Pharmacological Treatment of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Critical Review of Current Evidence.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the leading cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults, representing substantial morbidity and significant financial and resource burdens. Typically, patients with progressive DCM will eventually receive surgical treatment. Nonetheless, despite advancements in pharmacotherapeutics, evidence for pharmacological therapy remains limited. Health professionals from various fields would find interest in pharmacological agents that could benefit patients with mild DCM or enhance surgical outcomes. This review aims to consolidate all clinical and experimental evidence on the pharmacological treatment of DCM. We conducted a comprehensive narrative review that presents all pharmacological agents that have been investigated for DCM treatment in both humans and animal models. Riluzole exhibits effectiveness solely in rat models, but not in treating mild DCM in humans. Cerebrolysin emerges as a potential neuroprotective agent for myelopathy in animals but had contradictory results in clinical trials. Limaprost alfadex demonstrates motor function improvement in animal models and exhibits promising outcomes in a small clinical trial. Glucocorticoids not only fail to provide clinical benefits but may also lead to adverse events. Cilostazol, anti-Fas ligand antibody, and Jingshu Keli display promise in animal studies, while erythropoietin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and limaprost alfadex exhibit potential in both animal and human research. Existing evidence mainly rests on weak clinical data and animal experimentation. Current pharmacological efforts target ion channels, stem cell differentiation, inflammatory, vascular, and apoptotic pathways. The inherent nature and pathogenesis of DCM offer substantial prospects for developing neurodegenerative or neuroprotective therapies capable of altering disease progression, potentially delaying surgical intervention, and optimizing outcomes for those undergoing surgical decompression.

Technical Note: Extreme Lateral Supracerebellar Approach for Resection of Superior Cerebellar Peduncle Arteriovenous Malformations.

BACKGROUND: The surgical approaches to the region of the cerebello-mesencephalic sulcus and superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) remain a neurosurgical challenge. OBJECTIVE: To present the use of the extreme lateral supracerebellar infratentorial (SC-IT) approach to treat arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the SCP, which is a different entity compared to brainstem AVMs. METHODS: We treated 4 patients with SCP AVMs in the last 5 yr at our institution. The mean age was 49.7 yr. The average nidus size was 2.12 cm. Of those, 3 patients presented with hemorrhage and 1 with headache and tinnitus. Extreme lateral SC-IT approach was used in all cases. RESULTS: Complete resection was achieved in all cases as verified with postoperative angiogram. In 1 case, intraoperative rupture with intraventricular hemorrhage was encountered, and the patient required temporary external ventricular drainage. There was no permanent complication or neurological deficit. The modified Rankin Scale (at discharge or follow-up) was less than 2 in all cases. CONCLUSION: The AVMs located primarily in the SCP are distinct compared to brainstem AVMs, and their management should be different. Extreme lateral SC-IT approach should be considered as a viable alternative surgical approach for resection of these AVMs, and excellent surgical results can be achieved.

Combined Internal Maxillary Artery to Middle Cerebral Artery and In Situ Middle Cerebral to Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass for Complex Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm: 3-Dimensional Operative Video.

Flow-replacement revascularization and/or flow augmentation surgery may be necessary for safe deconstruction of complex middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms. Roughly 1% to 2% of all MCA aneurysms have angiographic features prohibiting standard microsurgical or endovascular management. Consent was obtained from the patient for the production of this video. No International Review Board approval was required for the creation of this video. A 17-yr-old female presented at the age of 15 with headaches. At the time of initial presentation, the patient was found to have an MCA bifurcation aneurysm. Initially, the aneurysm was managed conservatively and followed. However, on follow-up imaging, the aneurysm was found to have grown and developed into a large, complex MCA bifurcation aneurysm. Patient underwent planned trapping and deconstruction of the aneurysm. An internal maxillary artery (IMAX) to MCA bypass was performed using a cephalic vein graph to a robust inferior MCA branch combined with an in Situ MCA to MCA bypass. Follow-up angiography showed complete occlusion of the aneurysm. Patient was neurologically intact at 1-yr follow-up. Microsurgery continues to be the best treatment option for complex MCA aneurysms. A surgeon trained in bypass is an absolute prerequisite for management of those lesions. The IMAX offers an ideal high flow donor vessel for subcranial to intracranial flow replacement, which was required for re-establishment of flow to the robust inferior MCA branch in this case. The superior branch of the MCA was less robust. Therefore, by recreating a more distal bifurcation, the in Situ side-to-side MCA-MCA bypass simplified the revascularization strategy.

Surgical Resection of a Complex Spetzler-Martin Grade IV Medial Sylvian Arteriovenous Malformation: 3-Dimensional Operative Video.

Sylvian arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are challenging lesions for surgical management. They are classified according to the Sugita classification based on the location of the nidus in the sylvian fissure: pure, lateral, medial, and deep. Resection of these lesions are fraught with risks, as it requires extensive arachnoid dissection in the sylvian fissure in close proximity to surrounding eloquent tissue, and the presence of en passage arteries can resemble feeding arteries. In this video illustration, the authors describe a complex, Spetzler-Martin Grade IV right sylvian AVM and its surgical resection. By Sugita classification, this was a medial sylvian AVM, with an associated flow related middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation aneurysm. Informed consent was obtained from the patient prior to the procedures. The AVM was embolized preoperatively, and surgical resection was carried out via a pterional approach. The detail of the AVM resection is described in the video clip. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography showed complete excision of the lesion, and the patient was discharged to home on postoperative day 6 without any neurological deficit. In 1-yr follow-up angiogram, beside complete obliteration of the AVM, the flow-related MCA bifurcation aneurysm as well as the M1 and M2 vessels have decreased in size and are much less prominent in comparison to the pretreatment angiography.

Surgical Strategy in Large Vestibular Schwannoma.

Particular care to facial nerve function preservation should be the ultimate goal in surgery for large vestibular schwannomas. We present a 60-year-old patient who presented with an enlarging right vestibular schwannoma and nonserviceable hearing. The patient was operated in the semisitting position after a patent foramen ovale was ruled out. During the positioning, the feet were positioned at the level of the heart. Precordial Doppler was used to monitor for air embolism. Straight skin incision and retrosigmoid craniotomy was performed. Specific attention to venous bleeding was made during the approach. Meticulous arachnoid dissection of the capsule preserving the arachnoid plane at the surface of the brain stem and the facial nerve can be achieved more efficiently with the patient in the semisiting position and with bimanual microdissection technique. After drilling of the internal auditory canal (IAC), we were able to achieve near total removal of the tumor, leaving a tiny tumor carpet due to extreme adherence to the nerve. Water-tight dura closure and replacement of the bone flap was performed. The patient woke up with a House-Brackmann grade III facial weakness which improved to grade I at 6 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a tiny residual at the surface of the facial nerve at the entrance of the IAC. Near total (> 98%) resection of large vestibular schwannomas is an acceptable surgical strategy with excellent facial nerve outcome. With appropriate patient positioning in semisitting and proper anesthesiological and surgical management, the risk of air embolism is negligible. The link to video can be found at: https://youtu.be/ErG9VexbiGw .

Staged Approach for Petroclival Meningioma Resection.

Introduction Petroclival meningiomas represent very uncommon and challenging tumors. Surgical morbidity is high due to the difficult and complex approaches to this area. In the present video presentation, we demonstrate a staged-approach surgical resection for petroclival meningioma. Patient and Methods A 47-year- old female was incidentally diagnosed with right sizable petroclival meningioma ( Fig. 1 ). The decision to proceed with a staged approach was made based on size and extension of the tumor to both the middle and posterior fossa. At the first stage we performed a right anterior petrosectomy with the patient in the supine position and the head turned 45 degrees to the left. Residual tumor was left behind along its inferior pole. At the second stage, 2 weeks after the 1st surgery, a right retrosigmoid craniotomy was performed with the patient placed on left park-bench position and the residual tumor was removed. The patient tolerated both stages very well without significant neurological deficits except a transient diplopia after the first stge. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed gross total resection of the tumor. Conclusion Staged approach for petroclival meningiomas represents a safe and effective surgical management, tolerable for the patient and more comfortable for the neurosurgeon. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/QJJchjAwD5c .

Endoscopic management of Esthesioneuroblastoma: Our experience and review of the literature.

During the last two decades evolution of the endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEA) has offered the option of minimally invasive techniques in the management of esthesioneuroblastomas (ENB), either as endoscope assisted cranial resection or as pure endoscopic procedures. This study presents the use of pure EEA in the management of ENB in our center, along with a literature review. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, radiology and pathology records of patients with ENB treated during the period July 2006 to January 2016. During the above period, ten patients with ENB were treated using pure EEA. The mean age was 47.5 years. The gender distribution was: eight males, two females. The most common presenting symptoms were nasal obstruction and discharge or epistaxis (8/10). The mean duration of symptoms was 1.5 years. All patients had preoperative confirmation of ENB by biopsy. Five patients received neoadjuvant radiation and four underwent postoperative radiation. One patient did not receive any radiotherapy and no patient received chemotherapy. Gross total resection was achieved in all patients and intraoperative microscopically negative surgical margins achieved in 9/10 (90%). No major intraoperative complications occurred. The most common postoperative complication was nasal infection. Cerebrospinal fluid leak was noted in one patient. During the follow-up period of 6-120 months (mean 74.8) two cases of neck lymph node recurrence were observed. No deaths due to the disease occurred during the follow-up period. Pure EEA offer excellent results in the management of ENB. Neoadjuvant radiation treatment is promising although more studies need to establish its role.

Lateral Supraorbital Craniotomy for Tuberculum Sella Meningioma Resection.

Tuberculum sella meningioma can be approached by either open or endoscopic approaches. The aim of this video case presentation is to highlight the nuances of the lateral supraorbital craniotomy for tuberculum sella meningioma resection. The authors present a 34-year-old female patient who presented with decreased right eye visual acuity (20/60), afferent pupillary defect, and nasal field cut due to a tuberculum sella meningioma. The tumor was partially encasing the left A1 artery, severely displacing the optic apparatus, and minimally invading the right optic canal. The lateral supraorbital craniotomy was considered the most suitable approach to this tumor. The operative nuances and pitfalls of this approach are detailed in the video. Gross total resection of the tumor was achieved and confirmed with postoperative MRI. The patient's vision gradually improved and she was discharged on the fourth postoperative day. The minimally invasive lateral supraorbital craniotomy for tuberculum sella meningioma is a suitable approach in selected cases. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/yG8q6YH2D9k .

Expanded Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Resection of Tuberculum Sella Meningioma Invading the Optic Canal.

A 61-year-old male patient presented with recurrent malignant meningioma involving the left optic canal and decreased vision from the left eye. The patient had undergone orbital exenteration on the right 2 years ago. The decision to treat the patient was made based on the significant vision deterioration and rapid tumor growth. Endoscopic transsphenoidal approach considered the most suitable route due to the inferomedial invasion of the optic canal. Gross total removal was achieved and the patient's vision improved postoperatively. The patient developed hydrocephalus 4 weeks postoperatively and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement corrected both hydrocephalus and CSF leak. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/2cOF0pf5gAk .

Orbitozygomatic craniotomy and trans-sylvian approach for resection of a tuberculum sella meningioma with extension to the posterior fossa.

Tuberculum sella meningiomas can be approached through lateral approaches including pterional/orbitozygomatic craniotomies, frontobasal craniotomy, or through expanded endoscopic transsphenoidal approaches. The authors present the case of a 60-year-old male who presented with bitemporal hemianopia and significant right-side visual acuity compromise due to a large tuberculum sella meningioma. The tumor had an important extension to the posterior fossa. A right orbitozygomatic trans-sylvian approach was deemed most suitable to tackle the posterior extension of the tumor. Some operative nuances are detailed in the video including dissection of the tumor off the carotid artery, basilar bifurcation, and small thalamoperforators attached to the tumor. Postoperatively, the patient's bilateral hemianopia improved significantly, but his right visual activity remained unchanged. The remaining part of the tumor in the sella and midclivus was addressed with a second-stage expanded endoscopic transclival approach. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/KbewhlT2FWs .