Retrograde thoracic spinal cord stimulation paddle placement for complex persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a cost-effective option for treating refractory persistent spinal pain syndrome type-2 (PSPS-2). For patients with extensive spine instrumentation including the thoraco-lumbar junction, percutaneous placement of SCS leads is usually not an option being paddle leads typically implanted anterograde. Paddle lead placement will be particularly challenging in more complex cases when the instrumentation covers the targeted level. To overcome this barrier, we studied using a retrograde approach to reach the sweet spot, facilitate the placement, and reduce associated risks. OBJECTIVES: To study the use of retrograde SCS paddle as a placement method to optimize the spinal cord target and reduce the risks of conventional placement in complex cases. STUDY DESIGN: Case series and technical note. METHODS: We present three cases of thoracic retrograde SCS paddle lead placement cases, detailing patient selection, operative technique, and outcome. All the cases had extensive instrumentation to the thoraco-lumbar spine, and one had additional spinal canal stenosis. The surgical procedure entailed a retrograde midthoracic inter-laminar approach, flavectomy, and caudal placement of the paddle lead with intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) guidance for functional midline determination. RESULTS: All the cases had a successful lead placement over the sweet spot without complications. The same approach was used to decompress a focal spinal stenosis in one case. One case had significantly improved pain and hence underwent a pulse generator implant. The other cases had non-satisfactory pain control and were explanted. LIMITATIONS: These case description could guide technical procedural steps, however, a larger number of such cases would be needed to describe further technical nuances. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that placing SCS paddle leads via retrograde midthoracic approach with IONM guidance is safe. This procedure should be an option for SCS paddle implants in patients with posterior spinal fusion encompassing the intended targeted spinal stimulation level.

Fitness-to-drive after adult civilian traumatic brain injury: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) poses significant challenges for assessing fitness-to-drive (FTD) and determining the appropriate timing for return-to-driving (RTD) in civilian adults. This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol is designed to offer a comprehensive assessment of RTD timelines post-TBI, examining the effects of injury severity as well as demographic and clinical factors that influence driving capabilities. In response to gaps identified in previous literature-namely, the absence of recent systematic search strategies and thorough quality assessments-this study employs rigorous methodologies for literature search, data extraction, and evaluation of study quality. Our approach aims to provide reliable estimates and detailed analyses of subgroups within the TBI population. The findings aim to support clinical decision-making, inform RTD readiness, and potentially impact policy and driving assessment protocols. Ultimately, this review seeks to contribute to public safety measures, reduce traffic-related harm, and improve life outcomes for individuals recovering from TBI, thereby filling a vital research niche in neurotrauma rehabilitation.

Surgical Treatment for Spasticity: Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy ­ Technique and Literature Review

Spasticity is amotor disorder that leads to a resistance to passive jointmovement. Cerebral palsy is the most important cause of spasticity and can be caused by several factors, including multiple gestations, alcoholism, infections, hemorrhages, drowning, and traumatic brain injuries, among others. There aremany scales that help tomeasure andmonitor the degree of impairment of these patients. The initial treatment should focus on the causal factor, such as tumors, inflammation, degenerative diseases, hydrocephalus, etc. Subsequently, the treatment of spastic musculature includes oral or intrathecal myorelaxants, spinal cord electrostimulation, neurotomies, Lissauer tract lesion, dentatotomy and selective dorsal rhizotomy. The latter is a safetechnique, possibleto beperformed inmost centers with neurosurgical support, and it is effective in the treatment of severe spasticity. In this article, the authors describe the surgical technique and conduct a review the literature.

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Freezing of Gait: From Bench to Bedside.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used for the treatment of chronic pain for nearly five decades. With a high degree of efficacy and a low incidence of adverse events, it is now considered to be a suitable therapeutic alternative in most guidelines. Experimental studies suggest that SCS may also be used as a therapy for motor and gait dysfunction in parkinsonian states. The most common and disabling gait dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is freezing of gait (FoG). We review the evolution of SCS for gait disorders from bench to bedside and discuss potential mechanisms of action, neural substrates, and clinical outcomes.

Ultrasound-Guided DREZotomy: Technical Note.

Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning is still used as a choice of treatment for some painful conditions as well as spasticity in selected patients. The most commonly used techniques to perform DREZotomy are the microsurgical one and DREZ radiofrequency (RF) coagulation. The technical difficulties using punctures to perform RF lesions include complications such as occurrence of lesions in the dorsal columns or in the corticospinal tract. This paper describes a new technical improvement in RF lesions at DREZ using intraoperative ultrasound (US) to optimize the lesions and to minimize the risk of complications. Using intraoperative US after laminotomy allows the surgeon to differentiate between the gray matter of the spinal cord and white matter, showing the correct entry zone, the angle to introduce the RF electrode, and the depth. Using intraoperative US to guide DREZ lesions provides real-time optimization of DREZotomy.

Early resorption of an artificial bone graft made of calcium phosphate for cranioplasty: case report.

The treatment of uncomplicated osteoma consists of an en bloc resection, or curettage, of the tumor, followed by cranioplasty. Here, we present a case report of a patient treated for a parietal osteoma, followed by a calcium phosphate cranioplasty, with early resorption after 3 months, which was presented by a sinking flap above the resection area. This case suggests that synthetic cranioplasty should be preferred, even in small skull-gap areas.

Celiac plexus neurolysis for the treatment of upper abdominal cancer pain.

Optimal treatment of oncologic pain is a challenge to all professionals who deal with cancer and its complications. The management of upper abdominal pain is usually difficult and it is often refractory to conservative therapies. In this context, celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) appears to be an important and indispensable tool because it alleviates pain, gives comfort to patients and is a safe procedure. In this study, the importance of CPN is reviewed by a retrospective study of 74 patients with pain due to upper abdominal cancer. Almost all cases evaluated (94.6%) had an excellent result after CPN and the majority of side effects were transitory.

Perioperative care in brain arteriovenous malformations / Cuidados perioperatórios em malformações arteriovenosas encefálicas

The authors provide a review of brain arteriovenous malformations, initially reviewing epidemiological and etiological aspects in addition to the pathophysiology and risk factors associated with bleeding. The emphasis of this review is directed to the clinical and care should be taken since the diagnosis of this pathology, intraoperative management on the viewpoint of the anesthesiologist to the potential complications that occur after resection of the lesion.

Os autores realizam uma revisão sobre malformações arteriovenosas encefálicas, revisando inicialmente aspectos etiológicos e epidemiológicos, além da fisiopatologia e de fatores relacionados com risco de sangramento. A maior ênfase dessa revisão é direcionada para o quadro clínico e para os cuidados que devem ser tomados desde o diagnóstico dessa patologia, o manejo intraoperatório sob o ponto de vista do anestesista, até as possíveis complicações que ocorrem após a ressecção da lesão.

Critical analysis of extra peritoneal antero-lateral approach for lumbar plexus.

UNLABELLED: Lesions of lumbar plexus are uncommon and descriptions of surgical access are derived from vertebral spine approaches. METHOD: The extraperitoneal anterolateral approach to the lumbar plexus was performed in six adult fresh cadavers. The difficulties on dissection were related. RESULTS: An exposure of all distal elements of lumbar plexus was possible, but a cranial extension of the incision was needed to reach the iliohypogastric nerve in all cases. Ligation of vessels derived from common iliac artery was necessary for genitofemoral and obturator nerves exposure in two cases. The most proximal part of the lumbar roots could be identified only after dissection and clipping of most lumbar vessels. CONCLUSION: The extraperitoneal anterolateral approach allows appropriate exposure of terminal nerves of lumbar plexus laterallly to psoas major muscle. Cranial extension of the cutaneous incision may be necessary for exposure of iliohypogastric nerve. Roots exposure increases the risk of vascular damage.

Critical analysis of extra peritoneal antero-lateral approach for lumbar plexus / Análise crítica do acesso anterolateral retroperitoneal ao plexo lombar

Lesions of lumbar plexus are uncommon and descriptions of surgical access are derived from vertebral spine approaches. METHOD: The extraperitoneal anterolateral approach to the lumbar plexus was performed in six adult fresh cadavers. The difficulties on dissection were related. RESULTS: An exposure of all distal elements of lumbar plexus was possible, but a cranial extension of the incision was needed to reach the iliohypogastric nerve in all cases. Ligation of vessels derived from common iliac artery was necessary for genitofemoral and obturator nerves exposure in two cases. The most proximal part of the lumbar roots could be identified only after dissection and clipping of most lumbar vessels. CONCLUSION: The extraperitoneal anterolateral approach allows appropriate exposure of terminal nerves of lumbar plexus laterallly to psoas major muscle. Cranial extension of the cutaneous incision may be necessary for exposure of iliohypogastric nerve. Roots exposure increases the risk of vascular damage.

As lesões do plexo lombar são incomuns e as descrições dos acessos cirúrgicos são derivadas de vias de acesso à coluna vertebral. MÉTODO: A via extraperitoneal anterolateral foi realizada em seis cadáveres para o acesso ao plexo lombar. Eventuais dificuldades na dissecção foram relatadas. RESULTADOS: Tal acesso permitiu a exposição dos elementos distais do plexo lombar, mas uma extensão cranial da incisão foi necessária para a exposição do nervo iliohipogástrico. Para a exposição dos nervos genitofemoral e obturador houve a necessidade da ligadura de vasos originados da artéria ilíaca comum em 2 casos. As raízes foram identificadas somente após dissecção e ligadura dos vasos lombares. CONCLUSÃO: O acesso anterolateral extraperitoneal permite uma exposição adequada dos nervos terminais do plexo lombar lateralmente ao músculo psoas maior. Uma extensão cranial da incisão pode ser necessária para exposição do nervo iliohipogástrico. A exposição das raízes implica em maior risco de lesão vascular.

The clip-wrap technique in the treatment of intracranial unclippable aneurysms.

UNLABELLED: Fusiform and dolichoectatic aneurysms are challenging lesions to treat with direct clipping. Treatment of these aneurysms often requires alternative surgical strategies, including extracranial-intracranial bypass, wrapping, or clip-wrap techniques. Nonetheless, these alternatives methods of treatment have been underused and frequently overlooked. OBJECTIVE: To report a series of nine cases of otherwise untreatable aneurysms managed using the clip-wrap technique and discuss its surgical nuances. METHOD: In the last four years, 9 cases of ruptured aneurysms treated by the clip-wrap techniques were identified in the Division of Neurological Surgery, University of São Paulo, School of Medicine. RESULTS: The aneurysms were located at middle cerebral artery (2), anterior choroidal artery (1), anterior communicating artery (1), carotid ophthalmic (3), posterior cerebral artery (1) and posterior-inferior cerebellar artery (1). Three were dolichoectatic, 4 were unsuitable to complete surgical clipping because parent or efferent vessels arises from the aneurysm sac (1 MCA, 1 AcomA, 1 CO, 1 PICA aneurysms) and two, although ruptured aneurysms, were too small (<2mm) to be directly clipped. No early or late rebleeding was observed after 2 years mean follow-up. One patient deceased due to pulmonary tromboembolism. CONCLUSION: Clip-wrap techniques for the treatment of fusiform and otherwise unclippable aneurysms seem to be safe and it can be associated with a low rate of acute or delayed postoperative complications. It can prevent rebleeding and represents an improvement when compared with the natural history.

The clip-wrap technique in the treatment of intracranial unclippable aneurysms / Técnica de "clip-wrap" no tratamento de aneurismas rotos não clipáveis

Fusiform and dolichoectatic aneurysms are challenging lesions to treat with direct clipping. Treatment of these aneurysms often requires alternative surgical strategies, including extracranial-intracranial bypass, wrapping, or clip-wrap techniques. Nonetheless, these alternatives methods of treatment have been underused and frequently overlooked. Objective: To report a series of nine cases of otherwise untreatable aneurysms managed using the clip-wrap technique and discuss its surgical nuances. Method: In the last four years, 9 cases of ruptured aneurysms treated by the clip-wrap techniques were identified in the Division of Neurological Surgery, University of São Paulo, School of Medicine. Results: The aneurysms were located at middle cerebral artery (2), anterior choroidal artery (1), anterior communicating artery (1), carotid ophthalmic (3), posterior cerebral artery (1) and posterior-inferior cerebellar artery (1). Three were dolichoectatic, 4 were unsuitable to complete surgical clipping because parent or efferent vessels arises from the aneurysm sac (1 MCA, 1 AcomA, 1 CO, 1 PICA aneurysms) and two, although ruptured aneurysms, were too small (<2mm) to be directly clipped. No early or late rebleeding was observed after 2 years mean follow-up. One patient deceased due to pulmonary tromboembolism. Conclusion: Clip-wrap techniques for the treatment of fusiform and otherwise unclippable aneurysms seem to be safe and it can be associated with a low rate of acute or delayed postoperative complications. It can prevent rebleeding and represents an improvement when compared with the natural history.

Aneurismas fusiformes são lesões de difícil tratamento e frequentemente necessitam de técnicas alternativas de tratamento, incluindo anastomose extra-intracranial ou técnicas de "clip-wrap". Contudo o uso destas técnicas é frequentemente esquecido e negligenciado. Objetivo: Descrever retrospectivamente casuística de nove casos de aneurismas não clipáveis tratados com a técnicas de "clip-wrap" e discutir as nuances cirúrgicas. Resultados: Revisão dos últimos quatro anos da casuística da Divisão de Clínica Neurocirúrgica do HCFMUSP mostrou que 384 casos eram de aneurismas rotos. Destes, 9 eram de aneurismas não clipáveis tratados com a técnica de "clip-wrap". Destes, 2 aneurismas eram de artéria cerebral media, 1 de artéria coroidéia anterior, 1 de artéria comunicante anterior, 3 de artéria oftálmica, 1 de artéria cerebral posterior e 1 de PICA. Três eram lesões ectásicas, 4 não puderam ser completamente clipados devido a relação de aneurismas com vasos eferentes, aferentes ou perfurantes, e dois, apesar de rotos eram pequenos demais para serem clipados (<2,0 mm). Sangramento precoce ou tardio não foram observados, em um seguimento médio de 2 anos. Conclusão: A técnica descrita é segura e está associada com baixa incidência de complicações agudas ou tardias. Ela previne ressangramanto e representa um avanço em relação à história natural destas lesões.

Edema pulmonar neurogênico: [revisão] / Neurogenic pulmonary edema: [review]

O Edema Pulmonar Neurogênico (NPE) é definido como o surgimento agudo de dispnéia ou queda da razão PaO2/FiO2após lesão no sistema nervoso central (CNS), na ausência de outra causa de lesão pulmonar. A causa mais importante de NPE é a hemorragia subaracnóidea (SAH), seguida por trauma de crânio e epilepsia. A incidência de NPE após SAH na literatura pode variar de quatro a 23% nos principais estudos,com 43 a 73% correspondentes à SAH. É postulado que a descarga adrenérgica excessiva levaria o pulmão à vaso constrição e rápido aumento na pressão hidrostática capilar pulmonar, promovendo perda de fluidos para o espaço alveolar.O NPE é geralmente tratado de maneira conservadora,com suporte ventilatório, com foco no tratamento da causa primária da lesão.