Traumatic Brain Injury and Subsequent Risk of Developing Brain Tumors

A craniotomy is a procedure where a piece of the skull is removed in order to gain access to the brain. This is commonly done to remove brain tumors, treat epilepsy, and to treat traumatic brain injury. Currently, the craniotomy procedure involves drilling one or more burr holes and then using a craniotome to complete the cut. The craniotome consists of a rotating cutting tool and a dura guard, which is intended to prevent the cutting tool from touching the dura. However, even with the dura guard, dural tears occur in approximately 20–30% of craniotomy procedures [1], [2]. There are approximately 160,000 craniotomies performed per year in the United States [3]. Dural tears add time to the craniotomy procedure due to the increased difficulty in suturing the dura and the potential need to use synthetic dura material in order to reclose the dura. Also, if the dura tears while using the craniotome, the brain is no longer protected as the craniotomy is completed. There is a strong desire among neurosurgeons to have an improved tool for craniotomies that reduces the incidence of dural tears.

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Association between Traumatic Brain Injury and the Subsequent Risk of Brain Cancer

Journal of Neurotrauma ◽

10.1089/neu.2011.2235 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 1328-1333 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Yi-Hua Chen ◽

Joseph J. Keller ◽

Jiunn-Horng Kang ◽

Herng-Ching Lin

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Brain Cancer ◽

Subsequent Risk

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Preservation of Singing Functioning in a 5 Year-Old Following Severe Right-Sided Traumatic Brain Injury: Insights into the Neurological Resilience of Song from Pediatric Music Therapy

Music and Medicine ◽

10.47513/mmd.v7i3.405 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 14

Author(s):

Ellen C. Gentle ◽

Melinda Barker ◽

Janeen Bower

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Music Therapy ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Right Hemisphere ◽

Developmentally Appropriate ◽

Developing Brain ◽

Neural Organization ◽

Functional Consequences ◽

Neurological Insult

Studies examining song functioning in childhood are of particular importance when devising developmentally appropriate evidence-based Music Therapy (MT) interventions during recovery from brain injury. In comparison to adult studies where neural organization may be well defined, the neural organization of song in the developing brain has been under-researched. This includes functional consequences following neurological insult. This case study documents a 5 year-old female with typically developing language and verbal memory that suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Despite extensive right hemisphere damage, her recognition and memory of previously well-learned (familiar) songs was preserved. New learning and retention of unfamiliar songs with lyrics was also observed and was not predicted based on adult models of melodic learning. Findings suggest that the song system in childhood is a neurologically significant, robust system not easily disrupted following extensive brain injury, and caution against assuming adult models of music organisation in the developing brain.

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Heme Regulation in Traumatic Brain Injury: Relevance to the Adult and Developing Brain

Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism ◽

10.1038/sj.jcbfm.9600147 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 25 (11) ◽

pp. 1401-1417 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Edward F Chang ◽

Catherine P Claus ◽

Hendrik J Vreman ◽

Ronald J Wong ◽

Linda J Noble-Haeusslein

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Developing Brain ◽

Blood Products ◽

Translational Study ◽

Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽

Endogenous Protection ◽

Heme Regulation ◽

Subarachnoid Hemorrhages

Intracranial bleeding is one of the most prominent aspects in the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Substantial amounts of blood products, such as heme, are released because of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhages, intraparenchymal contusions, and hematomas. Despite this, surprisingly few studies have directly addressed the role of blood products, in particular heme, in the setting of TBI. Heme is degraded by heme oxygenase (HO) into three highly bioactive products: iron, bilirubin, and carbon monoxide. The HO isozymes, in particular HO-1 and HO-2, exhibit significantly different expression patterns and appear to have specific roles after injury. Developmentally, differences between the adult and immature brain have implications for endogenous protection from oxidative stress. The aim of this paper is to review recent advances in the understanding of heme regulation and metabolism after brain injury and its specific relevance to the developing brain. These findings suggest novel clinical therapeutic options for further translational study.

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