Surgical outcomes of unilateral painful foot drop secondary to lumbar disc herniation: a multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: Foot drop is characterized by weakness in ankle dorsiflexion, primarily due to failure of activation of dorsiflexor muscles secondary to neural compromise. The aim of this study was to evaluate surgical outcomes for unilateral painful foot drop secondary to lumbar disc herniation, specifically excluding cases with cauda equina syndrome.

Methods: This retrospective study spanned 7 centers, focusing on adult patients who underwent lumbar discectomies from September 2011 to September 2022 due to painful unilateral foot drop (Medical Research Council [MRC] grade ≤ 3).

The impact of prolapse to canal ratio (PCR) in cauda equina syndrome outcomes and operative management.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the prolapse to canal ratio (PCR) and its long-term impact on outcomes in cauda equina syndrome (CES).

Methods: A 5-year retrospective cohort study was conducted across two neurosurgical centers, including adult patients diagnosed with CES due to herniated lumbar discs, treated with laminectomy and/or discectomy, with available radiological data and follow-up. PCR was calculated as the proportion of the disc prolapse cross-sectional area to the total spinal canal area.

Systematic Review Comparing Open Versus Minimally Invasive Surgical Management of Intradural Extramedullary Tumours (IDEM).

: Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal tumours are relatively rare and predominantly benign. Gross total resection (GTR) has been demonstrated as an effective treatment, with increasing evidence supporting the use of minimally invasive techniques to achieve GTR. This study reviews the current surgical management options for IDEM tumours and their outcomes.

Prognostic factors and surgical outcomes of foot drop secondary to lumbar degenerative disease: A systematic review and Individual patient data meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the surgical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with unilateral footdrop secondary to lumbar disc herniation undergoing surgical intervention.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, and Web of Science for relevant literature from inception to 26 March 2023. The quality of the studies was evaluated per the NHLBI Quality Assessment Tools.

Factors affecting outcomes following burr hole drainage of chronic subdural hematoma: a single-center retrospective study.

Objective: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is among the most common neurosurgical conditions. Patient selection for surgical intervention is often complex and multifactorial. The objective of this study was to examine the predictors of clinical outcomes, complications, and hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients with burr hole drainage of CSDH.

The Effect of COVID-19 National Lockdown on the Time from Presentation to Surgery of Patients with Suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome: Two UK Tertiary Centers' Study.

Objective: To investigate if COVID-19 UK lockdown measures resulted in a delay in the presentation and treatment of patients with cauda equina syndrome (CES).

Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective study of patients with surgically treated CES across 3 time periods: April-May 2020 (first lockdown), August-September 2020 (no-lockdown group), and January-February 2021 (second lockdown). Data regarding duration of symptoms, time from referral to admission, time from admission to surgery, and postoperative outcomes were collected.

Presentation and management of spinal meningioma and its association with breast carcinoma-case series and systematic review.

Objective: Benign spinal intradural tumors are rare entities and there have been relatively few case series describing the epidemiology and characteristics of these tumors. Here, we evaluate the presentation, demographics, pathology and outcomes associated with the surgical management of spinal meningioma in our unit over a 6-year period.

Results: A total of 68 cases presented to the operating surgeon during a 6-year period.

Dural tear repair surgery comparative analysis: a stitch in time saves nine.

Purpose: A dural tear is a common iatrogenic complication of spinal surgery associated with a several post-operative adverse events. Despite their common occurrence, guidelines on how best to repair the defect remain unclear. This study uses five post-operative outcomes to the compare repair methods used to treat 106 dural tears to determine which method is clinically favourable.

Combined minimally invasive resection of thoracic neurogenic dumbbell tumors: A European case series.

Background: Paraspinal tumors are rare neoplasms arising from neurogenic elements of the posterior mediastinum and surgical resection can be challenging. Here, we demonstrate feasibility and outcomes from the first European case series of combined laminectomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) resection of thoracic neurogenic dumbbell tumors.

Methods: A retrospective review of all combined thoracic dumbbell tumor resections performed at our institution between March 2015 to February 2019 was undertaken.

Resolving solitary osteolytic lumbar tuberculosis in young adult.

Lumbar vertebral tuberculosis presenting with a focal solitary osteolytic lesion is rare in spinal tuberculosis (TB) and the English literature describing this entity is scant. The differential diagnosis includes primary and secondary malignancies. In this report, we describe a case of 35-year-old woman who presented with low back pain and was found to have a focal L4 vertebral lytic lesion on MRI and CT.

Spinal Fractures Incurred by Sports-Related Injuries.

Background: Sports-related injuries are the third commonest cause of spine fractures. Spinal fractures incurred as a result of partaking in sport by their nature are different from those associated with frailty and road traffic accidents. The patient demographics and nature of fractures associated with sports activities are not well documented.

Spinal anaplastic ganglioglioma.

Anaplastic gangliogliomas of the spinal cord are extremely rare with only four cases reported in the literature. Here we present the case of a 22-year-old female who presented acutely with quadraparesis and urinary retention. Radiographic imaging demonstrated an intramedullary lesion within the cervical spine.

Differences in management of isolated spinal fractures between neurosurgery and orthopaedics: a 6-year retrospective study.

Introduction: The acute management of spinal fractures is traditionally split between neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons and the specialities have varying approaches to management. This study investigates differences between neurosurgeons and spinal orthopaedic surgeons in the management of spinal fractures at a single trauma centre in the United Kingdom.

Methods: A retrospective study at a single trauma centre of patients identified using the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN).

Neurosurgical management of head injuries incurred during sports: a single centre experience.

Accidents during sporting activities are a common cause of head injury, particularly in children and young adults. Whilst most sporting head injuries are minor, there remains a proportion which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The epidemiology of sports associated head injuries is variable based on geographical region so the aim of this study was to review the management and outcomes of sporting head injuries managed by a single neurosurgical unit in the South of England.

Spinal Arachnoid Cysts: Presentation, management and pathophysiology.

Objective: Evaluation of the presentation and outcomes associated with surgical marsupialisation of spinal arachnoid cysts and formulation of a putative hypothesis explaining their pathogenesis.

Patients And Methods: Cases were identified from electronic and theatre records at a single centre. All patients underwent pre-operative assessment and radiographic evaluation with subsequent spinal multidisciplinary discussion.

Spinal fractures incurred by a fall from standing height.

Objective: Falls from standing are common, particularly amongst the aging population, due to declining mobility, proprioception and vision. They are often complicated by fragility fractures, including vertebral fractures, that are associated with significant morbidity and may represent a pre-terminal condition with high one-year mortality rates.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of the Trauma Audit and Research Network database for a major trauma centre was conducted for all patients admitted between January 2011 and December 2016.

Choroid Plexus in the Central Canal of the Spinal Cord Causing Recurrent Syringomyelia.

Background: Syringomyelia is a fluid-filled cavitation within the substance of the spinal cord. This condition usually follows a primary pathology that disrupts the normal cerebrospinal fluid circulation or disturbs the microcirculation and cytoarchitecture of the spinal cord parenchyma. However, an etiology of recurrent syringomyelia resulting from an ectopic choroid plexus (CP) has not been discussed.

Post-traumatic Spinal Hygroma Causing Cord Compression in Type III Odontoid Fracture With Vertical Atlantoaxial Instability.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To report the first case in the literature of a traumatic cervical spine subdural cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection (hygroma) under tension causing cord compression. We suggest etiopathogenesis and modality of treatment.

Ventral Lumbar Synovial Cyst Causing Cauda Equina Compression: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Juxtafacet spinal cysts are cystic synovial lesions that often are indistinguishable clinically or radiologically and require histopathology analysis to confirm the diagnosis. Lumbar synovial cysts usually arising from the synovium of the facet joints. They have been described posterolaterally or rarely in the posterior midline.