Background: The National Neurosurgical Audit Programme (NNAP) publishes mortality outcomes of consultants and neurosurgical units across the United Kingdom. It is unclear how useful outcomes data is for patients and whether it influences their decision-making process. Our aim was to identify patients' perceptions and understanding of the NNAP data and its influences.
Materials and methods: This single-centre study was conducted in the outpatient neurosurgery clinics at a regional neurosurgical centre. All adult (age ≥ 18) neurosurgical patients, with capacity, were invited to take part. Native and non-native English speakers were eligible. Statistical analyses were performed on SPSS v28 (IBM). Ethical approval was obtained.
Results: A total of 84 responses were received (54.7% females). Over half (51.0%) of respondents felt that they understood a consultant's mortality outcomes. Educational level determines respondents' understanding (χ2(8) = 16.870; p = .031). Most respondents were unaware of the NNAP (89.0%). Only a third of respondents (35.1%) understood the funnel plot used to illustrate mortality.
Conclusions: Most patients were unaware of the NNAP and most did not understand the data on the website. Understanding of mortality data seemed to be related to respondents' educational level which would be important to keep in mind when planning how to depict mortality data.
Objective: To explore the clinical significance of dynamic monitoring of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum Lactic acid(Lac), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) index in evaluating the condition and prognosis after a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Methods: A total of 52 severe TBI patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery within 24 hours after injury were dynamically monitored. CSF and serum samples were collected on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after a severe TBI to monitor the changes in Lac, NSE, and the BBB index. Intracranial pressure (ICP), Glasgow coma scale (GCS), and 6-month Glasgow outcome scale-extended (GOS-E) were tested. According to the results of GOS-E, the patients were divided into two groups (i.e. the poor prognosis group and good prognosis group). Statistical analysis was conducted to investigate the clinical significance of dynamic monitoring of CSF and serum Lac, NSE, and BBB index after a severe TBI.
Results: After a severe TBI, the levels of Lac, NSE, and BBB in CSF and serum were significantly higher than those in the normal range. Lac, NSE, and the BBB index did not correlate with ICP (except serum Lac) but had correlations with GCS and post-injury 6 months post-injury (except serum Lac). Moreover, the correlations between Lac, NSE, and BBB index were statistically significant (p < 0.05): CSF Lac and CSF NSE; CSF Lac and serum NSE; Lac and BBB index of CSF; Lac and BBB index of CSF; NSE and CSE of serum; CSF NSE and BBB index; and serum NSE and BBB index. Additionally, serum NSE is correlated with NSE in CSF (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: After a severe TBI, dynamic monitoring of CSF and serum Lac, NSE, and BBB index has the potential to assess the condition, predict the prognosis, and have clinical significance.
Background: Peripheral nerve injury is a common clinical disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of cerium oxide nanoparticles on axonal regeneration and functional recovery of the sciatic nerve after a crush injury in the rat model.
Method: A total of 40 adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The animals underwent deep anesthesia. Afterward, the right sciatic nerve of rats was exposed and crushed. In two experimental groups, rats were treated intraperitoneally with cerium oxide nanoparticles at the dosage of 20 or 80 mg/kg daily for 1 week. The control group was given a vehicle. Then, during the nerve regeneration motor and sensory function recovery tests, histomorphometric evaluations, histological assessment of gastrocnemius muscle, and gastrocnemius muscle wet weights tests were performed.
Results: Results demonstrated that the rate of nerve regeneration increased with the administration of cerium oxide nanoparticle in high doses. Also, the morphometric analysis showed that the number of myelinated fibers and myelin sheath thicknesses was significantly greater in the cerium oxide nanoparticle group versus the control group. Other parameters also improved in the cerium oxide nanoparticle treatment groups compared with the control group.
Conclusion: These data indicate that this nanoparticle has therapeutic potential and can be considered as a new treatment for nervous system regeneration.
Purpose: We evaluate the efficacy, safety and indications of single stage posterior release, reduction, and fixation of basilar invagination (BI) with irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation (IAAD).
Materials and methods: Seventeen patients with BI and IAAD consecutively underwent one-stage release, reduction, and fixation by a posterior approach from July 2000 to June 2015 were followed up for at least 12 months. There were 8 males. Mean age was 56 35.2 ± 13.8 years (range 12-56). The clinical symptoms and signs of the patients were recorded. Pre- and postoperative imaging examinations were performed. Neurological function was assessed using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) and Ranawat scores.
Results: Average follow-up time was 47.4 months (12-97 months). The JOA score increased from preoperative 4-10 (8.06 ± 2.52) to postoperative 13-16 (15.20 ± 0.62). The preoperative Chamberlain line, McRae line, Wackenheim line, atlantodens interval, and cervico medullary angle were 12.52 ± 5.17 mm, 6.59 ± 3.04 mm, 6.96 ± 4.32 mm, 9.88 ± 1.93 mm, and 115.35 ± 12.40°, respectively. The postoperative values were 2.0 ± 3.67 mm, -3.06 ± 1.85 mm, -1.76 ± 2.88 mm, 1.17 ± 1.18 mm, and 136.76 ± 11.44°, respectively.
Conclusion: One-stage release, reduction, and fixation for patients with BI and IAAD through a posterior approach is safe and efficient.