In-Hospital Mortality from Spondylodiscitis: Insights from a Single-Center Retrospective Study.

(1) Background: There is a marked proportion of spondylodiscitis patients who die during the early stage of the disease despite the applied therapy. This study investigates this early mortality and explores the associated risk factors. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of spondylodiscitis patients treated at our Level I spine center between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2022.

Postoperative Communicating Hydrocephalus Following Grade 2/3 Glioma Resection: Incidence, Timing and Risk Factors.

Background: In diffusely infiltrating gliomas, the maximum extent of tumor resection is an important predictor of overall survival, irrespective of histological or molecular subtype or tumor grade. For glioblastoma WHO grade 4 (GBM), it has been shown that resection-related events, such as ventricular opening and ventriculitis, increase the risk for development of communicating hydrocephalus (CH) requiring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion surgery. Risk factors for the development and the incidence of hydrocephalus following resection of other types of infiltrating gliomas are less well established.

VPS dependency after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and influence of admission hyperglycaemia.

Introduction: Hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a common complication which may lead to insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). Our aim is to evaluate a possible influence of specific clinical and biochemical factors on VPS dependency with special emphasis on hyperglycaemia on admission.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analysis of a monocentric database of aSAH patients.

Duration between aneurysm rupture and treatment and its association with outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Timely treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is key to prevent further rupture and poor outcome. We evaluated complications and outcome adjusting for time from haemorrhage to treatment. Retrospective analysis of aSAH patients admitted between 2006 and 2020.

CFR-PEEK Pedicle Screw Instrumentation for Spinal Neoplasms: A Single Center Experience on Safety and Efficacy.

(1) Background: Surgery for spinal metastases has gained a decisive role in modern oncological treatment. Recently, carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFR) polyethyl-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) pedicle screw systems were introduced, reducing artifacts on imaging and showing less perturbation effects on photon radiation. Preliminary clinical experience with CFR-PEEK implants for spinal metastases exists.

Postoperative communicating hydrocephalus following glioblastoma resection: Incidence, timing and risk factors.

Introduction: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. Treatment includes maximally safe surgical resection followed by radiation and/or chemotherapy. However, resection can lead to ventricular opening, potentially increasing the risk for development of communicating hydrocephalus (CH).

Primary Bone Tumors of the Spine-Proposal for Treatment Based on a Single Centre Experience.

This study reports a large single-center series of primary bone tumors of the spine (PBTs). We aimed to review the concepts for management, as this kind of tumor represents a very rare entity, and also propose a new treatment algorithm. Retrospective analysis revealed 92 patients receiving surgery for PBTs from 2007 to 2019 at our center.

Analysis of risk factors for perioperative complications in spine surgery.

Complications in spine surgery can arise in the intraoperative or the immediate postoperative period or in a delayed manner. These complications may lead to severe or even permanent morbidity if left undiagnosed and untreated. We prospectively interviewed 526 patients out of 1140 patients who consecutively underwent spinal surgery in our department between November 2017 and November 2018 and analysed the outcome and complication rates.

Anterior Pituitary Hormones in Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients in Neurocritical Care.

Background: Anterior pituitary hormones in blood follow a circadian rhythm, which may be influenced by various factors such as intracranial pathologies. In cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), pituitary hormones have been collected only selectively and circadian rhythm has not yet been investigated. This pilot study analysed diurnal variations of anterior pituitary hormones in patients in neurocritical care to determine whether circadian rhythmicity exists in these patients.

Treatment during cerebral vasospasm phase-complication association and outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Background: Aneurysm treatment during cerebral vasospasm (CVS) phase is frequently considered as particularly dangerous, mainly because of the risk of cerebral infarct.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH)-specific complications and functional outcome in patients treated during CVS phase.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed a large, retro- and prospectively collected database of aSAH patients admitted to our department between March 2006 and March 2020.

The Impact of Postoperative Tumor Burden on Patients With Brain Metastases.

Background: Brain metastases were considered to be well-defined lesions, but recent research points to infiltrating behavior. Impact of postoperative residual tumor burden (RTB) and extent of resection are still not defined enough.

Patients And Methods: Adult patients with surgery of brain metastases between April 2007 and January 2020 were analyzed.

Navigation for surgical treatment of disorders of the cervical spine - A systematic review.

Introduction: Computer-assisted navigation (CAN) is a well-established tool in spinal instrumentation surgery. Different techniques - each with specific advantages and disadvantages - are used in the cervical spine.

Methods: A structured summary of different spinal navigation techniques and a review of the literature were done to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of specific navigation tools in the cervical spine.

Surgical management of spinal metastases involving the cervicothoracic junction: results of a multicenter, European observational study.

Objective: Surgical management of spinal metastases at the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) is highly complex and relies on case-based decision-making. The aim of this multicentric study was to describe surgical procedures for metastases at the CTJ and provide guidance for clinical and surgical management.

Methods: Patients eligible for this study were those with metastases at the CTJ (C7-T2) who had been consecutively treated in 2005-2019 at 7 academic institutions across Europe.

Surgical Outcome of Trigeminal Schwannomas.

(1) Background: As resection of trigeminal schwannomas is challenging, due to anatomical involvement of the anterior, middle and posterior fossa, the appropriate approach is important. We report our experience with surgical resection of trigeminal schwannomas by simple and classic skull-base approaches. (2) Methods: We performed a retrospective single-center study including patients who underwent surgery for trigeminal schwannoma tumors between June 2007 and May 2020, concentrating on surgical technique, extent of resection, postoperative outcome and complications.

Midline Meningiomas of the Anterior Skull Base: Surgical Outcomes and a Decision-Making Algorithm for Classic Skull Base Approaches.

(1) Background: Midline meningiomas such as olfactory groove (OGMs), planum sphenoidale (PSMs), or tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSMs) are challenging, and determining the appropriate approach is important. We propose a decision algorithm for choosing suitable transcranial approaches. (2) Methods: A retrospective chart review between 06/2007 and 01/2020.

Fungal brain infection-no longer a death sentence.

The aim of this case series was to provide a modern cohort of patients with cerebral aspergillosis and show the effectiveness of modern treatment concepts. In a 10-year period from January 2009 to January 2019, we identified 10 patients (6 male, 4 female) who received surgery or frameless stereotactic drainage of a cerebral aspergilloma at our center. Patients' and disease characteristics were recorded.

Psychological predictors of quality of life after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for degenerative cervical spine disease.

We aimed to identify independent psychological predictors of quality of life (QOL) and functional outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for degenerative cervical spine disease. We prospectively included patients undergoing ACDF for degenerative cervical disc herniation and stenosis. Patients completed a structured psychological assessment including the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (ADS-K), Post-Traumatic Stress Scale-10 (PTSS-10), State Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Anxiety and - Trait Anxiety (STAI-S and STAI-T) and Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) before surgery, after 3 and 12 months.

Low-Grade Infection and Implant Failure Following Spinal Instrumentation: A Prospective Comparative Study.

Background: Spinal instrumentation can be associated with complications, including implant loosening. Hitherto, implant loosening has mainly been attributed to mechanical overload.

Objective: To examine the role of low-grade infections as the cause of implant failure in suspected aseptic implant loosening following spinal instrumentation.

Metabolic Parameters Influence Brain Infarction and Outcome after Resection of Brain Metastases.

Perioperative infarction in brain tumor surgery occurs in about 30-80% of cases and is strongly associated with poor patient outcomes and longer hospital stays. Risk factors contributing to postoperative brain infarction should be assessed. We retrospectively included all patients who underwent surgery for brain metastases between January 2015 and December 2017.

Impact of postoperative radiotherapy on recurrence of primary intracranial atypical meningiomas.

Background: Atypical meningiomas (WHO grade II) have high recurrence rate. However, data on the effect of radiotherapy (RT) is still conflicting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of postoperative RT on the recurrence of primary atypical intracranial meningiomas.

Radiographic measurements of cervical alignment, fusion and subsidence after ACDF surgery and their impact on clinical outcome.

Background: Some recent studies indicate correlations between cervical alignment and clinical outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery. However, there still are no established criteria for the interpretation of alignment, fusion and subsidence in relation to clinical outcome.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 208 radiographs of patients following ACDF with stand-alone PEEK cage implantation was performed.

Permutation entropy in intraoperative ECoG of brain tumour patients in awake tumour surgery- a robust parameter to separate consciousness from unconsciousness.

Awake craniotomies represent an essential opportunity in the case of lesions in eloquent areas. Thus, optimal surveillance of the patient during different stages of sedation, as well as the detection of seizure activity during brain surgery, remains difficult, as skin electrodes for electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis are not applicable in most cases. We assessed the applicability of ECoG to monitor different stages of sedation, as well as the influence of different patient characteristics, such as tumour volume, size, entity, and age or gender on permutation entropy (PeEn).

Quality of life and emotional burden after transnasal and transcranial anterior skull base surgery.

Objective: To analyze psychopathological outcome and health-related quality of life (QOL) for cohorts of patients undergoing transcranial or transnasal anterior skull base surgery.

Methods: A prospective study of patients undergoing elective surgery for various entities of the anterior skull base was performed. Evaluation for depression (ADS-K score) and anxiety (PTSS, STAI-S, STAI-T, and ASI-3 scores) was done before surgery, at 3 and 12 months after surgery.

Surgical and Functional Outcome after Resection of 57 Tentorial Meningiomas.

Tentorial meningiomas (TMs) may challenge the surgeon with their close association to neurovascular structures. We analyzed a consecutive series with regard to surgical and functional outcome following microsurgical resection. We retrospectively reviewed patient charts and imaging data of every patient with a TM resected at a single institution and compared surgical and functional outcomes between groups stratified by choice of approach.