Time to development, clinical and radiographic characteristics, and management of proximal junctional kyphosis following adult thoracolumbar instrumented fusion for spinal deformity.

Study Design: A retrospective review.

Objective: To study time to development, clinical and radiographic characteristics, and management of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) following thoracolumbar instrumented fusion for adult spinal deformity (ASD).

Summary Of Background Data: PJK continues to be a common mode of failure following ASD surgery.

The effects of simulated microgravity on intervertebral disc degeneration.

Background Context: Astronauts experience back pain, particularly low back pain, during and after spaceflight. Recent studies have described histologic and biochemical changes in rat intervertebral discs after space travel, but there is still no in vitro model to investigate the effects of microgravity on disc metabolism.

Purpose: To study the effects of microgravity on disc degeneration and establish an in vitro simulated microgravity study model.

Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for cushing disease: techniques, outcomes, and predictors of remission.

Background: The efficacy of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) for Cushing disease has not been clearly established.

Objective: To assess efficacy of a pure endoscopic approach for treatment of Cushing disease and determine predictors of remission.

Methods: A prospectively acquired database of 61 patients undergoing ETS was reviewed.

Intervertebral disc degeneration and ectopic bone formation in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.

Cardiovascular risk factors are known to be associated with intervertebral disc degeneration, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. The ApoE knockout (KO) mouse is a well-established model for atheroscelorosis. We hypothesized that ApoE is involved in maintaining disc health and that ApoE KO mice will develop early disc degeneration.

Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for acromegaly: remission using modern criteria, complications, and predictors of outcome.

Context: Despite the growing application of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS), outcomes for GH adenomas are not clearly defined.

Objective: We reviewed our experience with ETSS with specific interest in remission rates using the 2010 consensus criteria, predictors of remission, and associated complications.

Design And Setting: This was a retrospective single institution study.

Treatment of intracranial solitary fibrous tumors with gamma knife radiosurgery: report of two cases and review of literature.

Background And Importance: Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) as a treatment option has not been described in the management of typical intracranial solitary fibrous tumors.

Clinical Presentation: After presenting with visual decline, case A underwent a bioccipital craniotomy during which 90% of tumor was thought to have been resected. She unfortunately required re-resection 56 months later for recurrence when she again presented with progressive visual decline, altered mental status, and headaches.

Use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 as an adjunct for instrumented posterior arthrodesis in the occipital cervical region: An analysis of safety, efficacy, and dosing.

Background: There have been few reports on the use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2 in posterior spine. However, no study has investigated the dosing, safety, and efficacy of its use in the posterior atlantoaxial, and/or craniovertebral junction. Recent case report of the cytokine-mediated inflammatory reaction, following off label use of rhBMP-2 as an adjunct for cervical fusion, particularly in complex cases, has increased concern about complications associated with the product.

Comprehensive analysis of risk factors for seizures after deep brain stimulation surgery. Clinical article.

Object: The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for postoperative seizures after deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead implantation surgery and the impact of such seizures on length of stay and discharge disposition.

Methods: The authors reviewed a consecutive series of 161 cases involving patients who underwent implantation of 288 electrodes for treatment of movement disorders at a single institution to determine the absolute risk of postoperative seizures, to describe the timing and type of seizures, to identify statistically significant risk factors for seizures, and to determine whether there are possible indications for seizure prophylaxis after DBS lead implantation. The electronic medical records were reviewed to identify demographic details, medical history, operative course, and postoperative outcomes and complications.

Safety, efficacy, and dosing of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 for posterior cervical and cervicothoracic instrumented fusion with a minimum 2-year follow-up.

Background: Considerable attention has focused on concerns of increased complications with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) use for anterior cervical fusion, but few reports have assessed its use for posterior cervical fusions.

Objective: To assess the safety, efficacy, and dosing of rhBMP-2 as an adjunct for instrumented posterior cervical arthrodesis.

Methods: All patients treated by the senior author with posterior cervical or cervicothoracic instrumented fusion using rhBMP-2 from 2003 to 2008 with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were included.

Morbidity and mortality in the surgical treatment of 10,242 adults with spondylolisthesis.

Object: This is a retrospective review of 10,242 adults with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) and isthmic spondylolisthesis (IS) from the morbidity and mortality (M&M) index of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS). This database was reviewed to assess complication incidence, and to identify factors that were associated with increased complication rates.

Methods: The SRS M&M database was queried to identify cases of DS and IS treated between 2004 and 2007.

Complications in the surgical treatment of 19,360 cases of pediatric scoliosis: a review of the Scoliosis Research Society Morbidity and Mortality database.

Study Design: Retrospective review of a multicenter database.

Objective: To determine the complication rates associated with surgical treatment of pediatric scoliosis and to assess variables associated with increased complication rates.

Summary Of Background Data: Wide variability is reported for complications associated with the operative treatment of pediatric scoliosis.

Gamma knife radiosurgery of meningiomas involving the foramen magnum.

Background: Foramen magnum meningiomas represent a challenging clinical entity. Although resection is performed for those with a mass effect, complete resection is not always feasible. For some patients, stereotactic radiosurgery may be used as the primary treatment modality.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis within the clivus: an unusual cause of lower cranial nerve palsy.

We report one year follow up of a case of extramedullary hematopoiesis within the clivus. The imaging findings, brief clinical course, and endoscopic transphenoidal approach are described. A 29-year-old female with thalassemia developed worsening cranial nerve signs.

The sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine-1-phosphate pathway mediates COX-2 induction and PGE2 production in response to TNF-alpha.

In this study we addressed the role of sphingolipid metabolism in the inflammatory response. In a L929 fibroblast model, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by 4 h and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induction as early as 2 h. This TNF-induced PGE2 production was inhibited by NS398, a COX-2 selective inhibitor.