Clinicoradiological Outcomes and Complication Profiles of Bilateral Dual Sacral-Alar-Iliac Screws versus Bilateral Single Sacral-Alar-Iliac Screws in Patients with Spinal Deformity Who Underwent Grade 3 or 4 Spinal Osteotomies: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare short-term clinical and radiological outcomes and complication profiles between bilateral dual sacral-2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screw and bilateral single S2AI screw fixation techniques in patients who underwent grade 3 or 4 spinal osteotomies. METHODS: A retrospective review of 83 patients treated with bilateral dual S2AI screws and 32 patients treated with bilateral single S2AI screws was conducted between 2018 and 2020 with a minimum 1-year follow-up. Clinical and radiological outcomes of patients and incidence of perioperative complications, including rod breakage, screw dislodgment, proximal junctional kyphosis, proximal junctional failure, need for reoperation, and systemic adverse effects, were collected and statistically compared between the groups. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 18.2 months, rod fracture (6.0% vs. 18.7%, P = 0.03), screw dislodgment (0 vs. 12.5%, P < 0.01), and S2AI screw loosening (1.2% vs. 18.7%, P < 0.01) were significantly lower in the dual S2AI screws group than in the single S2AI screws group. However, the reoperation rate was similar between the 2 groups (24.1% vs. 34.3%, P = 0.26). No significant differences in clinical and radiological outcomes as well as proximal junctional kyphosis (10.8% vs. 18.7%, P = 0.25) and proximal junctional failure (9.6% vs. 18.7%, P = 0.18) were identified between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The dual S2AI screw fixation technique showed more advantages over the single S2AI screw fixation technique with reduced incidence of screw dislodgment, rod fractures, and sacral-alar-iliac screw loosening.

Neurotoxicity of the antibiotics: A comprehensive study.

Antibiotics are among the most widely used medications in clinical settings. Seizures, encephalopathy, optic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, and exacerbation of myasthenia gravis are important examples of neurotoxic adverse events associated with the use of antibiotics. This article aims to review the most common and important neurotoxic adverse effects associated with various antibiotics routinely used in a clinical setting.

What do You Expect from Patients with Severe Head Trauma?

BACKGROUND: Head trauma is one of the most common mortality and morbidity causes in adolescent. Numerous studies have been conducted on changes in laboratory results and mortality and morbidity prognostic factors; however, the obtained results have been varied and controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in laboratory findings and arterial blood gas (ABG) analyses test at admission and investigation of the relation between these changes with outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, laboratory and metabolic variables were compared in patients with severe brain trauma and normal subjects. Laboratory and metabolic variables and ABG were measured on admission in patients with severe brain trauma and then compared with normal values. At last, the correlation between these variables with the prognosis in the patients was studied. RESULTS: Of 93 studied patients, 82 were male and 11 were female with the mean age of 30.54 years. Among the studied variables, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio (INR), creatinine (Cr), blood sugar, sodium (Na+), potassium, white blood cell, and blood urea nitrogen increased while hemoglobin and platelet decreased significantly. Regarding the ABG results, the difference in PaCO2, HCO3, and SO2 at values was significant; whereas there were no statistical significant difference between the discharged and expired patients. In contrast, PT, INR, Cr, and Na had significant difference comparing the discharged and expired patients. CONCLUSION: Laboratory variables do change in patients with severe brain trauma; these changes are influential on patient prognosis, especially in case of PT, INR, Cr, and Na.

Meningioma in Fourth Ventricle of Brain: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Meningiomas are benign tumors origin from central nervous system. They usually involve cephalic, paravertebral soft tissues, skin and in rare cases in the ear, temporal bone, mandible, foot, lung, and mediastinum. In this case, we report an unusual case of meningioma which placed in the fourth ventricle. A 14-year-old man with seizure and headache referred to our ward. The magnetic resonance imaging reported bilateral acoustic neuroma and fourth ventricle meningioma. The patient was scheduled for total tumor resection and the histopathology revealed psammomatous type of meningioma. The patient discharged with good general status.

Can Serum Glucose Level in Early Admission Predict Outcome in Patients with Severe Head Trauma?

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury is a major general health concern. This study aims to evaluate a possible relationship between the serum level of glucose during admission and the outcome of patients with severe traumatic brain injury. METHODS: In this prospective study, 80 patients with severe traumatic brain injury were recruited from the emergency department of Urmia Imam Khomeini Hospital. Serum level of glucose was measured at the time of admission and its correlation was investigated with the Glasgow Coma Scale score (on admission, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 1 week later, and at discharge) and Glasgow Outcome Score. In addition, the value of admission serum glucose was compared between deceased and discharged patients. RESULTS: Eighty patients with severe head trauma, 71 men (88%) and 9 women (11.2%) with a mean age of 31.71 ± 15.66 years, were enrolled into the study. The in-hospital mortality rate was 25% (n = 20). There was no significant correlation between serum glucose level and Glasgow Coma Scale score (at different intervals) or Glasgow Outcome Score. The mean serum level of glucose was comparable between deceased and discharged patients (186.10 ± 51.36 vs. 187.98 ± 76.03 mg/dL, respectively; P = 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Admission serum glucose is not a significant indicator of outcome in patients with severe head trauma.

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy and surgically created thracheostomy in ICU patients.

INTRODUCTION: Following advances of Intensive Care medicine and widespread administration of mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy has become one of the indispensable surgical procedures. During this research we tried to assess and compare two main strategies for doing tracheostomy: Surgically Created Tracheostomy (SCT) and Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy (PDT). METHODS: In a randomized clinical trial, 60 cases of patients who were admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and needed tracheostomy during their stay were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. SCT technique was considered for the first group and PDT for the second one. Demographic characteristics, associated and underlying diseases, type and duration of procedure, duration of receiving mechanical ventilation and ICU stay, expenses and complications of tracheostomy including bleeding, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, stomal infection and airway loss were all recorded during study and compared between both groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences between two groups of patients in terms of duration of receiving mechanical ventilation (P=0.04), duration of tracheostomy procedure (P=0.001) and procedure expenses (P=0.04). There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of age and gender of patients, duration of ICU stay and complications of tracheostomy including copious bleeding, stomal infection, subcutaneous emphysema and airway. CONCLUSION: According to the results of our study and similar researches, it can be concluded that PDT can be considered as the preferred procedure in cautiously selected patients during their ICU stay.

Migration patterns of herniated disc fragments: a study on 1,020 patients with extruded lumbar disc herniation.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Herniated disc fragments are known to migrate in various directions within the spinal canal. To date, no comprehensive studies have been undertaken to examine the migration patterns of herniated disc material using a standard nomenclature and classification system. PURPOSE: To report migration patterns of extruded lumbar disc fragments. STUDY DESIGN: A review of magnetic resonance (MR) images. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 1,020 consecutive Azeri patients with symptomatic extruded lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Migration patterns of extruded lumbar disc fragments in vertical and horizontal planes and their association with age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and the level of herniation. METHODS: High-quality axial and sagittal MR images of the lumbar spine were used. Disc material that was displaced away from the site of extrusion, regardless of continuity, was considered "migrated." The migration patterns observed were rostral or caudal in the vertical plane and central, paracentral, subarticular, foraminal, or extraforaminal in the horizontal plane. RESULTS: In the vertical plane, rostral and caudal migrations were observed in 27.8% and 72.2% of the patients, respectively. The number of rostral migrations increased significantly with increasing age and in higher levels in the lumbar spine (p<.001 for both). Radiculopathy was significantly more frequent in caudal migrations than in rostral migrations (78.9% vs. 65.1%, p<.001). There was no significant association between gender or BMI and migration patterns in the vertical plane. In the horizontal plane, central, paracentral, subarticular, foraminal, and extraforaminal migrations were reported in 17.3%, 74.2%, 4.3%, 2.5%, and 1.8% of the patients, respectively. The youngest (median age 39 years, interquartile range [IQR] 13 years) and the oldest (median age 55 years, IQR 15 years) groups of patients (p<.001) had the most formainal and extraforaminal migrations, respectively. Radiculopathy was present in 66.5%, 76.8%, 88.6%, 96%, and 27.8% of the patients with central, paracentral, subarticular, foraminal, and extraforaminal migrations, respectively (p<.001). No significant association was found between gender, BMI, or the level of herniation and migration pattern in the horizontal plane. CONCLUSIONS: Caudal and paracentral migrations are the most common patterns of migration in patients with extruded lumbar disc herniation in the vertical and horizontal planes, respectively. Age and the level of herniation may affect the migration patterns of herniated lumbar disc material.

Iran's Bushehr Earthquake at a Glance.

On 9 April 2013, an earthquake of 6.1 magnitude hit southwestern Iran near the city of Khvormuj and the towns of Kaki and Shonbeh in Bushehr province. The official disaster mitigation committee took immediate actions to coordinate rescue teams equipped with 24-hour medical air assistance. Overall, 160 victims were transferred to and treated in the Khvormuj hospital, while 139 survivors were transferred to the hospitals in Bushehr for specialized care. The survivors have been settled in temporary shelters with adequate primary supplies. Considering the hot climate of the area, immediate measures should be taken in order to avoid any further casualties particularly heatstroke, dehydration, diarrheal and vector-borne diseases.

Spinal injuries in the 2012 twin earthquakes, northwest iran.

On 11 August 2012, twin earthquakes measured 6.3 and 6.4 on the Richter scale hit three towns (Ahar, Varzaqan, and Heris) in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran resulting in tragic loss of three hundred lives and leaving thousands of injured. The aim of the present study was to report the spinal injuries during recent earthquake in northwest Iran, its consequences and management. Of the 923 hospitalized patients, 26 (2.8%) had neurosurgical complications. The imaging and clinical data of the patients were retrospectively studied regarding the anatomical location of the injury, the severity of spinal injury and associated neurological deficit. To further analyze the findings, Magerl (AO) and Frankel's classifications were used. The injuries without any fracture were considered as minor spinal injuries. The mean age of the patients was 44.54±22.52 (range: 5-88) years. We detected a total of 38 vertebral injuries including 24 major (63.15%) and 14 minor injuries (36.85%). The most common injuries were observed in the lumbar spine (19 injuries, 50%). The 24 major injuries chiefly included Magerl type A (14 injuries, 58.3%). According to the Frankel's classification, majority of the patients (88.46%) had no neurological deficit. In this study, three patients had nerve injuries. In conclusion, the number and proportion of spinal fractures patients in the recent twin earthquakes, northwest Iran was limited and caused less nerve injuries compared to the previous similar disasters. This might be due to the milder earthquake consequences since the incident happened in the middle of the day when men were working their fields. Potential complications in patients traumatized in earthquake incidents should be monitored for and early assessment of the neurological function is required to prioritize care for the victims.

Administration of Remifentanil in Establishing a more Stable Post-anesthesia Cardiovascular Status in Neurosurgical Procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Emergence from general anesthesia and especially post-extubation phase are the stages associated with cardiovascular hyperdynamic status in which patients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) could be affected by severe cardiac and or cerebral complications. Administering remifentanil could be helpful in maintaining the hemodynamic stability at the end of the surgery and recovery stages and reducing recovery phase length. METHODS: In a double-blind prospective randomized clinical trial, 60 adult patients with ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologist) class of I-II scheduled to undergo elective neurosurgery operations were randomly divided into two groups receiving remifentanil and placebo as IV infusion within four minutes prior to extubation continued by an IV infusion for 10 minutes after extubation. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between two groups regarding the changes of Mean Arterial Pressure after extubation and five minutes after extubation (P˂ 0.001).Remifentanil group compared with control group was of significant difference at all heart rate values after extubation (P< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Remifentanil could be used in preventing hyperdynamic status throughout extubation phase without extending recovery phase length. However, administration of this medication should be performed cautiously.

Correlation between coagulopathy and outcome in severe head trauma in neurointensive care and trauma units.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal blood coagulation after traumatic brain injury is a common finding. Some studies have proposed these changes as useful predictors of outcome in patients with head trauma. This study aimed at evaluating the association of the routine tests of blood coagulation within the first hours after severe head trauma with prognosis of patients with severe head trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 52 patients with severe head trauma (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS], ≤8) were admitted at Tabriz University Hospital for 1 year. Patients with major accompanying trauma were excluded. On admission, serum levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit as well as the platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and international normalized ratio (INR) were documented. The relation between these parameters with final outcome and also with GCS at admission, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 1 week after admission and discharge time and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) were studied. RESULTS: Thirty three patients were discharged, and 19 died. There were significant negative correlations between PT, PTT, and INR with all GCS and GOS scores. These correlations were significant and positive between the platelet count and all GCS and GOS scores. Median PT, PTT, and INR were significantly higher in nonsurvivors. Median serum platelets count was significantly lower in nonsurvivors. CONCLUSION: On-admission PT, PTT, INR and platelet count may be used as predictors of outcome and prognosis of patients with severe head trauma.