The Role of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion on Relieving Axial Neck Pain in Patients With Single-Level Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effects of anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) on axial neck pain in adult patients receiving surgery for myelopathy, radiculopathy, or a combination of both.

Methods: Two independent reviewers completed a librarian-assisted search of 4 databases.

Bedside Optic Nerve Ultrasonography for Diagnosing Increased Intracranial Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Optic nerve ultrasonography (optic nerve sheath diameter sonography) has been proposed as a noninvasive, quick method for diagnosing increased intracranial pressure.

Purpose: To examine the accuracy of optic nerve ultrasonography for diagnosing increased intracranial pressure in children and adults.

Data Sources: 13 databases from inception through May 2019, reference lists, and meeting proceedings.

Diagnosis of elevated intracranial pressure in critically ill adults: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To summarise and compare the accuracy of physical examination, computed tomography (CT), sonography of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), and transcranial Doppler pulsatility index (TCD-PI) for the diagnosis of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) in critically ill patients.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Six databases, including Medline, EMBASE, and PubMed, from inception to 1 September 2018.

Predicting Outcomes After Surgical Decompression for Mild Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Moving Beyond the mJOA to Identify Surgical Candidates.

Background: Patients with mild degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) represent a heterogeneous population, and indications for surgical decompression remain controversial.

Objective: To dissociate patient phenotypes within the broader population of mild DCM associated with degree of impairment in baseline quality of life (QOL) and surgical outcomes.

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of patients with mild DCM (modified Japanese Orthopedic Association [mJOA] 15-17) enrolled in the AOSpine CSM-NA/CSM-I studies.

Investigating the utility of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: analysis of over 140,000 cases from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample data set.

Objective: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is a useful adjunct in spine surgery, with proven benefit in scoliosis-correction surgery. However, its utility for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is unclear, as there are few head-to-head comparisons of ACDF outcomes with and without the use of IONM. The authors sought to evaluate the impact of IONM on the safety and cost of ACDF.

Surgical outcomes for medically intractable epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the current state of epilepsy surgery and establish estimates of seizure outcomes following surgery for medically intractable epilepsy (MIE) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched without publication date restriction. This search was supplemented by a manual screen of key epilepsy and neurosurgical journals (January 2005 to December 2016).

Biopsy Versus Subtotal Versus Gross Total Resection in Patients with Low-Grade Glioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The role of the extent of surgical resection (EOR) in clinical outcomes for patients with low-grade glioma requires further examination. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the association between variable degrees of EOR and clinical outcomes for patients with low-grade glioma.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and searched databases for reports of low-grade glioma EOR.

Dendritic cell vaccines for high-grade gliomas.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and fatal primary adult brain tumor. To date, various promising chemotherapeutic regimens have been trialed for use in GBM; however, temozolomide (TMZ) therapy remains the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved first-line chemotherapeutic option for newly diagnosed GBM. Despite maximal therapy with surgery and combined concurrent chemoradiation and adjuvant TMZ therapy, the median overall survival remains approximately 14 months.

Highly Cited Works in Spinal Disorders: The Top 100 Most Cited Papers Published in Spine Journals.

Study Design: Bibliometric analysis.

Objective: To identify, and summarize the key findings of, the top 100 most highly cited works published in spinal disorder topic-specific journals.

Summary Of Background Data: There is an abundance of published articles pertaining to spine surgery and spinal disorders.

Mortality and morbidity in acutely ill adults treated with liberal versus conservative oxygen therapy (IOTA): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Supplemental oxygen is often administered liberally to acutely ill adults, but the credibility of the evidence for this practice is unclear. We systematically reviewed the efficacy and safety of liberal versus conservative oxygen therapy in acutely ill adults.

Methods: In the Improving Oxygen Therapy in Acute-illness (IOTA) systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, HealthSTAR, LILACS, PapersFirst, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry from inception to Oct 25, 2017, for randomised controlled trials comparing liberal and conservative oxygen therapy in acutely ill adults (aged ≥18 years).

Atraumatic versus conventional lumbar puncture needles: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Atraumatic needles have been proposed to lower complication rates after lumbar puncture. However, several surveys indicate that clinical adoption of these needles remains poor. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare patient outcomes after lumbar puncture with atraumatic needles and conventional needles.

Optic nerve sheath diameter sonography for the diagnosis of increased intracranial pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Introduction: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a significant neurological issue that may lead to permanent neurological sequelae. When evaluating patients with traumatic brain injury, it is crucial to identify those with high ICP in order to expedite ICP lowering measures and maintain adequate cerebral perfusion. Several measures are used to recognise patients with increased ICP including CT scan, MRI, ICP monitor, and lumbar puncture (LP).

Sublaminar wire migration into the medulla oblongata: a case report.

Atlantoaxial procedures have been developed in an effort to ensure solid C1-C2 fusion. However, techniques that involve sublaminar wiring have the potential for neural structure injury. We present the management of a patient who previously underwent Gallie fusion 10 years ago and is presenting with a dislodged titanium wire that has migrated into the medulla oblongata.

The clinical significance of isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in mild traumatic brain injury: A meta-analysis.

Background: The rates of clinical and radiographic progression and the need for neurosurgical intervention in patients with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (itSAH) after mild traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score, 13-15) has not been well established.The aim of this work was to review the evidence regarding patient outcomes after mild traumatic brain injury with itSAH.

Methods: Two authors independently extracted the data according to a predefined protocol.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy: Outcome Analysis of an Anterior Entry Point.

Background: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a safe and effective treatment for hydrocephalus. An entry point located 4 cm anterior to the coronal suture, 3 cm anterior to Kocher point, and approximately 9 cm from the pupil at the midpupillary line has been used successfully for the last 20 years in our center. We aimed to evaluate this alternative anterior entry point routinely used for ETV, with or without concurrent endoscopic biopsy.

Metastatic Liposarcoma of the Skull Base: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Background And Importance: Myxoid liposarcoma is not an uncommon form of sarcoma. However, it usually affects the lower extremity long bones. Scapular involvement is extremely rare, as is a metastasis to the parasellar region.

Does Transection of the C2 Nerve Roots During C1 Lateral Mass Screw Placement for Atlantoaxial Fixation Result in a Superior Outcome?: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-analysis.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of transection of the C2 roots during C1 lateral mass screw placement for atlantoaxial fixation.

Summary Of Background Data: Transection of the C2 nerve roots has been recommended during atlantoaxial fixation to facilitate C1 lateral mass screw placement and possibly reduce postoperative occipital neuralgia, although this practice remains controversial.

The identification of human pituitary adenoma-initiating cells.

Classified as benign central nervous system (CNS) tumors, pituitary adenomas account for 10% of diagnosed intracranial neoplasms. Although surgery is often curative, patients with invasive macroadenomas continue to experience significant morbidity and are prone to tumor recurrence. Given the identification of human brain tumor-initiating cells (TICs) that initiate and maintain tumor growth while promoting disease progression and relapse in multiple CNS tumors, we investigated whether TICs also drive the growth of human pituitary adenomas.

Subdural Hematoma Mimickers: A Systematic Review.

Background: A variety of subdural pathologies that may mimic hematomas are reported in the literature. We aimed to identify the atypical clinical and radiologic presentations of subdural masses that may mimic subdural hematomas.

Methods: A systematic review of MEDLINE and Embase was conducted independently by 2 reviewers to identify articles describing subdural hematoma mimickers.