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Aims: To present a case of primary ventriculitis in a 53-year-old patient caused by Streptococcus intermedius, emphasizing the rarity of the condition and the challenges in achieving clinical improvement despite targeted therapy., Methods: The patient underwent clinical evaluation, including CT and MRI imaging, as well as CSF analysis. Empirical antibiotic therapy was initiated with cefotaxime and metronidazole, followed by targeted therapy based on CSF culture results. External ventricular drainage was performed surgically., Results: No predisposing factors were identified in the patient. Initial imaging showed no acute changes, but follow-up imaging revealed significant ventricular inflammation. CSF analysis confirmed the presence of Streptococcus intermedius. Despite early and targeted antibiotic therapy, and surgical intervention, the patient's clinical condition did not improve., Conclusion: This case highlights the rarity of primary ventriculitis caused by Streptococcus intermedius and the challenges in managing it. The lack of clinical improvement despite prompt and targeted treatment underscores the need for further research to develop more effective therapeutic strategies for such infections., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Background and Aim: Sinonasal tumors are a rare and heterogeneous group of malignant tumors with different histopathological characteristics and clinical presentation. These tumors are usually treated through surgery. The aim of this study is to present our results of surgical therapy in patients with an advanced sinonasal tumor., Methods: This retrospective study included patients with an advanced sinonasal tumor who were surgically treated. The surgical technique combined both a frontal transbasal approach together with an endoscopic endonasal approach. The parameters used for evaluation were the histological type of tumor, the radicality of resection (complete vs. incomplete), the frequency of recurrence, the surgical and postoperative complications, the type of subsequent oncological therapy and the overall survival., Results: The group consisted of ten patients seven were men and three were women. Complete resection (defined as R0) was achieved in 8 (80%) of the cases, subcomplete resection was achieved in 2 (20%) of the cases. The overall survival period was 28.7 months (95% confidence interval 15.9-41.6)., Conclusion: The combination of the frontal transbasal approach with the endoscopic endonasal approach is a suitable surgical strategy that enables easier achievement of complete tumor resection, reconstruction of the anterior skull base and reduces the need for extensive surgical approaches., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

The surgical treatment of paediatric thalamic gliomas has been burdened with high morbidity, and these lesions were often considered inoperable. With new approaches and intraoperative technologies, we can remove tumours once deemed inoperable. In our single centre, we have operated on 11 paediatric patients over the course of 8 years. We have performed eight GTR resections and three intended subtotal resections. The postoperative neurological deficit ranged from mild to very severe for motor weakness and none to severe for aphasia after surgery, with all of the patients improving at 3-month follow-up. Radicality in the surgical approach to thalamic gliomas in children has shown significant benefits when compared to more conservative approaches. For children with LGGs, extensive surgical resection is associated with improved prognosis and longer progression-free survival. However, it does not yield the same proportional benefit for HGGs due to its aggressive nature and worse outlook.

Objectives: To determine the prognostic potential of S100B protein in patients with craniocerebral injury, correlation between S100B protein and time, selected internal diseases, body habitus, polytrauma, and season., Methods: We examined the levels of S100B protein in 124 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI)., Results: The S100B protein level 72 h after injury and changes over 72 h afterwards are statistically significant for prediction of a good clinical condition 1 month after injury. The highest sensitivity (81.4%) and specificity (83.3%) for the S100B protein value after 72 h was obtained for a cut-off value of 0.114. For the change after 72 h, that is a decrease in S100B value, the optimal cut-off is 0.730, where the sum of specificity (76.3%) and sensitivity (54.2%) is the highest, or a decrease by 0.526 at the cut-off value, where sensitivity (62.5%) and specificity (62.9%) are more balanced. The S100B values were the highest at baseline; S100B value taken 72 h after trauma negatively correlated with GCS upon discharge or transfer (r=-0.517, P<0.0001). We found no relationship between S100B protein and hypertension, diabetes mellitus, BMI, or season when the trauma occurred. Changes in values and a higher level of S100B protein were demonstrated in polytraumas with a median of 1.070 (0.042; 8.780) μg/L compared to isolated TBI with a median of 0.421 (0.042; 11.230) μg/L., Conclusion: S100B protein level with specimen collection 72 h after trauma can be used as a complementary marker of patient prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Our study evaluates the sensitivity of papilledema as a sign of high intracranial pressure in children. Patients younger than 18 years old, diagnosed with increased ICP, and who had received dilated fundus examination between 2019 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Factors including the patient's age, sex, aetiology, duration of signs or symptoms, intracranial pressure (ICP), and presence of papilledema were evaluated. We included 39 patients in this study, whose mean age was 6.7 years. The 31 patients without papilledema had a mean age of 5.7 years, and 8 patients (20%) with papilledema had a mean age of 10.4 ( p < 0.037). The mean duration of signs or symptoms was nine weeks in patients without papilledema and seven weeks in those with papilledema ( p = 0.410). The leading causes of increased ICP with papilledema were supratentorial tumor (12.5%), infratentorial tumor (33.3%), and hydrocephalus (20%) ( p = 0.479). Papilledema was statistically significantly more common in older patients. We found no statistical significance between sex, diagnosis, and symptoms. The relatively low incidence of papilledema (20%) in our study shows that papilledema's absence does not ensure the absence of increased ICP, especially in younger patients.

Objectives: To determine the treatment effect of corticosteroids in periradicular therapy (PRT) for radicular pain and to compare different types of corticosteroids and ozone. We also examined the effect in different indication groups for periradicular therapy for each type of treatment agent., Background: Various studies have examined the therapeutic value of periradicular infiltration using treatment agents consisting of local anesthetic and corticosteroids or ozone application for radicular pain. This is the first study to compare different types of corticosteroids and ozone., Methods: Eligible patients with radicular pain who failed conservative management were divided into five indication groups and prospectively followed to assess the PRT effect of corticosteroids or ozone application. PRT was performed under computer tomography (CT) monitoring. A set of three PRT applications in three weeks was applied and the outcome was evaluated using a visual analogue score for back and leg pain. The in-group and between-group treatment effect was tested using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Kruskal-Wallis H-test with Dunn's post-hoc tests, respectively. The dependency between treatment effectiveness and indication for each group was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis H-test and Dunn's post-hoc tests., Results: We prospectively followed 150 patients, randomized into three groups of 50 patients each. The follow-up rate was 100%. All three treatment agents showed a statistically significant treatment effect (P<0.001). The statistically significant effect was higher in betamethasone (Diprophos) versus methylprednisolone (Depomedrone) (P=0.019) and Diprophos versus ozone (P<0.001). Diprophos also showed the highest decrease of VAS after therapy versus VAS prior to therapy (median decrease = 4) compared to Depomedrone and ozone (median decrease = 3 and 2, respectively). The statistically significant outcome was better with the indication of spondylolisthesis and disc herniation (P=0.019) indication for the Diprophos group and between spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis (P=0.022) and spondylolisthesis and disc herniation (P=0.016) for the ozone group., Conclusion: Clinical improvement occurred in all three groups but Diprophos showed the statistically best treatment effect compared to Depomedrone and ozone. Disc herniation resulting in radicular pain had a statistically significant better effect in comparison with spondylolisthesis in the Diprophos and ozone groups, but the ozone group showed heterogeneity depending on treatment effect and indication., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a beneficial procedure for treating idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor, and dystonia. The authors describe their set of imaging modalities used for a frameless and fiducial-less method of DBS. CT and MRI scans are obtained preoperatively, and STN parcellation is done based on diffusion tractography. During the surgery, an intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography scan is obtained and merged with the preoperatively-acquired images to place electrodes using a frameless and fiducial-less system. Accuracy is evaluated prospectively. The described sequence of imaging methods shows excellent accuracy compared to the frame-based techniques.

Background: In this study we evaluated the impact of location of deep brain stimulation electrode active contact in different parts of the subthalamic nucleus on improvement of non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease., Methods: The subthalamic nucleus was divided into two (dorsolateral/ventromedial) and three (dorsolateral, medial, ventromedial) parts. 37 deep brain stimulation electrodes were divided according to their active contact location. Correlation between change in non-motor symptoms before and one and four months after deep brain stimulation electrode implantation and the location of active contact was made., Results: In dividing the subthalamic nucleus into three parts, no electrode active contact was placed ventromedially, 28 active contacts were located in the medial part and 9 contacts were placed dorsolaterally. After one and four months, no significant difference was found between medial and dorsolateral positions. In the division of the subthalamic nucleus into two parts, 13 contacts were located in the ventromedial part and 24 contacts were placed in the dorsolateral part. After one month, significantly greater improvement in the Non-motor Symptoms Scale for Parkinson's disease (P=0.045) was found on dorsolateral left-sided stimulation, but no significant differences between the ventromedial and dorsolateral positions were found on the right side., Conclusion: This study demonstrated the relationship between improvement of non-motor symptoms and the side (hemisphere, left/right) of the deep brain stimulation electrode active contact, rather than its precise location within specific parts of the subthalamic nucleus in patients treated for advanced Parkinson's disease.

The world currently faces the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic. Little is known about the effects of a pandemic on non-elective neurosurgical practices, which have continued under modified conditions to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This knowledge might be critical for the ongoing second coronavirus wave and potential restrictions on health care. We aimed to determine the incidence and 30-day mortality rate of various non-elective neurosurgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective, multi-centre observational cohort study among neurosurgical centres within Austria, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland was performed. Incidence of neurosurgical emergencies and related 30-day mortality rates were determined for a period reflecting the peak pandemic of the first wave in all participating countries (i.e. March 16th-April 15th, 2020), and compared to the same period in prior years (2017, 2018, and 2019). A total of 4,752 emergency neurosurgical cases were reviewed over a 4-year period. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a general decline in the incidence of non-elective neurosurgical cases, which was driven by a reduced number of traumatic brain injuries, spine conditions, and chronic subdural hematomas. Thirty-day mortality did not significantly increase overall or for any of the conditions examined during the peak of the pandemic. The neurosurgical community in these three European countries observed a decrease in the incidence of some neurosurgical emergencies with 30-day mortality rates comparable to previous years (2017-2019). Lower incidence of neurosurgical cases is likely related to restrictions placed on mobility within countries, but may also involve delayed patient presentation.

Background: Gait disturbance accompanies many neurodegenerative diseases; it is characteristic for Parkinson's disease (PD). Treatment of advanced PD often includes deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus. Regarding gait, previous studies have reported non-significant or conflicting results, possibly related to methodological limitations., Objective: The objective of this prospective study was to assess the effects of DBS on biomechanical parameters of gait in patients with PD., Methods: Twenty-one patients with advanced PD participated in this prospective study. Gait was examined in all patients using the Zebris FDM-T pressure-sensitive treadmill (Isny, Germany) before DBS implantation and after surgery immediately, further immediately after the start of neurostimulation, and 3 months after neurostimulator activation. We assessed spontaneous gait on a moving treadmill at different speeds. Step length, stance phase of both lower limbs, double-stance phase, and cadence were evaluated., Results: In this study, step length increased, allowing the cadence to decrease. Double-stance phase duration, that is, the most sensitive parameter of gait quality and unsteadiness, was reduced, in gait at a speed of 4.5 km/h and in the narrow-based gaits at 1 km/h (tandem gait), which demonstrates improvement., Conclusion: This study suggests positive effects of DBS treatment on gait in PD patients. Improvement was observed in several biomechanical parameters of gait., (Copyright © 2020 Navratilova, Krobot, Otruba, Nevrly, Krahulik, Kolar, Kolarova, Kaiserova, Mensikova, Vastik, Kurcova and Kanovsky.)

(1) Background: Distal aneurysms of cerebellar arteries are very rare. The authors report their case series of distal aneurysms of the cerebellar arteries solved successfully by microsurgery or by endovascular treatment (Table 1) (2) Materials and Methods: Between January 2010 and March 2020, 346 aneurysms were treated in our institution. Eleven aneurysms in seven patients were located on distal cerebellar arteries and, in three patients, the aneurysms were combined with arteriovenous malformations. There were four women and three men, ranging from 50 to 72 years of age. Five patients presented with different grades of subarachnoid hemorrhage or intraventricular bleeding, and two patients were diagnosed because of headache. Aneurysm location was the posterior inferior cerebellar artery in six cases, the superior cerebellar artery in three cases, and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in 2 cases. One patient had three aneurysms, and two patients had two aneurysms. (3) Results: Nine aneurysms were treated by microsurgery trapping or clipping and, in two patients, the associated arteriovenous malformation (AVM) was resected. Two aneurysms were treated by endovascular coiling, and one associated AVM was successfully embolized. Clinical follow-up was a mean of 11.5 months (range, 3-45 months). (4) Conclusion: The authors present their experience with the treatment of 11 peripheral aneurysms on distal branches of the cerebellar circulation in seven patients which were excluded from circulation by microsurgery or endovascular treatment. In three patients, the associated AVM was treated (two with microsurgery, one with embolization).

Object: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is the only variant of dementia disorders possibly treatable by neurosurgical intervention. iNPH is a neurodegenerative condition clinically characterized by gait ataxia, urinary incontinence, and memory disturbance. We present one of the largest single-center studies, which was designed to prove efficacy of our low-pressure setting of gravitational valve at all three symptoms of iNPH and to find statistically significant cut-off time for best clinical improvement according to the duration of symptoms., Methods: Sixty-one consecutive patients (mean age 74.9 ± 5.3) with iNPH were prospectively observed from the time of surgery with minimal 6 months follow-up. All patients underwent implantation of the same type of gravitational valve with the same setting-pro GAV with low opening pressure at 5 cm H 2 O-and were operated by the same team of 2 neurosurgeons. We statistically evaluated gait disturbance, psychological changes, and incontinence preoperatively and at 6 months after surgery and timing of the surgery according to the duration of symptoms and to the age., Results: Paired t test showed a statistically significant increase in MMSE, a statistically significant decrease in 10-m walk test and 360 deg. rotation test (p < 0.0001). The correlation among the change of the MMSE, the walk test, and the rotation test, and the age and time of symptoms' duration was verified by Pearson's correlation coefficient. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a medium strong correlation between the change of MMSE and the time of symptoms (r = - 0.580; p < 0.0001) and between the change of the number of steps and the time of symptoms (r = 0.517, p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant weak (poor) correlation between the change of the walk test and the time of symptoms (r = 0.351, p = 0.006). All 3 ROC tests confirmed optimal cut-off for the best improvement of symptoms as 9.5 months of the symptom duration., Conclusions: We proved statistical significant optimal cut-off for the best improvement of the symptoms as 9.5 months of the symptom duration. This study also confirmed successful treatment of iNPH with VP shunting using low pressure setting of gravitational valve with overall improvement in 75% and low over drainage complications in 5% We proved statistically significant increase in MMSE, decrease in 10 m walk test and number of steps test, p < 0.0001.

Background: Mastoid emissary vein is especially important from the neurosurgical point of view, because it is located in variable number in the area of the occipitomastoid suture and it can become a source of significant bleeding in surgical approaches through the mastoid process, especially in retrosigmoid craniotomy, which is used for approaches to pathologies localized in the cerebellopontine angle. Ideal imaging method for diagnosis of these neglected structures when planning a surgical approach is high-resolution computed tomography. The aim of this work was to provide detailed information about this issue., Methods: We studied a group of 295 skulls obtained from collections of five anatomy departments and the National Museum. Both quantitative and qualitative parameters of the mastoid foramen were evaluated depending on side of appearance and gender. Individual distances of the mastoid foramen from clearly defined surface landmarks (asterion, apex of mastoid process, foramen magnum) and other anatomical structures closely related to this issue (width of groove for sigmoid sinus, diameters of internal and external openings of mastoid foramen) were statistically processed., Results: The most frequently represented type of the mastoid foramen is type II by Louis (41.2%). The differences between right and left sides were not statistically significant. In men there was a higher number of openings on the right side and in qualitative parameters the type III and IV predominated, whereas in women the types I and II were more frequent. In men, greater distances from the mastoid foramen were observed when evaluating qualitative parameters for defined surface landmarks. Mean size of the external opening diameter was 1.3 mm; however, several openings measured up to 7 mm., Conclusions: Despite excellent knowledge of anatomy, however, good pre-operative examination using imaging methods and mastering of microsurgical techniques create the base for successful treatment of pathological structures in these anatomically complex areas.

Numerous studies document significant improvement in motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) after deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS). However, little is known about the initial effects of STN-DBS on nonmotor domains.Our objective was to elucidate the initial effects of STN-DBS on non-motor and motor symptoms in PD patients in a 4-month follow-up.This open prospective study followed 24 patients with PD who underwent STN-DBS. The patients were examined using dedicated rating scales preoperatively and at 1 and 4 months following STN-DBS to determine initial changes in motor and nonmotor symptoms. Patients at month 1 after STN-DBS had significantly reduced the Parkinson's disease Questionnaire scores (P = .018) and Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's disease - Autonomic scores (P = .002); these scores had increased at Month 4 after DBS-STN. Nonmotor Symptoms Scale for Parkinson's Disease had improved significantly at Month 1 (P < .001); at Month 4, it remained significantly lower than before stimulation (P = .036). There was no significant difference in The Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scaleat Month 1 and significant improvement at Month 4 (P = .026). There were no significant changes in The Female Sexual Function Index or International Index of Erectile Function. Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Part III scores show significant improvements at Month 1 (P < .001) and at Month 4 (P < .001).STN-DBS in patients with advanced PD clearly improves not only motor symptoms, but also several domains of nonmotor functions, namely sleep, autonomic functions and quality of life quickly following the start of stimulation.

Background and Aims: Retrospective studies of TBI have found a neuroendocrine dysfunction following traumatic brain injury in 23 to 60% of adults and 15 to 21% of children. Our aims were to determine the prevalence of hypothalamo-hypophyseal dysfunction in children following brain injury, assess its relationship to the type of injury and the course of the acute post-traumatic phase., Patients and Methods: Body development (growth, pubertal development, and skeletal maturity) were evaluated in 58 patients (21 girls) after a brain injury rated 3 to 12 on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The patients underwent standard endocrine tests - TSH, fT4, IGF-1, PRL, morning cortisol, FSH, LH, and testosterone in boys and estradiol in girls - in the early post-traumatic period (2 to 14 days; T0) and at 3, 6, and 12 months after the injury (T3, T6, and T12). Dynamic tests were carried out in patients with abnormalities in their clinical examination and/or laboratory results. An MRI was performed on all patients at T12., Results: The median age at the time of injury was 11.3 (0.5 to 18.7) years. Of the 58 patients, 23 had GCS < 8, corresponding to severe brain injury. At T0, diabetes insipidus (DI) was diagnosed in 12 patients, and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) was found in 4 patients. Frequent hormonal changes simulated central hypothyroidism (in 45% of patients) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (in 25% of adolescents who were already pubertal at the time of injury > Tanner II). Examination at T3 (n = 58) confirmed a combined pituitary hormone deficiency in two boys and DI in another one. At T6 (n = 49), hormonal dysfunctions were diagnosed in two boys (precocious puberty and growth hormone deficiency). At T12 (n = 39), a new endocrine dysfunction was diagnosed in five patients (growth hormone deficiency in two, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in two, and in one patient, already diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, central hypothyroidism, as well). Brain MRI revealed an empty sella in two patients with growth hormone deficiency. Patients with GCS < 8 had more symptoms of SIADH or DI in the early post-traumatic period 11/23 vs. patients with GCS of 8 to 13 (4/35), and more frequent hormonal disorder (6/23) than individuals with moderate trauma (3/35), P = 0.0135. The incidence of endocrine dysfunction at T0 significantly correlated with the severity of injury (P = 0.05), but it was not an indicator for the development of a late hormonal disorder., Conclusion: Within a year after injury, a hormonal disorder was found in 17.6% of the patients. Neuroendocrine dysfunction as a late consequence of craniocerebral trauma in children and adolescents was less frequent than in adults. Risk factors for its development are the gravity of the injury, brain scan pathology, and possibly the development of DI, SIADH, or CSWS in the acute post-traumatic phase.

Object: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of serious morbidity and mortality. The incidence is 100-500/100,000 inhabitants/year. Chronic pituitary dysfunction is increasingly recognized after TBI. To define the incidence of endocrine dysfunction and risk factors, the authors describe a prospectively assessed group of patients in whom they documented hormonal functions, early diagnosis, and treatment of neuroendocrine dysfunction after TBI., Methods: Patients aged 18-65 years were prospectively observed from the time of injury to 1 year postinjury; the Glasgow Coma Scale score ranged from 3 to 14. Patients underwent evaluation of hormonal function at the time of injury and at 3, 6, and 12 months postinjury. Magnetic resonance imaging was also conducted at 1 year postinjury., Results: During the study period, 89 patients were observed. The mean age of the patients was 36 years, there were 23 women, and the median Glasgow Coma Scale score was 7. Nineteen patients (21%) had primary hormonal dysfunction. Major deficits included growth hormone dysfunction, hypogonadism, and diabetes insipidus. Patients in whom the deficiency was major had a worse Glasgow Outcome Scale score, and MR imaging demonstrated empty sella syndrome more often than in patients without a deficit., Conclusions: To the authors' knowledge, this is the third largest study of its kind worldwide. The incidence of chronic hypopituitarism after TBI was higher than the authors expected. After TBI, patients are usually observed on the neurological and rehabilitative wards, and endocrine dysfunction can be overlooked. This dysfunction can be life threatening and other clinical symptoms can worsen the neurological deficit, extend the duration of physiotherapy, and lead to mental illness. The authors recommend routine pituitary hormone testing after moderate or severe TBI within 6 months and 1 year of injury.