Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a systematic review of metabolite changes and clinical correlations.

Introduction: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common degenerative condition characterized by narrowing of the cervical spinal canal, leading to progressive spinal cord injury and functional decline. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for diagnosing CSM, it has limitations in predicting clinical outcomes. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) offers metabolic insights that may enhance diagnostic and prognostic capabilities in CSM.

Innovative External Cranial Devices for Protecting a Craniectomy Site: A Scoping Review on Noninvasive Approaches for Patients Awaiting Cranioplasty.

Background And Objectives: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a commonly performed procedure to alleviate high intracranial pressure. To enhance patient quality of life and minimize complications after DC in patients awaiting cranioplasty (CP), multidisciplinary teams have designed and implemented external protective prototypes, including 3-dimensional printing and plaster models, whenever feasible. The aim of this scoping review was to assess the evidence available on innovative external cranial devices that protect the craniectomy site for patients who have undergone DC while awaiting CP in high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries.

Corrigendum: Anatomical variations of the atlas arches: prevalence assessment, systematic review and proposition for an updated classification system.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.

Anatomical variations of the atlas arches: prevalence assessment, systematic review and proposition for an updated classification system.

Objective And Background: This study focuses on the atlas, a pivotal component of the craniovertebral junction, bridging the cranium and spinal column. Notably, variations in its arches are documented globally, necessitating a thorough assessment and categorization due to their significant implications in clinical, diagnostic, functional, and therapeutic contexts. The primary objective is to ascertain the frequency of these anatomical deviations in the atlas arches among a Colombian cohort using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Innovative Solutions for Patients Who Undergo Craniectomy: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a widely used procedure to alleviate high intracranial pressure. Multidisciplinary teams have designed and implemented external medical prototypes to improve patient life quality and avoid complications following DC in patients awaiting cranioplasty (CP), including 3D printing and plaster prototypes when available.

Objective: This scoping review aims to understand the extent and type of evidence about innovative external prototypes for patients who undergo DC while awaiting CP.

Global Neurosurgery: Progress and Resolutions at the 75th World Health Assembly.

Neurosurgical advocates for global surgery/neurosurgery at the 75th World Health Assembly gathered in person for the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic in Geneva, Switzerland, in May 2022. This article reviews the significant progress in the global health landscape targeting neglected neurosurgical patients, emphasizing high-level policy advocacy and international efforts to support a new World Health Assembly resolution in mandatory folic acid fortification to prevent neural tube defects. The process of developing global resolutions through the World Health Organization and its member states is summarized.

Hyperosmolar therapies for neurological deterioration in mild and moderate traumatic brain injury: A scoping review.

Objective: To explore the available evidence on hyperosmolar therapies(HT) in mild and moderate traumatic brain injury(TBI) and to evaluate the effects on outcomes.A scoping review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Inclusion criteria: (a)randomized controlled trials(RCTs), prospective and retrospective cohort studies and case-control studies; (b)all-ages mild and moderate TBIs; (c)HT administration; (d)functional outcomes recorded; (e)comparator group.

A Case Series of Stereotactic Biopsy of Brainstem Lesions through the Transfrontal Approach.

 Brainstem lesions may be unresectable or unapproachable. Regardless, the histopathological diagnosis is fundamental to determine the most appropriate treatment. We present our experience with transfrontal stereotactic biopsy technique for brainstem lesions as a safe and effective surgical route even when contralateral transhemispheric approach is required for preservation of eloquent tissue.

Development, implementation and validation of resource-stratified guidelines in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Nearly every field of medicine has some form of clinical practice guidelines. However, only within the past 5-10 years has the medical community acknowledged the need for well-developed guidelines tailored to the local healthcare needs and the resources available. In most low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), healthcare workers depend on guidelines developed in high-income countries (HICs), yet many interventions validated in a HIC are ineffective when implemented in an LMIC.

An Umbrella Review With Meta-Analysis of Chest Computed Tomography for Diagnosis of COVID-19: Considerations for Trauma Patient Management.

Background: RT-PCR testing is the standard for diagnosis of COVID-19, although it has its suboptimal sensitivity. Chest computed tomography (CT) has been proposed as an additional tool with diagnostic value, and several reports from primary and secondary studies that assessed its diagnostic accuracy are already available. To inform recommendations and practice regarding the use of chest CT in the in the trauma setting, we sought to identify, appraise, and summarize the available evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of chest CT for diagnosis of COVID-19, and its application in emergency trauma surgery patients; overcoming limitations of previous reports regarding chest CT accuracy and discussing important considerations regarding its role in this setting.

Implementing a Neurotrauma Registry in Latin America and the Caribbean.

 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a disproportionately greater impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). One strategy to reduce the burden of disease in LMICs is through the implementation of a trauma registry that standardizes the assessment of each patient's management of care.  This study aims to ascertain the interest of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) nations in establishing a shared neurotrauma registry in the regional block, based on an existing framework for collaboration.

Future Directions for Global Clinical Neurosurgical Training: Challenges and Opportunities.

Objective: Expanded access to training opportunities is necessary to address 5 million essential neurosurgical cases not performed annually, nearly all in low- and middle-income countries. To target this critical neurosurgical workforce issue and advance positive collaborations, a summit (Global Neurosurgery 2019: A Practical Symposium) was designed to assemble stakeholders in global neurosurgical clinical education to discuss innovative platforms for clinical neurosurgery fellowships.

Methods: The Global Neurosurgery Education Summit was held in November 2021, with 30 presentations from directors and trainees in existing global neurosurgical clinical fellowships.

Protocol for a Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Pilot Study on the Implementation of Resource-Stratified Algorithms for the Treatment of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Across Four Treatment Phases: Prehospital, Emergency Department, Neurosurgery, and Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is a public health issue with great disparity among low- and middle-income countries where the implementation of evidence-based guidelines is challenging because resources are often unavailable. A consensus process including experts in the prehospital, emergency department, neurosurgery, and intensive care unit took place in Colombia to develop a set of stratified protocols called BOOTStraP, targeting resource-poor environments, but it has not been systematically implemented and tested.

Objective: To identify the facilitators of, and barriers to, collecting data about patients with sTBI and to implement a stratified protocol across the treatment phases of prehospital, emergency department, neurosurgery, and intensive care unit in low-resource settings.

Early Stages Management of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Latin America: A Scoping Review.

Objective: To understand the extent and type of evidence on diagnosis, clinical presentation, management, outcomes, and costs of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in the early stages in Latin America.

Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews was followed. Extracted data included study aim, country, methodology, population characteristics, and outcome measures.

Role of mHealth applications for emergency medical system activation in reducing mortality in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Prehospital care is an essential component in reducing mortality for patients presenting with emergency medical conditions. Prehospital systems tend to be underdeveloped or non-existent in these areas, with less than 1% of low-income and middle-income country (LMIC) populations served by an organised prehospital system. Mobile health apps for activation of Emergency Medical System (EMS) have been shown to decrease mortality, but there has yet to be a systematic review and meta-analysis performed to clarify the role that these apps play in reducing mortality in LMICs.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Severe and Intractable Aggressive Behavior.

Aggressive behavior in patients with intellectual disability can be resistant to pharmacological treatment and have detrimental consequences to themselves, family members, and caregivers. Hypothalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been used to improve this type of behavior in severe and refractory cases. Here, we present the description and analysis of DBS of the posteromedial hypothalamus (PMH) and its long-term impact as treatment to improve severe and refractory aggressive behaviors, even with previous bilateral hypothalamotomy without improvement in patients with intellectual disability.

Diagnosis and Management of Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Globally, 69 million people suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year and TBI is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Traumatic SAH (TSAH) has been described as an adverse prognostic factor leading to progressive neurological deterioration and an increase in morbidity and mortality, but there are a limited number of studies which evaluate recent trends in the diagnostic and management of SAH in the context of trauma.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to the diagnostic criteria and management of TSAH.

Management of severe traumatic brain injury in regions with limited resources.

Importance: Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is a critical health problem in regions of limited resources (RLRs). Younger populations are among the most impacted. The objective of this review is to analyze recent consensus-based algorithms, protocols and guidelines proposed for the care of patients with TBI in RLRs.

Severe Pediatric TBI Management in a Middle-Income Country and a High-Income Country: A Comparative Assessment of Two Centers.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health issue with over 10 million deaths or hospitalizations each year. However, access to specialized care is dependent on institutional resources and public health policy. Phoenix Children's Hospital USA (PCH) and the Neiva University Hospital, Colombia (NUH) compared the management and outcomes of pediatric patients with severe TBI over 5 years to establish differences between outcomes of patients managed in countries of varying resources availability.

International Neurotrauma Training Based on North-South Collaborations: Results of an Inter-institutional Program in the Era of Global Neurosurgery.

Shortage of general neurosurgery and specialized neurotrauma care in low resource settings is a critical setback in the national surgical plans of low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Neurotrauma fellowship programs typically exist in high-income countries (HIC), where surgeons who fulfill the requirements for positions regularly stay to practice. Due to this issue, neurosurgery residents and medical students from LMICs do not have regular access to this kind of specialized training and knowledge-hubs.

Neurotrauma Registry Implementation in Colombia: A Qualitative Assessment.

Objectives Latin America is among several regions of the world that lacks robust data on injuries due to neurotrauma. This research project sought to investigate a multi-institution brain injury registry in Colombia, South America, by conducting a qualitative study to identify factors affecting the creation and implementation of a multi-institution TBI registry in Colombia before the establishment of the current registry.  Key informant interviews and participant observation identified barriers and facilitators to the creation of a TBI registry at three health care institutions in this upper-middle-income country in South America.

Chest Computed Tomography for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 in Emergency Trauma Surgery Patients Who Require Urgent Care During the Pandemic: Protocol for an Umbrella Review.

Background: Many health care facilities in low- and middle-income countries are inadequately resourced. COVID-19 has the potential to decimate surgical health care services unless health systems take stringent measures to protect health care workers from viral exposure and ensure the continuity of specialized care for patients. Among these measures, the timely diagnosis of COVID-19 is paramount to ensure the use of protective measures and isolation of patients to prevent transmission to health care personnel caring for patients with an unknown COVID-19 status or contact during the pandemic.

Personal protective equipment for reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers involved in emergency trauma surgery during the pandemic: an umbrella review protocol.

Introduction: Many healthcare facilities in low-income and middle-income countries are inadequately resourced and may lack optimal organisation and governance, especially concerning surgical health systems. COVID-19 has the potential to decimate these already strained surgical healthcare services unless health systems take stringent measures to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) from viral exposure and ensure the continuity of specialised care for patients. The objective of this broad evidence synthesis is to identify and summarise the available literature regarding the efficacy of different personal protective equipment (PPE) in reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection in health personnel caring for patients undergoing trauma surgery in low-resource environments.

Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Scoping Review.

Sixty-nine million people have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, and TBI is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Traumatic SAH (TSAH) has been described as an adverse prognostic factor leading to progressive neurological deterioration and increased morbidity and mortality. A limited number of studies, however, evaluate recent trends in the diagnosis and management of SAH in the context of trauma.