Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation: Age distribution and patterns of herniation

This prospective study was conducted in the department of Neurosurgery, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. It comprised of 160 patients of all age groups and of either sex who were operated for lumbar disc prolapse. The results were analyzed which showed that males were 72.5% and females 27.5% with a ratio of 2.6:1. Largest number of patients [35%] presented in fourth decade of life. 90.6% patients had prolapsed intervertebral disc at a single level and 9.4% at multiple levels. Most of the patients [92.4%] had prolapsed disc at L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. These results will be discussed in detail and compared with other studies

Brain death

Diagnosis of brain death has always been a difficult decision. Various countries have different diagnostic protocols and legislative requisites. With escalation in incidence of head injuries in recent decades, there will be more and more patients, on ventilatory support, with no real chance of ever regaining consciousness. Clinicians will be required to make these decisions more frequently. Probably the criteria will always be different in countries all over the world. In Pakistan we need to develop a protocol and have it cleared through the legislative process. A "Fatwa" is also needed from the Ulema in Pakistan as is also being practiced in Egypt and Saudi Arabia

traumatic spinal cord compression delay in the management

Spinal Cord Compression is a common neurosurgical emergency. There should not be any delays in the management of such patients. Patients suffer considerable neurological deterioration with minimal delays in the management of spinal cord compression. A review of 57 patients, suffering from spinal cord compression due to different pathological lesions is presented in this paper

Medulloblastoma clinical presentation and management

Medulloblastoma are midline tumours of childhood which constitute 15-20% of all brain tumours. They metastasize through the CSF pathways to the extracranial sites. In a study male patients did better than female patients. Results are better in patients above six years of age with smaller tumor size. Radical excision and neuraxis radiation play the main role in long survival of patients

Contributions of Abul-Qasim Zahrawi to modern neurosurgery

Abu Al-Qasim Khalaf Ibn Abbas Az-Zahrawi was pioneer and predecessor in the field of neurosurgery. He wrote a book "Kitab al-Tasrif Li-man Ajaza An-al Talif" consisting of 30 volumes. The 30th Volume includes chapters on general surgery, orthopaedic surgery and neurological surgery. He was Islam's greatest medieval surgeon, whose comprehensive medical test, combining Eastern and classical teachings shaped European surgical procedures until the renaissance. The work of Abul Qasim and the surgical teachings practiced and advocated by him do not differ a great deal from the techniques practiced in some areas of the modern day Neurosurgery. The ideas put forth by him expanded the frontiers of medicine and were Instrumental in its advancement. Thus Abul Qasim was a great Muslim surgeon and one of the forefathers and predecessor of modern day Neurosurgery