Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and Shunt Complications per Valve Type: A Meta-Analysis of Proportions.

Background: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus is classically recognized by the triad of gait disturbance, cognitive dysfunction, and urinary incontinence. Since ventricular shunting may be affected by valve type, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between valve characteristics and outcomes.

Methods: English language studies that reported valve types, outcomes, and associated complications were included.

Is young adult idiopathic scoliosis a distinct clinical entity from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis comparing pre-operative characteristics and operative outcomes.

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a systematic review of the literature comparing pre-operative, intraoperative, and post-operative characteristics between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and young adult idiopathic scoliosis (YAdIS) patients.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a search of the PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central databases to identify full-text articles in the English-language literature. Our inclusion criteria were studies that compared preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics between AIS and YAdIS patients.

Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy as a Treatment Option for Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Metastases to the Brain: A Case Report.

We present the unique case of a 60-year-old female with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) who underwent laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for metastatic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) of the brain. She presented to the emergency room complaining of one week of dysarthria and facial droop. An MRI of the brain demonstrated a homogeneously enhancing left frontal mass; although rare, given her history of pulmonary MPNST, brain invasion was considered likely.

Clinical Outcomes and Complication Profile of Spine Surgery in Septuagenarians and Octogenarians: Case Series.

Objective: The aging global population presents an increasing challenge for spine surgeons. Advancements in spine surgery, including minimally invasive techniques, have broadened treatment options, potentially benefiting older patients. This study aims to explore the clinical outcomes of spine surgery in septuagenarians and octogenarians.

Outcome differences between males and females undergoing deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) occurs more commonly in women. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an emerging treatment for TRD, and its efficacy continues to be explored. However, differences in treatment outcomes between males and females have yet to be explored in formal analysis.

C2 versus C3 or C4 as the upper instrumented vertebra for long-segment cervical fusions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Selecting C2 versus C3 or C4 (i.e., C3/C4) as the rostral anchoring level in long-segment cervical fusions is a common clinical conundrum.

Indications for Fusion With Intradural Spine Tumor Resection in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The evidence for instrumented fusion in the setting of degenerative, traumatic, or congenital deformity is well established. Data on fusion indications in intradural spinal tumors (IDST) are scarce and reduced to retrospective studies. The objective of this work is to systematically review the published literature since 2015 and analyze the change of practice patterns for stabilization and fusion after intradural tumor resection in adults.

History of Ablation Therapies in Neurosurgery.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) and high-intensity focused ultrasound thermal ablation are treatment options with great potential to treat glioblastoma, metastasis, epilepsy, essential tremor, and chronic pain. Results from recent studies show that LITT is a viable alternative to conventional surgical techniques in select patient populations. Although many of the bases for these treatments have existed since the 1930s, the most important advancement in these techniques has occurred in the last 15 years and the coming years hold much promise for these treatments.

Moderate and severe TBI in children and adolescents: The effects of age, sex, and injury severity on patient outcome 6 months after injury.

The interaction of age, sex, and outcomes of children with head injury remains incompletely understood and these factors need rigorous evaluation in prognostic models for pediatric head injury. We leveraged our large institutional pediatric TBI population to evaluate age and sex along with a series of predictive factors used in the acute care of injury to describe the response and outcome of children and adolescents with moderate to severe injury. We hypothesized that younger age at injury and male sex would be associated with adverse outcomes and that a novel GCS-based scale incorporating pupillary response (GCS-P) would have superior performance in predicting 6-month outcome.

Spinal surgery: variations in health care costs and implications for episode-based bundled payments.

Study Design: Retrospective, observational.

Objective: To simulate what episodes of care in spinal surgery might look like in a bundled payment system and to evaluate the associated costs and characteristics.

Summary Of Background Data: Episode-based payment bundling has received considerable attention as a potential method to help curb the rise in health care spending and is being investigated as a new payment model as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Predictors of treatment delay in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

Background And Purpose: Expeditious treatment is critical in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) due to the risk of rebleeding. This study aimed to define predictors of treatment delay among aSAH patients.

Methods: A retrospective study of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database identified patients diagnosed with SAH between 2002 and 2007.

Effectiveness of radiotherapy for elderly patients with anaplastic gliomas.

Postoperative radiotherapy (RT) is utilized routinely in the management of anaplastic World Health Organization Grade III gliomas (AG), including anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO). However, the optimal role of RT in elderly AG patients remains controversial. We evaluated the effectiveness of RT in elderly AG patients using a national cancer registry.

The effect of weight in the outcomes of meningioma patients.

Background: Meningiomas are more prevalent in women and mostly benign in nature. Our aim was to evaluate the association of weight and outcomes of meningioma patients undergoing craniotomy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of meningioma patients discharged postcraniotomy between 1998 and 2007 was conducted.

Trends in surgical use and associated patient outcomes in the treatment of acoustic neuroma.

Objective: To investigate recent trends in surgical volume and associated patient outcomes in the treatment of acoustic neuromas.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2000-2007; cases from 2005 were excluded because of coding inconsistencies. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to describe surgical trends and analyze inpatient outcomes.

Racial and gender disparities and the role of primary tumor type on inpatient outcomes following craniotomy for brain metastases.

Background: Race and gender disparities in outcomes have been documented in many cancers. Our study evaluated the role of race, gender, and tumor primary site in predicting in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, and complications among patients with brain metastases.

Methods: Using Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 1998 to 2007, we evaluated in-patient outcomes of brain metastases patients who underwent a craniotomy in U.