Minimally Invasive Removal of Extra- and Intradural Spinal Tumors Using Full Endoscopic Visualization.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive endoscopic surgery in patients with spinal extradural and intradural-extramedullary tumors. METHODS: This was a study of 15 consecutive patients with spinal extradural or intradural-extramedullary tumors up to 2 levels treated by minimal invasive surgery using a full endoscopic visualization and Caspar's retraction system (for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar tumors) over a 4-year period between January 2015 to April 2019 at a tertiary center. RESULTS: A gross total remove was achieved in all patients (100%), determined by postoperative contrast computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging. There was no postoperative spinal instability. All patients had equal or better neurologic functions after surgery at follow-up. The average preoperative Nurick's grade mean was 1.9 and the postoperative was 1.1. The average preoperative McCormick's grade mean was 2.9 versus 1.3 in the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Selective extradural or intradural-extramedullary tumors well localized and up to 2 levels can be safely and effectively treated by minimally invasive surgery using a full endoscopic visualization and the Caspar's retractor. However, there is insufficient evidence to recommend this approach over the classical or other microsurgical approach described.

Keyhole endoscópico retrosigmoideo en tumores del ángulo pontocerebeloso. Resultados de una serie / Endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach in cerebellopontine angle tumors. A surgical cohort

Introducción y objetivos Evaluar la seguridad y eficacia del abordaje tipo keyhole endoscópico retrosigmoideo en pacientes con tumores del ángulo pontocerebeloso. Material y método Se expone una serie clínica retrospectiva y unicéntrica de pacientes con tumores del ángulo pontocerebeloso tratados en un periodo de cuatro años, empleando craneotomía retrosigmoidea tipo keyhole con visualización completamente endoscópica. Se analizaron variables preoperatorias, transoperatorias y postoperatorias.Resultados Se estudiaron 40 pacientes con edad promedio de 49,4 años y proporción masculino/femenino de 0,4:1. De ellos, 31 presentaron schwanomas vestibulares (77,5%), cinco meningiomas (12,5%), dos colesteatomas (5,0%) y dos metástasis (5,0%). Predominaron los schwanomas vestibulares tipo Hannover IIIb, IVa y IVb. La resección fue total o casi total en el 92,5% de los pacientes. Se conservó la audición en el 62,5% de los pacientes y el 80% presentó función aceptable del nervio facial a los seis meses. La estadía hospitalaria promedio fue de 7,5 días. Se observó un elevado porcentaje de resección total o casi total y de recuperación funcional. La frecuencia de complicaciones fue baja. Conclusiones El abordaje tipo keyhole endoscópico retrosigmoideo constituyó un procedimiento seguro y eficaz en los pacientes con tumores del ángulo pontocerebeloso seleccionados (AU)

Introduction and objectives To determine the safety and efficacy of endoscopic keyhole surgery in patients with cerebellopontine angle tumors. Materials and methods This was a retrospective study of patients with cerebellopontine angled tumors treated by fully endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach in a tertiary center during a period of four years. Preoperative, transoperative and postoperative variables were analyzed. Results A number of 40 patients were included. The age average was 49.4 years and male/female proportion was 0.4-1. We found 31 vestibular schwannomas (77.5%), five meningiomas (12,5%), two cholesteatomas (5,0%) and two metastases (5.0%). Vestibular schwannomas Hannover type IIIb, IVa and IVb predominated. The surgical resection was total or near-total 92.5% of patients. Hearing preservation rate was 62.5% and acceptable facial function nerve function rate was 80% after six months. Hospital stay was 7.5 days. The total or near total resection and functionally preservation rate was high. Complications were unusual. Conclusions Endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach represented a safe and efficient procedure in selected patients with cerebellopontine angle tumors (AU)

Endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach in cerebellopontine angle tumors. A surgical cohort.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety and efficacy of endoscopic keyhole surgery in patients with cerebellopontine angle tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with cerebellopontine angled tumours treated by fully endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach in a tertiary centre during a period of four years. Preoperative, transoperative and postoperative variables were analysed. RESULTS: A number of 40 patients were included. The age average was 49.4 years and male/female proportion was 0.4-1. We found 31 vestibular schwannomas (77.5%), five meningiomas (12.5%), two cholesteatomas (5.0%) and two metastases (5.0%). Vestibular schwannomas Hannover type IIIb, IVa and IVb predominated. The surgical resection was total or near-total 92.5% of patients. Hearing preservation rate was 62.5% and acceptable facial function nerve function rate was 80% after six months. Hospital stay was 7.5 days. The total or near total resection and functionally preservation rate was high. Complications were unusual. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach represented a safe and efficient procedure in selected patients with cerebellopontine angle tumours.

Minimally Invasive 360-Degree Approach to Intraconal Orbital Tumors.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinically the efficacy of 360-degree minimally invasive endoscopic surgery in patients with orbital intraconal tumors. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series. METHODS: A series of consecutive patients with orbital intraconal tumors were treated with minimally invasive surgery using an endonasal endoscopic approach or an anterior endoscopic orbitotomy over a 5-year period between January 2015 and January 2020 at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology of Cuba. RESULTS: In 22 patients, the mean age was 52.3 ± 11 years (range 18-71 years) with a female to male ratio of 1.8:1. Visual loss was present in 3 patients and proptosis was present in 19 patients. The most common diagnosis was cavernous hemangioma (72.7%) followed by orbital sheet meningioma (9.1%). The lower-inner (type II) location was the most usual, followed by the lower-outer (type IV). A gross total resection was achieved in 95.5% of patients. In only 1 case with an orbital pseudotumor was the resection subtotal because of the fibrous consistency, irregularity, and adherences to the medial rectus muscle. All patients with visual loss improved to normal visual function after surgery at follow-up and orbital proptosis recovered in all patients with these symptoms. Both immediate and long-term morphologic and aesthetic results were good in all patients. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive 360-degree surgical approach with a full endoscopic visualization can be safe and efficient in patients with select orbital intraconal tumors. Optic nerve location constitutes the main aspect in the surgical approach selection. A large case series is necessary to standardize this surgical philosophy.

Endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach in cerebellopontine angle tumors. A surgical cohort. / Keyhole endoscópico retrosigmoideo en tumores del ángulo pontocerebeloso. Resultados de una serie.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety and efficacy of endoscopic keyhole surgery in patients with cerebellopontine angle tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with cerebellopontine angled tumors treated by fully endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach in a tertiary center during a period of four years. Preoperative, transoperative and postoperative variables were analyzed. RESULTS: A number of 40 patients were included. The age average was 49.4 years and male/female proportion was 0.4-1. We found 31 vestibular schwannomas (77.5%), five meningiomas (12,5%), two cholesteatomas (5,0%) and two metastases (5.0%). Vestibular schwannomas Hannover type IIIb, IVa and IVb predominated. The surgical resection was total or near-total 92.5% of patients. Hearing preservation rate was 62.5% and acceptable facial function nerve function rate was 80% after six months. Hospital stay was 7.5 days. The total or near total resection and functionally preservation rate was high. Complications were unusual. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic retrosigmoid keyhole approach represented a safe and efficient procedure in selected patients with cerebellopontine angle tumors.

The effects of Kinesio taping on muscle tone in healthy subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.

Kinesio taping (KT) has been proposed to modulate muscle tone. However no studies have systematically studied the efficacy of KTon this primary outcome measure. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Kinesio taping (KT) applied over the gastrocnemius muscles on muscle tone, extensibility, electromyography (EMG) and strength. Nineteen healthy subjects were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo controlled crossover trial. KT and sham-tape were applied onto the gastrocnemius muscles of all subjects in two randomized sessions. Measurements before, at 10 min and 24 h after the intervention were taken. Outcome measurements included passive resistive torque to ankle dorsiflexion, dorsiflexion passive range of motion (PROM), surface Gastrocnemius Medialis (GM) EMG and maximal isometric voluntary force (MIVF). No significant differences were found between the sham-tape and KT groups for passive resistive torque, PROM nor maximal plantarflexion isometric voluntary force. A short-term increase of GM EMG activity was found in the KT group during the PROM mobilization, which was not maintained at 24 h following treatment. A short-term decrease in dorsiflexion force was produced 10 min after KT with respect to sham-tape application. These results demonstrate that the application of KT in the gastrocnemius muscles has no effect on healthy muscle tone, extensibility nor strength. However a short-term increase of GM EMG activity after KT treatment suggests the activation of central nervous system mechanisms, although without a therapeutic implication. Further studies with more appropriate designs are needed to clarify the physiological and therapeutic effects of this taping technique.