The Relationship Between Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloid Load and Ligamentum Flavum Thickness in Lumbar Stenosis Patients.

Background: One key contributor to lumbar stenosis is thickening of the ligamentum flavum (LF), a process still poorly understood. Wild-type transthyretin amyloid (ATTRwt) has been found in the LF of patients undergoing decompression surgery, suggesting that amyloid may play a role. However, it is unclear whether within patients harboring ATTRwt, the amount of amyloid is associated with LF thickness.

Feasibility of unilateral hemilaminectomy utilizing a Williams retractor for the resection of intradural-extramedullary spinal neoplasms.

Background: While open approaches have historically been used in the surgical treatment of intradural-extramedullary spine tumors, minimally-invasive surgical (MIS) techniques are frequently applied to minimize post-operative complications associated with open surgery. Tubular retractor systems in particular have been employed in combination with the unilateral hemilaminectomy (UHL) approach. Here we describe the use of a Williams retractor as a safe and effective minimally-invasive alternative to tubular retractor systems with similar post-operative outcomes.

Lumbar ligamentum flavum burden: Evaluating the role of ATTRwt amyloid deposition in ligamentum flavum thickness at all lumbar levels.

Background: Wild-type transthyretin (ATTRwt) amyloid deposition has been found in the ligamentum flavum (LF) of patients undergoing spinal stenosis surgery. Our group previously reported that ATTRwt amyloid is associated with an increased lumbar ligamentum flavum thickness at symptomatic levels that required surgery. A comprehensive evaluation of LF thickness at asymptomatic levels in addition to symptomatic, treated levels has never been performed in ATTRwt patients.

The profile of blunt traumatic supratentorial cranial bleed types.

The characteristics of blunt traumatic supratentorial cranial bleed (STCB) types have not been directly compared. The National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) 2014 was queried for adults with an isolated single STCB n = 57,278. Patients were grouped by STCB categories: subdural (SDH), subarachnoid (SAH), epidural (EDH), intraparenchymal (IPH), and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH).

The profile of blunt traumatic infratentorial cranial bleed types.

Infratentorial traumatic intracranial bleeds (ICBs) are rare and the distribution of subtypes is unknown. To characterize this distribution the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) 2014 was queried for adults with single type infratentorial ICB, n = 1,821: subdural hemorrhage (SDH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), epidural hemorrhage (EDH), and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH). Comparisons were made between the groups with statistical significance determined using chi squared and t-tests.