Riggs Frandsen (taurussnow6)
tumor, and the presence of other preoperative CNPs were found to be significant risk factors for postoperative facial weakness. Facial palsy is a risk during surgical resection of posterior fossa brain tumors in the pediatric population. The study results suggest that the incidence of new postoperative facial palsy can be as high as 20%. The presence of preoperative facial palsy, an operation for recurrent tumor, and the presence of other preoperative CNPs were found to be significant risk factors for postoperative facial weakness.Trigeminal meningocele is a rare disease that results in rhinorrhea. Treatments with endoscopic approaches and open craniotomies have high recurrence rates, and controversy regarding the most effective surgical strategy for trigeminal meningocele is ongoing. The authors report a case of a 13-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of trigeminal meningocele determined after she presented with a history of intermittent headaches, suspected rhinorrhea, and recurrent meningitis. In addition to the conventional method of covering the efflux point of CSF and filling the inside of the meningocele with fascial tissues, the authors selectively closed the influx point of CSF from the prepontine cistern to the meningocele using an anterior transpetrosal approach. On the basis of the preoperative images, the authors hypothesized that the influx point of CSF could not be observed under the microscopic direct view and instead used a flexible endoscope. A check valve-like structure with one-way communication of CSF from the prepontine cistern into the cystic cavity was identified and was closed. At the time of this report, 36 months postoperatively, the patient had no indications of recurrence. Although cases of trigeminal meningoceles are infrequently encountered and require a tailored approach, the results in this case thus far indicate that the use of an endoscope and open craniotomy is an effective strategy for surgical treatment. The authors sought to evaluate the contemporary management of pediatric open skull fractures and assess the impact of variations in antibiotic and operative management on the incidence of infectious complications. The records of children who presented from 2009 to 2017 to 6 pediatric trauma centers with an open calvarial skull fracture were reviewed. Data collected included mechanism and anatomical site of injury; presence and depth of fracture depression; antibiotic choice, route, and duration; operative management; and infectious complications. Of the fractures among the 138 patients included in the study, 48.6% were frontal and 80.4% were depressed; 58.7% of patients underwent fragment elevation. The average duration of intravenous antibiotics was 4.6 (range 0-21) days. Only 53 patients (38.4%) received a single intravenous antibiotic for fewer than 4 days. and 56 (40.6%) received oral antibiotics for an average of 7.3 (range 1-20) days. Wounds were managed exclusively in the emergency department in n of a single antibiotic, and emergency department closure is appropriate unless there is significant contamination or fragment elevation is necessary. The evaluation, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) continues to have many areas of debate, including the use of ancillary testing. Given the continued improvement in imaging, it is important to revisit its utility. Nerve root avulsions have historically been identified by the presence of pseudomeningoceles or visible ruptures. This "all-or-none" definition of nerve root avulsions has many implications for the understanding and management of NBPP, especially as characterization of the proximal nerve root as a potential donor remains critical. This study examined the ability of high-resolution MRI to more specifically define the anatomy of nerve root avulsions by individually examining the ventral and dorsal rootlets as they exit the spinal cord. This is