Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is currently the center of what has become a public health crisis. While the virus is well-known for its trademark effects on respiratory function, neurological damage has been reported to affect a considerable proportion of severe cases. To characterize the neuro-invasive potential of this disease, a contemporary review of COVID-19 and its neurological sequelae was conducted using the limited, but growing, literature that is available. These neurological squeal are based on the manifestations that the virus has on normal central and peripheral nervous system function. The authors present the virology of the SARS-CoV-2 agent by analyzing its classification as an enveloped, positive-stranded RNA virus. A comprehensive timeline is then presented, indicating the progression of the disease as a public health threat. Furthermore, underlying chronic neurological conditions potentially lead to more adverse cases of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 may reach ACE2 receptors on neuronal tissue through mode of the general circulation. The CNS may also be susceptible to an immune response where a “cytokine storm” can manifest into neural injury. Histological evidence is provided, while symptoms such as headache and vertigo are highlighted as CNS manifestations of COVID-19. Treatment of these symptoms is addressed with paracetamol being recommended as a possible, but not conclusive, treatment to some CNS symptoms. The authors then discuss the peripheral nervous system sequelae and COVID's impact on causing chemosensory dysfunction starting with viral attack on olfactory sensory neurons and cells types within the lining of the nose. Histological evidence is also provided while symptoms such as anosmia and ageusia are characterized as PNS manifestations. Possible treatment options for these symptoms are then addressed as a major limitation, as anecdotal, and not conclusive evidence can be made. Finally, preventive measures of the neurological sequelae are addressed using a multidirectional approach. Postmortem examinations of the brains of COVID-19 patients are suggested as being a possible key to formulating new understandings of its neuropathology. Lastly, the authors suggest a more comprehensive neurological follow-up of recovered patients, in order to better characterize the neurological sequelae of this illness.

The development of the three-dimensional (3D) exoscope is a marvel of technological innovation in modern surgical practice. While its predecessor, the operating microscope (OM), has long been the gold-standard surgical visualization modality, its particular limitations in terms of accessibility and ergonomic demand have led to the development of a more sophisticated, 3D model. Specifically, the 3D exoscope allows for an enhanced image quality of the surgical field, while also being more ergonomically favorable. Moreover, this device’s ability to handle delicate microsensitve procedures, along with its alleviation of surgeon fatigue, indicates great potential for neurosurgical application. For this narrative review, the authors queried PubMed database using the keyword “exoscope” to identify relevant studies involving the specialty of neurosurgery that were published in English language full text. The search yielded full-text English language-related articles regarding neurosurgical exoscope, its applications and limitations. The 3D exoscope uniquely allows for enhanced surgeon comfort and superior imaging of the patient’s real-time anatomy. However, the OM was described to having a slight image favorability with fusion and decompression surgery. Cost analysis is highlighted for its potential disparity. 3D exoscopes will potentially be incorporated with intelligent carriers and robotic surgical systems. Ultimately, with further studies highlighting its use, the 3D exoscope is expected to continue to imprint its status as one of the most efficient technological visualization tools in the future of neurosurgical practice.

Objective: To comprehensively characterize the utilization of alginate hydrogels as an alternative treatment modality for spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods: An extensive review of the published literature on studies using alginate hydrogels to treat SCI was performed. The review of the literature was performed using electronic databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, and OVID MEDLINE electronic databases. The keywords used were “alginate,” “spinal cord injury,” “biomaterial,” and “hydrogel.”Results: In the literature, we identified a total of 555 rat models that were treated with alginate scaffolds for regenerative biomarkers. Alginate hydrogels were found to be efficient and promising substrates for tissue engineering, drug delivery, neural regeneration, and cellbased therapies for SCI repair. With its ability to act as a pro-regenerative and antidegenerative agent, the alginate hydrogel has the potential to improve clinical outcomes.Conclusion: The emerging developments of alginate hydrogels as treatment modalities may support current and future tissue regenerative strategies for SCI.

Background: First characterized in the 19^th century, spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is known as the idiopathic accumulation of blood within the spinal canal’s epidural space, causing symptoms varying from general back pain to complete paraplegia. With varying etiologies, a broad spectrum of severity and symptoms, a time-dependent resolution period, and no documented diagnosis or treatment algorithm, SSEH is a commonly misunderstood condition associated with increasing morbidity. While SSEH can occur at any vertebrae level, 16% of all SSEH cases occur in the cervical spine, making it a region of interest to clinicians. Case Description: Herein, the authors present two case examples describing the clinical presentation of SSEH, while also reviewing the literature to provide a comprehensive overview of its presentation, pathology, and treatment. The first case is a patient with nontraumatic sudden onset neck pain with rapidly progressing weakness. The second case is a patient with painless weakness that developed while taking 325 mg of aspirin daily. Conclusion: Clinicians should keep SSEH in their differential diagnosis when seeing patients with nontraumatic sources of weakness in their extremities. The appropriate steps should be followed to diagnose and treat this condition with magnetic resonance imaging and surgical decompression if there are progressive neurological deficits. There is a continued need for more extensive database-driven studies to understand better SSEHs clinical presentation, etiology, and ultimate treatment.

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is a rare, immune-mediated pathology that is defined as an adverse inflammatory response in the spinal cord leading to neurologic injury. The pathophysiology of ATM is poorly understood, with no apparent differences in age, ethnicities, or race, along with variable radiographic and clinical presentation. Therefore, in this review, we will characterize what is known about ATM's etiology and diagnostic criteria, and relate it to properties of neuroimmunology. Moreover, we will further discuss current treatment options, along with potential novel methods, to provide a comprehensive overview of the status of ATM's research development. Among these novel treatments, potassium blockers reveal exciting early outcomes in restoring neurologic motor function. In addition, human glial progenitor cell transportations have been described as a potential treatment through integrating and remyelinating lesion sites. Nevertheless, despite these novel methods, there is a paucity of clinical trials establishing ATM's immunopathology and the therapeutic role of potential treatment methods. Therefore, we will highlight the importance of larger well-designed clinical trials in revealing significant biomarkers of injury and recovery.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a progressive and painful pathology that can root from mechanical, biochemical, and environmental stressors. However, recent advancements in biogenetics have now found a predominating genetic influence. Nevertheless, despite these advancements, the pathophysiology of IVD degeneration remains poorly understood. In the first of our two-part series, we will characterize some of the most recent and best-studied genes in the context of intervertebral disc degeneration. We will attempt to formulate the first contemporary gene guide that characterizes the genetic profile of IVD degeneration. The genes of interest include aggrecan (ACAN), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), vitamin D receptor (VDR), interleukin 1 alpha (IL1A), and those encoded for collagens such as collagen type XI alpha 1 chain (COL11A1), collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1), collagen type IX alpha 2 chain (COL9A2), and collagen type IX alpha 3 chain (COL9A3). Genetic analysis studies reveal that these genes play vital roles in maintaining the structural integrity of the intervertebral disc, activating enzymes involved in the extracellular matrix, and promoting connective tissue formation. Nevertheless, characterizing these genes alone is not enough to understand the pathophysiology of IVD degeneration. Therefore, further studies are warranted to understand molecular signalling pathways of IVD degeneration better and ultimately create more sophisticated genetic and cell-based therapies to improve patient outcomes.