Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the reporting of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic data in clinical trials exploring the management of metastatic spine disease (MSD).
Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional analysis of North American completed and published clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov exploring the management of patients with MSD.
Bone mineral density (BMD) is an essential indicator of bone strength and plays a crucial role in the clinical management of various spinal pathologies. Hounsfield units (HUs) calculated from computed tomography (CT) scans are a well-established, effective, and non-invasive method to determine bone density in the lumbar spine when juxtaposed to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, the gold standard for assessing trabecular bone density. Only recently have studies begun to investigate and establish HUs as a reliable and valid alternative for bone quality assessment in the cervical spine as well.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Disparities in access and delivery of care have been shown to disproportionately affect certain racial groups. Studies have been conducted to assess these disparities within the spinal metastasis population, but the extent of their effects in the setting of other socioeconomic measures remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review to understand the effect of racial disparities on outcomes in patients with metastatic spine disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Hounsfield unit (HU) values measured using CT have been increasingly recognized to stand as a reliable corollary to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scores in evaluating bone mineral density. The authors examined the correlation between cervical HU values and DEXA T- and Z-scores and determined novel cervical HU thresholds for determining bone quality classification.
Methods: One hundred patients who underwent both cervical spine CT and DEXA, 85 patients who underwent both lumbar CT and DEXA, and 128 patients who underwent cervical and lumbar CT within 24 months at a single institution were included in this retrospective review.
Childs Nerv Syst
November 2024
Background: Epidermoid cysts are benign, slow growing extra-axial lesions most commonly found in the cerebellopontine angle that have a characteristic imaging pattern of restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).
Methods: A 10-year-old male with a history of asthma and diabetes was found to have a lesion within the fourth ventricle on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain study. MRI showed a well-circumscribed vermian lesion without contrast enhancement or restricted diffusion with mild hydrocephalus.
"Science at the heart of medicine," the ethos of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and its university hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, has shaped the institution's legacy of pivotal contributions in the neurosciences. From its inception to the present day, the leaders of these institutions have epitomized the integration of clinical medicine, technical excellence, and multidisciplinary basic research. Over time these skills have become increasingly imperative for addressing neurological disorders and overcoming obstacles hindering progress in the field.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Radiol
November 2024
Objectives: Percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are common interventions for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. However, there is concern about an increased risk of adjacent-level fractures after treatment. This study aimed to compare the risk of adjacent-level fractures after vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty with the natural history after osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpinal clear cell meningiomas (CCMs) are a rare histological subtype of meningiomas that pose preoperative diagnostic challenges due to their radiographic similarities with other lesions. They are also more aggressive, exhibiting higher rates of recurrence, particularly in pediatric patients. Overcoming diagnostic challenges of these tumors can improve patient outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neurosurg Case Lessons
January 2024
Background: Scoliosis associated with tethered cord syndrome is one of the most challenging spinal deformities to manage. Multiple surgical approaches have been developed, including traditional staged and concomitant procedures, spine-shortening osteotomies, and individual vertebral column resections.
Observations: A 10-year-old female presented with congenital kyphoscoliosis with worsening curve progression, tethered spinal cord, and a history of enuresis.
Background Traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is a surgical emergency and has been associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, it is not known whether mortality from ASDH occurs more frequently in a particular season. Methodology We queried the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) from 2016 to 2019.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and can be used as a potential predictor of stress-related cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to assess whether physical and mental strain during the performance of cerebral endovascular procedure influence time-domain HRV parameters in operating surgeon.
Materials And Methods: Heart rate (HR) and HRV metrics were measured using a HR sensor chest strap before, during, and after neuroendovascular interventions performed by a single neurosurgeon.
Introduction: Moyamoya has been extensively described in East Asian populations, and despite its accepted clinical presentation and course, it is fundamental to describe major cerebrovascular complications in other ethnically diverse samples. Hence, we sought to determine if distinct ethnic groups are at higher risk of developing stroke using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.
Methods: We included all moyamoya patients admitted from January 2013 until December 2018 in the NIS database.
Background: Nonmissile penetrating spinal injuries are rare and potentially debilitating. Such injuries can sometimes be complicated by the retention of a foreign body, which is usually part of the assailant's weapon, making their management even more problematic.
Observations: We present a unique case of stab wound to the neck with a retained ice pick, traversing the spinal canal from one intervertebral foramen to the other, yet with no ensuing neurological damage to the patient.
The Woven Endobridge (WEB) device is an FDA-approved intrasaccular flow disruptor to treat most intracranial wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. Based on the rising experience with safe and effective results, it has been increasingly utilized for the treatment of residual and recurrent aneurysms. Additionally, the device has been reported as an off-label treatment option for Posterior communicating (Pcom) artery aneurysms with optimal morphology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Sickle cell disease is a common haemoglobinopathy that significantly increases the risk of ischemic stroke. Because the risk factors for ischemic stroke onset and mortality in non-sickle cell disease patients have been largely elucidated, this paper aims to analyze risk factors for ischemic stroke mortality in sickle cell disease patients, which remain largely unknown.
Materials/methods: The National Inpatient Sample database (2016-2017) was used to develop a multivariable regression model for risk quantification of known ischemic stroke risk factors for in-hospital mortality in ischemic stroke patients with and without sickle cell disease.
Introduction: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a well-established treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Variability in outcomes among thrombectomy patients results in a need for patient centered approaches to recovery. Identifying key factors that are associated with outcomes can help prognosticate and direct resources for continued improvement post-treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis
September 2021
Objectives: Ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke are the most common sequelae of the Moyamoya variants [Moyamoya disease (MMD) and syndrome (MMS)]. We sought to determine the rates of stroke subtypes and the predictive factors of arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) utilizing a large data sample of MMD and MMS patients in the US.
Materials And Methods: We queried the 2016 and 2017 National Inpatient Sample database for Moyamoya diagnosis plus any of the following associated conditions; sickle cell disease, neurofibromatosis type 1, cranial radiation therapy or Down Syndrome.
Objective: Hemorrhage transformation (HT) is a known complication of arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). In addition, it is known that the increase of proinflammatory immune cells in the brain tissue after AIS predict worse outcomes. However, it is not clear whether inflammation due to preceding or post-stroke infections affect outcomes and moreover, if systemic inflammatory markers could be useful as a clinical prediction tool for HT post-stroke.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Flow diversion is an effective treatment modality for intracranial aneurysms but is associated with ischemic and hemorrhagic complications. Patients treated with flow diversion require dual antiplatelet therapy and subsequent platelet function tests. At our institution, Thromboelastography with Platelet Mapping (TEG-PM) is the test of choice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Historically, the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) was cited as a higher post-operative risk for patients harboring meningiomas. However, recent literature has suggested that there may be no elevated risk for VTE among these patients. The authors perform both a retrospective review of their own cases as well as a systematic review of the literature in order to determine the frequency of the VTE and rate of post-operative hemorrhage in this patient population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Brain metastases are becoming increasingly more prevalent as cancer patients survive longer with both improved local and systemic therapy. Little is known, however, of the natural growth rates of brain metastases. This investigation aims to ascertain this growth rate of these lesions before the initiation of any CNS- directed therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF