Delayed recurrence of pediatric arteriovenous malformations after radiologically confirmed obliteration.

Objective: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are a major cause of intracerebral hemorrhage in children, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the rate of AVM recurrence in children is significantly higher than in adults. The aim of this study was to define the risk of delayed pediatric AVM (pAVM) recurrence following confirmed radiological obliteration.

Polymicrobial Intracerebral Abscess Growing Mycobacterium avium Complex and Achromobacter xylosoxidans: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Achromobacter xylosoxidans (AX) are uncommon sources of neurosurgical infections, particularly in immunocompetent hosts. We report the first published case of intracranial AX abscess and polymicrobial AX-MAC abscess, as well as the fourth MAC abscess in a non-immunocompromised patient.

Methods: This case report was conducted via retrospective chart review.

Treating Morton's neuroma by injection, neurolysis, or neurectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of pain and satisfaction outcomes.

Background: Individual evidence suggests that multiple modalities can be used to treat entrapment pathology by Morton's neuroma, including injection, neurolysis, and neurectomy. However, their impacts on patient pain and satisfaction have yet to be fully defined or elucidated. Correspondingly, our aim was to pool systematically identified metadata and substantiate the impact of these different modalities in treating Morton's neuroma with respect to these outcomes.

Effects of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Wound Dehiscence and Surgical Site Infection Following Instrumented Spinal Fusion Surgery-A Single Surgeon's Experience.

Background: Incisional negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is used in many surgical specialties to prevent postoperative dehiscence and surgical site infections (SSIs). However, little is known about the role of incisional NPWT in spine fusion surgery. Therefore, we sought to report a single surgeon's experience using incisional NPWT and describe its effects on dehiscence and SSIs after instrumented spine surgery.

H3K27 trimethylation loss in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: a systematic review and meta-analysis with diagnostic implications.

Background: Multiple studies have reported the loss of trimethylation at lysine (K) 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3) in high-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). However, the diagnostic potential of this finding in MPNSTs remains yet to be fully substantiated. Correspondingly, our aim was to pool systematically-identified metadata in the literature and substantiate the incidence of H3K27me3 loss in this setting.

Venous thromboembolic events in patients undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection: incidence, predictors, and review of literature.

Objective: The authors sought to investigate the incidence and predictors of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) after craniotomy for tumor resection, which are not well established, and the efficacy of and risks associated with VTE chemoprophylaxis, which remains controversial.

Methods: The authors investigated the incidence of VTEs in a consecutive series of patients presenting to the authors' institution for resection of an intracranial lesion between 2012 and 2017. Information on patient and tumor characteristics was collected and independent predictors of VTEs were determined using stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis.

The implications of intradural extension in paraspinal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: effects on central nervous system metastases and overall survival.

OBJECTIVEIn this study, the authors sought to compare tumors with intradural extension to those remaining in the epidural or paraspinal space with the hypothesis that intradural extension may be a mechanism for seeding of the CSF with malignant cells, thereby resulting in higher rates of CNS metastases and shorter overall survival.METHODSThe authors searched the medical record for cases of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) identified from 1994 to 2017. The charts of the identified patients were then reviewed for tumor location to identify patients with paraspinal malignancy.

Low-Grade Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Mimicking Schwannoma: Role and Importance of Trimethylated H3K27M Staining.

Background: It is important to differentiate low-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) from benign nerve sheath tumors as MPNSTs may require a more aggressive treatment strategy during and after initial resection. Loss of expression of the trimethyl histone H3 at the Lys27 position (H3K27-me3) has recently been described in MPNSTs and may help distinguish this tumor from pathologic mimics.

Methods: A 43-year-old woman presented with symptoms of radiculopathy and a history of pelvic radiation for cervical cancer 7 years prior.

Skull base plasmacytoma: A unique case of POEMS syndrome with a plasmacytoma causing craniocervical instability.

Introduction: Plasmacytomas, considered to be the solitary counterparts of multiple myeloma, are neoplastic monoclonal plasma cell proliferations within soft tissue or bone. Plasmacytomas often present as a collection of findings known as POEMS-syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, M-Protein spike, and Skin changes).

Case Description: We present a report of a 47 yo male diagnosed with POEMS-syndrome secondary to a skull base plasmacytoma.

Diabetes and Back Pain: Markers of Diabetes Disease Progression Are Associated With Chronic Back Pain.

Diabetes has been associated with the incidence of back pain. However, the relationship between markers of diabetes progression and back pain has not been studied. The objective of this study was to correlate clinical and laboratory measures of diabetes disease severity to the presence of back pain to provide insight into the relationship between these conditions.

Predictors of Discharge to a Nonhome Facility in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Decompression Without Fusion for Degenerative Spine Disease.

Background: Patients recovering from decompressive laminectomy without fusion may require assistance with activities of daily living and physical/occupational therapy upon hospital discharge.

Objective: To examine comorbidities and perioperative characteristics of patients undergoing lumbar decompression for associations with discharge status using a multicenter database.

Methods: A multicenter database was used for this retrospective cohort analysis.

Lumbar decompression in the elderly: increased age as a risk factor for complications and nonhome discharge.

OBJECTIVE With improving medical therapies for chronic conditions, elderly patients increasingly present as candidates for operative intervention for degenerative diseases of the spine. To date, there is a paucity of studies examining complications in lumbar decompression, without fusion, that include patients older than 80 years. Using a multicenter national database, the authors of this study evaluated lumbar decompression in the elderly, including octogenarians, to evaluate for associations between age and patient outcomes.

Predictors of 30-day perioperative morbidity and mortality of unruptured intracranial aneurysm surgery.

Introduction: Large-scale studies examining the incidence and predictors of perioperative complications after surgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) using nationally representative prospectively collected data are lacking in the literature.

Methods: Using the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) dataset, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the complications experienced by patients that underwent surgical management of a UIA between the years of 2007 and 2013. The primary outcomes of interest were mortality within the 30-day perioperative period and adverse discharge disposition to a location other than home.

Increased Operative Time for Benign Cranial Nerve Tumor Resection Correlates with Increased Morbidity Postoperatively.

Objectives: Operative time, previously identified as a risk factor for postoperative morbidity, is examined in patients undergoing benign cranial nerve tumor resection.

Design/setting/participants: This retrospective cohort analysis included patients enrolled in the ACS-NSQIP registry from 2007 through 2013 with a diagnosis of a benign cranial nerve neoplasm.

Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes included postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Versus Open Surgery Spinal Fusion for Spondylolisthesis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Compare minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open surgery (OS) spinal fusion outcomes for the treatment of spondylolisthesis.

Summary Of Background Data: OS spinal fusion is an interventional option for patients with spinal disease who have failed conservative therapy.