Introduction: The primary goal of stereotactic systems in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery is accurate delivery of a DBS lead to a target identified on imaging. Thus, it is critical to understand the accuracy of the stereotactic systems and the factors which may be associated with a decrease in accuracy. Methods: Ninety patients underwent microelectrode recording-guided placement of 139 DBS leads by a single surgeon using the Cosman-Roberts-Wells (CRW) frame (n = 70) or a frameless skull-mounted trajectory guide (Nexframe; n = 69). The final DBS location was identified on a postoperative CT fused to the preoperative CT and MRI scans. The difference between this final location and the expected location was calculated. Results: The vector error was 2.65 mm (standard error, 0.22) for the frame and 2.78 mm (standard error, 0.25) for the frameless methods (p = 0.69). There was a gradual decline in error for both systems over time, as the vector error of the last 20 implants was 1.99 for the CRW frame and 2.04 for the Nexframe (p = 0.86). Conclusions: This study shows that the CRW frame and Nexframe frameless systems have equivalent accuracy. Furthermore, the accuracy of both techniques improved over time, from 3 mm initially to 2 mm with current techniques.
This retrospective case-control study suggests that endogenous protective mechanisms against cerebral vasospasm-a preconditioning effect-may exist in humans, although these results could be the effect of atherosclerosis or some combination of preconditioning and atherosclerosis. Additional studies investigating the potential of preconditioning in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage are warranted.
Traumatic spondylolisthesis is a known occurrence in trauma, but complete cord transection is relatively rare. Moreover, complete cord transection at a site distant from the traumatic spondylolisthesis without spondyloptosis is exceedingly rare. In this report, authors describe the first case of thoracic cord avulsion following a traumatic grade II lumbar spondylolisthesis. The unusual presentation of this case highlights the importance of further evaluating patients with neurological symptoms out of proportion with the injuries seen on initial imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging performed after initial imaging studies demonstrated T11 cord transection with the distal cord herniating into the lumbar paraspinal soft tissues, thus allowing for preoperative planning to prepare for a more significant intervention including complex dural repair and lumbar drain placement, in addition to instrumented fusion to stabilize the traumatic spondylolisthesis.
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