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Background Data: Spinal cord ependymomas can arise in different locations throughout the spinal cord, with the most frequent location being the cervical spine. Ependymomas usually grow slowly, compressing rather than infiltrating spinal tumors. Among different prognostic and predictor factors, the extent of resection has been the strongest predictor of outcomes. Multimodal intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) helps maximize the extent of resection with minimal postoperative neurological complications. Purpose: To assess the impact of IONM on the extent of surgical resection and outcomes of spinal cord ependymomas. Study Design: A retrospective cohort study. Patients and Methods: Twenty-five patients who underwent spinal cord ependymoma resection in 4 centers between March 2014 and February 2018 were eligible for the inclusion criteria of this study. Patients were divided into two groups: the IONM group and the non-IONM group. IONM consisted of electromyography (EMG), transcranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEP), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP). All patients were submitted for full neurological examination and MRI of the spine both preoperatively and at the postoperative routine follow-up. Postoperative radiotherapy was conducted routinely by our radiotherapists. The secondary outcomes were the correlation between the warning criteria of IONM and postoperative neurological outcomes and their impact on the extent of tumor resection. Also, a recurrence rate during the follow-up period was reported.

Background and objective Encephaloceles are considered to be a spectrum of neural tube defects with a herniation of the brain and the meninges through a bony skull defect to the exterior. Methods This retrospective and prospective study was carried out on 30 patients with congenital encephaloceles either vault or basal. The risk factors and the prognostic factors were assessed. Results There was a statistically significant association between the content of the sac, outcome and seizures. There was a presence of neural tissue associated with worse outcome and seizures. There was a statistically significant association between the size of the sac and outcome with seizure. There was a statistically insignificant association between site of defect and parent consanguinity, folic acid intake, drug history, seizures, outcome, gender, family history and a statistically significant association between the site of the sac and hydrocephalus. There was a statistically significant association between the outcome and presence of Hydrocephalus, microcephaly and seizures. Conclusions There was statistically significant association between the worst outcome and presence of hydrocephalus, microcephaly and seizures, and there is correlation between site of the defect in occipitocervical region and development of hydrocephalus.

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