Circulating microRNAs May Be Predictive of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Study Design: Basic Science.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify a unique serum profile of circulating miRNAs and inflammatory markers in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) compared with healthy controls (HC).

Summary Of Background Data: Currently, DCM is diagnosed with a combination of history, physical examination, and close correlation to advanced imaging.

Performance of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots on Glaucoma Questions Adapted From Patient Brochures.

Introduction With the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to serve as the primary source of glaucoma information to patients, it is essential to characterize the information that chatbots provide such that providers can tailor discussions, anticipate patient concerns, and identify misleading information. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate glaucoma information from AI chatbots, including ChatGPT-4, Bard, and Bing, by analyzing response accuracy, comprehensiveness, readability, word count, and character count in comparison to each other and glaucoma-related American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) patient materials. Methods Section headers from AAO glaucoma-related patient education brochures were adapted into question form and asked five times to each AI chatbot (ChatGPT-4, Bard, and Bing).

Cell therapy for retinal disease.

Purpose Of Review: This review presents an update on completed stem cell therapy trials aimed at retinal diseases.

Recent Findings: In recent years, several clinical trials have been conducted examining the safety and role of cell therapy in diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt's macular dystrophy, and retinitis pigmentosa. Studies have utilized a variety of cell lines, modes of delivery, and immunosuppressive regimens.

Does the Severity of Foraminal Stenosis Impact Outcomes of Lumbar Decompression Surgery?

Objective: To establish the relationship between the magnitude of foraminal stenosis and 1) improvement in patient-reported outcomes, 2) improvement in motor function after lumbar decompression surgery, and 3) difference in surgical outcomes.

Methods: Patients who underwent one-level posterior lumbar decompression for radiculopathy were retrospectively identified. Patient demographics and surgical characteristics were collected through a query search and manual chart review of the electronic medical records.

Data Heterogeneity in Meta-Analyses: Statistical Methods, Interpretation, and Guidance.

Data heterogeneity determines whether sufficiently strong conclusions can be derived from synthesizing and aggregating the available literature. Multiple tools are available to calculate data heterogeneity, but each tool has pros and cons. Providing a prediction interval may be the most beneficial since it allows readers to quantify heterogeneity in a clear and clinically relevant form.

Predictors of Blood Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spinal Fusion.

Objective: To determine risk factors for perioperative blood transfusion after lumbar fusion surgery.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, a retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent lumbar fusion at a single, urban tertiary academic center was retrospectively retrieved. Our primary outcome, blood transfusion, was collected via chart query.

Is disc height loss at 1 year predictive of pseudarthrosis and patient-reported outcome measures following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with structural allograft?

Objective: The authors sought to determine if postoperative disc height loss is associated with pseudarthrosis following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). They also sought to determine if the amount of postoperative disc height loss is predictive of need for revision for pseudarthrosis, as well as the impact of postoperative disc height loss on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following surgery.

Methods: The authors retrospectively identified patients aged > 18 years who underwent primary one- to three-level ACDF with allograft at a single institution with 1-year postoperative lateral and flexion-extension cervical spine radiographs.

The impact of cage positioning on lumbar lordosis and disc space restoration following minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate patient and surgical factors that predict increased overall lumbar lordosis (LL) and segmental lordosis correction following a minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) procedure.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent one- or two-level LLIF. Preoperative, initial postoperative, and 6-month postoperative measurements of LL, segmental lordosis, anterior disc height, and posterior disc height were collected from standing lateral radiographs for each patient.

The Usefulness of Closed Incision Negative Pressure Wound Therapy After Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To determine if closed incision negative pressure wound therapy (ciNPWT) decreases surgical site infection (SSI) or wound dehiscence after spinal fusion.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to identify studies using ciNPWT after spinal fusion. Funnel plots and quality scores of the articles were performed to determine if the articles were at risk of bias.

Impact of surface roughness and bulk porosity on spinal interbody implants.

Spinal fusion surgeries are performed to treat a multitude of cervical and lumbar diseases that lead to pain and disability. Spinal interbody fusion involves inserting a cage between the spinal vertebrae, and is often utilized for indirect neurologic decompression, correction of spinal alignment, anterior column stability, and increased fusion rate. The long-term success of interbody fusion relies on complete osseointegration between the implant surface and vertebral end plates.

Patients with Dual Shoulder-Spine Disease: Does Operative Order Affect Clinical Outcomes?

Objective: 1) To analyze the effect of operative sequence (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion [ACDF] first or rotator cuff repair [RCR] first) on surgical outcomes after both procedures for patients with dual shoulder-spine injuries and 2) to determine how operative sequence affects patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after surgery.

Methods: Patients >18 years of age who underwent primary ACDF and primary RCR at our institution were retrospectively identified. Only patients with overlapping symptoms before the first procedure were included.

Effect of Fellow Involvement and Experience on Patient Outcomes in Spine Surgery.

Introduction: Investigations in spine surgery have demonstrated that trainee involvement correlates with increased surgical time, readmissions, and revision surgeries; however, the specific effects of spine fellow involvement remain unelucidated. This study aims to investigate the isolated effect of fellow involvement on surgical timing and patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) after spine surgery and evaluate how surgical outcomes differ by fellow experience.

Methods: All patients aged 18 years or older who underwent primary or revision decompression or fusion for degenerative diseases and/or spinal deformity between 2017 and 2019 at a single academic institution were retrospectively identified.

Do Inflammatory Cytokines Affect Patient Outcomes After ACDF?

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objective: The aim was to determine the relationship between serum inflammatory mediators, preoperative cervical spine disease severity, and clinical outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Summary Of Background Data: Given the role of the inflammatory cascade in spinal degenerative disease, it has been hypothesized that inflammatory markers may serve as a predictor of patient outcomes after surgery.