Microsurgical intraluminal obliteration of type IV perimedullary arteriovenous fistula with an in situ hemostatic agent: illustrative case.

Background: Spinal arteriovenous fistulas (SAVFs) are underdiagnosed entities that can lead to severe morbidity from spinal cord dysfunction or hemorrhage. Treatment options include endovascular embolization or direct surgical obliteration at the level of the arteriovenous shunt. The authors present a case of intraluminal microsurgical access for occlusion with a hemostatic agent of a type IV SAVF near the conus medullaris as an alternative to clip occlusion to avoid nerve root compromise.

Understanding Geospatial Trends in Lumbar Fusion Incidence and Technique in Medicare Populations.

Study Design: Retrospective study with epidemiologic analysis of public Medicare data.

Objective: This study seeks to utilize geospatial analysis to identify distinct trends in lumbar fusion incidence and techniques in Medicare populations.

Summary Of Background Data: With an aging population and new technologies, lumbar fusion is an increasingly common procedure.

Trends in Technology for Pedicle Screw Placement: A Temporal Meta-Analysis.

Study Design: Systematic Review.

Objective: We sought to determine which method of the pedicle screw (PS) placement is most accurate and understand how the development of subsequent generations of robotic systems has changed placement accuracy over time.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies have demonstrated the success of robotic PS placement, but how this accuracy compares to other methods is unclear.

Single-Stage Titanium Mesh Cranioplasty for the Treatment of Depressed Skull Fractures.

Background: Historically, depressed skull fractures that warranted surgery were treated in 2 stages: the first stage involved debridement and craniectomy, followed by the second stage of delayed cranioplasty. More recently, single-stage autologous cranioplasty has been proven to be safe. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding single-stage titanium mesh cranioplasty when autologous repair is not possible.

Posterior fossa ischemic infarction: single-center retrospective review of non-surgical and surgical cases.

Cerebellar ischemic stroke (CIS) is a morbid neurological event, with potentially fatal consequences. There is currently no objective standard of care regarding when surgical procedures are required for this entity. We retrospectively reviewed 763 patients with CIS, 247 patients of which had a stroke larger than 1 cm in greatest dimension on cranial imaging.

Perioperative prophylaxis for surgical site infections in pediatric spinal surgery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective: Postoperative infections in pediatric spinal surgery commonly occur and necessitate reoperation(s). However, pediatric-specific infection prophylaxis guidelines are not available. This network meta-analysis compares perioperative prophylaxis methods including Betadine irrigation, saline irrigation, intrawound vancomycin powder, combination therapy (Betadine, vancomycin, gentamicin, and cefuroxime), Betadine irrigation plus vancomycin powder, and no intervention to determine the most efficacious prevention method.

Use of balloon-assisted nasal access to augment endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach: illustrative case.

Background: Pituitary adenoma is a neurosurgical pathology commonly resected via endoscopic endonasal approach. Septal and nasal passage anatomy can affect the surgical corridor and may require septoplasty or other techniques for expansion.

Observations: The authors presented a case of pituitary macroadenoma with septal deviation with use of balloon-assisted nasal access for surgery.

A Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Combination Nivolumab, Ipilimumab, and Paclitaxel in Patients With Untreated Metastatic NSCLC: The OPTIMAL Trial.

Introduction: Most patients with advanced NSCLC will experience disease progression and death within 2 years. Novel approaches are needed to improve outcomes.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, nonrandomized, phase 2 trial in patients with treatment-naive, advanced NSCLC to assess the safety and efficacy of nivolumab 360 mg every 3 weeks, ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks, and four to six cycles of paclitaxel 80 mg/m on days 1 and 8 of every 21-day treatment.

Temporary Posterior C1-C2 Instrumentation without Fusion for Treatment of Displaced Atlantoaxial Fractures.

Objective: To describe open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) with posterior C1-C2 instrumentation without fusion to treat displaced atlantoaxial fractures with later instrumentation removal.

Methods: A retrospective review identified 14 patients (mean age 44 years) with displaced atlantoaxial fractures treated with ORIF without fusion. Patient demographics, fracture morphology, trauma etiology, instrumentation levels, timing of hardware removal, and complications were collected.

Chyle leak occurring after vagal nerve stimulator implantation in a child.

Vagus nerve stimulation is a therapy indicated for some patients with medically-refractory epilepsy. Typical risks of this procedure include infection, hoarseness, vocal cord dysfunction, and hardware malfunction. Chyle leak via injury to the thoracic duct is a known complication of thoracic and head and neck surgeries-though less so in the neurosurgical literature.

Simulation of proximal catheter occlusion and design of a shunt tap aspiration system.

Purpose: Total and partial proximal catheter occlusions are well-known complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS). When this occurs, surgeons often attempt to perform a shunt tap. However, the degree of obstruction in a proximal catheter that ultimately leads to shunt malfunction is unknown.

Prognostic Indices for Predicting Facial Nerve Outcome following the Resection of Large Acoustic Neuromas.

This study analyzes the simple ratio of anterior-to-posterior extension of large (>2.5 cm) acoustic neuromas relative to the internal auditory canal (ICA; anterior-posterior [A/P] index) as a tool for predicting risk of facial nerve (FN) injury. In total, 105 patients who underwent microsurgical resection for large acoustic neuromas were analyzed retrospectively.

Patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes after de-escalated chemoradiation for human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma: Findings from a phase 2 trial.

Background: The current study represents a subset analysis of quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes among patients treated on a phase 2 trial of de-escalated chemoradiation for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer.

Methods: Eligibility included newly diagnosed, (American Joint Committee on Cancer, 7th edition) stage III or IV oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, p16 positivity, age ≥ 18 years, and a Zubrod performance status of 0 to 1. Treatment was induction paclitaxel at a dose of 175 mg/m and carboplatin at an area under the curve of 6 for 2 cycles followed by response-adapted, dose-reduced radiation of 54 Gy or 60 Gy with weekly concurrent paclitaxel at a dose of 30 mg/m .

Identification of Preoperative and Intraoperative Risk Factors for Complications in the Elderly Undergoing Elective Craniotomy.

Background: Neurosurgical patients are aging as the general population is becoming older.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients ≥65 years of age who underwent an elective craniotomy from 2007 to 2015 to identify risk factors for 30-day morbidity/mortality was conducted. Key preoperative variables included age, comorbidities, and functional status based on the Karnofsky Performance Status score and modified Rankin Scale score.

Identifying predictors for postoperative clinical outcome in lumbar spinal stenosis patients using smart-shoe technology.

Background: Approximately 33% of the patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) who undergo surgery are not satisfied with their postoperative clinical outcomes. Therefore, identifying predictors for postoperative outcome and groups of patients who will benefit from the surgical intervention is of significant clinical benefit. However, many of the studied predictors to date suffer from subjective recall bias, lack fine digital measures, and yield poor correlation to outcomes.

Effect of psychosocial distress on outcome for head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation.

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine the impact of pretreatment psychosocial distress on compliance to radiation therapy (RT) and clinical outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer STUDY DESIGN: Self-reported responses to the mood and anxiety domains of the University of Washington Quality of Life instrument were reviewed among 133 patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer prior to initiating RT.

Methods: Varying definitions were used (total number of unexpectedly missed RT days, >5 days continuous interruption of RT outside of weekends, >10 days continuous interruption of RT, and failure to complete prescribed course of RT) to analyze the effect of psychosocial disruption on compliance. Survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Longitudinal monitoring of ctDNA EGFR mutation burden from urine correlates with patient response to EGFR TKIs: A case series.

Targetable, somatic EGFR mutations are highly prevalent in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), making them eligible for tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), isolated from blood or urine, has been demonstrated to reliably identify somatic tumor associated EGFR mutations, specifically in patients with inconclusive biopsy. When conventional imaging modalities are inconclusive, quantitative assessment of systemic ctDNA burden has the potential to assess therapeutic response.

Sustaining diabetes prevention and care interventions: A multiple case study of translational research projects.

Background: This study identifies the barriers and enablers for sustainability of interventions in primary and secondary prevention of diabetes. In the context of translational research, sustainability is defined as the continued use of program components and activities for the continued achievement of desirable program and population outcomes.

Methods: In this study, eleven translational research projects, supported by the BRIDGES program of the International Diabetes Federation, were investigated.

Quantitative assessment of hand motor function in cervical spinal disorder patients using target tracking tests.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a chronic spinal disorder in the neck region. Its prevalence is growing rapidly in developed nations, creating a need for an objective assessment tool. This article introduces a system for quantifying hand motor function using a handgrip device and target tracking test.

Deterministic Tractography of the Descending Tract of the Spinal Trigeminal Nerve Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging.

Background And Purpose: Pain information from the face enters the pons via the trigeminal nerve before creating an anatomical "elbow" that turns caudally into the spinal trigeminal tract (SpTV). Visualization of the descending tract of the trigeminal nerve as it begins its descent from the nerve root entry zone (NREZ) in the pons would improve the accuracy of current procedures aimed at altering or lesioning the trigeminal nerve within the brainstem. The focus of this study was to develop a standardized protocol using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and deterministic tractography methods to image the SpTV.

Unobtrusive and Continuous Monitoring of Alcohol-impaired Gait Using Smart Shoes.

Background: Alcohol ingestion influences sensory-motor function and the overall well-being of individuals. Detecting alcohol-induced impairments in gait in daily life necessitates a continuous and unobtrusive gait monitoring system.

Objectives: This paper introduces the development and use of a non-intrusive monitoring system to detect changes in gait induced by alcohol intoxication.