Cost-Effectiveness Analyses of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (rhBMP-2) in Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: Systematic Review Study.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of rhBMP-2 in spine surgeries.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, OVID and CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) databases were systematically searched for studies reporting the use of rhBMP-2 for spinal procedures in comparison to autograft and/or allograft and alternative graft materials under consideration of cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost minimization, and/or cost-utility analysis.

Height Gain Following Correction of Adult Spinal Deformity.

Background: Height gain following a surgical procedure for patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) is incompletely understood, and it is unknown if height gain correlates with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing ASD surgery. Patients with baseline, 6-week, and subanalysis of 1-year postoperative full-body radiographic and PROM data were examined.

Cage subsidence-A multifactorial matter!

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study OBJECTIVE: Wider cages are associated with improved decompression and reduced subsidence, but variation in cage physical properties limits consistent outcome analysis after thoracolumbar interbody fusion. This study investigated cage subsidence and its relationship to lateral and posterior approaches with a focus on the hypothesis that the larger surface area of lateral cages results in lower subsidence rates.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 194 patients who underwent interbody fusion between 2016 and 2019 with a primary outcome of cage subsidence.

A novel scoring system concept for de novo spinal infection treatment, the Spinal Infection Treatment Evaluation Score (SITE Score): a proof-of-concept study.

Objective: De novo infections of the spine are an increasing healthcare problem. The decision for nonsurgical or surgical treatment is often made case by case on the basis of physician experience, specialty, or practice affiliation rather than evidence-based medicine. To create a more systematic foundation for surgical assessments of de novo spinal infections, the authors applied a formal validation process toward developing a spinal infection scoring system using principles gained from other spine severity scoring systems like the Spine Instability Neoplastic Score, Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Score, and AO Spine classification of thoracolumbar injuries.

An Assessment of the Safety of Surgery and Hardware Placement in de-novo Spinal Infections. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature.

Objectives: Primary objectives were outcomes comparison of instrumented surgery used for de-novo spinal infections in terms of infection recurrence, reoperations, primary failure, mortality, and length of stay relative to non-instrumented surgery. Secondary objectives were outcomes for surgical and non-surgical treatment of de-novo spinal infections regarding recurrence of infection, mortality, quality of life, and length-of-stay.

Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using the PubMed database.

Complication rates following stand-alone lateral interbody fusion: a single institution series after 10 years of experience.

Purpose: This retrospective single institution study's goal was to analyze and report the complications from stand-alone lateral lumbar interbody fusions (LLIF).

Methods: This research was approved by the institutional review board (STUDY2021000113). We retrospectively reviewed the database of patients with adult degenerative spine deformity treated via LLIF at our institution between January 2016 and December 2020.

Towards a More Realistic Appraisal of Complications Following Staged Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Single Institution Series.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: With steadily increasing implementation of far lateral approaches in spine surgery, surgeons can utilize the advantages of different approaches synergistically to ensure an optimal patient outcome. Our single institution study aimed to assess the complication rates of patients who underwent a lateral interbody fusion as the index procedure and additional anterior or posterior instrumentation as part of a planned staged surgical reconstruction effort.

Robotically-assisted neuro-endovascular procedures: Single-Center Experience and a Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Robotics could expand treatment of rapidly progressive pathologies such as acute ischemic stroke, with the potential to provide populations in need prompt access to neuro-endovascular procedures.

Methods: Robotically-assisted (RA) neuro-endovascular procedures (RANPs) performed at our institution were retrospectively examined (RA-group, RG). A control group of manual neuro-endovascular procedures was selected (manual group, MG).

Microsurgical Clipping of Carotid-Ophthalmic Tandem Aneurysms: Case Report and Surgical Nuances.

Tandem intracranial aneurysms (TandIAs) are rare but inherently complex, and special technical considerations are required for their surgical management. The present case highlights the key surgical aspects of two carotid-ophthalmic TandIAs incidentally found in a 60-year-old female. Both the aneurysms were superiorly projecting, regular in size, and involved the left ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA).

Case Report: Metastasis of a Trigeminal Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor to the Corpus Callosum.

Background And Importance: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are relatively rare tumors of peripheral nerves that are notable for their locally aggressive nature, ability to metastasize, poor prognosis, and association with Neurofibromatosis type I. We present the case of a patient with a trigeminal nerve MPNST who developed an unusual metastasis to the corpus callosum, in the absence of any other central nervous system or systemic metastatic disease. We review the pathology and presentation of MPNST.

Hydrodissection of Wiltse's Plane to Facilitate Exposure During Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

Traditional posterior lumbar approaches in a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) require subperiosteal dissection of bilateral paraspinal muscles to provide adequate exposure. This may traumatize the multifidus muscle and its afferent innervations leading to postoperative paraspinal muscle atrophy. Minimizing such intraoperative trauma has been identified as an important factor in the reduction of postoperative lumbar pain.

The Utility of Early Postoperative Head Computed Tomography in Brain Tumor Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis of 755 Cases.

Objective: Scheduled early postoperative computed tomography (EPOCT) after craniotomy for brain tumor resection is standard at many institutions. We analyzed utility of preplanned EPOCT after elective craniotomy for brain tumor resection.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 755 brain tumor resections for which EPOCT was performed within 4 hours of surgery.

Neuromonitoring changes in pediatric spinal deformity surgery: a single-institution experience.

Object: Intraoperative monitoring of the spinal cord has become the standard of care during surgery for pediatric spinal deformity correction. The use of both somatosensory and motor evoked potentials has dramatically increased the sensitivity and specificity of detecting intraoperative neurophysiological changes to the spinal cord, which assists in the intraoperative decision-making process. The authors report on a large, single-center experience with neuromonitoring changes and outline the surgical management of patients who experience significant neuromonitoring changes during spinal deformity correction surgery.

Spontaneous resolution of an acute epidural hematoma with normal intracranial pressure: case report and literature review.

Traumatic epidural hematomas are critical emergencies in neurosurgery, and patients symptomatic from acute epidural hematomas are typically treated with rapid surgical decompression. However, some patients, if asymptomatic, may be treated with close clinical observation and serial imaging. Although rare, rapid spontaneous resolution of epidural hematomas in the pediatric population has even been reported, with only seven cases in the literature.

Postoperative surveillance magnetic resonance imaging for cerebellar astrocytoma.

Introduction: Patients with low grade astrocytomas generally have good prognosis when total resection can be achieved, but surveillance neuroimaging is commonly performed to detect recurrence or progression. This study evaluated the utility and yield of such strategy for pilocytic and non-pilocytic cerebellar astrocytomas.

Methods: A 20-year retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing resection of cerebellar astrocytoma at a single institution.

Functional outcomes among premature infants with intraventricular hemorrhage.

Objective: This work evaluated the mortality and functional outcomes of premature infants sustaining intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). These outcomes were analyzed for their association with IVH severity, development of hydrocephalus and need for ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of neonates at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario who sustained IVH (1989-2005).