Interrater and Intrarater Reliability of the Vertebral Bone Quality Score.

Background: Vertebral bone quality had a significant impact on postoperative outcomes in spinal fusion surgery. New magnetic resonance imaging-based measures, such as the Vertebral Bone Quality (VBQ) score, may allow for bone quality assessment without the radiation associated with conventional testing. In the present study, we sought to assess the intrarater and interrater reliability of VBQ scores calculated by medical professionals and trainees.

Surgical Stabilization for Patients with Mechanical Back Pain Secondary to Metastatic Spinal Disease is Associated with Improved Objective Mobility Metrics: Preliminary Analysis in a Cohort of 26 Patients.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of surgical stabilization for patients with metastatic spinal disease on objective mobility metrics.

Methods: A retrospective chart review identified patients who had mechanical back pain from metastatic spinal disease and underwent spinal stabilization during 2017. Mobility metrics, the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) inpatient mobility short form (IMSF) and the Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility (JH-HLM), were reviewed.

Aortic injury in spine surgery……What a spine surgeon needs to know.

Aortic injury is a rare, yet underreported and underestimated complication of spine surgery. Anatomical relation between the aorta and the spine changes under physiological (positional) as well as pathological (deformity) conditions, which puts the aorta at risk of injury during spine surgery. Clinical presentation of aortic injury ranges from asymptomatic perforation of the aorta to acute fatal bleeding.

Association of Race with Early Outcomes of Elective Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Propensity-Matched and Subgroup Analysis.

Objective: To investigate the impact of race on 30-day postoperative complication rates of elective posterior spinal fusions (PSF) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: Patients who underwent PSF between 2012 and 2018 were reviewed from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program pediatric database. Propensity score matching was utilized to evaluate whether patient race (i.

Patient-specific prediction model for clinical and quality-of-life outcomes after lumbar spine surgery.

Objective: Patient demographics, comorbidities, and baseline quality of life (QOL) are major contributors to postoperative outcomes. The frequency and cost of lumbar spine surgery has been increasing, with controversy revolving around optimal management strategies and outcome predictors. The goal of this study was to generate predictive nomograms and a clinical calculator for postoperative clinical and QOL outcomes following lumbar spine surgery for degenerative disease.

Use of electromyography to predict likelihood of recovery following C5 palsy after posterior cervical spine surgery.

Background: C5 palsy affects approximately 5% to 10% of patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. It has a significant negative impact on patient quality-of-life outcomes and healthcare costs. Although >80% of patients improve, some are left with persistent, debilitating deficits.

Triage Patterns of Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Is Referral to a Tertiary Care Center Necessary?

Objective: Isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (iTSAH) in mild head injuries has more evidence that triage to a tertiary care facility, intensive care unit admission, and repeat imaging is not warranted. Certain factors were identified that predict radiographic and clinical progression in hopes of preventing avoidable cost, which occur with transfer and subsequent management.

Methods: A retrospective analysis identified 67 patients transferred between January 2010 and December 2014 who met inclusion criteria.

Postoperative Delayed Cervical Palsies: Understanding the Etiology.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: This study reviews 1,768 consecutive cervical decompressions with or without instrumented fusion to identify patient-specific and procedural risk factors significantly correlated with the development of delayed cervical palsy (DCP).

Methods: Baseline demographic and procedural information was collected from the electronic medical record.

The clinical relevance of cerebral microbleeds in patients with cerebral ischemia and atrial fibrillation.

The clinical significance of cerebral microbleeds (CMB) in patients hospitalized with atrial fibrillation (AF) and cerebral ischemia is unclear. We aimed to determine the prevalence of CMB in this population and determine the future risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and cerebral infarction (CI). The medical records and brain imaging of patients hospitalized with cerebral ischemia due to AF between 2008 and 2011 were reviewed.

Patient-specific factors affecting hospital costs in lumbar spine surgery.

Objective: Health care-related costs after lumbar spine surgery vary depending on procedure type and patient characteristics. Age, body mass index (BMI), number of spinal levels, and presence of comorbidities probably have significant effects on overall costs. The present study assessed the impact of patient characteristics on hospital costs in patients undergoing elective lumbar decompressive spine surgery.

Understanding the Impact of Obesity on Short-term Outcomes and In-hospital Costs After Instrumented Spinal Fusion.

Background: Obesity rates continue to rise along with the number of obese patients undergoing elective spinal fusion.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of obesity on resource utilization and early complications in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative spine disease.

Methods: A single-institution retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with degenerative spine disease requiring instrumentation between 2008 and 2012.

The Impact of Obesity on Perioperative Resource Utilization after Elective Spine Surgery for Degenerative Disease.

Study Design Retrospective case series. Objective To determine the effect of obesity on the resource utilization and cost in 3270 consecutive patients undergoing elective noninstrumented decompressive surgeries for degenerative spine disease at Mayo Clinic Rochester between 2005 and 2012. Methods Groups were assessed for baseline differences (age, gender, and American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] classification, procedure type, and number of operative levels).