Outcomes for standalone anterolateral corpectomy for thoracolumbar burst fractures.

There is a paucity of data available on the context preceding anterior fusion failure or the need for a posterior fusion, the timing of the second operation, or any correlation between the different instrumentation and failure rates. A retrospective chart review was performed of 131 identified patients who underwent anterolateral corpectomy and fusion for a thoracolumbar burst fracture from 2000 to 2012 in a single institution. 96 patients had clinical and radiographic follow up of greater than two months.

Advances in Cranial Surgery.

The landscape of the cranial neurosurgery has changed tremendously in past couple of decades. The main frontiers including introduction of neuro-endoscopy, minimally invasive skull base approaches, SRS, laser interstitial thermal therapy and use of tubular retractors have revolutionized the management of intracerebral hemorrhages, deep seated tumors other intracranial pathologies. Introduction of these novel techniques is based on smaller incisions with maximal operative corridors, decreased blood loss, shorter hospital stays, decreased post-operative pain and cosmetically appealing scars that improves patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes.

The Risk of Adverse Events in Smokers Undergoing Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Determine if tobacco use is associated with increased risk of postoperative adverse events within 90 days in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery.

Methods: Databases were queried to identify cohort studies that directly compared smokers with non-smokers and provided the absolute number of adverse events and the population at risk.

Chordoma of the Skull Base: A National Cancer Database Analysis of Current Practice Patterns and Outcomes.

Background: Chordomas of the skull base are aggressive locally destructive tumors that arise from the remnants of the fetal notochord. Current guidelines recommend maximal safe surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. However, because of the rarity of these tumors, the optimal radiotherapeutic regimen regarding dose and modality is unclear.

Bifrontal Osteoplastic Flap: An Option to Decrease Infection in Bifrontal Craniotomies with Skull Base Osteotomies.

Infection can be a common complication following bifrontal craniotomy with skull base osteotomies given the potential violation of sinuses and entry into the nasal structures. Our objective was to examine our series of patients who underwent a bifrontal craniotomy with skull base osteotomies and describe the infection rate. We propose the bifrontal osteoplastic flap as an adjunct to infection prevention.

Temporal Evolution of Hypertrophic Olivary Degeneration in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is a rare type of neuronal degeneration seen after interruption of the dentato-rubro-olivary tract also known as the Guillain-Mollaret triangle (GMT). It is associated with hypertrophic changes of the inferior olive. Commonly reported in adults, this lesion presents with ataxia and oculopalatal myoclonus.

Retrospective Data Analysis and Literature Review for a Development of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Pathway for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Objective While enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are associated with shorter length of stay and improved outcomes in multiple surgical specialties, its application to spine surgery has been limited. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common spinal procedure with a relative efficacy and safety profile that makes it suitable for the application of ERAS principles. Reviewing our outcomes and practice and incorporating evidence-based clinical studies, we propose the development of an ERAS pathway for ACDF.

Intra-Arterial Dantrolene for Refractory Cerebral Vasospasm in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background: Dantrolene has a safe side-effect profile and a mechanism of action that makes it attractive as an option for treatment of cerebral vasospasm. The authors report 2 cases of refractory cerebral vasospasm secondary to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage that were successfully treated with intra-arterial (IA) dantrolene.

Case Description: Two patients, a 63-year-old woman and 36-year-old woman, developed severe vasospasm refractory to IA vasodilators after rupture of anterior communicating artery aneurysms.

Middle Cranial Fossa Approach to Repair Tegmen Defects with Autologous or Alloplastic Graft.

Background: Temporal bone tegmen defects may be associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea. A variety of techniques have been used for repair. We report our experience with skull base reconstruction for tegmen defects using either autologous or alloplastic grafts.