Safe First-Time use of Stereotactic Headband Fixation in a 5-Month-Old Child: An Economical and Easily Accessible Method.

OBJECTIVE: We present a low-cost and easily accessible adaptation system to perform stereotactic procedures in infants. METHODS: We used an adaptive device consisting of a headband with a plaster bandage, cotton bandage roll, and gauze bandages. Prior to its clinical application, the device was tested in our neuroscience laboratory using a simulation model of a size similar to that of a 5-month-old infant, during which no complications arose. The headband cast technique was subsequently reproduced in a 5-month-old patient, serving as a fixation point for the placement of a Micromar frame for biopsy of a thalamic lesion. RESULTS: A stereotactic biopsy was successfully performed in a 5-month-old patient using a headband cast to secure the stereotactic frame. This method enabled precise targeting of the selected site, resulting in a histopathological diagnosis without any associated complications. CONCLUSIONS: The adaptive device is safe, easily accessible, and reproducible, facilitating the performance of stereotactic diagnostic procedures in infants, accurately reaching the planned objective without causing injuries or additional complications.

Cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma. Retrospective cohort study assessing postoperative functional outcome, cerebellar mutism and hydrocephalus.

Objective: Analyze a series of pediatric patients with cPAs evaluating factors that may modify or determine the final outcome in terms of neurological status, CMS and hydrocephalus. Materials and methods: Single Center, retrospective cohort study of surgical patients with cPA and at least 12 months of follow-up. Clinical, imaging and surgical features, histopathology and adjuvancy were assessed. Clinical outcome was categorized using the FSS and modified Bloom-Scale in the short and long term. Recurrency, PFS and mortality were also analyzed. Results: A total of 100 patients with a mean follow-up of 53.9 months, with no gender predilection, and a mean age of 7.6 years were included. The most frequent location was central and 24% of the tumors presented brainstem invasion. 79 patients had hydrocephalus at diagnosis and 48% required preoperative treatment. RT was achieved in 67% of cases. CMS was observed in 15 patients, statistically associated with location, pontine invasion, preoperative Bloom-score, and postoperative meningitis/ventriculitis. The functional "outcome" was correlated with complications such as meningitis/ventriculitis and cerebellar hematoma, mutism and recurrence. Recurrence was observed in 26% of cases and surgical reintervention was the chosen therapy. Conclusion: The treatment of cPAs in pediatric patients is associated with relatively favorable results. Recurrence, CMS and surgical complications play a prognostic value in the outcome and therefore must be managed appropriately. Early treatment with the intention of GTR should be considered, opting, if this is not possible, to leave a tumor residue over neurological damage. The treatment of hydrocephalus in the preoperative instance requires individualized management.

Lumbosacral DREZotomy for oncologic pain treatment: a case-based review.

PURPOSE: To present 3 cases of oncologic pain treated by DREZotomy in the pediatric population and to review the literature published about this procedure. METHODS: The permanent literature about oncologic pain treatment in children and the applicability of DREZotomy was reviewed. Three cases treated at our institution were reviewed and presented. RESULTS: In the pediatric population, the DREZotomy has been extensively applied for the treatment of spasticity and spasticity-related pain. Currently, there are no reports of oncologic pain treated by means of a DREZotomy in children. We presented 3 cases coursing the terminal stage of illness, presenting predominantly neuropathic, oncologic pain that were successfully managed after a DREZotomy was performed. CONCLUSION: In well-selected patients, with a good general condition and life expectancy to withstand an open neurosurgical procedure, DREZotomy is an excellent tool to treat neuropathic oncologic pain.

Ependimomas intracraneales pediátricos: Si el objetivo es la curación, ¿cuál es el verdadero costo? / Pediatric Intracranial Ependymomas: If the Goal Is Cure, What Is the True Cost?

Introducción: Para caracterizar mejor la morbilidad neurológica después de una cirugía de resección máxima seguida de radioterapia en niños con ependimoma infratentorial, decidimos estudiar el estado neurológico prequirúrgico y compararlo con las evaluaciones postoperatorias a corto y largo plazo. Al mismo tiempo realizamos un estudio de sobrevida libre de progresión (SLP) tumoral para conocer qué factores tienen mayor impacto en el pronóstico de este tipo de lesiones. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo donde se incluyeron todos los pacientes pediátricos con diagnóstico de ependimoma infratentorial. Se identificaron los distintos factores de riesgo y se observó cómo evolucionaron en el tiempo. Los pacientes se siguieron por un mínimo de 24 meses para el análisis de supervivencia. Resultados: Se analizaron 26 pacientes pediátricos con ependimomas de fosa posterior entre 2008-2019. Encontramos una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre el FSS (Escala funcional neurológica) prequirúrgico y el FSS postoperatorio inmediato (p=0.03), sin embargo esta diferencia se pierde cuando comparamos el prequirúrgico con el FSS posterior al año (p=0.07).La exéresis total de la lesión tiene un efecto protector en la SLP tumoral (p=0.02), mientras que haber requerido más de 3 cirugías afecta negativamente la SLP tumoral (p=0.04), al igual que la localización lateralizada del tumor (p=0.04). Conclusión: La exéresis completa de los ependimomas de fosa posterior continúa siendo el factor pronóstico más importante para la sobrevida libre de progresión tumoral. El deterioro neurológico inmediato producido a causa del procedimiento quirúrgico parecería mejorar en la evaluación a largo plazo.

Introduction: To better characterize the neurological morbidity after maximal resection surgery followed by radiotherapy in children with infratentorial ependymoma, we decided to study the preoperative neurological status and compare it with short and long-term postoperative evaluations. At the same time, we conducted a tumor progression-free survival (PFS) study to find out which factors have the greatest impact on the prognosis of this type of injury. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in which all pediatric patients with a diagnosis of infratentorial ependymoma were included. The different risk factors were identified and it was observed how they evolved over time. Patients were followed for a minimum of 24 months for survival analysis. Results: 26 pediatric patients with posterior fossa ependymomas were analyzed between 2008-2019. We found a statistically significant difference between the presurgical FSS (Functional Status Scale) and the immediate postoperative FSS (p = 0.03), however this difference is lost when we compare the presurgical with the FSS after one year (p = 0.07).Total excision of the lesion has a protective effect on tumor PFS (p = 0.02), while having required more than 3 surgeries negatively affects tumor PFS (p = 0.04), as does the lateralized location of the tumor (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Complete excision of posterior fossa ependymomas continues to be the most important prognostic factor for tumor progression-free survival. The immediate neurological deterioration produced by the surgical procedure would appear to improve on the long-term evaluation

Sagitectomía Endoscópica: Planeamiento Quirúrgico con Modelos de Simulación de Bajo Costo / Endoscopic Sagitectomy: Surgical Planning with Low-Cost Simulation Models

Objetivos: El objetivo es presentar un caso de sagitectomía asistida por endoscopía y su planificación y entrenamiento prequirúrgico con modelos de simulación de bajo costo. Métodos: Se procesó una tomografía de un paciente con escafocefalia, a partir de la cual se realizó una impresión 3D de un cráneo sin huesos parietales. Se completó el modelo de simulación con materiales de bajo costo para simular los tejidos blandos y hueso. Se realizó el entrenamiento con un endoscopio de 30º. Luego del entrenamiento, se realizó una cirugía en un paciente de 2 meses de edad que presentaba una escafocefalia. Resultados: Se creó un modelo de simulación de bajo costo (aproximadamente 20 US$) para el entrenamiento de sagitectomía asistida por endoscopía. Se realizó la cirugía en un paciente, sin complicaciones quirúrgicas ni posoperatorias. Conclusión: El entrenamiento con simuladores de bajo costo permite planificar una sagitectomía asistida por endoscopía, disminuyendo los errores y los tiempos de la curva de aprendizaje.

Modelo integral de entrenamiento microquirúrgico y neuroendovascular con placenta humana / Comprehensive microsurgical and neuroendovascular training model with human placenta

Introducción: La neurocirugía vascular, tanto la microquirúrgica como endovascular, ha progresado significativamente en el tratamiento de la patología cerebrovascular. Sin embargo, en una considerable proporción de casos este tipo de patología no puede ser resuelta definitivamente mediante un único abordaje. Por lo cual consideramos que el neurocirujano en formación debe capacitarse con ambas técnicas.Se describe un modelo de entrenamiento en microcirugía y en nociones básicas del material y técnica neuroendovascular, utilizando placenta humana y recursos de baja complejidad. Material y método: Se utilizaron 20 placentas humanas, instrumental y sutura de uso habitual en microcirugía, microscopio quirúrgico Newton®XX1, material para procedimientos endovasculares; equipo de radioscopia (arco en C Phillips BV Pulsera®), un cráneo óseo y un cabezal de fijación tipo Sugita® adaptado a su uso en laboratorio. Los ejercicios consistieron en: 1. Disección y exposición de los vasos arteriales y venosos del corion; 2. Anastomosis término-terminal, termino-lateral y latero-lateral; 3. Generación de aneurismas laterales, de bifurcación o trifurcación; 4. Creación de bypass extra-intracraneano; 5. Clipado de los aneurismas en superficie y dentro del cráneo; 6. Control angiográfico pre y post clipado. 7. Embolización con coils de los aneurismas experimentales y de vasos placentarios con partículas de Spongostan®. Resultados: Aunque los vasos tienen una estructura y consistencia diferentes a los habituales para el neurocirujano, la placenta ofrece una variabilidad de calibres y formatos donde practicar los diferentes ejercicios. Conclusión: El entrenamiento en técnicas microquirúrgicas y neurointervencionistas puede ser realizado en modelos placentarios de simulación, que permiten el desarrollo háptico progresivo previo a la realización de un procedimiento in vivo.

Objective: Describe a training model in microsurgery and neuroendovascular surgery, using human placenta and low complexity resources. Material and methods: 20 human placentas, instruments and sutures were used in microsurgery, Newton XX1 surgical microscope, material for endovascular procedures; radioscopy equipment (C-arch Phillips BV Pulsera), a bony skull and a Sugita head adapted for laboratory use. The exercises consisted of: 1. Dissection and exposure of the arterial and venous vessels of the chorion; 2. End-to-end, end-to-side, side-to-side anastomosis; 3. Generation of lateral, bifurcation or trifurcation aneurysms; 4. Creation of extra-intracranial bypass; 5. Clipping of aneurysms on the surface and inside the skull; 6. Pre and post clipping angiographic control. 7. Coil embolization of experimental aneurysms and placental vessels embolization with spongostan particles. Results: Although the vessels have a different structure and consistency than usual for the neurosurgeon, the placenta offers a variability of sizes and formats to practice the different exercises. Conclusion: Training in microsurgical and neurointerventionist techniques can be carried out in placental models, which allow progressive haptic development prior to performing an in vivo procedure.