Impact of Depression and Anxiety on Patient Reported Outcomes Measures after Lumbar Fusion.

Background: Depression and anxiety are common in patients undergoing spinal surgery and might negatively impact outcomes. This study investigates the possible effect of these diagnoses on patient reported outcomes following lumbar fusion.

Methods: Retrospective review of a registry containing prospectively collected data of lumbar fusion procedures at a single institution was performed from May 23, 2012 to June 15, 2022.

Prediction Model for Neurogenic Bladder Recovery One Year After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

Introduction: Neurogenic bladder is a common complication after spinal cord injury (SCI) that carries substantial burdens on the inflicted individual. The objective of this study is to build a prediction model for neurogenic bladder recovery 1 year after traumatic SCI.

Methods: We queried the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems database for patients with traumatic SCI who had neurogenic bladder at the time of injury.

Implementation of a spine triage program and its effect on outpatient radiology utilization.

Objective: Clinical care pathways designed to triage spinal disorders have been shown to reduce wait times and improve patient satisfaction. The goal of this study was to perform an analysis of outpatient radiology costs before and after the implementation of a spine care triage pathway.

Methods: All imaging orders and surgical procedures were captured in a prospective spine registry for patients referred to the department of neurosurgery within a single academic center between July 1, 2017, and November 3, 2020.

The role of bevacizumab for treatment-refractory intracranial meningiomas: a single institution's experience and a systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: Meningiomas account for over 30% of all primary brain tumors. While surgery can be curative for these tumors, several factors may lead to a higher likelihood of recurrence. For recurrent meningiomas, bevacizumab may be considered as a therapeutic agent, but literature regarding its efficacy is sparse.

Evolution of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium interbody devices for spinal procedures: a comprehensive review of the literature.

Introduction: Interbody fusion is commonly utilized for arthrodesis and stability among patients undergoing spine surgery. Over the last few decades, interbody device materials, such as titanium and polyetheretherketone (PEEK), have been replacing traditional autografts and allografts for interbody fusion. As such, with the exponential growth of bioengineering, a large variety cage surface technologies exist.

Does Direct Surgical Repair Benefit Pars Interarticularis Fracture? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Promising results have been shown in previous studies from direct pars interarticularis repair. These include Scott wiring, Buck repair, pedicle screw repair, and Morscher techniques. In addition, several minimally invasive techniques have been reported to show high union rates, low rates of implant failure and wound complications, shorter length of stay, a lower postoperative pain score with faster recovery, and minimal blood loss.

Survival and associated predictors for patients with pineoblastoma or pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation older than 3 years: Insights from the National Cancer Database.

Background: The management of pineal parenchymal tumors remains controversial.

Methods: The 2004-2017 National Cancer Database was queried for cases (age >3 years) with histologically confirmed pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation (PPTID, n = 90) or pineoblastoma (n = 106).

Results: Within the PPTID group, median age was 41 years; 49% were males.

Transradial versus Transfemoral Approaches in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neuroendovascular Interventions: A Meta-Analysis of Current Literature.

Background: The adoption of the transradial approach (TRA) has been increasing in popularity as a primary method to conduct both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. As this technique gains broader acceptance and use within the neuroendovascular community, comparing its complication profile with a better-established alternative technique, the transfemoral approach (TFA), becomes more important. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of TRA compared with TFA in patients undergoing diagnostic, therapeutic, and combined neuroendovascular procedures.

Estimating Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring Rates for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: Are Diagnostic or Procedural Codes Accurate?

Background: The utility of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is well established for some spine surgeries (eg, intramedullary tumor resection, scoliosis deformity correction), but its benefit for most degenerative spine surgery, including anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), remains debated. National datasets provide "big data" approaches to study the impact of IONM on spine surgery outcomes; however, if administrative coding in these datasets misrepresents actual IONM usage, conclusions will be unreliable. The objective of this study was to compare estimated rates (administrative coding) to actual rates (chart review) of IONM for ACDF at our institution and extrapolate findings to estimated rates from 2 national datasets.

Trends in Admissions and Outcomes for Treatment of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in the United States.

Background: Lifestyle modifications and advances in surgical and endovascular techniques for treating unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) have vastly evolved over the last few decades and may have reduced the incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, the actual impact of these changes on the rates and outcomes of aSAH remain unexplored. Thus, we studied national aSAH admissions and outcome trends and changes of major risk factors over time.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Study Design: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to synthesize recommendations for perioperative medical management of RA patients and quantify outcomes after spine surgery when compared to patients without RA.

Methods: A search of available literature on patients with RA and spine surgery was performed.

Rate of C8 Radiculopathy in Patients Undergoing Cervicothoracic Osteotomy: A Systematic Appraisal of the Literature.

Background: The emergence of C8 radiculopathy is a known complication following cervicothoracic osteotomies. However, the clinical profile of C8 radiculopathy is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of C8 radiculopathy after cervicothoracic osteotomies and to form a clinical profile describing the characteristics through a systematic review of the literature.

Minimally invasive versus open surgery for patients undergoing intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumor resection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Given the potential injury to the spinal cord and the nerve roots during the surgery and the necessity of minimal spinal cord manipulation during surgery, minimally invasive surgical techniques have emerged as alternatives to conventional open surgery in resection of ID-EM tumors.

Methods: An electronic database search was conducted, and the review was carried out according to PRISMA guidelines and recommendations. Inclusion criteria were as follows; (i) comparative studies of MIS vs OS; (ii) studies reporting outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for ID-EM tumors.

Comparison of Oncologic Outcomes and Treatment-Related Toxicity of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy and En Bloc Resection for Sacral Chordoma.

Importance: Maximal resection is the preferred management for sacral chordomas but can be associated with unacceptable morbidity. Outcomes with radiotherapy are poor. Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is being explored as an alternative when surgery is not preferred.

Characteristics of completed clinical trials for spinal cord injury from 1999 to 2020.

Numerous clinical trials are being conducted in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI). These trials are typically registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Disparities in Reported Testing for 1p/19q Codeletion in Oligodendroglioma and Oligoastrocytoma Patients: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Purpose: A chromosomal 1p/19q codeletion was included as a required diagnostic component of oligodendrogliomas in the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors. We sought to evaluate disparities in reported testing for 1p/19q codeletion among oligodendroglioma and oligoastrocytoma patients before and after the guidelines.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for patients with histologically-confirmed WHO grade II/III oligodendroglioma or oligoastrocytoma from 2011-2017.

Comparison of Outcomes Between Cage Materials Used for Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with Standalone Cages: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Interbody cages are currently being used to address diseases of the vertebra requiring surgical stabilization. Titanium cages were first introduced in 1988. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages are used frequently as one of the alternatives to titanium cages in current practice.

Hybrid surgery: a comparison of early postoperative outcomes between anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and cervical disc arthroplasty.

Objective: Hybrid surgery (HS) is the combination of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) at different levels in the same operation. The aim of this study was to investigate perioperative variables, 30-day postoperative outcomes, and complications of HS in comparison with those of CDA and ACDF.

Methods: The authors queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) registry for patients who underwent multilevel primary HS, CDA, and ACDF for degenerative disc disease from 2015 to 2019.

Revision Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion and Revision Cervical Arthroplasty Are Associated with Similar Outcomes: Real-World Analysis from a National Quality Registry.

Aim: To utilize a national surgical quality registry to compare 30-day quality outcomes between repeat anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA).

Material And Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) Participant User Files (PUF) for the years 2005-2018 were queried for patients undergoing repeat ACDF and CDA using current procedural terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9th version codes. We compared demographic and baseline clinical characteristics, operative characteristics, 30-day readmissions, reoperations, and complications between the two groups.

Launching the Quality Outcomes Database Tumor Registry: rationale, development, and pilot data.

Objective: Neurosurgeons generate an enormous amount of data daily. Within these data lie rigorous, valid, and reproducible evidence. Such evidence can facilitate healthcare reform and improve quality of care.

Economic Burden of Hospitalizations Associated with Opioid Dependence Among Patients Undergoing Spinal Fusion.

Background: The current study seeks to examine the association between chronic opioid use and postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and posterior lumbar fusion (PLF).

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was queried for patients with and without chronic opioid use undergoing ACDF or PLF for degenerative disc disease between 2012 and 2015 using ICD-9 diagnosis and procedure codes. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was performed to assess the association between chronic opioid use and length of stay (LOS), nonhome discharge, and hospital charge.