Zhurnal voprosy neirokhirurgii imeni N. N. Burdenko最新文献

Cerebral aneurysms are diagnosed in 1-5% of people and cause 80-85% of subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH). Aneurysmal hemorrhages are more common in people aged 30-50 years causing high socio-economic significance of this disease. Therefore, the outcomes of microsurgical clipping are an urgent problem in these patients.

Objective: To evaluate the immediate and long-term results after microsurgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms in acute period of hemorrhage; to analyze functional results and long-term outcomes, including higher mental functions and return to previous work.

Material and methods: The study included 517 patients in acute period of subarachnoid hemorrhage between 2019 and 2022. Severity of hemorrhage was assessed using the Hunt-Hess scale while the Fisher scale was valuable to estimate dimensions of hemorrhage and predictions for vasospasm. All patients underwent microsurgical clipping of aneurysms. We assessed clinical status and outcomes immediately after microsurgical clipping, within 2 weeks, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. The Modified Glasgow Outcome Scale, Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), EQ-5D-3L Quality of Life Questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination MMSE and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were used.

Results: After 1 month, mRS score 0 was observed in 22% of patients, score 1 - 17%, score 2 - 19.4%, score 3 - 6.2%, score 4 - 2.6%, score 5 - 1% of patients. Mortality rate was 6.4%. After 12 months, mRS score 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 was observed in 67%, 15%, 8%, 3% and 0.4% of patients, respectively. After 12 months, 39 (8.3%) patients did not return to previous work. Among 427 (91.7%) patients who returned to previous work, 20% returned to work after 3 months, 65% after 6 months and 15% after 9 months.

Conclusion: Short-term and long-term functional outcomes vary significantly. There were significantly better mRS scores in long-term period compared to early period. Analysis of immediate and long-term results after hemorrhage will allow us to determine the most important predictors of adverse functional outcomes, assess the prevalence, characteristics, modifiable risk factors and consequences of hemorrhage.

Background: Botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections are effective for facial neuropathy. However, there is insufficient number of studies devoted to long-term management of these patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of BTA therapy in patients with facial neuropathy after neurosurgical interventions.

Material and methods: The study included 86 patients with facial neuropathy after surgical treatment of posterior cranial fossa and cerebellopontine angle tumors. All ones were divided into 2 groups: group I (main) - 57 patients with BTA prescribed early after facial nerve injury, group II (control) - 29 people undergoing exercise therapy, as well as special exercises and acupressure of painful muscle cords. The Sunnybrook Facial Grading Scale (SFGS) was used to assess facial symmetry and synkinesis, the Facial Disability Index (FDI scale) - to assess the quality of life. Overall duration of the study was 5 years (control points: 6 months, 1, 2, 3 and 5 years).

Results: The SFGS scores after 1, 2, 3 and 5 years were significantly better in the main group (resting symmetry p<0.01, voluntary movement symmetry p<0.01, synkinesis p<0.01, general condition of facial muscles p<0.01). Scores of physical and social functioning were significantly higher in the main group after 1 (p<0.01), 2 (p<0.01), 3 (p<0.01) and 5 years (p<0.01) after surgery. There was no need to change BTA dosage over 5 years. Thus, this form of BTA may be the most effective for synkinesis of facial muscles.

Conclusion: Correction of synkinesis caused by facial neuropathy requires long-term follow-up and long-term treatment. BTA is effective and may be recommended for long-term treatment of these patients.

Craniopharyngiomas (CP) are benign chiasmatic-sellar tumors in children and adults. Surgical resection is currently the main method for CP and largely depends on topographic and anatomical location of tumor.

Objective: To analyze topographic and anatomical classifications of CP available in the world literature.

Material and methods: Searching for literature data on classifications of CPs was performed in the PubMed, eLibrary and CyberLeninka databases between 1960 and 2023. We used the following keywords: «craniopharyngioma», «third ventricle», «endoscopic transnasal surgery for craniopharyngiomas».

Results: We found 21 eligible manuscripts. The vast majority of studies are devoted to topographic and anatomical location of CPs in their own series: baseline growth along hypothalamic-pituitary axis (4 classifications), relation to the third ventricle (5 classifications), pituitary stalk (2 classifications), optic nerves (2 classifications) and meninges (3 classifications), classification of papillomatous CPs (1 report) and adamantinomatous CPs (1 report), functional classifications of hypothalamic lesions (3 reports).

Conclusion: Topographic classifications of CPs characterize their relation to the most important basal brain structures: pituitary gland, hypothalamus, optic pathways and circle of Willis. There are also single topographic and anatomical classifications with emphasis on morphological component of CP. Exact anatomical and topographic variant of CP is often of decisive importance for choosing the optimal surgical approach, possibility and expediency of total resection. Further clarification of relationship of CP to diencephalic structures is associated with improvement of diagnostic methods, in particular, high-resolution MRI (7.0 T) and MR tractography.

Despite slow growth of most pituitary tumors and high rates of total resection and/or effective therapy, pituitary neoplasms are characterized by aggressive behavior with high growth rate, frequent relapses and resistance to standard treatments in 10% of cases. In modern WHO classifications of tumors of the central nervous system, endocrine and neuroendocrine tumors, the authors propose the definition «pituitary neuroendocrine tumor» instead of previous «pituitary adenoma» and «metastasizing pituitary neuroendocrine tumor» instead of «pituitary carcinoma». Currently, there are no effective prognostic markers of aggressive tumors. This complicates early diagnosis. It is proposed to apply a five-stage prognostic classification based on proliferation rate (including mitotic count, Ki-67 index and p53 immunoexpression) and morphometric markers of invasiveness for all resected pituitary neoplasms. This approach would be valuable for earlier detection of aggressive tumors and pituitary carcinomas. Compression of visual pathways, third ventricle and brain stem due to rapid growth of aggressive tumors usually requires redo surgeries with subsequent radiotherapy. Hormonally active tumors require therapy with somatostatin analogues and dopamine agonists in maximum possible doses. Chemotherapy with temozolomide as first-line option is recommended if standard treatment is ineffective. Alternative treatment includes peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), molecular targeted therapy (bevacizumab, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, everolimus and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors) and immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors). Considering the need for combined treatment, these cases should always be discussed by a multidisciplinary team (neurosurgeon, endocrinologist, radiotherapist, oncologist, pathologist) with necessary qualifications and experience in treating these patients. Treatment of aggressive tumors and pituitary carcinomas is becoming an active and rapidly developing direction in neurosurgery, endocrinology and oncology.

Currently, there are no standards in surgical treatment of dumbbell-shaped tumors of lumbo-foraminal region.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and long-term results of minimally invasive resection of dumbbell-shaped lumbar schwannomas Eden type 2 and 3 combined with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and transpedicular stabilization.

Material and methods: A retrospective study included 13 patients (8 men and 5 women) with lumbar dumbbell tumors Eden type 2 and 3 who underwent minimally invasive facetectomy through posterolateral anatomical corridor, microsurgical tumor resection and MI TLIF. We analyzed intraoperative parameters, neurological functions (ASIA scale), clinical characteristics (ODI, SF-36), and complications. Resection quality and area of the multifidus muscle were assessed according to MRI data. All patients were followed-up throughout at least 3-year.

Results: Surgery time was 147 min, blood loss - 118 ml, hospital-stay - 7 days. Clinical parameters significantly improved in the follow-up period: ODI score decreased from 72 to 12 (p=0.004), SF-36 PCS increased from 26.24 to 48.51 (p=0.006) and MCS score increased from 29.13 to 53.68 (p=0.002). According to MRI data, no tumor recurrences and severe muscle atrophy (>30%) were observed after 3 years in all cases. Superficial wound infection occurred in 1 (7.7%) case. There were normal neurological functions (ASIA type E) in all patients.

Conclusion: Minimally invasive facetectomy through posterolateral approach with MI TLIF technology can be used for safe and effective resection of dumbbell-shaped schwannomas Eden type 2 and 3.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a rare complication of herpes zoster characterized by prolonged and excruciating pain. Traditional treatments for PHN, such as analgesics, anticonvulsants and antidepressants, do not always bring the desired result. One promising alternative that is attracting the attention of the scientific community is dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS). This method focuses on targeted and precise targeting of the source of pain, providing a new level of effectiveness in the treatment of PHN.

Objective: A retrospective analysis of the technique and results of implantation of a permanent device for stimulating the spinal ganglia in patients with refractory PHN at the Burdenko Neurosurgical Center.

Material and methods: The study was conducted in 7 patients (5 men, 2 women) with refractory PHN in the period from 2018 to 2020. The age of the patients ranged from 57 to 84 years (average age 74±8.4). All patients were implanted with Boston systems (Precision or Spectra versions). Stimulation parameters: pulse width - 120-210 μs, frequency - 30-130 Hz, amplitude at the lower limit of the appearance of paresthesia with the possibility of increasing with increased pain up to 5 mA. The position of the electrode depended on the location of the pain. All systems were implanted under X-ray guidance.

Results: The duration of follow-up observation was more than 2.5 years. The average pain intensity one year after treatment was 3.42±2.45 points on the visual analogue scale (VAS) (a 62.3% decrease in intensity compared to baseline). In 3 (42.8%) patients, the result was characterized by us as «excellent» (intensity according to VAS decreased by 75% or more), in 1 (14.2%) - as «good» (intensity according to VAS decreased by 50-74%), in 1 (14.2%) - as «moderate» (VAS intensity decreased by 25-49% and in 2 (28.5%) as «unsatisfactory» (VAS intensity decreased by less than 25%, or postoperative complications occurred).

Conclusion: Given the complicated nature of PHN, the use of dorsal ganglion stimulation appears to be a promising and innovative treatment approach. Further research is needed to introduce this technique into clinical practice for the treatment of patients suffering from PHN.

Treatment of motor disorders by MRI-guided focused ultrasound is an alternative to neuro- and radiosurgery such as stereotactic radiofrequency ablation and thalamotomy with a gamma knife. However, safety, efficacy and feasibility of this technology for intracranial neoplasms are still unclear. The authors report successful hypothalamic hamartoma dissection by MRI-guided focused ultrasound in a 32-year-old woman with drug-resistant gelastic epilepsy and violent laughter and crying attacks. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed type II hypothalamic hamartoma. The last one was detached from surrounding brain tissue by MRI-guided focused ultrasound without side effects. Symptoms regressed immediately after surgery. No laughter and crying attacks were observed throughout 6-month follow-up.

The manuscript is devoted to development of information support system for a bioresource collection - biological information system «NeuroOnc». Architecture and main functions of system are presented. This system was formed in the project «Development of bioresource collection of tumors of the human nervous system with molecular genetic certification for personalized treatment of patients with neuro-oncological diseases». The purpose of this project was not only formation of bioresource collection, but also development of various molecular genetic methods for analysis of biospecimens in context of clinical researches. Biological information systems created to support the work of bioresource collections in hospitals should become a natural part of information infrastructure. Information support of bioresource collections cannot imply only «warehouse» functions. This system should have tools to support various scientific and clinical researches. Biological information systems can sometimes expand medical information systems but remain sufficiently autonomous. It is advisable to develop biological information systems in large specialized companies that can support their products for many years.

Objective: To analyze the structure of care for patients with pain syndromes in the Russian Federation and possible improvement of these approaches.

Material and methods: A detailed questionnaire was sent to 60 pain clinics. We received responses from 40 hospitals. Other information was obtained from annual statistical reports for 2021-2023. Fifteen clinics and departments in different regions were inspected.

Results: A total of 3871 implantations of test electrodes and 2317 systems for permanent neurostimulation were performed in the Russian Federation in 2021-2023. There were 30-110 annual implantations in Moscow and St. Petersburg clinics, as well as 5-30 procedures in other hospitals. The indications for stimulation system implantation were persistent back pain syndrome (58%), complex regional pain syndrome (12.5%), spasticity (9%), chronic pelvic pain (7.5%), critical lower limb ischemia (6%), peripheral neuropathies (5%), refractory angina (1%), etc. (1%). About 3700 patients seek treatment in pain departments and clinics annually. Of these, 49% were referred for interventional treatment (blockades, radiofrequency ablation), 7% - for neuromodulation.

Discussion: Extrapolation of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) data suggests that 548.000 people in the Russian Federation suffer from neuropathic pain refractory to drug therapy. The need for pain surgery is 27.400 interventions per year. In the Russian Federation, there is no multiple-level medical care for severe pain syndromes. It is difficult to realize a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients who suffer and often become disabled only because of severe chronic pain.

Conclusion: It is necessary to distinguish algology as a separate specialty and contribute to development of this extremely important area of medicine.

Objective: To analyze the postoperative outcomes in patients with craniovertebral meningiomas with preoperative justification of surgical approach depending on tumor localization.

Material and methods: We examined 36 patients with craniovertebral meningiomas. The Karnofsky, Frankel and cranial nerve dysfunction scales were used to assess functional status of patients. Preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI was valuable to verify tumor matrix. MRI and assessment of neurological status were performed 2 weeks and 1 year after surgery.

Results: Mean preoperative Karnofsky score was 65.52±6.41, in postoperative period - 71.71±14.16, after 1 year - 86.9±5.61. Baseline dysfunction of caudal cranial nerves was noted in 22.2% of patients. After 2 postoperative weeks, this value increased to 55.6% (20 patients). After one postoperative year, mild dysfunction of caudal cranial nerves persisted in 9 patients (25%). Patients were divided into 3 groups depending on localization of tumor matrix in sagittal plane: lower third of the clivus - 15 (41.7%) patients, level of foramen magnum - 18 (50%) patients, level of C1-C2 vertebrae - 3 (8.3%) patients. Two groups were distinguished depending on localization of tumor matrix in axial plane: anterior (anterolateral) - 27 patients (75%), posterior (posterolateral) - 9 patients (25%). We analyzed the relationship between tumor volume, localization of matrix and incidence of postoperative complications.

Conclusion: Localization of tumor matrix at the level of the lower third of the clivus is accompanied by larger tumor volume and higher complication rate compared to localization of neoplasm at the level of foramen magnum and C1-C2 vertebrae. Posterolateral approach is optimal for anterior and anterolateral tumors, while median suboccipital approach is advisable for posterior and posterolateral tumors.