Ethics submission

Thoracolumbar vertebral fractures, often caused by high-energy trauma (falls, accidents), are common and can lead to neurological damage and chronic pain. Approximately 25% of cases involve spinal cord injury, impacting patients' quality of life.

This retrospective study conducted at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) compares three posterior fixation techniques (open, minimally invasive, and percutaneous) for treating these fractures. It aims to evaluate hospital stay, blood loss, pain management, complications, as well as radiological outcomes and muscle recovery. The objective is to optimize the choice of the most appropriate surgical technique for fractures without neurological involvement.

BASEC Number: 2025-00378

Sponsor: Prof. Enrico Tessitore

Principal Investigator: Dr. Simone Granno

This study aims to characterize the epidemiology of head injuries in older adults, compare their clinical course to that of younger individuals, and identify the main risk factors. We are particularly interested in the geographical distribution of falls resulting in head injuries in the canton of Geneva, as well as the environmental factors likely to influence their occurrence.

In this context, we are conducting a geospatial analysis to detect potential clusters of falls and correlate them with socio-demographic and infrastructural indicators. Our objective is to generate data that can be used by public health authorities to support the future implementation of targeted preventive strategies, such as the design of public spaces, the securing of the home environment, and the dissemination of appropriate awareness campaigns for patients and their families.

BASEC Number: 2025-00737

Sponsor: Dr. Giannina Iannotti

Principal Investigator: Dr. Philippe Voruz

Patients with brain injuries or epilepsy are sometimes offered surgery as part of their treatment. Some of these patients wonder about a possible alteration in their personality following this surgical procedure.
This study aims to determine whether changes in personality or self-perception can be detected under general anesthesia during brain surgery. It involves analyzing whether any links exist between a potential change in brain activity, measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG), and a potential change in personality.

This project should allow us to:

• Determine whether, during this surgery, brain functions related to personality or self-perception are measurable despite anesthesia;
• Determine whether changes in an electroencephalogram combined with a simple electrocardiogram, or in listening to one's own voice, can be associated with possible changes in personality or self-perception;
• Compare our results with those obtained from healthy volunteers.
• Define norms in healthy volunteers that will be used to interpret your results.

BASEC Number: 2025-01052

Sponsor: Prof. Karl Schaller

Principal Investigator: Prof. Karl Schaller

Sensorineural deafness is the consequence of a degeneration of the auditory cells located in the cochlea, it affects nearly 500 million people worldwide but no medication targeting its cause exists.

Our research project aims to use auditory stem cells for research purposes to develop a treatment capable of protecting or regenerating auditory cells and thus preventing or curing sensorineural deafness.

This new protocol could accelerate the development of treatments against deafness while offering an effective alternative to animal testing.

• BASEC No. 2024-00891
• Sponsor: Pr Pascal Senn
• Principal investigator: Pr Pascal Senn, Médecin-chef de service, Service ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale
   

Juxtamedullary tumors are typically benign tumors of the spinal canal that can cause neurological deficits due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Treatment options include neurosurgical resection, irradiation, or a wait-and-see approach based on observation. The impact of the chosen treatment method on postoperative outcomes remains unclear.

The aim of this study is to determine the optimal timing, method, and approach for treating juxtamedullary tumors.

• BASEC No. 2023-00834
• Sponsor: Universitätsklinikum Münster
• Principal investigator: 
  • PD Dr. med. Martin N. Stienen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Münster
  • Kathleen Seidel, Department of Neurosurgery, Interspital Bern
  • Martin Stienen, Department of Neurosurgery and Spine Center of Eastern Switzerland, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen
• Investigator at HUG: Dr. Granit Molliqaj, Senior Resident, Division of Neurosurgery

With symptomatic subdural haematomas, surgical evacuation of the haematoma is performed in order to avoid severe after-effects and enable the best possible neurological recovery. However, recurrence of these haematomas is often observed.

Recent studies suggest that embolization of the middle meningeal artery (the artery that stimulates this bleeding), in addition to surgical evacuation of the haematoma, would limit the recurrence of the haematoma.

The STORMM project aims to study whether the effectiveness of embolization of the middle meningeal artery in the recurrence of subdural haematomas is good, equivalent or superior to conventional radio-clinical follow-up.

• Application in progress
• Sponsor: Prof. Karl Schaller, Head of Division, Division of Neurosurgery and Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences
• Principal investigator: Dr Aria Nouri, Resident, Division of Neurosurgery

Cerebral aneurysms are abnormalities in the blood vessels supplying our brain. Aneurysms are diagnosed by X-ray, CT scan, angiography or MRI. When a brain aneurysm ruptures, treatment of the aneurysm is essential for the patient to survive.

The @neurIST project aims to determine the causes and development of cerebral aneurysms in order to improve their treatment.

• BASEC No. 2022-00426
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigator: Prof. Philippe Bijlenga, Senior Staff Physician, Department of Neurosurgery
• aneurist.org
• SwissNeuroFoundation

In the presence of a smell disorder, tests are carried out to measure olfactory function and make a diagnosis. However, the results of these tests can be improved, because they are influenced by the individual experience of smells and the genetic code of each person.

The Rhinology and Olfactology Unit seeks to determine the reliability of SMELL-RS, a new universal olfactory test.

• BASEC No. 2020-02581
• Sponsor: HUG
• Principal investigator: Prof Basil Landis, Senior Staff Physician, Head of the Rhinology and Olfactology unit, Department of Otolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery
• Link to the SMELL-RS study

Nearly half of hospitalized patients suffer from pain. There is considerable evidence that non-pharmacological adjunct techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques, can reduce pain perception.

Virtual reality is an exciting new technology that offers multiple possibilities for use in the hospital. It allows a complete immersion in a distant virtual place and a total escape, without physical displacement. Its positive effects have been studied since the 90s in pain and anxiety management, neuro-rehabilitation and psychotherapy.

In our study, we want to use virtual reality during the period of sedation induced by anesthesiologists in the preoperative period to measure the beneficial effect on stress, and on the intraoperative and postoperative parameters that follow. By improving the patient's environment at the time of sedation we hope to decrease the effect of the impact of stress and pain on surgery and its complications.

•    BASEC No. 2020-00962
•    Sponsor: HUG
•    Principal investigator: Prof. Karl Schaller, Head of Division, and Dre Insa Janssen, Senior Resident, Division of Neurosurgery

Oxytocin, in addition to its effect on women during childbirth and breastfeeding, seems to have less known effects including effects on behavior (including confidence), hydro-electrolyte balance (salt), and metabolism (fats).

In this study, we wish to test the hypothesis of a release of oxytocin after pituitary surgery and, if it occurs, try to evaluate the effects of this release on confidence, salt balance and fat metabolism.

•    BASEC No. 2021-01193
•    Sponsor: HUG
•    Principal investigator: Pr Shahan Momjian, Senior Staff Physician, Division of Neurosurgery, and Pre Sophie de Seigneux, Head of Division, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension

Degenerative disorders of the cervical spine are common causes of myelopathy, especially in patients over 40 years of age.

The purpose of this study is to monitor regularly and with standardized means all patients operated on for cervical myelopathy in the Neurosurgery Department of HUG in order to better understand, diagnose and treat the disease, and to identify patients respond best to surgical treatment.

•    BASEC No. 2018-00122
•    Sponsor: HUG
•    Principal investigator: Prof. Enrico Tessitore, Senior Staff Physician, Division of Neurosurgery
 

EUROSPIN is an observational study taking place in several European hospitals in Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The purpose of this study is to compare, in patients requiring fixation of the spine with pedicle screws, three different techniques to assist with screw insertion: 1) traditional surgery to fix pedicle screws using x-ray control, 2) navigated surgery using a camera and a frame of reference attached to the patient, and 3) robot-assisted surgery.

•    BASEC No. 2019-00901
•    Sponsor: Bergman Clinics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
•    Principal investigator: Pr Enrico Tessitore, Senior staff physician, et Dr Granit Molliqaj, Senior resident, Division of Neurosurgery

Memory, learning, time estimation and decision making, which are essential for everyday life, are supported by many brain structures. Cognitive decline is caused by multiple failures in the superficial and deep structures of the brain.

New non-invasive stimulation techniques have the potential to help the brain preserve or even repair certain defective functions. The PlasMA project aims to evaluate the effects of transcranial electrical stimulation on learning and memory.

• BASEC No. 2020-00127
• Sponsor and principal investigator: Dr Friedhelm Christoph Hummel, Physician, Department of Neurorehabilitatation

Les fractures vertébrales thoracolombaires, souvent dues à des traumatismes à haute énergie (chutes, accidents), sont fréquentes et peuvent entraîner des atteintes neurologiques et des douleurs chroniques. Environ 25 % des cas impliquent une lésion de la moelle épinière, affectant la qualité de vie des patients.

Cette étude rétrospective menée aux HUG compare trois techniques de fixation postérieure utilisées pour traiter ces fractures ouverte, minimalement invasive et percutanée. Elle vise à évaluer la durée d’hospitalisation, les pertes sanguines, la gestion de la douleur, les complications, ainsi que les résultats radiologiques et la récupération musculaire. L'objectif est d’optimiser le choix de la technique chirurgicale la plus adaptée aux fractures sans atteinte neurologique.

•    Numéro BASEC : 2025-00378
•    Promoteur . Pr Enrico Tessitore
•    Investigateur Principal : Dr Simone Granno

L’étude vise à caractériser l’épidémiologie des traumatismes crâniens chez les aînés·e·s, à comparer leur évolution clinique à celle des personnes plus jeunes, et à identifier les principaux facteurs de risque. Cette étude s’intéresse tout particulièrement à la distribution géographique des chutes responsables de traumatisme crânien dans le canton de Genève ainsi qu’aux déterminants environnementaux susceptibles d’influencer leur survenue.

Dans ce cadre, une analyse géospatiale permettant de détecter d’éventuels clusters de chutes et de les corréler à des indicateurs socio-démographiques et infrastructurels est réalisée. L’objectif est de générer des données exploitables par les autorités de santé publique afin de soutenir, dans le futur, la mise en place de stratégies préventives ciblées, telles que l’aménagement de l’espace public, la sécurisation de l’environnement domestique, ou encore la diffusion de campagnes de sensibilisation adaptées pour les patients ·e·s et leurs proches.

•    Numéro BASEC : 2025-00737
•    Promoteur : Dr Giannina Iannotti
•    Investigateur Principal : Dr Philippe Voruz

Les patient·e·s atteints d’une lésion au cerveau ou soufrant d'épilepsie se voient parfois proposer une chirurgie dans le cadre de leur traitement. Certains de ces patient·e·s s'interrogent sur une possible altération de leur personnalité à la suite de cette intervention chirurgicale.

La présente étude cherche à déterminer si des modifications de la personnalité ou de la perception de soi peuvent être détectées sous anesthésie générale pendant une opération du cerveau. Elle consiste à analyser si un ou des lien-s existent entre un éventuel changement de l’activité du cerveau, mesurée par un encéphalogramme (EEG), et un éventuel changement de personnalité.

Ce projet permettra de : 

• Déterminer si lors de cette chirurgie, des fonctions du cerveau liées à la personnalité ou à la perception de soi, sont mesurables malgré l’anesthésie ; 
• Déterminer si des changements dans l’EEG couplé à un simple électrocardiogramme, ou à l’écoute de sa propre voix, peuvent être associés à de possibles changements de la personnalité ou de la perception de soi ; 
• Définir des normes auprès des volontaires sains qui seront utilisées pour interpréter les résultats. 

•    Numéro BASEC : 2025-01052
•    Promoteur : Pr Karl Schaller
•    Investigateur principal : Pr Karl Schaller