Giant cell tumor of sacral vertebra in an adolescent without neurodeficit: A case report and review of the literature

Girish Bartakke, Mohit Muttha, Divya Tomer, Shubham Ashok Kadam

Date of publication: 31-Mar-2023

Background: Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are locally aggressive benign primary bone tumors that rarely occur in the spine. Their treatment methods include denosumab, bisphosphonates, and/or different surgical techniques. Here, we present the successful treatment of a sacral GCT in a 13 years old.

Perspective: Early direct repair of recurrent postoperative cerebrospinal (CSF) fluid leaks: No good evidence epidural blood patches (EBP) work

Nancy E. Epstein, Marc A Agulnick

Date of publication: 31-Mar-2023

Background: “Targeted” epidural blood patches (EBP)” successfully treat “focal dural tears (DT)” diagnosed on thin-cut MR or Myelo-CT studies. These DT are largely attributed to; epidural steroid injections (ESI), lumbar punctures (LP), spinal anesthesia (SA), or spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SICH). Here we asked whether “targeted EBP” could similarly treat MR/Myelo-CT documented recurrent post-surgical CSF leaks/DT that have classically been effectively managed with direct surgical repair.

Efficacy of repeat arterial spin labeling for angiogram-negative ruptured micro-arteriovenous malformation: A case report

Ryuzaburo Kochi, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Takashi Aikawa, Hidenori Endo, Teiji Tominaga

Date of publication: 31-Mar-2023

Background: Diagnosing ruptured micro-arteriovenous malformation (AVM) could be difficult using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the acute stage, and a repeat DSA is recommended in DSA-negative cases. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a useful noninvasive tool for detecting AVM, but the efficacy of a repeat ASL for DSA and ASL-negative ruptured micro-AVM in the acute stage is unclear. Here, we report a case of ruptured micro-AVM that was not detected in the acute stage by ASL but in the chronic stage by ASL.

Use of Wiltse approach in lumbar plexus schwannoma: A technical note

Guilherme Gago, Guilherme Ludwig, Rodrigo Ness, Albert Brasil

Date of publication: 31-Mar-2023

Background: Lumbar plexus schwannomas are a rare occurrence in neurosurgery, with few reported cases and no standard surgical approach. This study describes a successful surgical resection with no complications using the Wiltse approach.

Tailoring of neurosurgical practice during COVID-19 in a developing country: Insights gained and a way forward

Mustafa Mushtaq Hussain, Syeda Alisha Ali Zaida, Mujtaba Khalil, Waqas Baqai, Altaf Ali Laghari, Ehsan Bari

Date of publication: 31-Mar-2023

Background: The coronavirus disease-19 pandemic has aggravated the already neglected neurosurgical specialty in developing countries with a mounting shortage of specialists, long queues of operative patients, and a lack of adequate critical care units.

Navigated lumbar drain placement: A description of technique and case example

Canada T. Montgomery, Rachel Blue, Michael Spadola, Sonia Ajmera, Rashad Jabarkheel, James Schuster

Date of publication: 31-Mar-2023

Background: Lumbar drain (LD) placement can be a difficult procedure leading to postprocedure complications, particularly in patients with persistent cerebrospinal fluid leaks or a large body habitus. The objective of this technical case report is to describe the use of Medtronic’s SureTrak Navigation system for navigated LD placement.

A child who presented with cerebral infarction: Clipping combined with bypass surgery of a thrombosed giant aneurysm

Sejin Choi, Sung Ho Lee, Kyunghyun Kim, Kang Min Kim, Won-Sang Cho, Hyun-Seung Kang, Jeong Eun Kim

Date of publication: 31-Mar-2023

Background: Cerebral aneurysms are not common among children and most of them are presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage or mass effect. Here, we describe a rare case of a pediatric giant aneurysm presented with cerebral infarction.

Posterior fossa tumors in children: An update and new concepts

Juan Pablo Mengide, María Florencia Berros, Mariana Estefanía Turza, Juan Manuel Liñares

Date of publication: 31-Mar-2023

Background: Posterior fossa tumors account for approximately half of the central nervous system tumors in children. Major technological advances, mainly in the fields of molecular biology and neuroimaging, have modified their classification, leading to a more detailed description of these entities. Into the classic taxonomy, used for many years, new concepts have been incorporated at times eliminating or modifying former ones.

Will improved neuroradiology facilities debunk the reported rarity of intracranial aneurysms in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Samuel Chukwunonyerem Ohaegbulam, Chika Anele Ndubuisi, Okwunodulu Okwuoma, Wilfred Mezue, Enyereibe Chuks Ajare, Bibiana Oti, Sunday Achebe, Francis Campbell, Donald Ogolo, Birinus Ezeala-Adikaibe

Date of publication: 31-Mar-2023

Background: Intracranial aneurysms (IAN) are rare in the Sub-Saharan Africa unlike other parts of the world. The debate is whether the low frequency might be apparent because of the scarcity of advanced neuroimaging services, or real. This study investigated if improved imaging facilities would debunk the rarity of IAN in our subregion.