Previously, the simultaneous presence of endocarditis (IE) has been reported in 3–30% of spondylodiscitis cases. The specific implications on therapy and outcome of a simultaneous presence of both diseases are not yet fully evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a simultaneously present endocarditis on the course of therapy and outcome of spondylodiscitis. A

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a major complication after elective neurosurgical procedures. The aim of this systematic literature review is to summarize the incidence rates of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage for neurosurgical procedures, classified by surgical approach. The Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies reporting the outcome of patients

The historical evolution of the fornix has not been sufficiently reviewed in the literature. In this article, we follow this evolution from the first mention of the fornix in animal dissections of the second century AD, to the legalization of cadaver dissection in the 1300 s, to the introduction of neural staining techniques and the microscope in the seventeenth century, to today. We summarize the

Machine learning is a rapidly evolving field that offers physicians an innovative and comprehensive mechanism to examine various aspects of patient data. Cervical and lumbar degenerative spine disorders are commonly age-related disease processes that can utilize machine learning to improve patient outcomes with careful patient selection and intervention. The aim of this study is to examine the current

Twiddler’s syndrome (TS) is a hardware-related complication of deep brain stimulation which has not been well documented and is probably underreported. The objective of this study is to comprehensively describe TS by systematically reviewing the related literature. The methods include selecting the eligible studies based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data about studies and TS were collected

External ventricular drain (EVD) is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures. EVD can be associated with high rates of complications like misplacement, iatrogenic hemorrhage, and CSF infection. Several modifications have been proposed in the EVD insertion techniques to decrease the risk of these complications. Bolt-connected EVD, one of these modifications which involves insertion

The influence of perioperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion on prognosis of glioblastoma patients continues to be inconclusive. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) and overall survival (OS) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Between 2013 and 2018, 240 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma underwent surgical

The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is becoming increasingly popular for treatment of wide-neck aneurysms. As experience with this device grows, it is important to identify factors associated with occlusion following WEB treatment to guide decision making and screen patients at high risk for recurrence. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with adequate aneurysm occlusion following

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-021-01631-0

The strictly third ventricle craniopharyngioma topography (strictly 3V CP) defines the subgroup of lesions developed above an anatomically intact third ventricle floor (3VF). The true existence of this exceedingly rare topographical category is highly controversial owing to the presumed embryological CP origin from Rathke’s pouch, a structure developmentally situated outside the neural tube. This study

Delayed cerebral vasospasm (DCVS), early brain injury (EBI), and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) are devastating complications after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Interleukin (IL)-6 seems to be an important interleukin in the inflammatory response after SAH, and many studies describe a strong correlation between IL-6 and worse outcome. The aim of this study was to systematically review

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures. Despite this, the optimal drainage and weaning strategies are still unknown. This PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis analysed the outcomes of patients undergoing EVD procedures, comparing continuous versus intermittent drainage and rapid versus gradual weaning. Four databases were searched

The sacroiliac joint is a diarthrodial synovial joint in the pelvis. Anatomically, it is described as a symphysis, its synovial joint characteristics being limited to the distal cartilaginous portion on the iliac side. It is a continuous ligamentous stocking comprising interconnecting ligamentous structures and surrounding fascia. Its ligaments, the primary source of its stability, include the anterior

Neuroimaging is crucial in moyamoya disease (MMD) for neurosurgeons, during pre-surgical planning and intraoperative navigation not only to maximize the success rate of surgery, but also to minimize postsurgical neurological deficits in patients. This is a review of recent literatures which updates the clinical use of imaging methods in the morphological and hemodynamic assessment of surgical revascularization

Often, surgical techniques are practiced and studied in the anatomy laboratory. Occasionally, new surgical methods are developed with cadaveric anatomical studies. Some cadaveric feasibility studies, if published, might go on to be used by surgeons from around the world for improved patient care. Herein, we review our experience with 37 published anatomical feasibility studies over an 18-year period

The study design is a clinical case series. The objective of this study was to present the concept and efficacy of the lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap (LTIMF) for management of complex wound healing disorders following open cervicothoracic spine surgery. Wound healing disturbances with myocutaneous defects after open spine surgery at the cervical and upper thoracic spine are well-described

In 10–15% of cases of vestibular schwannoma (VS), age at diagnosis is 40 years or less. Little is known about the differences in natural history, surgical findings, and postoperative outcomes of such younger patients as compared to those of greater age. To analyze clinical and surgical and imaging data of a consecutive series of n = 50 patients with unilateral sporadic VS, aged 40 years or younger

In light of our own experiences, we value the existing literature to critically point out possible “near” future applications of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as an intraoperative neurosurgical guidance tool. “Pub Med”, “Cochrane Library”, “Crossref Metadata Search”, and “IEEE Xplore” databases as well as the search engine “Google Scholar” were screened for “optical coherence tomography + neurosurgery”

Delirium is a frequent occurring complication in surgical patients. Nevertheless, a scientific work-up of the clinical relevance of delirium after intracranial surgery is lacking. We conducted a systematic review (CRD42020166656) to evaluate the current diagnostic work-up, incidence, risk factors and health outcomes of delirium in this population. Five databases (Embase, Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO

The presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) portends a worse prognosis in patients presenting with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Intraventricular hemorrhage increases the rates of hydrocephalus, ventriculitis, and long-term shunt dependence. Over the past decade, novel medical devices and protocols have emerged to directly treat IVH. Presently, we review new technological adaptations

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-021-01529-x

Hydrocephalus is the symptomatic endpoint of a variety of disease processes. Simple hydrodynamic models have failed to explain the entire spectrum of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disorders. Physical principles argue that for ventricles to expand, they must be driven by a force, Fishman’s transmantle pressure gradient (TMPG). However, the literature to date, reviewed herein, is heterogenous and fails to

Due to the lack of reliable prognostic tools, prognostication and surgical decisions largely rely on the neurosurgeons’ clinical prediction skills. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of neurosurgeons’ prediction of survival in patients with high-grade glioma and explore factors possibly associated with accurate predictions. In a prospective single-center study, 199 patients who underwent

Computer-assisted spine surgery based on preoperative CT imaging may be hampered by sagittal alignment shifts due to an intraoperative switch from supine to prone. In the present study, we systematically analyzed the occurrence and pattern of sagittal spinal alignment shift between corresponding preoperative (supine) and intraoperative (prone) CT imaging in patients that underwent navigated posterior

Pituitary adenoma surgery has evolved rapidly in recent decades, changing clinical practice markedly and raising new challenges. There is no current consensus or guidelines for perioperative care that includes possible complication management. This study aims to determine current practice across European neurosurgical centres. We created a list of eligible departments performing pituitary adenoma surgery

Gangliogliomas (GGs) are rare, usually low-grade tumors that account for 1–2% of all central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms. Spinal GGs are exceedingly rare (1% of all spinal tumors) and the presentation of anaplastic features in them is even rarer. According to the last World Health Organization (WHO) classification of CNS neoplasms, anaplastic GG (AGG) is classified as a malignant neoplasm (grade

Vertex epidural hematoma (VEDH) is a rare extradural hematoma and often misdiagnosed because of its variety of clinical symptoms and characteristic location. Determining optimal timing and technique for VEDH surgery is difficult because of its midline location and atypical clinical course. This study aims to understand the clinical manifestations and current treatment strategies for VEDH. We searched

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) caused by vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) compression is a rare event, reported between 2 and 6% (Linskey et al. J Neurosurg 81:1-9,1992, Vanaclocha et al.World Neurosurg 96:516-529,2016) of the time. Microvascular decompression (MVD) is advised for drug-resistant pain and, although technically challenging, is associated with an excellent outcome in current literature (Apra et

High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a prototypical damage associated particle and acts as a key player in aseptic inflammation. HMGB1 appears critical for the crosstalk of a prothrombotic and proinflammatory state that is implicated in mediating and exacerbating ischemic brain injury. The role of HMGB1 in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains to be elucidated. A prospective, single

Postoperative bowel complications after non-shunt-related neurosurgical procedures are relatively rare. In an effort to identify the primary risk factors, we evaluated postoperative bowel complications in cranial, endovascular, and spinal procedures in neurosurgery patients using our own institutional case series along with a literature review. We identified severe postoperative bowel complications

Objective Subsequent microvascular decompression (MVD) might be affected by the previous two-isocentre gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) due to the tissue changes caused by its higher dose radiation and larger treatment volume. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MVD as a second step treatment after two-isocentre GKS. Methods Between December 2016 and May 2019, data from 19 consecutive

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an effective treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus (HCP) at the level of third or fourth ventricle. To date, there is no consensus regarding its role as intervention preceding the operation of tumour removal. The aim of this prospective open-label controlled study is to assess if ETV prevents secondary HCP after tumour removal and if ETV influences the early

The insula is a lobe located deep in each hemisphere of the brain and is surrounded by eloquent cortical, white matter, and basal ganglia structures. The aim of this study was to provide an anatomical description of the insula and white matter tracts related to surgical treatment of gliomas through a transcortical approach. The study also discusses surgical implications in terms of intraoperative brain

The intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) score and the ICH-grading scale (ICH-GS) are mortality predictor tools developed predominantly in conservatively treated ICH cohorts. We aimed to compare and evaluate the external validity of both models in predicting mortality in patients with ICH undergoing surgical intervention. A retrospective review of all patients presenting with spontaneous ICH admitted to

In order to verify whether a previous gamma knife surgery (GKS) treatment could influence the oncological and functional outcome in large vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery, we have compared group of patients operated on for large VS after failed GKS to a group of genuine VS that underwent the same functional nerve-sparing resection technique regimen in the same period. Single center retrospective

Although many etiologies have been proposed for Chiari malformation type I (CM-I), there currently is no singular known cause of CM-I pathogenesis. Advances in imaging have greatly progressed the study of CM-I. This study reviews the literature to determine if an anatomical cause for CM-I could be proposed from morphometric studies in adult CM-I patients. After conducting a literature search using

This study assesses the effect of extent of resection (EOR) on the longer-term survival and early mortality of elderly patients (≥ 75 years old) with glioblastoma. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and data from our center to evaluate the effect of EOR on the long-term survival and early mortality of patients with glioblastoma. We included 50 elderly patients (≥ 75 years

In an aging Western society, the incidence of chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH) is continuously increasing. In this study, we reviewed our clinical management of cSDH patients and identified predictive factors for the need of reoperation due to residual or recurrent hematomas with a focus on the use of antithrombotic drugs. In total, 623 patients who were treated for cSDH with surgical evacuation between

The work relative value unit (wRVU) is a commonly cited surrogate for surgical complexity; however, it is highly susceptible to subjective interpretation and external forces. Our objective was to evaluate whether wRVU is associated with perioperative outcomes, including complications, after brain tumor surgery. The 2006–2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

Odontoid fractures constitute the most common cervical fractures in elderly. External immobilization is the treatment of choice for Type I and III; there is still no wide consensus about the best management of Type II fractures. Observational multicenter study was conducted on a prospectively built database on elderly patients (> 75 years) with Type II odontoid fracture managed conservatively during

This article reviews the evolution of microneurosurgical anatomy (MNA) with special reference to the development of anatomy, surgical anatomy, and microsurgery. Anatomy can be said to have started in the ancient Greek era with the work of Hippocrates, Galen, and others as part of the pursuit of natural science. In the sixteenth century, Vesalius made a great contribution in reviving Galenian knowledge

The Subdural Hematoma in the Elderly (SHE) score was developed as a model to predict 30-day mortality from acute, chronic, and mixed subdural hematoma in the elderly population after minor or no trauma. Emerging evidence suggests frailty to be predictive of mortality and morbidity in the elderly. In this study, we aim to externally validate the SHE for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) alone, and we

Radiation-induced cavernous malformations (RICMs) are delayed complications of brain irradiation during childhood. Its natural history is largely unknown and its incidence may be underestimated as RCIMS tend to develop several years following radiation. No clear consensus exists regarding the long-term follow-up or treatment. A systematic review of Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Google Scholar,

The characteristics of hydrocephalus associated with cerebellar glioblastoma (cGB) remain poorly known. The objectives were to describe the occurence of hydrocephalus in a French nationwide series of adult patients with cGB, to identify the characteristics associated with hydrocephalus and to analyze the outcomes associated with the different surgical strategies, in order to propose practical guidelines

Background We sought to quantify the risks of neurosurgical excision of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) in a systematic review of cohort studies. Methods We updated our previous systematic review by searching OVID Medline, OVID EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from 1 January 2013 to 30 April 2019. The primary outcome was a composite of death attributed to CCM or surgery, non-fatal symptomatic

This study evaluated the long-term efficacy of globus pallidus internus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of craniofacial dystonia (Meige syndrome) and investigated the correlation between the volume of tissue activated (VTA) in the GPi and each subregion and movement score improvement. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 13 patients with drug-refractory Meige syndrome

Pott’s spine is tuberculosis of spine caused due to hematogenous spread of mycobacterium from a primary focus. It constitutes about 50% of skeletal tuberculosis cases. Paradiscal type is the most common type of spinal tuberculosis. Untreated cases can lead to complications like a cold abscess, paraplegia, and deformity which may require surgical intervention. Rapid molecular methods have made the diagnosis

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a well-established surgical procedure for hydrocephalus treatment, but there is sparse evidence on the optimal choice between flexible and rigid approaches. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare efficacy and safety profiles of both techniques in pediatrics and adults. A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane until 11/10/2019.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the main cause of pediatric trauma death and disability worldwide. Recent studies have sought to identify biomarkers of TBI for the purpose of assessing functional outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the utility of TBI biomarkers in the pediatric population by summarizing recent findings in the medical literature. A total of 303 articles were

Outpatient neurosurgery is rising popularity leading to patients’ satisfaction and cost-savings. Although several North-American teams have shown the safety of outpatient stereotactic brain biopsies, few data from other countries with different health care systems are available. We therefore conducted a feasibility and safety study on the outpatient stereotactic brain biopsies. We prospectively examined

The aim of this study is to analyze the long-term quality of life after surgery of cavernoma. A monocentric retrospective study was conducted on 69 patients with cavernoma treated microsurgically between 2000 and 2016. The eloquence was adopted from Spetzler-Martin definition. A most recent follow-up was elicited between 2017 and 2019, in which the quality of life (QoL) was evaluated with the Short

Malignant intraventricular meningiomas (IVMs) are very rare with only a few reported cases. A midline search up to December 2020 selected 40 articles for a total of 65 patients. The inclusion criteria were series and case reports in English language, as well as papers written in other languages, but with abstracts written in English. Malignant IVMs at the first diagnosis (group A, 50 patients) and

It is controversial whether there is a different risk of recurrence between two histological subtypes in craniopharyngioma (CP) patients. Some reported that adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) had a higher risk of recurrence than papillary craniopharyngioma (PCP), but others reported that there is no significant difference between them. So, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis

Chordomas are rare, slow-growing malignant tumors. Given the paucity of data of the disease, the treatment strategies are disputed. We collected clinical and survival information of patients with chordoma diagnosed between 1975 and 2016 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. A total of 1797 patients were initially enrolled, including 762 (42.4%) cranial and 1035 (57.6%) spinal

Brachial plexus injury is a lesion that results in loss of function of the arm, and there are multiple ways of surgically approaching its treatment. Controlled trials that compare all surgical repair strategies and their clinical outcomes have not been performed. A systematic review was conducted to identify all articles that reported clinical outcomes in different surgeries (nerve transfer, nerve

Cranial meningoencephalocele is a rare condition consisting of the herniation of meninges, CSF, and brain tissue through a cranial or skull base defect. Sphenoid sinus lateral recess meningoencephalocele is of particular interest due to the complex anatomy surrounding the bone defect and their demanding surgical management. In this technical note, we reported a step-by-step description of a rare case

Exoscopic surgery promises alleviation of physical strain, improved intraoperative visualization and facilitation of the clinical workflow. In this prospective observational study, we investigate the clinical usability of a novel 3D4K-exoscope in routine neurosurgical interventions. Questionnaires on the use of the exoscope were carried out. Exemplary cases were additionally video-documented. All participating