A case-based review on the neuroendoscopic management of intraventricular and subarachnoid basal neurocysticercosis.

OBJECTIVE: Extraparenchymal localization of neurocysticercosis (NCC) is rare in non-endemic areas. A case of mixed (intraventricular, IV, and subarachnoid basal, SAB) NCC was surgically treated using the neuroendoscope and a systematic review of the literature was performed with the aim to analyze the use of this instrument in the management of the extraparenchymal forms of the parasitic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medline and Embase databases were searched for studies where the neuroendoscope was used for the management of IV/SAB NCC cysts, either for the cerebrospinal fluid diversion or cyst removal. Cyst location, complete removal, cyst breakage during removal, intraoperative and postoperative complications, administration of antihelmintic therapy, outcome and follow-up period were extracted from the articles. RESULTS: 281 patients were treated by means of the neuroendoscope. 254 patients who were described in retrospective cohort studies, came all from endemic areas, with no significant difference between sexes. Mean age at surgery was 30.7 years. Of all cysts reported in retrospective studies, 37.9% were located in the fourth ventricle. An attempt of cyst removal was described in the 84.6% of cases and an endoscopic third ventriculostomy was performed in another 76.4%. A small number of complications were reported intraoperatively (9.1%) obtaining, but a good recovery was achieved at follow-up. Only 17 ventriculoperitoneal shunts were placed after the first procedure, defining a low risk of postoperative hydrocephalus even in case of partial cyst removal. CONCLUSION: Neuroendoscopic removal of an extraparenchymal NCC cyst is a safe procedure that should be preferred for lateral and third ventricle localization and, in a specialized centre, even for a localization in the fourth ventricle if feasible. It is also efficient because of the possibility of performing an internal CSF diversion concomitantly to cyst removal, avoiding the complication registered with VPS. The need for cysticidal treatment after surgery should be addressed in a prospective study.

Clinical outcomes, MRI evaluation and predictive factors of indirect decompression with lateral transpsoas approach for lumbar interbody fusion: a multicenter experience.

Introduction: Evaluating the effects of indirect decompression obtained through lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) by clinical improvements and radiological parameters on MRI scans. Identifying predictors of better decompression and clinical outcome. Materials and methods: From 2016 to 2019, patients who underwent single- or double-level indirect decompression LLIF were consecutively reviewed. Radiological signs of indirect decompression were evaluated in preoperative and follow-up MRI studies and were subsequently correlated to clinical data, expressed as axial/radicular pain (VAS back/leg), index of disability (Oswestry Disability Index) and clinical severity of lumbar stenosis (Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire). Results: 72 patients were enrolled. The mean follow-up was 24 months. Differences in vertebral canal area (p < 0.001), height of the foramina (p < 0.001), thickness of the yellow ligament (p = 0.001) and anterior height of the interbody space (p = 0.02) were observed. Older age (p = 0.042), presence of spondylolisthesis (p = 0.042), presence of intra-articular facet effusion (p = 0.003) and posterior height of the implanted cage (p = 0.020) positively affected the increase of the canal area. Change in root canal area (p < 0.001), height of the implanted cage (p = 0.020) and younger age (p = 0.035) were predictive factors of root pain relief, while increased vertebral canal area (p = 0.020) and height of the interbody fusion cage (p = 0.023) positively affected the severity of clinical stenosis. Conclusions: LLIF indirect decompression showed both clinical and radiological improvements. Presence and degree of spondylolisthesis, presence of intra-articular facet effusion, age of the patient and height of the cage were predictive factors of major clinical improvements.

Three-Dimensional Patient-Matched Template Guides Are Able to Increase Mean Diameter and Length and to Improve Accuracy of Cortical Bone Trajectory Screws: A 5-Year International Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether significant differences exist between free-hand three-dimensional (3D) planning-guided cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw placement and 3D-printed template-guided CBT screw positioning in terms of accuracy, size of screws, and potential complications. METHODS: In this retrospective study, data of adult patients in whom CBT screws were placed for lumbar degenerative pathologies were extracted from a prospectively collected database and analyzed. Patients in whom screws were placed using free-hand 3D planning-guided technique were compared with patients in whom screws were positioned using customized 3D-printed templates. Size of the screws, accuracy, clinical outcomes, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The study evaluated 251 patients (1004 screws). The free-hand 3D planning-guided group included 158 patients (632 screws), and the 3D-printed template-guided group included 93 patients (372 screws). The 3D-printed template-guided group involved screws of larger size from L3 to S1. Differences between the 2 groups in terms of accuracy parameters reached statistical significance (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With the use of 3D patient-matched template guides, mean diameter and length of CBT screws could be safely increased due to improved accuracy of screw placement. Based on previous evidence regarding CBT biomechanical properties, these advantages could allow increased fixation strength over traditional convergent pedicle screw trajectories. Further biomechanics studies are needed.

Dorsal subdural hemorrhage from ruptured thoracic radicular artery pseudoaneurysm. case report and surgical video.

Radiculomedullary artery malformations are rare conditions: their rupture usually manifests with subarachnoid hemorrhage. To the best of our knowledge no cases of subdural bleeding have been described in the literature. We present the rare case of a 74 year old woman admitted to our Institute with sudden onset of right lower limb motor deficit and hypoesthesia, with no history of trauma: Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the dorsal spine was performed and a subdural hematoma was detected; subsequent dorsal laminectomy for hematoma evacuation was carried out. As the source of bleeding was not recognized, Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) was performed: a new leak of contrast agent from a dilation of a spinal radicular artery at the level of T5 was detected; XperCT imaging (an angiographic acquisition of Computed Tomography-like images) confirmed a new acute subdural bleeding. Urgent repeat surgery was considered the best option to identify and close the malformation. Postoperative DSA confirmed complete exclusion of the radicular artery malformation. This is the first report that describes, with an intraoperative video, a case of radiculomedullary artery pseudoaneurysm, responsible of an acute subdural bleeding and associated neurological deficit.

Say "no" to spinal cord injury: is nitric oxide an option for therapeutic strategies?

PURPOSE: a literature review was made to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in spinal cord injury, a pathological condition that leads to motor, sensory, and autonomic deficit. Besides, we were interested in potential therapeutic strategies interfering with NO mechanism of secondary damage. MATERIALS: A literature search using PubMed Medline database has been performed. RESULTS: excessive NO production after spinal cord injury promotes oxidative damage perpetuating the injury causing neuronal loss at the injured site and in the surrounding area. CONCLUSION: different therapeutic approaches for contrasting or avoiding NO secondary damage have been studied, these include nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, compounds that interfere with inducible NO synthase expression, and molecules working as antioxidant. Further studies are needed to explain the neuroprotective or cytotoxic role of the different isoforms of NO synthase and the other mediators that take part or influence the NO cascade. In this way, it would be possible to find new therapeutic targets and furthermore to extend the experimentation to humans.