management of Diffuse Low-Grade Gliomas (DLGGs) has radically changed in the last 20 years. Awake surgery (AS) in combination with Direct Electrical Stimulation (DES) and real-time neuropsychological testing (RTNT) permits continuous intraoperative feedback, thus allowing to increase the extent of resection (EOR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the technological advancements and integration of multidisciplinary techniques on EOR. Two hundred and eighty-eight patients affected by DLGG were enrolled. Cases were stratified according to the surgical protocol that changed over time: 1. DES; 2. DES plus functional MRI/DTI images fused on a NeuroNavigation system; 3. Protocol 2 plus RTNT. Patients belonging to Protocol 1 had a median EOR of 83% (28-100), while those belonging to Protocol 2 and 3 had a median EOR of 88% (34-100) and 98% (50-100) respectively (p = 0.0001). New transient deficits with Protocol 1, 2 and 3 were noted in 38.96%, 34.31% and 31,08% of cases, and permanent deficits in 6.49%, 3.65% and 2.7% respectively. The average follow-up period was 6.8 years. OS was influenced by molecular class (p = 0.028), EOR (p = 0.018) and preoperative tumor growing pattern (p = 0.004). Multimodal surgical approach can provide a safer and wider removal of DLGG with potential subsequent benefits on OS. Further studies are necessary to corroborate our findings.

Comparison Between Minipterional Craniotomy Associated With Focused Sylvian Fissure Opening and Standard Pterional Approach With Extended Sylvian Fissure Dissection for Treatment of Unruptured Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: In our institution, standard pterional craniotomy (PC) with an extended Sylvian fissure opening (ESFO) represented the standard approach for unruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm clipping until 2014, when we progressively started to prefer minipterional craniotomy (MPC) associated with a focused Sylvian fissure opening (FSFO). In the present study, we compared our results in terms of the efficacy of clipping and the rate of complications with these 2 different techniques. METHODS: We included patients with small- and medium-size unruptured MCA aneurysms from January 2008 to December 2018 with follow-up of >12 months. The clinical and radiologic data were reviewed from the medical records. The outcomes were measured in terms of efficacy (aneurysmal exclusion rate) and safety (intracranial complication rate). RESULTS: Overall, 134 patients who had presented with unruptured MCA aneurysms <1.5 cm were treated at our institution from January 2007 to December 2018: PC and ESFO were used in 73 patients and MPC and FSFO in 61. The demographics and angioarchitectural features were comparable between the 2 groups, except for age, which was older in the FSFO group. The aneurysm exclusion rate was not different between the 2 groups. The intracranial complication rate was, overall, significantly lower in the FSFO group (P < 0.001), especially for the rate of postoperative seizures. Finally, the FSFO group had had shorter postoperative hospitalization and better short- and long-term clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The association between MPC and FSFO should represent the standard of treatment of unruptured MCA aneurysms in all referral cerebrovascular centers, allowing for the achievement of the same efficacy of standard PC with ESFO and minimizing the complications.