Impact of Depression and Anxiety on Patient Reported Outcomes Measures after Lumbar Fusion.

Background: Depression and anxiety are common in patients undergoing spinal surgery and might negatively impact outcomes. This study investigates the possible effect of these diagnoses on patient reported outcomes following lumbar fusion.

Methods: Retrospective review of a registry containing prospectively collected data of lumbar fusion procedures at a single institution was performed from May 23, 2012 to June 15, 2022.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Spinal Metastasis: A Review.

Objective: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques have advanced the treatment of metastatic diseases to the spine. The objective of this review is to describe clinical outcomes, benefits, and complications of these techniques.

Methods: All relevant clinical studies describing the role of MIS, computer-assisted navigation (CAN), robot-assisted (RA) procedures, and laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) in the treatment of metastatic spine diseases were identified from PubMed, MEDLINE, and relevant article bibliographies.

Age, body mass index, and osteoporosis are more predictive than imaging for adjacent-segment reoperation after lumbar fusion.

Background: Adjacent-segment disease (ASD) is a well-described long-term complication after lumbar fusion. There is a lack of consensus about the risk factors for development of ASD, but identifying them could improve surgical outcomes. Our goal was to analyze the effect of patient characteristics and radiographic parameters on the development of symptomatic ASD requiring revision surgery after posterior lumbar fusion.

Patient-reported outcome improvements at 24-month follow-up after fusion added to decompression for grade I degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: a multicenter study using the Quality Outcomes Database.

Objective: The ideal surgical management of grade I lumbar spondylolisthesis has not been determined despite extensive prior investigations. In this cohort study, the authors used data from the large, multicenter, prospectively collected Quality Outcomes Database to bridge the gap between the findings in previous randomized trials and those in a more heterogeneous population treated in a typical practice. The objective was to assess the difference in patient-reported outcomes among patients undergoing decompression alone or decompression plus fusion.

Is There Additional Value to Flexion-Extension Radiographs for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis?

Study Design: Multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: Flexion-extension radiographs are frequently used to assess motion in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, they expose patients to additional radiation and increase cost.

Effects of preoperative obesity and psychiatric comorbidities on minimum clinically important differences for lumbar fusion in grade 1 degenerative spondylolisthesis: analysis from the prospective Quality Outcomes Database registry.

Objective: Medical comorbidities, particularly preoperatively diagnosed anxiety, depression, and obesity, may influence how patients perceive and measure clinical benefit after a surgical intervention. The current study was performed to define and compare the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds in patients with and without preoperative diagnoses of anxiety or depression and obesity who underwent spinal fusion for grade 1 degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Methods: The Quality Outcomes Database (QOD) was queried for patients who underwent lumbar fusion for grade 1 degenerative spondylolisthesis during the period from January 2014 to August 2017.

Dental education: Lecture versus flipped and spaced learning.

Background: Even though there are diverse varieties of teaching methods to motivate and educate students, not many are used in dental institutions, where most rely only on traditional lectures. Hence, the objective of this study was to compare traditional lectures with newer teaching methods, specifically the flipped classroom and spaced learning method.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective cohort study Students were randomized to one of the teaching methods, and their short-term (immediately after teaching) and long-term (i.

Quantitative Risk Factor Analysis of Postoperative Dysphagia After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) Using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10).

Study Design: A retrospective case series.

Objective: The aim of this study was to utilize the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) to quantitatively analyze risk factors contributing to dysphagia after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Summary Of Background Data: ACDF is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States, with postoperative dysphagia rates ranging from 2% to 60%.

The 2015 upper gastrointestinal "Be Clear on Cancer" campaign: its impact on gastroenterology services and malignant and premalignant diagnoses.

Objective: To assess the impact of the upper gastrointestinal 'Be Clear on Cancer' campaign launched by Public Health England between January and February 2015 on open-access gastroscopy referrals, incidence of target diagnoses (oesophagogastric cancer and Barrett's oesophagus), cancer staging at presentation, 1-year survival and cost per additional diagnosis.

Design: We performed a retrospective study of patients referred for 2-week-wait (2WW), open-access endoscopy 3 months following the campaign with diagnoses, endoscopic findings, staging and 12-month survival compared with data from corresponding months in 2014.

Setting: Three adjacent National Health Service trusts in the West Midlands with a combined population of 1.

Pineal germ cell tumors: Two cases with review of histopathologies and biomarkers.

Pineal germ cell tumors (GCTs) are primarily seen in pediatric and Asian populations. These tumors are divided into germinomatous and non-germinomatous GCTs (NGGCTs). GCTs are thought to arise by misplacement of totipotent stem cells en route to gonads during embryogenesis.

Postoperative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Rates with Subfascial Epidural Drain Placement after Intentional Durotomy in Spine Surgery.

 Retrospective chart review.  Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a known complication of intraoperative durotomy. Intraoperative placement of subfascial epidural drains following primary dural repair has been proposed as a potential management strategy to prevent formation of CSF cutaneous fistula and symptomatic pseudomeningocele.

CT-based morphometric analysis of C1 laminar dimensions: C1 translaminar screw fixation is a feasible technique for salvage of atlantoaxial fusions.

Background: Translaminar screw fixation has become an alternative in the fixation of the axial and subaxial cervical spine. We report utilization of this approach in the atlas as a salvage technique for atlantoaxial stabilization when C1 lateral mass screws are precluded. To assess the feasibility of translaminar fixation at the atlas, we have characterized the dimensions of the C1 lamina in the general adult population using computed tomography (CT)-based morphometry.

Quantitative Data-driven Utilization of Hematologic Labs Following Lumbar Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Summary Of Background Data: Large national inpatient databases estimate that approximately 200,000 lumbar fusions are performed annually in the United States alone. It is common for surgeons to routinely order postoperative hematologic studies to rule out postoperative anemia despite a paucity of data to support routine laboratory utilization.

Utilization of a novel digital measurement tool for quantitative assessment of upper extremity motor dexterity: a controlled pilot study.

Background: The current methods of assessing motor function rely primarily on the clinician's judgment of the patient's physical examination and the patient's self-administered surveys. Recently, computerized handgrip tools have been designed as an objective method to quantify upper-extremity motor function. This pilot study explores the use of the MediSens handgrip as a potential clinical tool for objectively assessing the motor function of the hand.

A three-dimensional collagen construct to model lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of BV2 microglia.

Background: We report a novel method of culturing microglia in three dimension (3D) using collagen as a substrate. By culturing microglia within a matrix, we aim to emulate the physical state of microglia embedded within parenchyma.

Methods: BV2 microglia cell suspensions were prepared with type I collagen and cast into culture plates.

Characteristics and management of superior semicircular canal dehiscence.

Objectives To review the characteristic symptoms of superior semicircular canal dehiscence, testing and imaging of the disease, and the current treatment and surgical options. Results and Conclusions Symptoms of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) include autophony, inner ear conductive hearing loss, Hennebert sign, and sound-induced episodic vertigo and disequilibrium (Tullio phenomenon), among others. Potential etiologies noted for canal dehiscence include possible developmental abnormalities, congenital defects, chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma, fibrous dysplasia, and high-riding jugular bulb.

Comparison of operating field sterility in open versus minimally invasive microdiscectomies of the lumbar spine.

Background: Postoperative wound infection is a preventable risk that can lead to significant adverse outcomes and increased cost of care. Minimally invasive surgeries (MIS) have been found to have lower rates of postoperative infection compared with the traditional approach. To assess if the reported difference is related to intraoperative contamination or to other factors, we assessed the surgical field for sterility.

Migration of traumatic intracranial subdural hematoma to lumbar spine causing radiculopathy.

Background: There have been rare reports of intracranial subdural hematoma (SDH) that migrated into the spine. All previous cases have been surgically managed and in this case report, we describe the first case of conservatively managed spinal hematoma secondary to migratory intracranial SDH.

Case Description: A 26-year-old male presented with a left tentorial SDH after blunt trauma.

Minimally invasive tubular surgery for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) was originally developed as a method for circumferential fusion via a single posterior approach and is now an extremely common procedure for the treatment of lumbar instability. More recently, minimally invasive techniques have been applied to this procedure with the goal of decreasing tissue disruption, blood loss and postoperative patient discomfort. Here we describe a minimally invasive tubular TLIF on a 60-year-old male with radiculopathy from an unstable L4-5 spondylolisthesis.

Minimally invasive palliative resection of lumbar epidural metastasis.

Spinal metastatic lesions are the most common tumors encountered by spinal surgeons. As with procedures for degenerative disease, minimally invsive surgery techniques have been applied to minimize muscle and soft tissue destruction in procedures for tumor resection. Here, we present a 23-year-old female with radiculopathy and foot drop secondary to nerve root compression by epidural metastases from Ewing's sarcoma.

Minimally invasive surgery for lumbar microdiscectomy.

Symptomatic disc herniation is a common indication for spinal operations. The open microscopic discectomy has been the traditional method of addressing this pathology, but minimally invasive techniques are increasingly popular. Potential advantages of the MIS microdiscectomy approach include decreased muscle and soft tissue disruption, shorter length of stay and decreased postoperative pain.

Surgical seroma formation following posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion without rhBMP-2: case report.

Seroma formation following posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion is now recognized as a rare but significant risk. Previous reports have attributed the development of postoperative seromas to the use of recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). Here the authors present the case of a 78-year-old female with a history of osteoporosis who developed delayed postoperative neck and shoulder pain following posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion utilizing only autograft bone and demineralized bone matrix (DBM) allograft.

Genetic expression profiles of adult and pediatric ependymomas: molecular pathways, prognostic indicators, and therapeutic targets.

Ependymomas are tumors that can present within either the intracranial or spinal regions. While 90% of all pediatric ependymomas are intracranial, spinal cord ependymomas are more commonly found in patients 20-40 years old. Treatment for spinal lesions has achieved local control rates up to 100% following gross total resection, while pediatric intracranial tumors have 40-60% mortality.

An analysis of intracranial epidermoid tumors with malignant transformation: treatment and outcomes.

Objective: While typically benign, epidermoid tumors upon rare occasion can undergo malignant transformation, which carries a poor prognosis. Here, we reviewed treatment strategies and analyzed outcomes for every case of malignant epidermoid tumor reported since its original description in 1912.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review identified all reported cases of malignant transformation of intracranial epidermoid tumor.