Publications by authors named "Avi A Gajjar"
Background: Craniosynostosis, a condition involving the premature fusion of cranial sutures, can impair brain development and potentially lead to developmental delays. This study compares open cranial vault remodeling versus endoscopic strip craniectomy treatment for isolated sagittal craniosynostosis, primarily focusing on development outcomes.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric surgery center, involving all 45 patients treated surgically for isolated sagittal craniosynostosis from 2013 to 2024.
Article Synopsis
- * Their database includes detailed records of over 8,800 neurosurgeons, highlighting a majority male demographic (92.96%) and notable diversity among ethnic backgrounds, while also emphasizing the historical impact of figures like Harvey W. Cushing.
- * The project promotes inclusivity in neurosurgical education by recognizing institutions that are actively enhancing diversity among neurosurgeons, ultimately contributing to a richer and more connected neurosurgery community.
Article Synopsis
- - AtlasGPT is a generative model designed for neurosurgery that adjusts its responses based on the user's level of expertise, but it's unclear if all users can understand its outputs properly.
- - A study evaluated the readability of AtlasGPT's responses from four user perspectives (surgeon, resident, medical student, and patient) using readability analysis tools and statistical tests.
- - Results showed that patient-targeted content was harder to read than preferred levels, while medical student responses were slightly easier, highlighting a need for improvement to meet readability standards set by U.S. authorities.
Article Synopsis
- Recent research suggests recreational marijuana may negatively impact cerebrovascular issues, but its effects on arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) outcomes are unclear.
- The study analyzed data from nearly 46,500 adult patients with AVMs, focusing on drug use (including marijuana) and its association with AVM ruptures, complications, and hospital stays.
- Results indicate that tobacco and cannabis may have a protective effect against AVM rupture and are associated with lower complications and hospital stays, while stimulant use increases the risk of ruptured AVMs and higher mortality.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated spinal and paraspinal injuries related to golf, analyzing emergency department data from 2003 to 2023 to understand the associated risks and outcomes.
- - A total of 69,153 emergency visits were estimated for golf-related spine injuries, with the majority of injured individuals being males aged around 52.8 years, and lumbar injuries making up 76.9% of cases.
- - Strains were the most common diagnosis, and while the overall injury frequency remained stable, the average age of those injured has increased significantly over the years.
Confronting Craniosynostosis: Maternal Concerns, Challenges, and Coping for their Children.
Cleft Palate Craniofac J
October 2024
Objective: The study objective was to characterize shared online experiences surrounding craniosynostosis.
Methods: Isolated and syndromic craniosynostosis-related consecutive posts (N = 700) made by patients and caregivers were extracted from TikTok and Instagram between 2017-2024. A cross-sectional qualitative analysis following guidelines for practical thematic analysis was performed.
Article Synopsis
- This study looked at what people with breast cancer shared on social media about their surgeries to help doctors understand their experiences better.
- Researchers examined posts on Instagram and TikTok, focusing on common themes like awareness, positivity, and support.
- They found that different platforms showed different trends; Instagram was more about positive feelings, while TikTok shared more scientific info and practical advice.
Article Synopsis
- - Extended reality (XR), which includes augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR), has significant potential in endovascular neurosurgery, particularly for improving training and understanding of complex cerebrovascular imaging.
- - A systematic review identified 19 studies, revealing that VR was the most utilized modality for educational purposes, primarily for simulation and anatomical modeling, while AR was used for live guidance and MR for modeling and teaching during operations.
- - The use of VR and MR in anatomical education provides detailed, patient-specific 3-D models, enhancing the learning experience; however, there are challenges like inaccurate tracking of surgical tools that need to be addressed for effective implementation in training.
Article Synopsis
- Social media helps patients with rare diseases, like arteriovenous malformations (AVM), connect and share experiences, as shown in an analysis of posts from platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
- The study found that common themes in posts included raising awareness (87%), recounting symptoms (50.2%), and sharing positivity (17.5%), with most engagement coming from female users.
- Social media serves as a crucial platform for AVM patients to connect with others and discuss their experiences, increasing public awareness about the condition.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the "July Effect," which suggests that the influx of inexperienced physicians in July could lead to worse patient outcomes, focusing on traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases in teaching hospitals.
- Using nationwide data, researchers compared patient outcomes based on admission month and found July admissions had a decreased likelihood of death and complications.
- The results showed no significant effect of July admissions on length of stay or routine discharge rates for TBI patients undergoing surgery.
Article Synopsis
- * The WEB has significantly more citations (mean 35.6) compared to other intrasaccular flow disruptors (mean 4.24), with most studies being retrospective reviews and a noticeable lack of contributions from African authors.
- * The analysis highlights that leading countries in WEB research (like France) differ from those contributing to other flow disruptors (like Germany), indicating a skew in global research collaboration and production, primarily concentrated in Europe and North America.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates neurosurgeons' awareness of intraoperative radiation exposure and its health impacts, noting that high radiation can increase cancer risk.* -
- Out of 3344 surveyed neurosurgeons, only 6.8% responded, revealing that many do not use dosimeters, but most wear protective gear; however, knowledge of radiation safety limits was low.* -
- Findings indicate heightened concern about radiation exposure among neurosurgeons and highlight a significant correlation between increased radiation exposure and the risk of developing leukemia and thyroid nodular diseases.*
Article Synopsis
- * In January 2023, a study assessed the readability of online educational resources from major cerebrovascular healthcare organizations using eight different readability tests.
- * Results showed that none of the materials met federal readability guidelines, with the majority rated above a postgraduate level, indicating a significant gap in the accessibility of medical information for patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the financial trends of three diagnostic tests for cerebrovascular disease—DSA, CTA, and MRA—amid rising life expectancy and changing Medicare payment structures.
- Over 1.5 million procedures were analyzed from 2013 to 2020, revealing a decline in Medicare reimbursements and procedural volume for DSA and MRA, while CTA volume slightly increased.
- Key findings indicate a significant drop in reimbursements for angiograms and MRAs, with the overall trend showing a need for neurointerventional practices to adapt to these financial challenges.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the use of ChatGPT in neurosurgery, focusing on the accuracy and usefulness of AI-generated responses to common postsurgical questions.
- A total of 1080 responses from different versions of ChatGPT were analyzed, revealing that while the answers were generally accurate, they were complex and not always rated as highly helpful by healthcare practitioners.
- The findings suggest that even though ChatGPT-4.0 showed improvements in response quality, the AI's readability may make it challenging for patients to fully benefit from the information provided.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines public posts on Twitter and Instagram about adenoidectomy surgery to understand patients' and caregivers' perceptions and attitudes.
- A total of 394 relevant posts were analyzed, highlighting the different concerns patients and caregivers have, with patients focusing more on pain and appearance, while caregivers discuss awareness and positivity more frequently.
- Findings indicate that gender influences how caregivers share information, with female caregivers more often expressing fear and male caregivers providing educational content, suggesting tailored communication may enhance physician engagement with both groups.
Patient perception of spinal cord injury through social media: An analysis of 703 Instagram and 117 Twitter posts.
J Craniovertebr Junction Spine
September 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how social media, specifically Instagram and Twitter, is used by patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) to share their experiences and connect with others.
- Researchers analyzed over 270,000 Instagram posts and 117 tweets related to SCI to identify common themes, such as positivity, wheelchair appearance, and recovery.
- The findings suggest that social media serves as a vital support tool for SCI patients, highlighting positivity and awareness, which are important for their overall treatment.
Art in neurosurgery has been a critical part of the discipline for centuries. Numerous cultures, such as ancient India, China, and Egypt, and more contemporary scientists, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Max Brödel, and Norman Dott, have significantly contributed to medical illustration. Today, advancements in three-dimensional technology have allowed for the creation of detailed neuroanatomy models for surgical planning and education.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatient sentiment regarding stroke: Analysis of 2,992 social media posts.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzes social media posts about stroke experiences from Twitter and Instagram to understand patient perceptions and sentiments about the disease and its treatment.
- - A total of 2,506 Twitter posts and 468 Instagram posts were examined, revealing that raising awareness was the main theme on Twitter (23.4%), while positivity was predominant on Instagram (66.7%).
- - Findings indicate significant gender differences in the topics discussed, with women focusing on symptoms and mental health, while men were more likely to address mobility issues and mortality, suggesting that social media insights can enhance patient care strategies.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates how venous sinus stenting impacts weight loss and body mass index (BMI) changes in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and related symptoms like papilledema and headaches.
- - A review of 28 IIH patients showed weight decreased from an average of 103.2 kg pre-surgery to 97.4 kg at a 6-month follow-up, with those experiencing papilledema resolution losing slightly more weight.
- - Overall, while venous sinus stenting results in modest weight reduction in IIH patients, further research is needed to understand the clinical relevance of these changes, particularly regarding papilledema resolution.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluates neurosurgery residency program websites (NRPWs) in the U.S. and Canada to understand the information available to applicants since in-person interviews were lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It involved analyzing 122 NRPWs for 48 criteria including program details, application requirements, and curriculum information, focusing on differences between top-ranked and lower-ranked programs based on Doximity Residency Navigator Rankings.
- The findings show that higher-ranked programs are more likely to provide details about post-residency fellowships, innovative training experiences like virtual reality, and faculty research compared to lower-ranked programs.