Decompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis across the Atlantic: a comparison of preoperative MRI between matched cohorts from the US and Norway.

Background: There are no uniform guidelines regarding when to operate for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). As we apply findings from clinical research from one population to the next, elucidating similarities or differences provides important context for the validity of extrapolating clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the morphological severity of lumbar spinal stenosis on preoperative MRI in patients undergoing decompressive surgery in Boston, USA, and Trondheim, Norway.

Surgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis: a survey among Norwegian spine surgeons.

Background: Symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is the most common reason for lumbar surgery in the elderly. There is growing evidence that decompressive surgery offers an advantage over non-surgical management for selected patients with persistent severe symptoms. Based on treatment traditions, open laminectomy has been the gold standard surgical treatment, but various other surgical and non-surgical treatments for LSS are widely used in clinical practice.

Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis in Individuals Aged 80 and Older: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Objectives: To compare clinical outcomes after decompressive surgery for central lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in individuals aged 80 and older with those of individuals aged 18-79.

Design: Prospective data from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery.

Setting: Multicenter observational study.

Is There an Association Between Radiological Severity of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Disability, Pain, or Surgical Outcome?: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Study Design: Observational multicenter study.

Objective: To evaluate if the severity of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlates with preoperative disability, pain, or surgical outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: Surgeons use the morphological appearance of LSS on MRI for clinical decision making.

Does Obesity Affect Outcomes After Decompressive Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis? A Multicenter, Observational, Registry-Based Study.

Objective: To evaluate the association between obesity and outcomes 1 year after laminectomy or microdecompression for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Methods: The primary outcome measure was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30.

The Risk of Getting Worse: Predictors of Deterioration After Decompressive Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Objective: To investigate the frequency and predictors of deterioration after decompressive surgery for single and 2-level lumbar spinal stenosis.

Methods: Prospectively collected data were retrieved from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery. Clinically significant deterioration was defined as an 8-point increase in Oswestry disability index (ODI) between baseline and 12 months' follow-up.

Microsurgical decompression for central lumbar spinal stenosis: a single-center observational study.

Objective: To assess outcomes and complications in patients undergoing microsurgical decompression for central lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) without radiologic instability.

Methods: Prospective data for patients operated at the Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olavs University Hospital, Norway, were obtained from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery (NORspine) from 2007 to 2012.

Does daily tobacco smoking affect outcomes after microdecompression for degenerative central lumbar spinal stenosis? - A multicenter observational registry-based study.

Background: There are limited scientific data on the impact of smoking on patient-reported outcomes following minimally invasive spine surgery. The aim of this multicenter observational study was to examine the relationship between daily smoking and patient-reported outcome at 1 year using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) after microdecompression for single- and two-level central lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stays, perioperative and postoperative complications.

Minimally invasive decompression versus open laminectomy for central stenosis of the lumbar spine: pragmatic comparative effectiveness study.

Objective: To test the equivalence for clinical effectiveness between microdecompression and laminectomy in patients with central lumbar spinal stenosis.

Design: Multicentre observational study.

Setting: Prospective data from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery.

Comparative effectiveness of microdecompression and laminectomy for central lumbar spinal stenosis: study protocol for an observational study.

Introduction: This observational study is designed to test the equivalence between the clinical effectiveness of microdecompression and laminectomy in the surgical treatment of central lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis is the most frequent indication for spinal surgery in the elderly, and as the oldest segment of the population continues to grow its prevalence is likely to increase. However, data on surgical outcomes are limited.

Patient selection and clinical outcomes in patients operated for brain metastases--is specialty of the referring physicians a prognostic factor?

Introduction: As median survival in patients with brain metastases is short, but with wide confidence intervals, it is crucial to select the appropriate therapy. Various specialists diagnose brain metastases and refer selected patients to neurosurgical departments. There is, however, no robust and objective instrument for clinical decision making in individual patients with brain metastases.

The risk of getting worse: surgically acquired deficits, perioperative complications, and functional outcomes after primary resection of glioblastoma.

Objective: Gross total resection (GTR) prolongs survival but is unfortunately not achievable in the majority of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Cytoreductive debulkings may relieve symptoms of mass effect, but it is unknown how long such effects sustain and to what degree the potential benefits exceed risks. We explore the impact of surgical morbidity on functional outcome and survival in unselected GBM patients.