Use of a Psychological Evaluation Tool as a Predictor of Spinal Cord Stimulation Outcomes.

Introduction: Preoperative work-up for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) includes a psychological assessment; however, no one psychological factor has correlated with poor outcomes across studies. We developed a Psychological Evaluation Tool for Spinal Cord Stimulation Candidacy (PETSCSC), which includes all factors in the literature found to correlate with outcomes. In this study, we examine whether PETSCSC correlates with postoperative outcomes.

A Novel Approach to Avoid Baclofen Withdrawal When Faced With Infected Baclofen Pumps.

Background: Intrathecal (IT) Baclofen is beneficial for spasticity, but if pumps become infected necessitating removal, baclofen withdrawal is difficult to manage and life-threatening. Furthermore there is no consistency between dosing and severity of withdrawal. Case reports detail full baclofen withdrawal at dosages of 260 μg/day.

Employing the arts for knowledge production and translation: Visualizing new possibilities for women speaking up about safety concerns in maternity.

Objectives: This project used animated film to translate research findings into accessible health information aimed at enabling women to speak up and secure professional help for serious safety concerns during pregnancy and after birth. We tested as proof of concept our use of the arts both as product (knowledge production) and process (enabling involvement).

Background: Emergencies during pregnancy and birth, while unusual, can develop rapidly and unexpectedly, with catastrophic consequences.

Prospective Study of the Use of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring in Determining Post-Operative Energy Requirements and Physiologic Midline in Spinal Cord Stimulation.

Background: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) through electromyography (EMG) studies has been shown to be a safe, effective way to determine the laterality of the spinal cord and guide electrode placement during spinal cord stimulation (SCS). However, the use of IONM to predict post-operative energy requirements and midline has not been examined and offers a new avenue to streamline programming and device selection. Further, the impact of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) thickness on intraoperative and post-operative amplitudes is understood but has not been explicitly characterized.