The Impact of Patient Characteristics on Outcomes of Surgically Managed Vertebral Osteomyelitis in the United States: Insights from a National Database Study.

This study was conducted to assess the patient characteristics, types of treatment, and outcomes of patients who are surgically treated for vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) in the United States. VO can be treated with or without surgical intervention. Surgically treated cases of VO are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and incur major healthcare costs.

The Great Imitator: A Case of Lyme Carditis Mimicking ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted via Ixodes ticks, is a common vector-borne illness in the United States, with an estimated 476,000 annual cases. While primarily known for its neurological and rheumatological manifestations, Lyme disease can also involve the cardiac system, known as Lyme carditis, which occurs in about 4% to 10% of cases. This case report details a rare instance of Lyme carditis presenting as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a 31-year-old female with no significant medical history.

Rare Case of Mycobacterium Avium Complex Peritonitis in a Patient with Multiple Myeloma Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections can present as a variety of severe diseases. While it has a predilection for immunocompromised patients such as those with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it can also affect immunocompetent patients as well. One of the rare yet severe diseases that MAC infections can present is MAC peritonitis.

A symphony of anomalies: Isolated pulmonary artery agenesis meets congenital lung hypoplasia.

Isolated agenesis of pulmonary arteries with congenital lung hypoplasia is rare. It can be found in childhood or adulthood if asymptomatic. We present a patient with congenital right lung hypoplasia with an absent right pulmonary artery.

Pseudo-Ludwig's Angina: Spontaneous Sublingual Haematoma Elicited by Warfarin.

Unlabelled: Spontaneous bleeding into the upper airways is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of chronic anticoagulation. There are scarce cases in the literature demonstrating upper airway haematomas secondary to warfarin use, which is the predominant anticoagulant used by clinicians despite having a complex pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile. We report a compelling case featuring warfarin-induced sublingual haematoma, managed conservatively through the reversal of anticoagulation using fresh frozen plasma complemented by vigilant monitoring within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Burden of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke Across the US From 1990 to 2019.

Importance: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the US. Accurate and updated measures of stroke burden are needed to guide public health policies.

Objective: To present burden estimates of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in the US in 2019 and describe trends from 1990 to 2019 by age, sex, and geographic location.

Splenic Surprise: Investigating a Case of Splenic Infarct as an Isolated COVID-19 Manifestation.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has been associated with a multitude of complications, one established complication being thromboembolism, a result of the proinflammatory state induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This prothrombotic state is a cumulation of many inflammatory pathways at work. Here, we present an interesting case of a 43-year-old female who did not present with the typical COVID-19 clinical picture.

Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MI-TLIF): A Video Technique Guide.

Background: Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) has been established as an excellent alternative to the traditional open approach for the treatment of degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine.

Description: The procedure is performed with the patient under general anesthesia and on a radiolucent table in order to allow for intraoperative fluoroscopy. The procedure is performed through small incisions made over the vertebral levels of interest, typically utilizing either a fixed or expandable type of tubular dilator, which is eventually seated against the facet joint complex.

The Addition of a Pericapsular Nerve Group Block for Postoperative Pain Control Does Not Result in Less Narcotic Use After Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review of clinical studies evaluating the pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify comparative studies of patients undergoing the PENG block before hip arthroscopy. The search phrase used was .

Safety and Efficacy of Outpatient Anterior Cervical Disk Replacement (ACDR) in an Ambulatory Surgery Center Versus Hospital Setting: A 2-year Retrospective Analysis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Objective: To compare clinical outcomes of outpatient anterior cervical disk replacements (ACDR) performed in free-standing private ambulatory surgery centers versus tertiary hospital centers.

Summary Of Background Data: ACDR is an increasingly popular technique for treating various degenerative pathologies of the cervical spine.

Are Patients With Segmental Cervical Kyphosis Appropriate Candidates for Cervical Disc Arthroplasty (CDA)? A Clinical and Radiographic Analysis Compared to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) in patients with preoperative segmental kyphosis.

Methods: Patients with segmental cervical kyphosis at the operative levels undergoing 1- or 2-level ACDF or CDA from 2017 to 2020 with 2 years of follow were identified.

Diffuse B-Cell Lymphoma of the Mandible Disguised as Acute Osteomyelitis.

Background: Primary bone lymphoma (PBL) is a rare form of extra nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Case Description: We describe a 39-year-old-male with no medical history who presented with unilateral facial swelling following a tooth extraction. Initial diagnoses after various presentations over the course of three weeks, based on inflammatory and infectious aetiologies.

Sinistral Portal Hypertension Due to a Pancreatic Pseudocyst: A Rare Cause of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Sinistral portal hypertension (SPH), also known as segmental portal hypertension, is a complication of pancreatic disorders and an extremely rare cause of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. SPH is observed in patients without cirrhosis and arises from splenic vein thrombosis. Unmitigated backflow of blood may cause gastric venous congestion and ultimately GI hemorrhage.

Cranial Conundrum: An Unusual Case of an Epidermoid Cyst in the Prepontine Cistern.

We present a fascinating case of a patient who suffered from persistent headaches for three months due to an epidermoid cyst located in the prepontine cistern. Epidermoid cysts are a very uncommon type of intracranial tumor, known for their slow growth and gradual onset of neurological symptoms. In this particular case, our patient, a 35-year-old, experienced a headache that was accompanied by dizziness, photophobia, and pain when moving their eyes.

Rotator Cuff Repair With or Without Acromioplasty: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials With Outcomes Based on Acromial Type.

Background: It is unclear whether the use of concomitant acromioplasty during rotator cuff repair (RCR) improves clinical outcomes and whether the outcomes are affected by acromial type.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review of randomized controlled trials comparing clinical outcomes of RCR with and without acromioplasty, with a subanalysis of outcomes based on acromial type.

Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 2.

Gastric, Colonic, and Rectal Amyloidosis in the Setting of Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Unique Cause of Intractable Diarrhea.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary disorder characterized by episodes of fever, polyserositis, or cutaneous inflammation. The FMF attacks last 1-3 days and have no apparent triggers. Recurrent deposition of the serum amyloid A (SAA) protein in the gut can cause intractable diarrhea, dysmotility, and recurrent abdominal pain.

Streptococcus intermedius: From a Normal Oral Commensal to a Life-Threatening Organism.

Subdural empyema is a collection of pus in the subdural space between the dura mater and the arachnoid. It carries very high morbidity and mortality as it can spread anywhere in the brain; however, the risk can be mitigated with appropriate surgical and medical intervention. Being protected by the skull, cranial infections are usually preceded by a significant risk factor, either an external invader such as skull fractures secondary to trauma, penetrating injury, prior surgery, or, more commonly, in more than 50% of cases, due to spread of an internal infection such as ear or sinus infections.

How Should Complicated Cases of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura With Positive Coombs Test Be Treated?

Thrombocytopenia with concomitant anemia is a serious condition with a high mortality risk. Destruction of platelets, i.e.

An Unpleasant Souvenir: Whipworm as an Incidental Finding During a Screening Colonoscopy.

Trichuriasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by that spreads through the ingestion of embryonated eggs in contaminated soil, water, or food. In nonendemic areas, infestation is very rare and sporadic and is often diagnosed in immigrants from endemic countries such as the Philippines. Whipworms feed on human blood and also erode the colonic mucosa, thereby evoking an inflammatory response.

Tuberculous Bronchopleural Fistula: A Rare and Life-Threatening Disease.

Tuberculous bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of pulmonary tuberculosis, in which abnormal connections form between the bronchial tree and the pleural space. These abnormal connections allow air and secretions to pass from the lungs into the pleural space, causing a range of symptoms from benign cough to acute tension pneumothorax. The management of tuberculous BPF requires an individualized approach based on the patient's condition and response to treatment.

Multiple vascular anomalies and refractory pericardial effusion in a young patient with Cantu syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Cantu syndrome is a rare and complex multisystem disorder characterized by hypertrichosis, facial dysmorphism, osteochondroplasia and cardiac abnormalities. With only 150 cases reported worldwide, Cantu syndrome is now gaining wider recognition due to molecular testing and a growing body of literature that further characterizes the syndrome and some of its most important features. Cardiovascular pathology previously described in the literature include cardiomegaly, pericardial effusion, vascular dilation and tortuosity, and other congenital heart defects.