OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of delayed burr hole surgery in relation to the reduction of postoperative subdural hematoma (SDH) volume in patients with acute SDH. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with acute SDH who received delayed burr hole surgery at our institute. Age, sex, Glasgow coma scale, maximal SDH thickness, volume of SDH, midline shifts, hounsfield unit (HU), and medical history of anticoagulant agent usage were recorded. Outcome measures were delayed operation day, reduction of SDH volume after operation, and the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score at discharge. The patients were divided two groups according to the post-operative reduction of volume of SDH (≥50%, group A; <50%, group B). We also analyzed variables and differences between two groups. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were available for this analysis. The mean delayed of surgery was 13.9±7.5 days. Maximal thickness of SDH was changed from 10.0±3.5 mm to 12.2±3.7 mm. Volume of SDH was changed from 38.7±28.0 mL to 42.6±29.6 mL. Midline shifts were changed from 5.8±3.3 mm to 6.6±3.3 mm. HU were changed from 66.4±11.2 to 53.2±20.6. Post-operative reduction of SDH volume was 52.1±21.1%. Eleven patients (61%) had a discharge GOS score of 1 (good recovery). Ten patients (56%) were enrolled in group A. Midline shifting was greater in group A than in group B (7.4±3.3 vs. 3.0±2.4 mm; p<0.02). The delay of surgery was shorter for group A than group B (9.2±2.3 vs. 19.8±7.7 days; p<0.0008). CONCLUSION: Among well selected patients, delayed burr hole surgery in patients with acute SDH may be effective for reduction of SDH volume. Further studies will be necessary to establish the effectiveness and safety of delayed burr hole surgery in patients with acute SDH.
Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute* ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the results of surgical and endovascular treatments in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients older than 70 years. METHODS: This study included 18 patients, more than 70 years of age, treated for ruptured cerebral aneurysms between April 2004 and March 2009. In most cases, patients underwent the early obliteration procedure for each aneurysm, and we compared the clinical results according to the obliteration method (clipping or coiling). We assessed neurological outcomes at 6 months post-procedure according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS): favorable (mRS score > 2) or unfavorable (mRS score > 2). RESULTS: Of the 18 patients, 12 (66.6%) underwent obliteration of the aneurysm sac via microvascular clipping patients, and 6 (33.3%) underwent endovascular coiling. At 6 months post-procedure, the clinical outcomes were favorable in 6 patients (33.3%), 5 (41.7%) who received microvascular clipping and 1 (16.7%) who underwent endovascular coiling. Unfavorable outcome was not statistically associated with poor initial clinical state, poor Fisher grade, occurrence of stroke, or hydrocephalus, although we frequently noted these variables in the unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, aneurysm obliteration method (microvascular clipping vs. endovascular coiling) did not seem to significantly affect clinical outcomes. A poor initial clinical state, poor Fisher grade, occurrence of stroke, and hydrocephalus seemed to be associated with poor clinical outcomes.
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Stroke ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: Cervical radicular pain is defined as pain arising in the arm caused by irritation of a cervical spinal nerve or its roots. Although many treatment modalities are described in the literature, the available evidence for efficacy is not sufficient to allow definitive conclusions. The goal of this study was to establish the benefits and prognostic factors of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) on the adjacent cervical dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of cervical radicular pain patients. METHODS: A retrospective study of PRF treatment of patients with cervical radicular pain was carried out. Two times diagnostic block of cervical DRG were performed before PRF. PRF was applied for 2 minutes at a setting of 2 Hz and 45 V by two times on the same targets, with the end point being an electrode tip temperature 42degrees C. Numerical rating scale (NRS) score was evaluated post-treatment 2 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months, which were compared with pretreatment value. A successful outcome was defined that NRS change was improved more than 50% at 6 months. RESULTS: The mean age was 54 years. The success rate was 68%(15/22) after six months of follow-up. PRF induced complications were not observed. Between success and failure group, we do not find any positive outcome prognostic factor. Interestingly, PRF treatment on foraminal stenosis is better outcome than herniated cervical disc. CONCLUSION: PRF on adjacent cervical DRG is effective and safe treatment option for cervical radicular pain patients. However, more long-term follow up and larger patients are needed to establish effectiveness PRF treatment on cervical radicular pain patients.
Arm ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Electrodes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Humans ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Nerves

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are known as the neuroimaging markers of risk in stroke and dementia. Many studies on CMBs in elderly patients with hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke have been reported; however, reports on CMBs in young populations with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 272 patients aged 18–54 years presented to our hospital with ICH between December 2009 and August 2017. Among these, CMB presence, count, and topography with respect to ICH were evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gradient echo images (GREs). We also evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of CMBs. RESULTS: Among 272 patients, only 66 underwent GRE T2-weighted MRI. CMBs were detected in 40 patients (61%), with 29 (73%) being of the multifocal type. Among the 219 CMBs, 150 (68.5%) were of the deep type and 69 (31.5%) of the lobar type. CMB prevalence was higher in men. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, history of hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.048; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–14.32; p = 0.030), and male sex (aOR, 4.233; 95% CI, 1.09–16.48; p = 0.037) were independently associated with CMBs. CONCLUSION: In young patients who presented with spontaneous ICH, CMBs were highly prevalent in 61% of patients and strongly associated with history of hypertension and male sex.
Aged ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Dementia ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroimaging ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Young Adult