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Patients who underwent single-level lumbar decompression with or without discectomy had similar outcomes as those who underwent the conventional approach. Although of modest clinical significance, the transspinous approach may afford early mobilization and reduced postoperative pain while providing a satisfactory neurological and functional outcome.

Fatalities in boxing are most often due to traumatic brain injury that occurs in the ring. In the past 30 years, significant improvements in ringside and medical equipment, safety, and regulations have resulted in a dramatic reduction in the fatality rate. Nonetheless, the rate of boxing-related head injuries, particularly concussions, remains unknown, due in large part to its variability in clinical presentation. Furthermore, the significance of repeat concussions sustained when boxing is just now being understood. In this article, we identify the clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, and management of boxing-related head injuries, and discuss preventive strategies to reduce head injuries sustained by boxers.

Arachnoid cysts are benign, intraarachnoid cysts filled with cerebrospinal fluid that are usually encountered in the middle cranial fossa. If present in the posterior fossa, they usually produce nonspecific signs and symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and vertigo. We report the rare presentation of a young girl with right-sided sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus secondary to a right cerebellopontomedullary arachnoid cyst. The patient underwent a suboccipital retrosigmoid (retromastoid) craniectomy with fenestration of the arachnoid cyst. Subsequently, the patient experienced improvement in hearing with near-complete resolution of sensorineural hearing loss. To the authors' knowledge, postoperative near-complete resolution of hearing loss secondary to posterior fossa arachnoid cysts in a pediatric patient has not been previously reported. The authors also review the literature with respect to posterior fossa arachnoid cysts and discuss their clinical features, diagnosis, and management.

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