Serum S100A8/A9 Correlates to Surgery-Free Interval in Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis.

Objective: Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) is a progressive fibrotic condition of the subglottis that presents in women of northern European descent. Endoscopic dilation is a common surgical approach to management of iSGS. The surgery-free interval, or the time between endoscopic dilation procedures is considered an indicator of disease severity.

Sirolimus-eluting airway stent reduces profibrotic Th17 cells and inhibits laryngotracheal stenosis.

Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is pathologic fibrotic narrowing of the larynx and trachea characterized by hypermetabolic fibroblasts and CD4+ T cell-mediated inflammation. However, the role of CD4+ T cells in promoting LTS fibrosis is unknown. The mTOR signaling pathways have been shown to regulate the T cell phenotype.

Myeloid Phenotypes in Tracheostomy-Associated Granulation Tissue.

Objective(s): Tracheostomy-associated granulation tissue is a common, recurrent problem occurring secondary to chronic mucosal irritation. Although granulation tissue is composed of predominantly innate immune cells, the phenotype of monocytes and macrophages in tracheostomy-associated granulation tissue is unknown. This study aims to define the myeloid cell population in granulation tissue secondary to tracheostomy.

New Medical Device and Therapeutic Approvals in Otolaryngology: State of the Art Review of 2021.

Objective: To evaluate new medical devices and drugs pertinent to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery that were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021.

Data Sources: Publicly available FDA device and drug approvals from ENT (ear, nose, and throat), anesthesia, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, and general surgery FDA committees.

Review Methods: FDA device and therapeutic approvals were identified and reviewed by members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's Medical Devices and Drugs Committee.

Impact of Low-Volume, Low-Pressure Tracheostomy Cuffs on Acute Mucosal Injury in Swine.

Objective: Tapered low-volume, low-pressure (LVLP) cuffs have been introduced to improve sealing and reduce injury from tracheostomy and endotracheal intubation compared to traditional cylindrical high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) cuffs. The objective of this study is to develop a swine model of tracheostomy injury and to compare live tissue response following LVLP and HVLP tracheostomy placement.

Study Design: In vivo animal study.

Phenotypic Epithelial Changes in Laryngotracheal Stenosis.

Objective: Characterize and quantify epithelium in multiple etiologies of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) to better understand its role in pathogenesis.

Study Design: Controlled in vitro cohort study.

Methods: Endoscopic brush biopsy samples of both normal (non-scar) and scar were obtained in four patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) and four patients with iatrogenic LTS (iLTS).

Delayed Diagnosis of Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis.

Objective: Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) is a rare disease, causing life-threatening dyspnea secondary to scarring. Perhaps because it is rarely encountered, there is often a delay in diagnosing iSGS. The objective of this study is to characterize diagnostic delay of iSGS, factors that prolong delay, and its impact on iSGS patients.

Quantifying Viral Particle Aerosolization Risk During Tracheostomy Surgery and Tracheostomy Care.

Importance: During respiratory disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, aerosol-generating procedures, including tracheostomy, are associated with the risk of viral transmission to health care workers.

Objective: To quantify particle aerosolization during tracheostomy surgery and tracheostomy care and to evaluate interventions that minimize the risk of viral particle exposure.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This comparative effectiveness study was conducted from August 2020 to January 2021 at a tertiary care academic institution.

Identifying Phenotypically Distinct Fibroblast Subsets in Type 2 Diabetes-Associated Iatrogenic Laryngotracheal Stenosis.

Objective: Iatrogenic laryngotracheal stenosis (iLTS) is the pathologic narrowing of the glottis, subglottis, and/or trachea secondary to intubation or tracheostomy related injury. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are more likely to develop iLTS. To date, the metabolomics and phenotypic expression of cell markers in fibroblasts derived from patients with T2DM and iLTS are largely unknown.

Effects of Single-Dose Versus Hypofractionated Focused Radiation on Vertebral Body Structure and Biomechanical Integrity: Development of a Rabbit Radiation-Induced Vertebral Compression Fracture Model.

Purpose: Vertebral compression fracture is a common complication of spinal stereotactic body radiation therapy. Development of an in vivo model is crucial to fully understand how focal radiation treatment affects vertebral integrity and biology at various dose fractionation regimens. We present a clinically relevant animal model to analyze the effects of localized, high-dose radiation on vertebral microstructure and mechanical integrity.

A mouse model for the study of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell survival and proliferation in lumbar spinal fusion.

Purpose: Bone marrow aspirate has been successfully used alongside a variety of grafting materials to clinically augment spinal fusion. However, little is known about the fate of these transplanted cells. Herein, we develop a novel murine model for the in vivo monitoring of implanted bone marrow cells (BMCs) following spinal fusion.

Systematic Approach for Anterior Corpectomy through a Transthoracic Exposure.

While several approaches have been suggested for performing a transthoracic corpectomy of the thoracolumbar spine, the steep learning curve and high risk of operative morbidity often dissuades its use clinically. As a result, posterior approaches have been more frequently used, though transthoracic approaches often allow for improved access for more complete decompression of the spinal cord. Additionally, the transthoracic approach allows for more complete removal of vertebral body lesions along with better access for reconstruction of the anterior column.

Prognostic factors associated with pain palliation after spine stereotactic body radiation therapy.

OBJECT The number of patients with spinal tumors is rapidly increasing; spinal metastases develop in more than 30% of cancer patients during the course of their illness. Such lesions can significantly decrease quality of life, often necessitating treatment. Stereotactic radiosurgery has effectively achieved local control and symptomatic relief for these patients.

A systematic review of the use of expandable cages in the cervical spine.

Expandable vertebral body replacement cages (VBRs) have been widely used for reconstruction of the thoracolumbar spine following corpectomy. However, their use in the cervical spine is less common, and currently, no expandable cages on the market are cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in the cervical spine. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review on the use of expandable cages in the treatment of cervical spine pathology with a focus on fusion rates, deformity correction, complications, and indications.

The biomechanics of pedicle screw augmentation with cement.

Background Context: A persistent challenge in spine surgery is improving screw fixation in patients with poor bone quality. Augmenting pedicle screw fixation with cement appears to be a promising approach.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey the literature and assess the previous biomechanical studies on pedicle screw augmentation with cement to provide in-depth discussions of the biomechanical benefits of multiple parameters in screw augmentation.

Analgesic therapy for major spine surgery.

Pain following spine surgery is often difficult to control and can persist. Reduction of this pain requires a multidisciplinary approach that depends on contributions of both surgeons and anesthesiologists. The spine surgeon's role involves limiting manipulation of structures contributing to pain sensation in the spine, which requires an in-depth understanding of the specific anatomic etiologies of pain originating along the spinal axis.

Techniques and accuracy of thoracolumbar pedicle screw placement.

Pedicle screw instrumentation has been used to stabilize the thoracolumbar spine for several decades. Although pedicle screws were originally placed via a free-hand technique, there has been a movement in favor of pedicle screw placement with the aid of imaging. Such assistive techniques include fluoroscopy guidance and stereotactic navigation.

Desmoid Tumor Formation following Posterior Spinal Instrumentation Placement.

Study Design Case report. Objective The objective of the article is to illustrate a case of desmoid tumor (DT) formation after posterior instrumentation of the thoracic spine. Methods A 57-year-old woman presented with lower extremity clumsiness, balance, and ambulation difficulty resulting from spinal cord compression due to an upper thoracic atypical vertebral hemangioma.

Quantitative study of parathyroid hormone (1-34) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 on spinal fusion outcomes in a rabbit model of lumbar dorsolateral intertransverse process arthrodesis.

Study Design: A posterolateral rabbit spinal fusion model was used to evaluate the effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and teriparatide (PTH [1-34]) used individually and in combination on spinal fusion outcomes.

Objective: To test the efficacy of parathyroid hormone on improving spinal fusion outcomes when used with BMP-2.

Summary Of Background Data: Of the more than 250,000 spinal fusion surgical procedures performed each year, 5% to 35% of these will result in pseudarthrosis.

Intercostal aneurysm causing spinal cord compression in an NF1 patient.

Purpose: The authors illustrate a case where an intercostal aneurysm was observed in a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis.

Methods: A 32-year-old man with NF1 presented with thoracic back pain. The patient's symptoms progressed to include myelopathic symptoms, including difficulty urinating, numbness in the lower extremities, and increased weakness.

Rapid measurement of auditory filter shape in mice using the auditory brainstem response and notched noise.

The notched noise method is an effective procedure for measuring frequency resolution and auditory filter shapes in both human and animal models of hearing. Briefly, auditory filter shape and bandwidth estimates are derived from masked thresholds for tones presented in noise containing widening spectral notches. As the spectral notch widens, increasingly less of the noise falls within the auditory filter and the tone becomes more detectible until the notch width exceeds the filter bandwidth.