Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the response of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and NF-κB to the closure of skull defect with periosteum as a scaffolding material in bone healing used after surgery. Methods: Thirty Oryctolagus cuniculus rabbits underwent a craniotomy to create a 20 mm diameter round defect in the parietal bones. The parietal bones were returned to its place and stabilized by an internal plate fixation. The defects were either left empty or implanted with periosteum. At 6 weeks, the specimens were euthanized and examined. Results: Histological examination showed a more well-developed formation of woven bone in the periosteum group. Immunohistochemical examinations showed that the use of periosteum in the closure of skull defects reduced the NF-κB and IL-8 response which affected the ossification process. Conclusion: The experiment showed that the use of periosteum was linked with IL-8 and NF-κB downregulation toward ossification effects at any point throughout the trial. Periosteum usage might be beneficial as a scaffolding material in bone healing for autograft cranioplasty in animal model and could be applied to clinical practice.

Background: Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-threatening condition. Prompt surgical intervention is needed to avoid hemodynamic and respiratory catastrophe. In Indonesia, however, spine surgery is more common in tertiary hospitals and thus might prolong the time gap to surgery due to referral waiting time. Case Description: We performed an emergency surgery for a patient with complete SCI due to unstable cervical fracture. The patient was in spinal shock and experienced respiratory arrest after radiological workup. Stability was achieved in the ICU and patient was directly sent to operating theater. Anterior-posterior approach was chosen to decompress and stabilize the cervical spine. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 17 and was seen well at 1-month follow-up. Conclusion: The capability to perform spine procedures should not be exclusive to tertiary hospitals in Indonesia. Satisfying results can be achieved with the presence of capable neurosurgeons or orthopedic surgeons and anesthesiologists in lower-level hospitals.

Chronic epidural hematoma (CEDH) is uncommon and therefore, less well characterized. The incidence of CEDH ranges from 3.9 % to 30 % of all epidural hematomas. Posterior fossa epidural hematomas represent a rare clinical entity. It has been reported in only 4–7 % of all extradural hematomas. This rare condition may present with rapid clinical deterioration by quick increase in size that may cause brain stem compression. This study aims to provide a case of chronic epidural hematoma with uncommon sign of delayed neurological deficits, specifically in the posterior fossa region. We report a case of a 34-years-old male with left upper and lower extremities weakness for 3 days before admission. The patient had a history of falling from a height of approximately 3 m about 3 weeks ago. Craniotomy epidural hematoma evacuation was performed on the patient. Chronic epidural hematoma is uncommon and therefore, less well characterized. The results of surgical care of symptomatic chronic posterior fossa EDH are often excellent. Early diagnosis and emergent evacuation provide better outcome.

This study aims to provide the latest information regarding the accuracy of contrast and non-contrast 1.5 Tesla MRI in the diagnosis of lumbar Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (HNP) compared with surgical findings. We included studies with subjects diagnosed with lumbar HNP due to degenerative processes, preoperative 1.5 Tesla contrast, and non-contrast MRI and described the number of findings of MRI diagnostic tests (index test) on the actual conditions found during surgery (reference standard). We searched literature from 5 databases: ProQuest, Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Biomed Central, and ScienceDirect. The sensitivity and specificity of contrast and non-contrast 1.5 Tesla MRI ranged between 64-95% and 55-100% (95% CI) with the area under the curve above the threshold on the ROC curve. Two studies compared the accuracy of MRI and Computed Tomography (CT) myelography with a wider ROC curve on CT myelography than on MRI. The ROC curve which has a wide area under the curve above the threshold depicts the relationship between sensitivity and specificity, shows that contrast non-contrast 1.5 Tesla MRI has a good accuracy in HNP diagnostic.

Background: Traumatic brain injury-related cerebral infarctions are well-documented in the literature. We want to report a case of malignant cerebral infarction that occurred at the contralateral location of evacuated epidural hematoma 3 days after surgery. The early-onset cerebral infarction’s clinical presentation was already evident during the initial clinical examination, and it resembled “Kernohan’s Notch Syndrome.” Case Description: A 57-year-old male Indonesian was taken to our Academic General Hospital’s emergency room following a motorcycle accident. His primary complaints were reduced consciousness and left-sided hemiparesis. A head computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an intracerebral hematoma beneath an epidural hematoma (EDH) at the left temporal area. The EDH was surgically removed promptly. The patient’s Glasgow coma scale improved, and they were able to follow commands afterwards. The patient had a decreased consciousness 3 days after the surgery. A malignant infarction of the right middle cerebral artery region was identified from the head CT scan evaluation. He immediately had an emergency decompressive craniectomy and had an improvement of consciousness following the surgery. Conclusion: It is imperative to reassess the initial clinical signs of Kernohan’s notch phenomenon to determine whether the offending mass was able to generate this clinical phenomenon. Initial cerebral infarction, which occurs concomitantly with traumatic intracranial hematoma, is a possible cause of clinical deterioration following the surgery.

Background: Traumatic brain injury is one of the most common forms of trauma and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) ethanolic extract is known to contain substances that could theoretically inhibit unfavourable cellular processes, including oxidative stress and inflammation. This research aimed to study Kencur’s anti-apoptosis activity through the inhibition of caspase-3. Methods: This is a true experimental post-test-only group design study, using male Wistar rats (Ratus novergicus) with weight-drop-induced traumatic brain injury. The subjects in this study were divided into four groups: two Control groups (Groups A and B) and two Therapy groups (Groups C and D). Groups C and D differed in the dose of Kencur ethanolic extract administered (600 mg/kgBW/day and 1,200 mg/kgBW/day, respectively). The Therapy groups were then subdivided into those receiving therapy for 24 h (C-24 and D-24) and those receiving therapy for 48 h (C-48 and D-48). Caspase-3 expression in brain tissue was evaluated at the end of the therapy using immunohistochemistry. All groups were subjected to a Kruskal-Wallis comparison test and the investigation continued with a Mann-Whitney U test to compare the two groups. Results: In traumatic brain injury rat models treated with Kaempferia galanga L. ethanolic extract at doses of 1,200 mg/kgBW/day within 48 h of therapy (D-48) compared to those who were not treated, there was a significant change in the cerebral expression of caspase-3 (P = 0.016). There was also a significant difference between the two doses of intervention (C-24 at 600 mg/kgBW/day and D-48 at 1,200 mg/kgBW/day; P = 0.016). Conclusion: With a minimum of 48 h of treatment split into two doses, Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) ethanolic extract can decrease caspase-3 expression in rats with traumatic brain injury.