Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Spinal Cord Injury (TRACK-SCI): an overview of initial enrollment and demographics.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a dreaded condition that can lead to paralysis and severe disability. With few treatment options available for patients who have suffered from SCI, it is important to develop prospective databases to standardize data collection in order to develop new therapeutic approaches and guidelines. Here, the authors present an overview of their multicenter, prospective, observational patient registry, Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in SCI (TRACK-SCI). METHODS: Data were collected using the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) common data elements (CDEs). Highly granular clinical information, in addition to standardized imaging, biospecimen, and follow-up data, were included in the registry. Surgical approaches were determined by the surgeon treating each patient; however, they were carefully documented and compared within and across study sites. Follow-up visits were scheduled for 6 and 12 months after injury. RESULTS: One hundred sixty patients were enrolled in the TRACK-SCI study. In this overview, basic clinical, imaging, neurological severity, and follow-up data on these patients are presented. Overall, 78.8% of the patients were determined to be surgical candidates and underwent spinal decompression and/or stabilization. Follow-up rates to date at 6 and 12 months are 45% and 36.3%, respectively. Overall resources required for clinical research coordination are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The authors established the feasibility of SCI CDE implementation in a multicenter, prospective observational study. Through the application of standardized SCI CDEs and expansion of future multicenter collaborations, they hope to advance SCI research and improve treatment.

Economic analysis of the military health professions scholarship program for neurosurgeons.

BACKGROUND: The 4-year military Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) provides funds for medical school tuition, books, and a monthly stipend in exchange for a 4-year military commitment (to receive all physician bonuses, an additional 3 months must be served). OBJECTIVE: To analyze the economics of the HPSP for students with an interest in neurosurgery by comparing medical school debt and salaries of military, academic, and private practice neurosurgeons. METHODS: Salary and medical school debt values from the American Association of Medical Colleges, salary data from the Medical Group Management Association, and 2009 military pay tables were obtained. Annual cash flow diagrams were created to encompass 14.25 years that spanned 4 years (medical school), 6 years (neurosurgical residency), and the first 4.25 years of practice for military, academic, and private practice neurosurgeons. A present value economic model was applied. RESULTS: Mean medical school loan debt was $154,607. Mean military (adjusted for tax-free portions), academic, and private practice salaries were $160,318, $451,068, and $721,458, respectively. After 14.25 years, the cumulative present value cash flow for military, academic, and private practice neurosurgeons was $1 193 323, $2 372 582, and $3 639 276, respectively. After 14.25 years, surgeons with medical student loans still owed $208 761. CONCLUSION: The difference in cumulative annual present value cash flow between military and academic and between military and private practice neurosurgeons was $1,179,259 and $2,445,953, respectively. The military neurosurgeon will have little to no medical school debt, whereas the calculated medical school debt of a nonmilitary surgeon was approximately $208,000.

Neurosurgery in Afghanistan during "Operation Enduring Freedom": a 24-month experience.

OBJECT: "Operation Enduring Freedom" is the US war effort in Afghanistan in its global war on terror. One US military neurosurgeon is deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to provide care for both battlefield injuries and humanitarian work. Here, the authors analyze a 24-month neurosurgical caseload experience in Afghanistan. METHODS: Operative logs were analyzed between October 2007 and September 2009. Operative cases were divided into minor procedures (for example, placement of an intracranial pressure monitor) and major procedures (for example, craniotomy) for both battle injuries and humanitarian work. Battle injuries were defined as injuries sustained by soldiers while in the line of duty or injuries to Afghan civilians from weapons of war. Humanitarian work consisted of providing medical care to Afghans. RESULTS: Six neurosurgeons covering a 24-month period performed 115 minor procedures and 210 major surgical procedures cases. Operations for battlefield injuries included 106 craniotomies, 25 spine surgeries, and 18 miscellaneous surgeries. Humanitarian work included 32 craniotomies (23 for trauma, 3 for tumor, 6 for other reasons, such as cyst fenestration), 27 spine surgeries (12 for degenerative conditions, 9 for trauma, 4 for myelomeningocele closure, and 2 for the treatment of infection), and 2 miscellaneous surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Military neurosurgeons have provided surgical care at rates of 71% (149/210) for battlefield injuries and 29% (61/210) for humanitarian work. Of the operations for battle trauma, 50% (106/210) were cranial and 11% (25/210) spinal surgeries. Fifteen percent (32/210) and 13% (27/210) of operations were for humanitarian cranial and spine procedures, respectively. Overall, military neurosurgeons in Afghanistan are performing life-saving cranial and spine stabilization procedures for battlefield trauma and acting as general neurosurgeons for the Afghan community.

Increasing the neurosurgical caseload at a military hospital: initial experience with a joint military-Veterans Affairs (VA) sharing agreement.

OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgeons at David Grant Medical Center (DGMC) have had low surgeon case volumes. Meanwhile, veterans have had long waits because of inadequate neurosurgical coverage. DGMC and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) agreed to share resources to treat an underserved VA patient population. We analyzed number of cases, admissions, relative weighted product (RWP), and outpatient visits before and after this unique military-VA agreement. METHODS: Number of operations, hospital admissions, RWP, and outpatient visits (January 2004-November 2007) were noted before or after October 2006. To normalize data, metric (e.g, number of cases) totals were divided by number of months neurosurgeons were available. RESULTS: Before the agreement, two neurosurgeons performed 210 operations over 52 months (4.0 cases/month). After the agreement, two neurosurgeons performed 177 cases over 26 months (6.8 cases/month). This corresponded to a 2.2-, 2.2-, and 2.0-fold increase in hospital admissions, RWP, and outpatient visits, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The sharing agreement resulted in 1.7-fold increase in operative cases. This military-VA venture provides military neurosurgeons with more surgical cases and provides neurosurgical care to a previously underserved patient population.

Case-control study comparing the efficacy of surgical techniques for C1-C2 arthrodesis.

Atlantoaxial fusion rates between 85% and 98% using C1-C2 transarticular screw (TAS) fixation have been reported; however, all of these studies are class III data. As such, these studies carry little or no statistical significance. The authors thus designed a case-control study (class II data) to evaluate the efficacy of C1-C2 TAS fixation as compared with posterior wiring techniques (PWTs). Records of adult subjects were reviewed for fusions isolated to C1-C2. Immobilization requirements were a collar for patients treated with TAS fixation and a halo for those treated by PWT. The minimum acceptable interval of radiographic follow-up was 12 months, and the outcome (fusion or nonunion) was determined through independent interpretation by a radiologist. Twenty-seven of 72 patients undergoing a posterior atlantoaxial arthrodesis met enrollment criteria. Sixteen males and 11 females combined for an average age of 54.1 years and mean follow-up of 31 months. Successful fusions (n = 18) were defined as controls, and cases represented nonunions (n = 9). Successful fusion was achieved in 13 of 14 patients treated with the TAS technique as compared with 5 of 13 subjects who underwent a PWT. Patients with a radiographically solid fusion were 21 more times likely to have undergone TAS than PWT (P = 0.004). This study demonstrated a statistically increased rate of arthrodesis as determined by specific radiographic criteria with the use of TAS fixation as compared with PWT.

Critical role for glial cells in the propagation and spread of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in the developing rat brain.

Inoculation of the neonatal rat with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) results in the selective infection of several neuronal populations and in focal pathological changes. However, the pathway by which LCMV reaches the susceptible neurons has not been described, and the nature and time course of the pathological changes induced by the infection are largely unknown. This study examined the sequential migration of LCMV in the developing rat brain and compared the pathological changes among infected brain regions. The results demonstrate that astrocytes and Bergmann glia cells are the first cells of the brain parenchyma infected with LCMV and that the virus spreads across the brain principally via contiguous glial cells. The virus then spreads from glial cells into neurons. However, not all neurons are susceptible to infection. LCMV infects neurons in only four specific brain regions: the cerebellum, olfactory bulb, dentate gyrus, and periventricular region. The virus is then cleared from glial cells but persists in neurons. LCMV induces markedly different pathological changes in each of the four infected regions. The cerebellum undergoes an acute and permanent destruction, while the olfactory bulb is acutely hypoplastic but recovers fully with age. Neurons of the dentate gyrus are unaffected in the acute phase but undergo a delayed-onset mortality. In contrast, the periventricular region has neither acute nor late-onset cell loss. Thus, LCMV infects four specific brain regions in the developing brain by spreading from glial cells to neurons and then induces substantially different pathological changes with diverse time courses in each of the four infected regions.

Instability of the craniovertebral junction and treatment outcomes in patients with Down's syndrome.

Operative intervention for the treatment of instability at the craniovertebral junction in patients with Down's syndrome has become somewhat controversial because some authors have reported high surgery-related complication rates and suggested that the incidence of neurological abnormality associated with this abnormal motion may be low. In this report, the authors describe the clinical and radiographic findings in 33 patients treated at their institution. Common presenting symptoms included neck pain (14 patients), torticollis (12 patients), and myelopathy manifested as hyperreflexia (21 patients), or varying degrees of quadriparesis (11 patients). Four patients suffered acute neurological insults, two after receiving routine general anesthetics for minor surgical procedures and two other patients following minor falls. Atlantoaxial instability was the most common abnormality documented on radiography (22 patients). Atlantooccipital instability (15 patients) was also frequently observed and was coexistent with the presence of atlantoaxial luxations in 14 patients. A rotary component of the atlantoaxial luxation was present in 13 cases. In 17 patients bony anomalies were present, the most frequent of which was os odontoideum (10 patients). Twenty-four patients underwent operative intervention, and successful fusion was achieved in 23. In six of nine patients with basilar invagination, reduction was achieved with preoperative traction and thus avoided the need for ventral decompressive procedures. There were no cases of postoperative deterioration, and 22 patients made excellent or good recoveries. The results of this series highlight the clinicopathological phenomena of craniovertebral instability in patients with Down's syndrome and suggest that satisfactory outcomes can be achieved with a low rate of surgical morbidity.