Quality of Life of Children Treated for Split Cord Malformation.

OBJECTIVE: Split cord malformation (SCM), associated with neurologic deficits, necessitates surgical intervention for spinal cord detethering. Limited evidence exists regarding its impact on children's quality of life. Our study aims to evaluate the postoperative quality of life in children treated for SCM. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study examined records of patients with SCM operated on between July 1, 2012, and July 31, 2022, at a single center. Data, including Health Utility Index-3 (HUI-3) scores provided by guardians, was collected to assess quality of life. Clinical and neurologic outcomes were also analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients, predominantly female (68%), with a median age of 7 years, were included. Most presented with normal motor function (76%). The most common anatomic level of SCM was lumbar (12; 48%) followed by lumbosacral (5; 20%). A bony spur from the lamina was the most common cause of splitting the cord (64%). Over a median follow-up of 3.3 years, 64% of patients showed neurologic stability, 16% showed neurologic improvement, and 4% experienced deterioration. The mean HUI-3 score for 21 children was 0.93 ± 0.24. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of SCM showed favorable neurologic outcomes and a positive long-term quality of life, as shown by HUI-3 scores. Our findings emphasize the efficacy of surgical intervention in improving the lives of children with this condition.

The Prediction of Outcomes in Patients Admitted With Traumatic Brain Injury Using the Rotterdam Score.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to use the Rotterdam score, which is based on a CT scan, to assess the outcomes of traumatic brain injury patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This research, which included 319 head trauma patients, was carried out at the neurosurgery department of a tertiary care hospital between June 2019 and December 2020. The Rotterdam score was calculated for each patient on the basis of the first CT scan after the head injury. The Glasgow Outcome Score was used to assess the results three months following the injury. RESULTS: In our research, there were 270 male patients (84.6%) and 49 female patients (15.4%). The mean age was 37.4 ± 15.4 years and road traffic accidents were observed in 275 people (86.2%). Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) was seen in 123 patients (38.6%). The most common Rotterdam score was 2 in 86 (27.0%) patients, while it was score 3 in 72 (22.6%), score 4 in 59 (18.5%), score 5 in 41 (12.9%), score 1 in 31 (9.7%) and score 6 in 29 (9.1%). The mortality rate was 33.5% in our patients and good recovery was seen in 150 (47.0%) patients. CONCLUSION: The Rotterdam score is a useful tool to evaluate and predict outcomes in head trauma patients.

Seizure outcomes after meningioma resection.

Meningiomas are one of the most common primary brain tumours, and seizures are a common presenting symptom. Complete tumour resection results in seizure freedom in up to 90% patients. The use of AEDs in these patients is inconsistent, and current evidence shows that they do not have any benefit in long-term seizure prevention after resection. Tumour histology, location, surrounding oedema, recurrence and post-operative complications are important risk factors for having post-operative seizures.