The influence of lunar phases and zodiac sign 'Leo' on perioperative complications and outcome in elective spine surgery.

Background: Many people believe that the moon has an influence on daily life, and some even request elective surgery dates depending on the moon calendar. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of 'unfavorable' lunar or zodiac constellations on perioperative complications and outcome in elective surgery for degenerative disc disease.

Methods: Retrospective database analysis including 924 patients.

Tibial and peroneal bypasses in octogenarians and nonoctogenarians with critical limb ischemia.

Background: Elderly patients with critical limb ischemia are increasingly treated through interventional therapy. The outcome of tibial and peroneal bypasses in octogenarians who were unsuitable for endovascular therapy remains unclear.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent tibial or peroneal bypass surgery in our clinic between October 2007 and April 2015.

Microscopic lumbar spinal stenosis decompression: is surgical education safe?

Background: Acquiring operative skills in the course of a structured neurosurgery residency training program is vital to safely operating on patients autonomously upon board certification. We tested the hypothesis that the complication rates and outcome of microscopic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) decompression done by supervised residents are not inferior to those of board-certified faculty neurosurgeons (BCFNs).

Methods: Retrospective single-center study performed at a Swiss teaching hospital comparing consecutive patients undergoing surgery for LSS by a supervised neurosurgery resident (teaching cases) to a consecutive series of patients operated on by a BCFN (non-teaching cases).

Comparison of venous and HePTFE tibial and peroneal bypasses in critical limb ischemia patients unsuitable for endovascular revascularization.

Background: We examined short- and long-term outcomes of tibial and peroneal venous and heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene bypasses in patients with critical limb ischemia who were unsuitable for endovascular revascularization.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was done for all patients who underwent tibial and peroneal bypass surgery in our department between October 2007 and October 2012. Vein was the preferred graft material and used whenever possible.

Pedal bypass surgery after crural endovascular intervention.

Background: Many centers choose endovascular intervention as their first-line treatment for crural occlusions in patients with critical limb ischemia (Rutherford 4-6). However, unsuccessful interventions often result in major amputation. Therefore, pedal bypass surgery should be considered as an alternative first-line treatment.