Predictive value of hypoalbuminemia and severe hypoalbuminemia in oncologic spine surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected national database.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of hypoalbuminemia on outcomes in surgical spine oncology patients.

Summary Of Background Data: It is well documented that patients with hypoalbuminemia (albumin <3.

Comparison of 30-Day Outcomes in Patients with Cervical Spine Metastasis Undergoing Corpectomy Versus Posterior Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion: A 2006-2016 ACS-NSQIP Database Study.

Background: Patients with metastatic disease to the cervical spine have historically had poor outcomes, with an average survival of 15 months. Every effort should be made to avoid complications of surgical intervention for stabilization and decompression.

Methods: We identified patients who had undergone anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) or posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion (PCLF) for metastatic disease of the cervical spine using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2006 to 2016.

Risk Factors for 30-Day Non-Neurological Morbidity and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Vestibular Schwannoma.

 We analyzed perioperative risk factors for morbidity and mortality for the patients undergoing surgical intervention for vestibular schwannoma along with rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks that required surgery.  Patients undergoing surgery vestibular schwannoma were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2012 to 2016 using current procedural terminology (CPT) codes for posterior fossa surgical approaches and International Classification of Diseases 9th revision (ICD 9) and ICD 10 codes for peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Preoperative laboratories, comorbidities, and operative times were analyzed along with CSF leaks and unplanned returns to the operating room.

Radiographic Pearls in the Evaluation of an Extradural Thoracic Meningioma: A Case Report.

Spinal meningiomas are the most common of adult spinal tumors. Spinal meningiomas account for up to 45% of all intradural spinal tumors in adults and up to 25% of all spinal tumors. While spinal meningiomas are traditionally classified as intradural lesions, up to 14% may have an extradural component.

Predictive parameters for the antecedent development of hip pathology associated with long segment fusions to the pelvis for the treatment of adult spinal deformity.

Background: The surgical treatment of adult scoliosis frequently involves long segment fusions across the lumbosacral joints that redistribute tremendous amounts of force to the remaining mobile spinal segments as well as to the pelvis and hip joints. Whether or not these forces increase the risk of femoral bone pathology remains unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between long segment spinal fusions to the pelvis and the antecedent development of degenerative hip pathologies as well as what predictive patient characteristics, if any, correlate with their development.

Somatosensory evoked potential monitoring detection of carotid compression during ACDF surgery in a patient with a vascularly isolated hemisphere.

The authors report herein a case of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery in which findings on somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring led to the correction of carotid artery compression in a patient with a vascularly isolated hemisphere (no significant collateral blood vessels to the carotid artery territory). The amplitude of the cortical SSEP component to left ulnar nerve stimulation progressively decreased in multiple runs, but there were no changes in the cervicomedullary SSEP component to the same stimulus. When the lateral (right-sided) retractor was removed, the cortical SSEP component returned to baseline.

Retained needle after cement injection during vertebral augmentation and its management strategy.

A middle aged patient with multiple myeloma resulting in numerous pathological fractures underwent an L2, L3, and L5 vertebral cement augmentation for pain relief. After injection, the trocar at L2, the final level, could not be withdrawn despite several attempts of needle rotation, a second needle inserted to distract on, and rocking the needle on the pedicle. After a neurosurgical consultation, the patient was transferred to the operating room for open removal.

Retained needle after cement injection during vertebral augmentation and its management strategy.

A middle aged patient with multiple myeloma resulting in numerous pathological fractures underwent an L2, L3, and L5 vertebral cement augmentation for pain relief. After injection, the trocar at L2, the final level, could not be withdrawn despite several attempts of needle rotation, a second needle inserted to distract on, and rocking the needle on the pedicle. After a neurosurgical consultation, the patient was transferred to the operating room for open removal.