Turkish neurosurgery最新文献

Aim: To evaluate systemic immune inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), multi-inflammatory index (MII), and prognostic nutrition index (PNI), and to compare them with the previously reported inflammation-related hematologic index in lumbar discectomy (LD).

Material and methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study with 105 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for LD. The study comprised three groups: Group I included data from healthy participants, Group II included data before LD, and Group III included data after LD. We analyzed mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), SIRI, SII, MII, and PNI, in comparison with the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Visual analog scale for leg (VASLeg).

Results: CRP and MPV were similar for the preoperative and postoperative periods (p=0.489). In the postoperative measurements, NLR, PLR, SII, and SIRI increased (p < 0.0001). On the contrary, PNI decreased with LD (p < 0.0001). NLR (p < 0.001), SII (p < 0.001), and SIRI (p < 0.001) were the valuable indices for LD. PLR (p < 0.001), MII-1 (p=0.004), and MII-2 (p < 0.001) also predicted LD. ODI, RMDQ, and VASLeg correlated with MII-1, MII-2, and SIRI.

Conclusion: LD's most substantial and valuable indices were NLR, SII, and SIRI. Regarding superiority to SII and NLR, SIRI showed significant agreement with the scales and drew a more appropriate marker profile for LD than MII-1, MII-2, and PNI.

Aim: To assess, and to compare the efficacy of anterior endoscopic cervical discectomy (AECD) and anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF).

Material and methods: Major databases, registries, and other relevant material were screened for prospective trials directly comparing AECD and ACDF. No restrictions were imposed. Meta-analysis was not conducted due to high heterogeneity.

Results: After screening a total of 1339 articles, 2 studies enrolling 225 patients were included. One of these is a randomizedcontrolled- trial, including 120 patients, with a 14% lost to follow-up, showing no statistically significant differences in clinical outcomes according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) of the neck/arm and the North American Spine Society criteria regarding pain/neurological status. Radiological follow-up showed no adjacent-segment disease, with both groups presenting a statistically non-significant progression of a pre-existing adjacent-disc degeneration, and no difference in kyphosis. Recurrence was registered in 7.4% and 6.1% of patients who underwent AECD and ACDF, respectively. No statistically apparent differences in complications were observed. The second is a cohort study, including 135 patients with a 14.8% lost to follow-up. No statistically significant difference was found in clinical outcomes assessed using the VAS of the neck/arm and the neck disability index. No radiological data were provided. Recurrence was reported in 4% and 2% of patients in the AECD and ACDF group, respectively. No remarkable differences in complications were reported. Both studies reported that the surgical time was statistically shorter in AECD.

Conclusion: A definitive conclusion cannot be drawn. Single-level AECD seems to have results equivalent to ACDF, presenting even some benefits. Technical limitations combined with required surgical skills and experience should be considered. We recommend cautious employment in anticipation of future updates.

Aim: To explore the clinical effect and significance of preventive surgery for asymptomatic spinal lipomas in children.

Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 168 patients with asymptomatic spinal lipoma from April 2001 to June 2019, Shanghai Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The patients were aged from 1.5 months to 15 years (the average age was 7 months), and there were no neurological symptoms, such as pain, incontinence, and/or bilateral lower limb dysfunction, before surgery. The surgical procedure included completely removing the lipomas in subcutaneous and extramedullary tissues of the spinal cord, subtotal resection of intraspinal fat, and separating the spinal cord, including the medullary conus from the dura sac, to release the tethered cord.

Results: For the 168 children with spinal lipomas included in the study, complete resection was undertaken for the dorsal spinal lipomas, and subtotal resection was performed for the transitional lipomas. Subcutaneous effusion caused by cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 5 cases after surgery and was cured after multiple punctures and aspiration. Six patients developed mild incontinence immediately after the operation, 5 of whom completely returned to normal within 1 month, and 1 had no relief of symptoms. A total of 159 of the 168 patients were followed up for 3 to 19 years (the median follow-up time was 76 months). Longterm postoperative symptoms were observed in 13 patients (7.7%), including 12 cases of spinal cord retethering and 1 case of lipoma enlargement.

Conclusion: Preventive surgery can reduce the future incidence of neurological dysfunction in children with asymptomatic spinal lipomas.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and accuracy of C1 and C2 pedicle screw placement using a three-dimensional (3D)-printed double template and compare them with those of the conventional method in a clinical study.

Material and methods: DICOM format data from 60 cases with C1-C2 instability were obtained after computed tomography (CT) was performed. A total of 32 cases underwent surgery via the free-hand technique, whereas 28 cases underwent surgery via a 3D-printed "pointing-drilling" guide template. The ideal trajectory of the C1 and C2 pedicle screws was designed using a baseplate as a separate complementary template for the corresponding posterior C1-C2 anatomical surface, after which the "pointingdrilling" guide template was materialized using a 3D printing machine. The 3D-printed "pointing-drilling" guide template, which was sterilized with low-temperature plasma, was used to locate the starting point and determine the drill trajectory during surgery. The positions of the screws in the axial and sagittal planes of the CT scan were observed and categorized into four grades, after which the operative time, fluoroscopy time, and intraoperative bleeding in the two groups were compared.

Results: No significant difference (p > 0.05) in each screw classification grade was observed between the free-hand and "pointingdrilling" template groups; however, a significant difference was observed (p=0.048) between these two groups. A significant difference (p < 0.05) in fluoroscopy times was observed between the free-hand and "pointing-drilling" template groups. Conversely, no significant differences were observed in bleeding (p=0.491) and operative time (p=0.309) between the free-hand and "pointingdrilling" template groups.

Conclusion: The 3D-printed "pointing-drilling" guide template technique promoted more secure C1 and C2 pedicle screw placement compared with the free-hand technique in clinics.

Aim: To evaluate and compare open cranial vault remodeling (OCVR) and endoscopy-assisted craniosynostosis surgery (EACS) in patients with non-syndromic craniosynostosis and to develop an algorithm to determine the most appropriate surgery for each patient.

Material and methods: Eighty-five children with craniosynostosis who underwent surgery between 2010 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data, comorbidities, and peri-operative findings of the patients were recorded. Pre- and post-operative comparisons were made between predetermined measurement techniques for each deformation. In addition, measurements were obtained by computed tomography (CT) or 3D stereophotogrammetric (3DSPG) methods from eligible patients and compared with one another.

Results: In our study, 61 patients underwent EACS, whereas 24 underwent OCVR. The operating time of OCVR was approximately 54.4 minutes longer than that of EACS (p < 0.001). The intra-operative blood loss was around 139 ml higher in OCVR (p < 0.001). The length of hospital stay for patients who underwent EACS was shorter at 8.4 days on average (p < 0.001). Surprisingly, 5 complications were observed in OCVR compared with 7 in EACS. While the cosmetic outcome of EACS was superior in most of the pathologyspecific measurement techniques, the metopic index increased only in patients with metopic synostosis after both surgical operations. Still, this increase was lower in EACS than in OCVR.

Conclusion: This study suggests that endoscopic craniosynostosis surgery has lower estimated blood loss and operation and hospitalization times, as well as comparable cosmetic results compared with open vault surgeries on long-term follow-up. CT and 3DSPG methods can help distinguish between different types of measurement techniques for synostoses. However, no significant differences were found in the comparisons since 3DSPG can also provide reliable measurements comparable to those on CT during follow-up.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of the combination of nimodipine and dexamethasone in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Material and methods: In this study, 35 female adult Wistar Albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Sham (n=8), SAH with no treatment (n=9), SAH with nimodipine (n=9, oral gavage, 12 mg/kg, BID) treatment, and SAH with combined therapy with nimodipine and dexamethasone (n=9, intraperitoneally, 1mg/kg, BID). The "cisterna magna double injection of autologous blood" model was used. The animals were euthanized 5 days after the first injection.

Results: Of the total, five rats died before euthanasia. The SAH+Nontreatment group showed the worst score in neurological examinations, and the most severe histopathological findings were noted in terms of vasospasm. The SAH+Nimodipine group showed the best neurological score and the closest histopathological results to those of the Sham group, whereas adding dexamethasone to nimodipine treatment (the SAH+Nimodipine+Dexamethasone group) worsened the neurological and histopathological outcomes.

Conclusion: We thus concluded that the therapeutic effects of nimodipine were impaired when combined with dexamethasone. We thus hypothesized that dexamethasone possibly induces the CYP3A4-enzyme that metabolizes nimodipine. However, it should be noted that our results are based on laboratory findings obtained on a small sample, therefore further studies with drug-drug interaction on a larger sample size through CYP3A4-enzyme and clinical confirmation are warranted.

Aim: To describe the time between external ventricular drain (EVD) implantation and mobilization in neurosurgery intensive care unit (ICU) patients with EVDs. Due to increased intracranial pressure, neurosurgery patients with external ventricular drain (EVD) who are admitted to the ICU frequently remain at rest, resulting in prolonged ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), mechanical ventilator (MV) duration, and other adverse effects.

Material and methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 131 neurosurgery patients admitted to the ICU with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) who underwent EVD. Time of mobilization, level of mobilization, ICU and hospital LOS, MV duration, and other factors were evaluated for patients who met the inclusion criteria.

Results: Of the 131 patients, 67 survived, and 61 began to mobilize in varying degrees of dangling (26.22%), standing (44.26%), and walking (29.5%). The mean number of days between EVD implantation and mobilization was 10.15. According to the findings, the mean ICU-LOS in patients was 14.56 days, the MV duration was 7.13 days, the time of ICU discharge from EVD removal was 7.08 days, and the hospital-LOS was 16.98 days. In addition, seven patients (10.44%) developed DVT, and three developed PE (4.47%).

Conclusion: Prolonged immobility in patients with EVD is associated with negative outcomes such as PE and DVT, as well as an increase in MV duration, ICU-LOS, and hospital-LOS. Therefore, designing an appropriate and standard mobilization protocol and training nursing staff to assist patients in safely mobilizing can significantly reduce the complications above, reduce postoperative care, and empower patients.

Aim: To explore the post-translational regulation of TRPV1, which plays an important role in neuropathic low back pain (NLBP).

Material and methods: qPCR was used to examine the gene mRNA levels. Western blot was used to examine the protein level. NLBP rat model was established for confirming what we observed in clinical samples. Dual-luciferase assay was used to verify the miR-199 targets on the 3'UTR of TRPV1. Cell coculture was used to explore the interaction between macrophages and nerve cells.

Results: We found the mRNA level of TRVP1 decreased in the sinuvertebral nerve biopsy of NLBP. With bioinformatics prediction, miR199 would involve the post-transcription regulation of TRPV1. As the prediction, the miR199 level decreased in the clinical samples. Correlation regression analysis showed a negative correlation between miR-199 and TRPV1. The same phenomenon was confirmed in the rat NLBP model. With dual-luciferase assay, we confirmed that miR199 directly binds to the 3'UTR of TRPV1. Through co-culture of macrophage (THP1) and sNF96.2, we found that up or down-regulates miR-199 in macrophage and sNF96.2 could relieve or aggravate the injury of nerve cells strain.

Conclusion: These results suggest that the occurrence of NLBP may be caused by the lower expression of miR-199 in macrophages and nerve via TRPV1.

Aim: To investigate the status of immune checkpoint molecules (CTLA-4 and TIM-3) in meningiomas and thus contribute to the development of new personalized treatment strategies.

Material and methods: We utilized 402 cases of meningioma for this study. New blocks were prepared using the tissue microarray method, and sections obtained from these blocks were immunohistochemically stained with CTLA-4 and TIM-3 antibodies. Subsequently, statistical analysis were performed.

Results: Our findings revealed that CTLA-4 expression were observed in 25.1% of meningiomas. CTLA-4 expression and the number of expressing lymphocytes were found to be significantly higher in high-grade tumors and in those with brain invasion. Meningiomas with staining of immune cells with TIM-3 are 3.5%, and the tumor grade was correlated with the number of immune cells expressing TIM-3.

Conclusion: Immune checkpoint molecules (CTLA-4 and TIM-3) with varying levels of expression can serve as prognostic and predictive biomarkers, as well as important targets for therapy. Drugs developed for CTLA-4 and TIM-3 molecules may prove to be more effective in treating meningiomas with high-grade, brain-invading, spontaneous necrosis, and macronucleolus.

Aim: To highlight the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment options for diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLGNT) by examining pediatric patients diagnosed with DLGNT by molecular pathological evaluation and next generation sequencing at our center.

Material and methods: In this retrospective analysis, patients diagnosed with DLGNT between January 2017 and December 2022 are outlined according to their demographic data, radiological data, pathology results, treatments, and follow-up data.

Results: Four patients were diagnosed with DLGNT. All the patients were male. The mean age was 6.5 years. All but one patient had symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. An open biopsy was obtained from all patients for diagnosis. Three patients received radiotherapy and chemotherapy after the diagnosis. Two patients died during their follow-up, one of them in the early postoperative period. Two patients were clinically and radiologically stable in their follow-up after treatment.

Conclusion: Further work with larger cohorts is required to determine a common algorithm for DLGNT treatment and follow-up. This analysis may keep this entity in mind in patients with pediatric communicating hydrocephalus and may present insight into diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment options.