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In situ fixation of the spinal cord using microwave radiation.

Journal of neurosurgery · 1988 · Benefit · Insufficient evidence

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BenefitInsufficient evidencePaper 6236

The report states that microwave irradiation of the spinal cord before removal from the spine provides a rapid and easy method of tissue fixation, with an absence of artifacts comparable to perfusion fixation.

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of neurosurgery · 1988
Study typeother
Reported directionBenefit
Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Due to its investiture with bone, the spinal cord can be difficult to study anatomically and histologically. Tissue degradation during immersion fixation or mechanical trauma during extraction of unfixed tissue often produces confusing artifacts. Perfusion fixation eliminates many of these problems, but it is a slow, tedious, and technically demanding procedure. This report demonstrates that microwave irradiation of the spinal cord before its removal from the spine is a rapid and easy method of tissue fixation with an absence of artifacts comparable to that with perfusion fixation.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother
Effect directionbenefit
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
Exposuremicrowave
Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The report states that microwave irradiation of the spinal cord before removal from the spine provides a rapid and easy method of tissue fixation, with an absence of artifacts comparable to perfusion fixation.

Outcomes measured

  • quality of spinal cord tissue fixation
  • presence/absence of histological artifacts
  • tissue degradation during fixation
  • mechanical trauma artifacts during extraction

Limitations

  • No sample size reported in abstract.
  • No microwave exposure parameters (frequency, power/SAR, duration) reported in abstract.
  • Study design details and quantitative outcome measures not described in abstract.
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "microwave irradiation (tissue fixation)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "quality of spinal cord tissue fixation",
    "presence/absence of histological artifacts",
    "tissue degradation during fixation",
    "mechanical trauma artifacts during extraction"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The report states that microwave irradiation of the spinal cord before removal from the spine provides a rapid and easy method of tissue fixation, with an absence of artifacts comparable to perfusion fixation.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "No sample size reported in abstract.",
    "No microwave exposure parameters (frequency, power/SAR, duration) reported in abstract.",
    "Study design details and quantitative outcome measures not described in abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave irradiation",
    "spinal cord",
    "in situ fixation",
    "tissue fixation",
    "histology",
    "artifacts",
    "perfusion fixation"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3171/jns.1988.69.5.0719
PubMed: 3183733

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