Diagnosis and management of de novo non-specific spinal infections: European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) Spine Section Delphi consensus recommendations.

Introduction: The management of de novo non-specific spinal infections (spondylodiscitis - SD) remains inconsistent due to varying clinical practices and a lack of high-level evidence, particularly regarding the indications for surgery.

Research Question: This study aims to develop consensus recommendations for the diagnosis and management of SD, addressing diagnostic modalities, surgical indications, and treatment strategies.

Material And Methods: A Delphi process was conducted with 26 experts from the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS).

Cavernous Malformations and Hemangioblastomas of the Spinal Cord Show Distinct Differences in Clinical Course - A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis of 112 Patients.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Cavernous malformations (CMs) and hemangioblastomas (HBs) of the spinal cord exhibit distinct differences in histopathology but similarities in the neurological course. The aim of our study was to analyze the clinical differences between the vascular pathologies and a benign tumor of the spinal cord in a perioperative situation.

Preoperative angiographic considerations and neurological outcome after surgical treatment of intradural spinal hemangioblastoma: a multicenter retrospective case series.

Purpose: Intradural spinal hemangioblastomas are rare highly hypervascularized benign neoplasms. Surgical resection remains the treatment of choice, with a significant risk of postoperative neurological deterioration. Due to the tumor infrequency, scientific evidence is scarce and limited to case reports and small case series.

Spinal cord compression in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis.

Purpose: Spinal abnormalities frequently occur in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) types I, II, IV, and VI. The symptoms are manifold, which sometimes prolongs the diagnostic process and delays therapy. Spinal stenosis (SS) with spinal cord compression due to bone malformations and an accumulation of storage material in soft tissue are serious complications of MPS disease.

Intraoperative blood loss in oncological spine surgery.

Objective: Intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing oncological spine surgery poses a major challenge for vulnerable patients. The goal of this study was to assess how the surgical procedure, tumor type, and tumor anatomy, as well as anesthesiological parameters, affect intraoperative blood loss in oncological spine surgery and to use this information to generate a short preoperative checklist for spine surgeons and anesthesiologists to identify patients at risk for increased intraoperative blood loss.

Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 430 oncological patients who underwent spine surgery between 2013 and 2018 at the university medical spine center.

Posterior vertebral column resection as a safe procedure leading to solid bone fusion in metastatic epidural spinal cord compression.

Objective: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and greatly decreases a patient's quality of life. Vertebral metastases often lead to epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) requiring surgical therapy. It has previously been shown that in patients with metastatic ESCC (MESCC), a surgical intervention leads to an improved outcome.

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.

Refining the treatment of spinal cord lesions: experience from 500 cases.

Objective: Tumorous lesions of the spinal cord, as well as some vascular lesions like cavernous hemangiomas, demand careful consideration as to the indication and approach for surgery. As these lesions are rare in any departmental series, refinement of treatment strategies evolves over long periods. In this context, the authors evaluated a series of 500 intramedullary lesions for approach, technique, outcome, complications, and follow-up.

Spine surgery in pregnant women: a multicenter case series and proposition of treatment algorithm.

Purpose: Spinal diseases requiring urgent surgical treatment are rare during pregnancy. Evidence is sparse and data are only available in the form of case reports. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive guide for spinal surgery on pregnant patients and highlight diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

Surgical treatment and neurological outcome of infiltrating intramedullary astrocytoma WHO II-IV: a multicenter retrospective case series.

Introduction: Primary malignant spinal astrocytomas present rare oncological entities with limited median survival and rapid neurological deterioration. Evidence on surgical therapy, adjuvant treatment, and neurological outcome is sparse. We aim to describe the treatment algorithm and clinical features on patients with infiltrating intramedullary astrocytomas graded WHO II-IV.

Impact of the localization on disease course and clinical management in spondylodiscitis.

Objectives: Spondylodiscitis is a severe infection of the spine that can take a diverse number of disease courses depending on its localization, resulting in specific therapeutic strategies. This study aims to identify localization specific characteristics and clinical parameters for spondylodiscitis.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 211 patients from 2013-2018 with proven spondylodiscitis.

To fuse or not to fuse: a survey among members of the German Spine Society (DWG) regarding lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis.

Introduction: Surgical treatment methods for degenerative spondylolisthesis (decompression versus decompression and fusion) have been critically debated. The medical care situation is almost unknown for either treatment. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to provide information regarding the use of parameters for decision-making and the employment of surgical techniques.

Intraocular pressure during neurosurgical procedures in context of head position and loss of cerebrospinal fluid.

Objective: Perioperative visual loss (POVL) is a rare but serious complication in surgical disciplines, especially in spine surgery. The exact pathophysiology of POVL remains unclear, but elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is known to be part of it. As POVL is rarely described in patients undergoing intracranial or intradural surgery, the aim of this study was to investigate the course of IOP during neurosurgical procedures with opening of the dura mater and loss of CSF.

Extensive Spinal Adhesive Arachnoiditis After Extradural Spinal Infection-Spinal Dura Mater Is No Barrier to Inflammation.

Background: Spinal adhesive arachnoiditis (SAA) is an inflammatory process of the meninges. Cystic changes and cicatrization may lead to neurologic deficits and immobilization. Therapy is difficult and often unsatisfactory.

Spinal ependymoma in adults: a multicenter investigation of surgical outcome and progression-free survival.

OBJECTIVE Spinal ependymomas are rare glial neoplasms. Because their incidence is low, only a few larger studies have investigated this condition. There are no clear data concerning prognosis and therapy.

Basilar impression as complication of Grisel's syndrome.

Grisel's syndrome presents a rare disease. Here, we present a peculiar case of Grisel's syndrome with an unfavorable course developing a basilar impression. This highlights the importance of close clinical and radiological follow-up even in cases where the course seems uncomplicated.

Role of Indocyanine Green in Fluorescence Imaging with Near-Infrared Light to Identify Sentinel Lymph Nodes, Lymphatic Vessels and Pathways Prior to Surgery - A Critical Evaluation of Options.

Modern surgical strategies aim to reduce trauma by using functional imaging to improve surgical outcomes. This reviews considers and evaluates the importance of the fluorescent dye indocyanine green (ICG) to visualize lymph nodes, lymphatic pathways and vessels and tissue borders in an interdisciplinary setting. The work is based on a selective search of the literature in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar and the authors' own clinical experience.

Surgical treatment of spinal metastases from renal cell carcinoma-effects of preoperative embolization on intraoperative blood loss.

The objective of this paper is analyzing the effects of preoperative embolization on intraoperative blood loss in spinal surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) metastasis and identifying factors contributing to an increased blood loss in the surgical procedure. A retrospective analysis was performed in patients who were treated in for spinal metastasis from RCC between 2011 and 2016. Factors analyzed were reduction of tumor blush, timing of embolization, selective vs.

Impact of the surgical strategy on the incidence of C5 nerve root palsy in decompressive cervical surgery.

Objective: Our aim was to identify the impact of different surgical strategies on the incidence of C5 palsy.

Background: Degenerative cervical spinal stenosis is a steadily increasing morbidity in the ageing population. Postoperative C5 nerve root palsy is a common complication with severe impact on the patients´ quality of life.

Multidimensional long-term outcome analysis after single-level lumbar microdiscectomy: a retrospective single-centre study.

Objective: To present multidimensional long-term results after mono-segmental microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in a large adult cohort treated at a tertiary care centre.

Methods: Retrospective study design with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire employed at follow-up. All patients undergoing surgical treatment for single-level LDH between 2003 and 2009 were identified.