Objective The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the basic functioning of the health care system. There has been an adverse impact on non-COVID-19 patients due to a shift in healthcare delivery, which is underreported. This study aims to explore the impact of the pandemic on various aspects of non-COVID neurosurgical patients. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a structured questionnaire to assess the physical, economic, and psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on neurosurgical patients presenting to our hospital after a nationwide lockdown. Results Among 203 patients, non-neurotrauma and neurotrauma cases were 175 (86%) and 28 (16%), respectively. Among non-neurotrauma patients, 130 (64%) patients had cranial pathology. All 56 (27.6%) preoperative patients experienced rescheduling of surgery. Among 52 postsurgical patients, 47 (90%) had their adjuvant therapy delayed. Forty patients experienced deterioration in their neurological symptoms. Seventy-six (37%) patients sought medical attention from private hospitals. A severe contraction of income (≥ 25% of the income before lockdown) was experienced by families of 29 (14.3%) patients. Severe and very severe stress have been experienced by 24 (11.8%) and 14 (6.9%) patients, respectively. Severe and very severe anxiety was experienced by 32 (15.8%) and 9 (4.4%) patients. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown had a tremendous impact on the physical, social, and psychological well-being of patients with non-COVID illnesses. We are yet to face the long-term implications of the delay due to this pandemic in scheduled surgical and adjuvant treatments of non-COVID neurosurgical patients.

Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the major health care problems in many developing countries. Among various forms of TB, central nervous system (CNS) TB causes significant morbidity and mortality. CNS TB can present in various forms: cerebritis, abscess, meningitis, tuberculoma, calcified granuloma, meningitis, or hydrocephalus. But subdural empyema is a very rare form of presentation. Very few cases have been reported till now in the literature. So, high level of suspicion, thorough microbiological and histological investigations to diagnosis, and early and timely inception of anti-TB medication are keys in its management. Here, we are presenting a case of tubercular subdural empyema that was successfully treated with surgical evacuation and anti-TB medication.

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Cerebral edema is the accumulation of water in intracellular and interstitial brain tissue due to some neurological pathology. There are three principle mechanisms for cerebral edema: Cytotoxic edema, Vasogenic edema, Hydrostatic edema. There are multiple options available for treating cerebral edema including: medical management and surgical management. But none of the current treatment modalities address the underlying pathogenetic mechanism. So, targeted therapies are need of the hour. It may include NKCC1 antagonists, aquaporin inhibitors, Sur1-Trpm4 channel inhibitors, NHE inhibitors and VEGF inhibitors; which are in different stages of development. But, there are very few human trials that are conducted to assess the role of these pharmacologic agents in cerebral edema due to traumatic brain injury

Head trauma is still a leading cause of mortality in neurosurgical practice. Among various post-traumatic pathologies, extradural haematoma (EDH) is an acute condition that has good neurological outcomes if intervened promptly. New contralateral delayed EDH (DEDH) in an operated case of ipsilateral EDH is a very rare entity, which if not diagnosed timely may lead to devastating outcomes, sometimes even death. We present a case of newly found contralateral DEDH with significant mass effect and midline shift in the immediate postoperative scan, in an operated case of right frontoparietal EDH, which was not found in the initial preoperative scan. A high index of suspicion is needed in cases of unilateral EDH with contralateral skull fracture along with tense dura after the evacuation of EDH, to diagnose rare but life-threatening contralateral DEDH. Routine immediate postoperative CT scan will prevent devastating complications in these kinds of patients.