Far lateral lumbar disc herniations (FLDH) consist approximately 0.7-12% of all lumbar disc herniations. Compared to the more common central and paramedian lumbar disc herniations, they cause more severe and persistent radicular pain due to direct compression of the nerve root and dorsal root ganglion. In patients who do not respond to conservative treatments such as medical treatment and physical therapy, and have not developed neurological deficits, it is difficult to decide on surgical treatment because of the nerve root damage and spinal instability risk due to disruption of facet joint integrity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) on the improvement of both pain control and functional capacity in patients with FLDH. A total of 37 patients who had radicular pain caused by far lateral disc herniation which is visible in their lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, had no neurological deficit and did not respond to conservative treatment, were included the study. TFESI was applied to patients by preganglionic approach. Pre-treatment Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores of the patients were compared with the 3rd week, 3rd month and 6th month scores after the procedure. The mean initial VAS score was 8.63 ± 0.55, while it was 3.84 ± 1.66, 5.09 ± 0.85, 4.56 ± 1.66 at the 3rd week, 3rd month and 6th month controls, respectively. This decrease in the VAS score was found statistically significant (p = 0.001). ODI score with baseline mean value of 52.38 ± 6.84 was found to be 18.56 ± 4.95 at the 3rd week, 37.41 ± 14.1 at the 3rd month and 34.88 ± 14.33 at the 6th month. This downtrend of pa­tient’s ODI scores was found statistically significant (p = 0.001). This study has demonstrated that TFESI is an effective method for gaining increased functional capacity and pain control in the treatment of patients who are not suitable for surgical treatment with radicular complaints due to far lateral lumbar disc hernia.

Bow hunter's syndrome (BHS) is characterized with repeating paroxysmal vertigo, nystagmus and ataxia caused by mechanical compression of the vertebral arteries. There is no definite diagnostic and treatment protocol. 26-year-old female patient admitted to the outpatient clinic with complaints of dizziness and seldom falls. Stenosis in the right vertebral artery at the level of C1 and C2 was discovered by the diagnostic modalities. In our patient, we first performed hemilaminectomy by posterior approach. But the symptoms of the patient did not recede, thus we performed decompression with the anterolateral approach by opening the foramens atlas and axis without disrupting the dynamics of the vertebrae and without the need for stabilization. The symptoms of the patient disappeared after this intervention. The patient had complete relief of symptoms at the first year follow up. Surgery must be planned to preserve the life quality of the patient and relieve complaints of the patients. To achieve these goals anterolateral approach must be tried before attempting posterior stabilization.

Objective: This study evaluates the relationship between degenerative and Modic changes (MCs) in the cervical spine and compares the results with the cervical sagittal balance parameters. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 275 patients with neck pain who applied to our outpatient clinic and underwent cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cervical an teroposterior (AP)/lateral (Lat) X-ray radiography between January 2016 and January 2018. The clinics, demographic information, and radiological findings of the patients were examined. Modic changes, disc degeneration, and facet. degeneration (FD) were examined by cervical MRI, and T1 slope and Cobb angle were measured by cervical AP/Lat X-ray radiography. These results were compared to evaluate their relations with each other. Results: No relationship between the presence or absence of degenerative changes (Modic changes, facet degeneration, and disc degeneration) and sagittal balance parameters (T1 slope and Cobb angle) was found. However, when each cervical segment was examined separately, facet degeneration at the C4-05 level and Modic changes at the C3-C4, C4-05, and C6-C7 levels were statistically significant with the Cobb angles, and the Modic changes at the C3-C4 level and disc degeneration at the C2-C3 level were found to be significant with T1 slope values. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that MCs increased with decreased cervical curvature, increasing disc and facet degeneration, although the causal mechanisms are not clear.

Background: Over 200 human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) polymorphism combinations have been implicated in the development of cancer. This study aimed to evaluate hTERT mutations in meningioma tissue and its association with meningioma. Material and Methods: A total of 90 patients who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2015 and were histopathologically diagnosed with meningioma (WHO 2016) were included. Results: Among the 90 participants included herein, 50 (55.5%) and 40 (44.5%) were female and male, respectively, with an average age of 56.2 +/- 14 years. Mean Ki-67 values were 10.56% (SD 12.41, range 0-60), while the mean follow-up duration was 39.1 months (SD 26.3). Low- and high-grade patients had a mean Ki-67 score of 4.31% (SD 3.58, range 0-16) and 19.92% (SD 14.91, range 2-60) (p = 0.0001). Our results showed a moderate positive correlation between Ki-67 score and the presence of hTERT mutation (Pearson correlation lest, r = 0.5161; p = 0.0001). Patients with an hTERT mutation > 30% had significantly higher risk for reoperation than those with lower levels of mutation (p = 0.016, chi square test). None of the patients requiring reoperation had an hTERT mutation < 10%. Moreover, high-grade patients had a 7.2 times higher risk of reoperation than those with an hTERT mutation > 30%. Conclusion: The presence of hTERT mutation, in addition to high Ki-67, indicated a more aggressive meningioma disease course and potentially increased risk of recurrence.

Amaç: Lomber spinal kanal darlığı (LSKD), dekompresyon cerrahisi gerektiren sık görülen bir durumdur, ancak tedavide farklı cerrahi yaklaşımlar vardır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, tek seviyeli LSKD için tek taraflı yaklaşımla iki taraflı dekompresif lomber laminektomi (TYİDL) açık iki taraflı dekompresif lomber laminektominin (AiDL) sonuçlarını karşılaştırmaktır. Yöntem: Ekim 2016 ile Mayıs 2023 arasında tek seviyeli LSS için operasyon geçiren 198 ardışık hasta retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Seksen hastaya TYİDL, 118 hastaya AiDL uygulandı. Tüm hastalarda ameliyat öncesi ve 6 ay sonrasında Visual Analog Skala (VAS) skorları ve yürüme süreleri kaydedildi. Operasyon süresi, operasyon komplikasyonları, hastanede kalış süresi, operasyon sırasındaki kan kaybı ve iatrojenik spondilolistezis oranları ölçüldü. Bulgular: Çalışmaya dahil edilen hastaların yaş ortalaması 62.38±12.5 yıldı. TYİDL ve AiDL geçiren hastalar arasında VAS skorları, yürüme süreleri, ameliyat süreleri, ameliyat komplikasyonları ve takiplerinde iatrojenik spondilolistezis açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark yoktu (p > 0.05). Ancak, TYİDL geçiren hastalarda operasyon sırasındaki toplam kan kaybı ve hastanede kalış süresi, AİDL geçiren hastalara göre anlamlı olarak daha kısaydı (p