Background The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has disrupted the routine neurosurgical education and practice worldwide and so more in developing countries. Continuing the neurosurgical training while maintaining the well-being of our residents should be the primary concern of leaders of training programs. Objectives The aim of this cross-sectional study was the evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 on neurosurgical residency programs and neurosurgical practice in five tertiary medical centers in our country. We also aimed at detecting the shortcomings in training programs and provide solutions. Methods An online questionnaire-based survey was prepared and sent to 73 neurosurgery residents in 5 tertiary centers in 4 governorates by social networks. The questions focused on the evaluation of clinical and surgical activities before and after the pandemic. Safety precautions, education, and residents’ mental health were also evaluated. Results Fifty residents responded to our survey. We identified a significant reduction in surgical cases, inpatient services, and working hours per week during the pandemic comparing to the pre-pandemic era. We also identified a significant increase in research hours and changes in educational methods from in-person methods to virtual ones. Seventy-four percent reported that personal protective equipment was not adequate for their duties. Sixty-eight percent experienced burnout symptoms. Unavailability of personal protective equipment, negative concerns regarding the surgical career, and financial strains significantly affected the mental health of residents. Conclusions The survey highlighted the negative impact of COVID-19 on neurosurgical practice and education. Being in a developing country, this negative effect was amplified due to financial reasons and weak infrastructure. Inadequate personal protective equipment increased the risk of infection and work-related stress among neurosurgery residents. We lacked telemedicine services in our country. Online education gained more visibility and awareness.

Background Neuronavigation is a very beneficial tool in modern neurosurgical practice. However, the neuronavigation is not available in most of the hospitals in our country raising the question about its importance in localizing the calvarial extra-axial lesions and to what extent it is safe to operate without it. Methods We studied twenty patients with calvarial extra-axial lesions who underwent surgical interventions. All lesions were preoperatively located with both neuronavigation and the usual linear measurements. Both methods were compared regarding the time consumed to localize the tumor and the accuracy of each method to anticipate the actual center of the tumor. Results The mean error of distance between the planned center of the tumor and the actual was 6.50 ± 1.762 mm in conventional method, whereas the error was 3.85 ± 1.309 mm in IGS method. Much more time was consumed during the neuronavigation method including booting, registration, and positioning. A statistically significant difference was found between the mean time passed in the conventional method and IGS method (2.05 ± 0.826, 24.90 ± 1.334, respectively), P-value < 0.001. Conclusion In the setting of limited resources, the linear measurement localization method seems to have an accepted accuracy in the localization of calvarial extra-axial lesions and it saves more time than neuronavigation method.

Background: Spinal infections can be challenging in their management and include spondylitis, epidural abscess, and spondylodiscitis. Usual treatment is conservative through antimicrobials or surgery to decompress neural tissue, debride all infected tissues, and fix if needed. We propose the concept of surgery without formal debridement aiming at neural protection. Methods: The study was performed at two tertiary centers on 25 patients with clinical findings. One patient was treated conservatively and the rest surgically by laminectomy and fixation if needed. Evacuation of fluid pus was performed. In the cervical and the thoracic region, if the granulation tissue was anterior to the cord, only decompression by laminectomy was done. Results: Low back pain was present in 22 cases (88%), 16 cases (64%) had lower limb pain, and 12 cases (48%) had weakness. The level of spinal infection was lumbar in 15 cases (60%), thoracic in 9 cases (36%) cases, and cervical in 1 case (4%). The type of infection was epidural abscess in 20 cases (80%), discitis in 16 cases (64%), and vertebral osteomyelitis in 12 cases (48%). Laminectomy was performed in 20 cases (80%) and fixation in 17 cases (68%). The symptoms improved in all cases. On follow-up, the lesion was reduced in 14 patients (56%) and disappeared in 11 cases (44%). One case required ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement due to postinfectious hydrocephalus. Conclusion: Dealing with spinal infections surgically through decompression or fixation with minimal debridement of infected tissue appears to be a safe and effective method of management.

Background There are several surgical strategies involved in the treatment of patients with tentorial meningioma, and choosing the most appropriate one is not straight forward. Our study aims to illustrate our experience in the management of tentorial meningiomata at our center. Results This study included 32 patients with tentorial meningiomas, operated upon, with assessment of the extent of resection and the Glasgow outcome score (GOS). The mean age at the time of surgery for the studied group was 48.4 years ranging from 20 to 70 years. Total removal was considered as Simpson grade I or II and was achieved in 26 cases (81.25%). Subtotal removal was considered as Simpson grade III or IV and was achieved in 6 cases (18.75%). The final Glasgow outcome score (GOS) for all cases was GOS 1 in 4 cases (12.5%), GOS 4 in 9 cases (28.2%), and GOS 5 in 19 cases (59.3%). Conclusion Tentorial meningiomas can be very challenging during surgery due to their proximity to vital structures. Subtotal resection should be considered when total removal can be hazardous to the patient or result in severe morbidity.

Background Acute Subdural hematoma is a very crucial entity in traumatic brain injury, presented with disabling morbid complications and a high mortality rate; therefore, it is a massive socio-economic burden, leading to either direct or secondary brain injury, as hypoxia. Aim and objectives Comparative study between decompressive craniotomy (DC) and craniectomy in the management of acute subdural and their consequences. Assessing the most effective management protocol for ASDH with the least morbidity, short hospital’ stay and avoidance of re-operation. Method The study design is a prospective comparative randomized study, conducted on 30 patients with ASDH operated and managed starting December 2019 inclusive April 2021 at the Neurosurgery Department Cairo University Hospitals. They were divided equally into two groups: 15 had decompressive craniectomy and another 15 cases were operated upon with craniotomy. All patients were diagnosed with traumatic ASDH. Results The mean GCS pre-operative in DC was (9.4) mean with a range from (6 to 13) and the post-operative mean was (11.13) with a range from (4 to 15) compared to the results in the craniotomy group; the pre-operative mean was (9.6) with a range from (6 to 10) and the post-operative GCS mean (11.53) ranging from (6 to 14) that had a P value of 0.69. Conclusion There is no statistical significance in comparing decompressive craniectomy and craniotomy in dealing with ASDH, yet early time of surgical evacuation and duroplasty have shown to have good prognostic factors.