Medicine is a rapidly-evolving discipline, with progress picking up pace with each passing decade. This constant evolution results in the introduction of new tools and methods, which in turn occasionally leads to paradigm shifts across the affected medical fields. The following review attempts to showcase how 3D printing has begun to reshape and improve processes across various medical specialties and where it has the potential to make a significant impact. The current state-of-the-art, as well as real-life clinical applications of 3D printing, are reflected in the perspectives of specialists practicing in the selected disciplines, with a focus on pre-procedural planning, simulation (rehearsal) of non-routine procedures, and on medical education and training. A review of the latest multidisciplinary literature on the subject offers a general summary of the advances enabled by 3D printing. Numerous advantages and applications were found, such as gaining better insight into patient-specific anatomy, better pre-operative planning, mock simulated surgeries, simulation-based training and education, development of surgical guides and other tools, patient-specific implants, bioprinted organs or structures, and counseling of patients. It was evident that pre-procedural planning and rehearsing of unusual or difficult procedures and training of medical professionals in these procedures are extremely useful and transformative.

Background: Frequent use of mobile devices has a known association with musculoskeletal neck pain. This study sought out to localize the region with greatest flexion in the cervical spine and explored the role of symmetry in maintaining the pose during texting. Methods: Three inertial measuring units (IMUs) superficially attached along the cervical spine divided the cervical spine into two measurable segments. Twenty-five subjects participated in the study and performed three tasks when using smartphones: sitting, standing, and walking. Data from each IMU were used to calculate the flexion of cervical divided into two segments: craniocervical junction (C0–C1) and subaxial (C1–C7). Results: The greatest flexion by far occurred at C0–C1. While sitting, standing, and walking, the mean flexion angles were 33.33 ± 13.56°, 27.50 ± 14.05°, and 32.03 ± 10.03° for the C0–C1 joint and −3.30 ± 10.10°, 2.50 ± 9.99°, and −1.05 ± 11.88° for the C2–C7 segment, respectively. There is a noticeable pattern of yaw movement of the head, with a slow rotation toward symmetry and a fast corrective movement toward the smartphone held in one hand. Conclusions: This study identified the region of greatest contribution toward forward flexion along the cervical parameters during various tasks involving smartphone use. With each task, the greatest contributor to head flexion was the C0–C1 joint. There is involuntary rotation of the cervical spine toward symmetry when texting.

Objectives: This study investigates the relationship between the time elapsed from decompressive craniectomy to cranioplasty and surgical complications in patients after traumatic brain injury. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched for references using the PRISMA guidelines. The data were subjected to the first phase of screening, which required the studies to be published between 1990 and 2024, be written in English, and include patients who underwent cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy due to traumatic brain injury. The second phase of screening assessed whether the studies included at least 10 patients and compared their outcomes based on the time between decompressive craniectomy and cranioplasty. A subgroup analysis was performed for ultra-early cranioplasty patients. Results: This meta-analysis included fifteen studies involving patients who underwent early (n = 666) and late cranioplasty (n = 1214) after decompressive craniectomy. All studies had a retrospective observational design. There was no statistically significant difference in the odds of complications between the groups, although late cranioplasty had slightly elevated odds of developing hydrocephalus (OR 1.66, 95% CI 0.55–4.99, p = 0.36). Interesting results stemmed from a subgroup analysis of the ultra-early cohort; they included favoring the ultra-early group in the odds of overall complications (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.08–2.56, p = 0.38) and hygroma (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.15–1.37, p = 0.16). Later cranioplasty had better outcomes in the category of seizure (OR 1.56, 95% CI 0.75–3.28, p = 0.24). Conclusions: Cranioplasty within 90 days, considered early, had no statistically significant differences in complication rates compared to late cranioplasty.

YouTube (YT) has become a popular health information reservoir. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the content and quality of YT videos as a source of patient information for meningiomas. A YT search was conducted for the following terms: “meningioma”, “meningiomas”, “meningeal tumor”, and “psammoma”. A total of 119 videos were examined by five independent raters, using validated quality criteria, including the Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN), the Journal of the American Medical Association instrument (JAMA), and the Global Quality Score (GQS). The mean DISCERN score was 35.6 points, while the mean GQS and JAMA scores were 2.4 and 1.8, respectively. The majority of the videos were produced in the United States (37.82%). Moreover, 47.9% of the evaluated videos were graded as “poor” and only 9.24% were “good”. Statistically higher scores in all three scoring systems were associated with the following information: tumor localization, clinical manifestations, indications for surgery, treatment options, risks, adjuvant therapies, results, follow up, diagrams, and those that featured a doctor as the speaker. Misleading information was presented in 35 productions. Our findings show that the overall quality of YT on the topic of meningiomas is defective, and requires further improvement and evaluation.

Intracranial hemorrhage is a rare yet potentially devastating event during pregnancy with a significant risk of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. The risk of intracranial hemorrhage increases during the third trimester of pregnancy and is greatest during labor and the postpartum period. Interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of the pregnant population often begins in the emergency department setting and is key to increasing patient survival rates through immediate and adequate treatment, including emergency medicine, neurosurgical and obstetrical procedures. A unique case report with a diagnostic pathway for intracranial hemorrhage due to eclampsia in a primipara at 24 weeks of gestation is presented, illustrating potential diagnostic dilemmas as the patient rapidly progresses into hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets syndrome. A literature review was conducted to uncover the etiology of intracranial hemorrhage during pregnancy, as well as its diagnostic challenges and treatment. Pregnancy should not be viewed as a barrier to performing angiography or endovascular treatment for vascular causes of intracranial hemorrhage. Patient transport to a tertiary reference center and the interdisciplinary cooperation of specialists are key to achieving correct and rapid treatment. Continuous prevention of preeclampsia and patient education are necessary to decrease the incidence of eclampsia and its complications. Key message: Intracranial hemorrhage and eclampsia in pregnant patients are rare yet may result in high rates of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The diagnostic process is difficult and requires interdisciplinary cooperation to start the correct treatment immediately.

Despite the frequent use of orthopedic braces or spine stabilizers in diseases such as kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis, as well as in the case of injuries and rehabilitation after surgeries, there is no clear evidence of their proper stabilization of the spine while carrying out daily activities. This study sought to assess the spine’s mobility while wearing three different orthopedic braces while performing basic tasks. Ten healthy subjects were enrolled. Three Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) were attached superficially along the spine at approximate levels: cervical (C7), between thoracic (T8) and lumbar (L3), and sacrum. The angle between sensors was monitored to provide data on the sagittal profile. In addition, the displacement of the spine’s longitudinal axis was measured (rotation). There are three types of orthopedic braces: the semi-rigid Hohmann corset, the Jewett brace, and the Thoracolumbar Fixed Spinal Orthosis (TLSO). Four tasks were monitored: standing, sitting, walking, and picking up an item from the floor with one hand. All braces provided a similar level of stability in both the sagittal plane and rotational axis while lifting an object. On the other hand, while walking and sitting, the TLSO was the only orthosis providing a statistically significant rigidity in the sagittal plane. When performing a more voluntary task, the measured rigidity of softer braces was significantly increased when compared with more involuntary tasks. A certain degree of motion restriction with spinal orthoses may come from the feedback pressure, which stimulates paraspinal muscles to contract and thus increases the overall rigidity of the trunk.