Publications by authors named "Shahed Elhamdani"

Background: Whether the number or cumulative volume of brain metastases affects survival in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. We conducted a volume matched multi-center study to determine whether patients with a single metastasis had better outcomes than patients with > 20 brain metastases.

Methods: Between 2014 and 2022, 317 NSCLC patients (21.

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Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and/or corpectomy with fusion is a standard treatment approach for cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy caused by anterior degenerative and compressive pathology. Serious complications are rare, but esophageal and pharyngeal injuries relating to anterior cervical operations can cause significant morbidity and mortality. The authors present the case of delayed anterior plate screw loosening with eventual expectoration of a screw without anatomical defect.

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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate local control (LC) of tumors, patient overall survival (OS), and the safety of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for esophageal cancer brain metastases (EBMs).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from 15 International Radiosurgery Research Foundation facilities encompassing 67 patients with 185 EBMs managed using SRS between January 2000 and May 2022. The median patient age was 63 years, with a male predominance (92.

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Article Synopsis
  • Incidental durotomy (ID) is a common issue in spine surgeries that can lead to longer hospital stays and complications like pseudomeningocele formation, prompting a study comparing traditional open vs. minimally invasive (MIS) microdiscectomy techniques.
  • The study included 192 MIS patients and 2902 open surgery patients, ultimately analyzing 156 matched patients from both groups for ID occurrences and complications.
  • Results showed a similar incidence rate of ID in both methods (3.1% total), with one re-operation in the open cohort for pseudomeningocele, but no significant difference in re-operation rates between the two groups, highlighting the need for more extensive future research.
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Background: Although ventriculoperitoneal shunting is standard for hydrocephalus, shunting may not be ideal for aqueductal stenosis. A cohort of patients with aqueductal stenosis displayed symptoms of over- and underdrainage, despite a patent ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) and optimized valve settings. Endoscopic third ventriculostomies (ETVs) were performed in a subset of these patients with successful treatment of their underlying hydrocephalus, despite a functioning shunt.

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Background And Objectives: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established surgical treatment for certain movement disorders and involves the implantation of brain electrodes connected to implantable pulse generators (IPGs). As more device manufacturers have entered the market, some IPG technology has been designed to be compatible with brain electrodes from other manufacturers, which has facilitated the hybridization of implant technology. The aim of this study was to assess the benefits of hybridization of non-rechargeable, constant voltage IPGs to rechargeable, constant current IPGs.

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Objective: The goal of this study was to characterize local tumor control (LC), overall survival (OS), and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery for colorectal brain metastasis (CRBM).

Methods: Ten international institutions participating in the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation provided data for this retrospective case series. This study included 187 patients with CRBM (281 tumors), with a median age of 62 years and 56.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the link between frailty and outcomes in patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases, revealing that higher frailty scores correlate with worse survival rates.
  • Using a modified frailty index, patients were categorized as pre-frail, frail, or severely frail, with findings showing that frailer patients experienced a significantly reduced overall survival and progression-free survival compared to pre-frail patients.
  • The results indicate that frail patients had a hazard ratio of over 3 for shorter overall survival, emphasizing the need to consider frailty when assessing treatment risks and outcomes in neurosurgery.
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Objective: Increasing frailty is a significant determinant of perioperative morbidity and mortality within neurosurgical literature. This study investigates the predictive value of the modified frailty index 5 (mFI-5) for postoperative morbidity and mortality following surgical drainage of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients who underwent surgical evacuation of a cSDH.

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Background: There are limited data regarding outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) primaries and brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Objective: To examine clinical outcomes after SRS for patients with brain metastases from GI primaries and evaluate potential prognostic factors.

Methods: The International Radiosurgery Research Foundation centers were queried for patients with brain metastases from GI primaries managed with SRS.

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Background: Chordoid meningioma is a rare World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2 variant of meningioma with histological features resembling those of a chordoma. This tumor type is known for having an aggressive clinical course with a propensity for local recurrence. Most cases occur within the cranium, more specifically around the cerebral convexities.

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Background: Intraventricular metastases (IVMs) are uncommon, and their optimal management remains debatable.

Objective: To define the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of IVMs.

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study included patients managed with SRS for IVMs.

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Background: Pseudoarthrosis is a complication of spinal fixation. Risk factors include infection, larger constructs, significant medical comorbidities, and diabetes. The authors present a case report of dilated pedicle screw pseudoarthrosis salvaged with moldable, settable calcium phosphate-based putty.

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Background: Mycotic aneurysms (MAs) are rare intracranial pathologies. They are associated with spontaneous rupture, which is often the first presenting sign. Subarachnoid hemorrhage and intraparenchymal hemorrhage are the most common sequelae of ruptured MAs, with subdural hematoma being an atypical presentation.

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Background: Pseudogout, or calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) disease, is an inflammatory joint disease that most commonly involves the joints of the knees, ankles, and wrists. Pseudogout has also been known to involve the spine, especially the atlanto-occipital joint of the cervical spine, but there is limited documentation of its involvement in the lumbar spine. Though the atypical presentation of spinal pseudogout with findings consistent with discitis and epidural abscess has been documented, its presentation with associated chronic spinal epidural hematoma is a rare entity.

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Article Synopsis
  • Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IOM) has been used since the 1970s to detect potential neurological issues during surgery, but its effect on long-term outcomes is unclear.
  • Researchers analyzed 163 patients who underwent posterior lumbar surgery, comparing outcomes between those who had IOM and those who did not, while ensuring consistency in surgical techniques.
  • The study found that while the monitored group experienced more transient neurological deficits, there was no significant difference in permanent neurological morbidity between the two groups, suggesting IOM may not improve long-term outcomes when used with modern imaging techniques.
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Background: Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for administration into surgical sites for postsurgical analgesia.

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Objective: To describe the effect of hemoglobin Wayne variant on hemoglobin A1c (A1c) accuracy and to stress the importance of patient-physician communication and trust.

Methods: We present the clinical history and laboratory findings of 2 patients, with a review of related literature.

Results: Two older patients were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) and suffered from frequent hypoglycemia resulting from titrating their diabetes medications based on an extremely elevated A1c (>11% [97 mmol/mol]) obtained through high-performance liquid chromatography.

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Osteonecrosis is a pathological condition that could lead to a debilitating physical disease and impede daily activities. It is generally categorised into aetiology - primary (idiopathic) or secondary. When direct damage to the bone vasculature or direct injury of the bone marrow is related to an identifiable cause such as traumatic injuries, steroid or bisphosphonate use, increased alcohol intake, sickle cell disease, autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy or malignancy, it is categorised as secondary osteonecrosis.

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Article Synopsis
  • Spinal angiolipomas are rare, benign tumors that consist of fat and blood vessel tissue, which can cause neurological issues by compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots.
  • In a recent case, a 68-year-old man experienced lower body weakness due to an extradural mass in his thoracic spine, which was successfully removed through surgery, leading to symptom improvement.
  • The case highlights the importance of considering spinal angiolipoma as a potential diagnosis for patients with epidural masses, due to its rare occurrence and favorable outcomes.
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