Diagnostic accuracy of arterial spin labeling MR imaging in detecting cerebral arteriovenous malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diagnostic accuracy of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is imperative for delineating management. The current standard is digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is an understudied noninvasive, non-contrast technique that allows angioarchitecture visualization and additionally quantifies cortical and AVM cerebral blood flow and hemodynamics. This meta-analysis aims to compare ASL and DSA imaging in detecting and characterizing cerebral AVMs. EMBASE, Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were queried from inception to July 2022 for reports of AVMs evaluated by DSA and ASL imaging. Fourteen studies with 278 patients evaluated using DSA and ASL imaging prior to intervention were included; pCASL in 11 studies (n = 239, 85.37%) and PASL in three studies (n = 41, 14.64%). The overall AVM detection rate on ASL was 99% (CI 97-100%); subgroup analysis revealed no difference between pCASL vs. PASL (99%; CI 96-100% vs. 100%; CI 95-100% respectively, p = 0.42). The correlation value comparing ASL and DSA nidus size was 0.99. DSA and ASL intermodality agreement Cohen's k factor for Spetzler Martin Grading (SMG) was reported at a median of 0.98 (IQR 0.73-0.1), with a 1.0 agreement on SMG classification. A median of 25 arteries were detected by DSA (IQR 14.5-27), vs. 25 by ASL (IQR 14.5-27.5) at a median 0.92 k factor. ASL provides angioarchitectural visualization noninferior to DSA and additionally quantifies CBF. Our study suggests that ASL should be considered in the detection of AVMs, especially in patients with contrast contraindications or apprehension towards an invasive assessment.

Basilar Impression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Features, Operative Strategies, and Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Basilar impression (BI) is a rare yet debilitating abnormality of the craniovertebral junction, known to cause life-threatening medullary brainstem compression. Our study analyzes surgical approaches for BI and related outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science electronic databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to critically assess primary articles examining BI. RESULTS: We analyzed 87 patients from 65 articles, mostly female (55.17%) with a mean age of 46.31 ± 17.94 years, commonly presenting with motor (59.77%) and sensory deficits (55.17%). Commonly employed procedures included posterior occipitocervical fusion (24.14%), anterior decompression (20.69%), and combined anterior decompression with posterior fusion (21.84%). Patients who underwent anterior approaches were found to be older (55.38 ± 17.67 vs. 45.49 ± 18.78 years, P < 0.05) and had a longer duration from symptom onset to surgery (57.39 ± 64.33 vs. 26.02 ± 29.60 months, P < 0.05) compared to posterior approaches. Our analysis revealed a significant association between a longer duration from symptom onset to surgery and an increased likelihood of undergoing odontoidectomy and decompression (odds ratio: 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.03, P < 0.05). Furthermore, after adjusting for all other covariates, a history of rheumatoid arthritis and the use of a posterior approach were significantly associated with an elevated risk of postoperative complications (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment approach to complex craniovertebral junction disease should be tailored to the surgeon's experience and the nature of the compressive pathology.

Assessing the Relationship between Surgical Timing and Postoperative Seizure Outcomes in Cavernoma-Related Epilepsy: A Single-Institution Retrospective Analysis of 63 Patients with a Review of the Literature.

Background: Patients with supratentorial cavernous malformations (SCMs) commonly present with seizures. First-line treatments for cavernoma-related epilepsy (CRE) include conservative management (antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)) and surgery. We compared seizure outcomes of CRE patients after early (≤6 months) vs. delayed (>6 months) surgery. Methods: We compared outcomes of CRE patients with SCMs surgically treated at our large-volume cerebrovascular center (1 January 2010-31 July 2020). Patients with 1 sporadic SCM and ≥1-year follow-up were included. Primary outcomes were International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) class 1 seizure freedom and AED independence. Results: Of 63 CRE patients (26 women, 37 men; mean ± SD age, 36.1 ± 14.6 years), 48 (76%) vs. 15 (24%) underwent early (mean ± SD, 2.1 ± 1.7 months) vs. delayed (mean ± SD, 6.2 ± 7.1 years) surgery. Most (32 (67%)) with early surgery presented after 1 seizure; all with delayed surgery had ≥2 seizures. Seven (47%) with delayed surgery had drug-resistant epilepsy. At follow-up (mean ± SD, 5.4 ± 3.3 years), CRE patients with early surgery were more likely to have ILAE class 1 seizure freedom and AED independence than those with delayed surgery (92% (44/48) vs. 53% (8/15), p = 0.002; and 65% (31/48) vs. 33% (5/15), p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: Early CRE surgery demonstrated better seizure outcomes than delayed surgery. Multicenter prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

The intersection of race and social determinants of health on clinical outcome of glioblastoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: Resection, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and tumor treating fields significantly increase the overall survival (OS) of glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Yet, cost and healthcare disparities might limit access. Multiple studies have attributed more than 80% of the GBM disease burden to White patients. The aim of this study was to explore the intersections of race and social determinants of health (SDoH) with healthcare access and outcomes of GBM patients in a large metropolitan area. METHODS: In this retrospective single-center study, the tumor registry at the authors' institution (2011-2019) was queried to identify a GBM cohort according to the updated WHO criteria. Data were supplemented by electronic health records to include demographics, outcome, National Cancer Institute Comorbidity Index (NCI-CI), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) socioeconomic status (SES) index. RESULTS: A total of 276 unique patients met the study inclusion criteria; 46% of the cohort was female, and 45% was non-White. This racial proportion differs from previous reports indicating that 80% of patients with GBM are White. The proportion of non-White patients in this study was similar to that of the general US population and significantly lower than that of New York City (p < 0.05). Non-White patients predominantly composed the lowest AHRQ SES index quartile, while White patients constituted the highest quartile (p < 0.001). White patients were older at diagnosis compared with non-White patients (63 vs 58 years, p = 0.001). Older age (p = 0.03), higher NCI-CI (p = 0.0006), and lack of insurance (p = 0.03) reduced the odds of a home discharge. Private insurance (p = 0.005), younger age (p = 0.02), and the highest ("wealthiest") AHRQ SES index quartile (p = 0.02) predicted a lower hospital length of stay (LOS). Patients who underwent gross-total resection had greater OS than those who received a subtotal resection or biopsy, independent of race and SDoH (1.68 vs 1.4 years, p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to report on race and SDoH of a cohort using the latest WHO criteria for GBM classification. In contrast to previous literature, the study cohort exhibits a higher proportion of non-White patients with GBM, similar to the representation of non-White individuals in the general US population. This study corroborates the impact of SDoH and not race on LOS and discharge location. Initiatives to identify and address these barriers are crucial for enhancing the care of all GBM patients.

Racial and Socioeconomic Status among a Patient Population Presenting with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage versus Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm: A Single-Center Study.

Racial and socioeconomic health disparities are well documented in the literature. This study examined patient demographics, including socioeconomic status (SES), among individuals presenting with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) to identify factors associated with aSAH presentation. A retrospective assessment was conducted of all patients with aSAH and UIA who presented to a large-volume cerebrovascular center and underwent microsurgical treatment from January 2014 through July 2019. Race and ethnicity, insurance type, and SES data were collected for each patient. Comparative analysis of the aSAH and UIA groups was conducted. Logistic regression models were also employed to predict the likelihood of aSAH presentation based on demographic and socioeconomic factors. A total of 640 patients were included (aSAH group, 251; UIA group, 389). Significant associations were observed between race and ethnicity, SES, insurance type, and aneurysm rupture. Non-White race or ethnicity, lower SES, and having public or no insurance were associated with increased odds of aSAH presentation. The aSAH group had poorer functional outcomes and higher mortality rates than the UIA group. Patients who are non-White, have low SES, and have public or no insurance were disproportionately affected by aSAH, which is historically associated with poorer functional outcomes.

Microsurgical versus endovascular treatment of ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistulas: systematic review and meta-analysis with a single-center case series.

OBJECTIVE: Ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are often associated with cortical venous drainage (CVD) and a higher incidence of hemorrhage compared with DAVFs in other locations. They may be treated with open surgical disconnection or with endovascular treatment (EVT). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the authors compare the outcomes of ethmoidal DAVFs treated with open microsurgery versus EVT and report four additional cases of ethmoidal DAVFs treated with open microsurgery in their institution. METHODS: A literature search of the PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted between December 2021 and May 2022 to identify relevant articles published between 1990 and 2021 using the PRISMA guidelines. References were reviewed and screened by two authors independently, and disagreements were resolved through consensus. Exclusion criteria included non-English-language studies, those with an incorrect study design, those reporting DAVFs in a nonethmoidal location, and studies whose outcomes were not stratified based on DAVF location. Inclusion criteria were any studies reporting on ethmoidal DAVFs treated by either microsurgery or EVT. A risk of bias assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The authors performed a pooled proportional meta-analysis to compare patient outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty studies were included for analysis. Of 224 patients, 142 were treated with surgery, while 103 were treated with EVT. Seventy percent (148/210) of the patients were symptomatic at presentation, with hemorrhage being the most common presentation (48%). CVD was present in 98% of patients and venous ectasia in 61%. The rates of complete DAVF obliteration with surgery and EVT were 89% and 70%, respectively (95% CI -30% to -10%, p < 0.03). Twenty percent (21/103) of endovascularly treated fistulas required subsequent surgery. Procedure-related complications occurred in 10% of the surgical cases, compared with 13% of the EVT cases. The authors' case series included 4 patients with ethmoidal DAVFs treated surgically with complete obliteration, without any postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: The complete obliteration rates of ethmoidal DAVF appear to be higher and more definitive with microsurgical intervention than with EVT. While complication rates between the two procedures seem similar, patients treated with EVT may require further interventions for definitive treatment. The limitations of this study include its retrospective nature, the quality of studies included, and the continued evolving technologies of EVT. Future studies should focus on the association between venous drainage pattern and the proclivity toward venous ectasia or rate of hemorrhage at presentation.

Modafinil Therapy and Mental Status Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Comprehensive Stroke Center Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Disorders of consciousness impair early recovery after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Modafinil, a wakefulness-promoting agent, is efficacious for treating fatigue in stroke survivors, but data pertaining to its use in the acute setting are scarce. This study sought to assess the effects of modafinil use on mental status after aSAH. METHODS: Modafinil timing and dosage, neurological examination, intubation status, and physical and occupational therapy participation were documented. Repeated-measures paired tests were used for a before-after analysis of modafinil recipients. Propensity score matching (1:1 nearest neighbor) for modafinil and no-modafinil cohorts was used to compare outcomes. RESULTS: Modafinil (100-200 mg/day) was administered to 21% (88/422) of aSAH patients for a median (IQR) duration of 10.5 (4-16) days and initiated 14 (7-17) days after aSAH. Improvement in mentation (alertness, orientation, or Glasgow Coma Scale score) was documented in 87.5% (77/88) of modafinil recipients within 72 hours and 86.4% (76/88) at discharge. Of 37 intubated patients, 10 (27%) were extubated within 72 hours after modafinil initiation. Physical and occupational therapy teams noted increased alertness or participation in 47 of 56 modafinil patients (83.9%). After propensity score matching for baseline covariates, the modafinil cohort had a greater mean (SD) change in Glasgow Coma Scale score than the no-modafinil cohort at discharge (2.2 [4.0] vs. -0.2 [6.32], P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: A temporal relationship with improvement in mental status was noted for most patients administered modafinil after aSAH. These findings, a favorable adverse-effect profile, and implications for goals-of-care decisions favor a low threshold for modafinil initiation in aSAH patients in the acute-care setting.

Adult neuro-oncology trials in the United States over 5 decades: Analysis of trials completion rate to guide the path forward.

Background: Clinical trials are important to close the gap between therapeutic unmet needs and scientific advances in neuro-oncology. This study analyzes the landscape of neuro-oncology trials to identify completion rates and guide strategies for the path forward. Methods: US-registered adult neuro-oncology clinical trials were extracted from www.clinicaltrials.gov (1966-2019), including funding source, trial type, scope, phase, and subjects' demographics. Completed trials defined as those that had completed participants' examinations or intervention administration for the purpose of the final collection of data for the primary outcome were dichotomized against those that failed to reach completion. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to detect differences across factors comparing the last 2 decades (2000-2009, 2010-2019). Results: Our search yielded 4522 trials, of which 1257 are eligible for this study. In 25 US states, neuro-oncology trial availability is <0.85/100,000 population. Comparing the past 2 decades, trial completion rate decreased from 88% to 64% (P < .001) and National Institutes of Health funding decreased from 47% to 24% (P < .001). Inclusion of subjects >65-year-old and women increased, while inclusion of Hispanic subjects decreased (P < .001). The top 2 reasons for lack of completion included accrual and operational difficulties. A larger proportion of women, non-Hispanic subjects, and older adults were enrolled in completed trials than in those that failed completion. Conclusions: Our study is the first report on the neuro-oncology clinical trial landscape in the United States and supports the development of strategies to further improve access to these trials. Additionally, attention is needed to identify and modify other factors contributing to lack of completion.

National Trends in Orthopaedic Pain Management from 2016 to 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Effective pain management is vital in orthopaedic care, impacting postoperative recovery and patient well-being. This study aimed to discern national and regional pain prescription trends among orthopaedic surgeons through Medicare claims data, using geospatial analysis to ascertain opioid and nonopioid usage patterns across the United States. METHODS: Physician-level Medicare prescription databases from 2016 to 2020 were filtered to orthopaedic surgeons, and medications were categorized into opioids, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, and NSAIDs. Patient demographics were extracted from a Medicare provider demographic data set, while county-level socioeconomic metrics were obtained primarily from the American Community Survey. Geospatial analysis was conducted using Geoda software, using Moran I statistic for cluster analysis of pain medication metrics. Statistical trends were analyzed using linear regression, Mann-Whitney U test, and multivariate logistic regression, focusing on prescribing rates and hotspot/coldspot identification. RESULTS: Analysis encompassed 16,505 orthopaedic surgeons, documenting more than 396 million days of pain medication prescriptions: 57.42% NSAIDs, 28.57% opioids, 9.84% anticonvulsants, and 4.17% muscle relaxants. Annually, opioid prescriptions declined by 4.43% ( P < 0.01), while NSAIDs rose by 3.29% ( P < 0.01). Opioid prescriptions dropped by 210.73 days yearly per surgeon ( P < 0.005), whereas NSAIDs increased by 148.86 days ( P < 0.005). Opioid prescriptions were most prevalent in the West Coast and Northern Midwest regions, and NSAID prescriptions were most prevalent in the Northeast and South regions. Regression pinpointed spine as the highest and hand as the lowest predictor for pain prescriptions. DISCUSSION: On average, orthopaedic surgeons markedly decreased both the percentage of patients receiving opioids and the duration of prescription. Simultaneously, the fraction of patients receiving NSAIDs dramatically increased, without change in the average duration of prescription. Opioid hotspots were located in the West Coast, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, the Northern Midwest, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Future directions could include similar examinations using non-Medicare databases.

Optimal Frequency in Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Management of Chronic Pain: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to be effective for pain modulation in a variety of pathological conditions causing neuropathic pain. The purpose of this study is to conduct a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized control trials to identify the most optimal frequency required to achieve chronic pain modulation using rTMS. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of rTMS for chronic pain management. A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria, and a NMA was conducted to identify the most effective rTMS frequency for chronic pain management. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that high frequency rTMS (20 Hz) was the most effective frequency for chronic pain modulation. Patients treated with 20 Hz had lower pain levels than those treated at 5 Hz (mean difference [MD] = -3.11 [95% confidence interval {CI}: -5.61 - -0.61], P = 0.032) and control (MD = -1.99 [95% CI: -3.11 - -0.88], P = 0.023). Similarly, treatment with 10 Hz had lower pain levels compared to 5 Hz (MD = -2.56 [95% CI: -5.05 - -0.07], P = 0.045) and control (MD = -1.44 [95% CI: -2.52 - -0.36], P = 0.031). 20 Hz and 10 Hz were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: This NMA suggests that high frequency rTMS (20 Hz) is the most optimal frequency for chronic pain modulation. These findings have important clinical implications and can guide healthcare professionals in selecting the most effective frequency for rTMS treatment in patients with chronic pain.

Factors influencing geographic gender disparity in neurosurgery: a nationwide geospatial clustering analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Women neurosurgeons (WNs) continue to remain a minority in the specialty despite significant initiatives to increase their representation. One domain less explored is the regional distribution of WNs, facilitated by the hiring practices of neurosurgical departments across the US. In this analysis, the authors coupled the stated practice location of WNs with regional geospatial data to identify hot spots and cold spots of prevalence and examined regional predictors of increases and decreases in WNs over time. METHODS: The authors examined the National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers of all neurosurgeons obtained via the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), identifying the percentage of WNs in each county for which data were appended with data from the US Census Bureau. Change in WN rates was identified by calculating a regression slope for all years included (2015-2022). Hot spots and cold spots of WNs were identified through Moran's clustering analysis. Population and surgeon features were compared for hot spots and cold spots. RESULTS: WNs constituted 10.73% of all currently active neurosurgical NPIs, which has increased from 2015 (8.81%). Three hot spots were found-including the Middle Atlantic and Pacific divisions-that contrasted with scattered cold spots throughout the East Central regions that included Memphis as a major city. Although relatively rapidly growing, hot spots had significant gender inequality, with a median WN percentage of 11.38% and a median of 0.61 WNs added to each respective county per year. CONCLUSIONS: The authors analyzed the prevalence of WNs by using aggregated data from the NPPES and US Census Bureau. The authors also show regional hot spots of WNs and that the establishment of WNs in a region is a predictor of additional WNs entering the region. These data suggest that female neurosurgical mentorship and representation may be a major driver of acceptance and further gender diversity in a given region.

Trends in medical device company payments in neurosurgery: a nationwide, multidatabase, geospatial analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Industry partnerships help advance the field of neurosurgery. Given the nature of the field and its close relationship with innovation, neurosurgeons frequently partner with the medical device industry to advance technology and improve outcomes. However, this can create important ethical concerns for patients. In this paper, the authors sought to comprehensively study how physician payments from medical device companies have changed and what geographic parameters influence the trends observed over the years. METHODS: The authors queried and merged several large databases, including Medicare and Medicaid provider usage data and databases from the Open Payments Program, National Plan and Provider Enumeration System, and US Census Bureau. Geospatial analysis was performed using Moran's I and II clustering. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and geospatially weighted multivariable regression for hot spot and cold spot membership. RESULTS: Data for 952 counties across the continental United States were analyzed. Ninety-seven counties constituted geographic hot spots. These hot spots were primarily concentrated in Florida, the New York-Pennsylvania region, central Colorado, and southwestern United States. Independent predictors of hot spot membership included greater unemployment rates, the percentage of White patients, the presence of mobile homes, and the percentage of county Hispanic and Black populations. Company-based differences were examined. The vast majority of Medtronic's payments were in the form of royalties and licensing (86.6%). Royalties and licensing accounted for the majority of payments for DePuy (69.4%), Globus Medical (62%), and NuVasive (77.1%). In contrast, other companies, such as Boston Scientific, opted to pay physicians in the form of ownership and investment interests (42.1%). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was also assessed. During the onset of the pandemic in 2020, physician payments fell or remained the same across all regions with the exception of the South Atlantic region. However, it was observed that nearly all regions rebounded, with stark elevations in physician payments immediately in 2021. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrates that there are national hot spots and cold spots of physician payments, and offers some social, economic, and company-dependent predictors that may influence the magnitude of payments. Further analysis is needed to better understand this clinical-commercial partnership in healthcare, specifically within neurosurgical practice.

Diagnostic predictive values for sport-related concussions: a systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Sport-related concussions (SRCs) can cause significant neurological symptoms, and approximately 10%-15% of athletes with SRC experience a prolonged recovery. Given the lack of visible injury on brain imaging and their varied presentations, concussions can be difficult to diagnose. A variety of tests and examination methods have been used to elicit a concussion diagnosis; however, the sensitivity and specificity of these tests are variable. The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of standardized tests and visible signs like balance and vision changes in the diagnosis of SRC. METHODS: A PRISMA-adherent systematic review of concussion diagnostic examinations was performed using the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases on December 1, 2022. Search terms included "concussion," "traumatic brain injury," "diagnosis," "sensitivity," and "specificity." Each method of examination was categorized into larger group-based symptomatologic presentations or standardized tools. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of concussion. Pooled specificity and sensitivity for each method were calculated using a meta-analysis of proportion and were hierarchically ranked using P-scores calculated from a diagnostic frequentist network meta-analysis. RESULTS: Thirty full-length articles were identified for inclusion, 13 of which evaluated grouped symptomology examinations (balance and overall clinical presentation) and 17 of which evaluated established formalized tools (ImPACT, King-Devick [K-D] Test, Sport Concussion Assessment Tool [SCAT]). The pooled specificity of the examination methods differed minimally (0.8-0.85), whereas the sensitivity varied to a larger degree (0.5-0.88). In a random effects model, the SCAT had the greatest diagnostic yield (diagnostic OR 31.65, 95% CI 11.06-90.57). Additionally, P-score hierarchical ranking revealed SCAT as having the greatest diagnostic utility (p = 0.9733), followed sequentially by ImPACT, clinical presentation, K-D, and balance. CONCLUSIONS: In deciphering which concussion symptom-focused examinations and standardized tools are most accurate in making a concussion diagnosis, the authors found that the SCAT examination has the greatest diagnostic yield, followed by ImPACT, clinical presentation, and K-D, which have comparable value for diagnosis. Given the indirect nature of this analysis, however, further comparative studies are needed to validate the findings.

Influence of Body Mass Index on Surgical and Patient Outcomes for Cervical Spine Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of prospectively collected registry. OBJECTIVE: We aim to investigate the effects of body mass index (BMI) on postsurgical cervical spine surgery outcomes and identify a potential substratification of obesity with worse outcomes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The impact of BMI on cervical spine surgery is unknown, with controversial outcomes for patients high and low BMI. METHODS: The cervical spine Quality Outcomes Database was queried for a total of 10,381 patients who underwent single-stage cervical spine surgery. Patients were substratified into 6 groups based on BMI. Surgical outcomes, complications, hospitalization outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes for each cohort, including modified Japanese Orthopedic Association Score, Numeric Rating Scale arm pain, Numeric Rating Scale neck pain, Neck Disability Index, and EuroQol Health Survey, were assessed. Univariate analysis was performed for 3- and 12-month follow-up after surgical intervention. RESULTS: Obese patients (class I, II, and III) requiring spine surgery were statistically younger than nonobese patients and had higher rates of diabetes compared with normal BMI patients. The surgical length was found to be longer for overweight and all classes of obese patients ( P < 0.01). Class III obese patients had higher odds of postoperative complications. Patients with class II and III obesity had lower odds of achieving optimal modified Japanese Orthopedic Association Score at 3 months [OR = 0.8 (0.67-0.94), P < 0.01, OR = 0.68 (0.56-0.82), P < 0.001, respectively] and 12 months [OR = 0.82 (0.68-0.98), P = 0.03, OR = 0.79 (0.64-0.98), P = 0.03, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigates the relationship between substratified BMI and postoperative outcomes of cervical spine surgery. Class II and III obese patients have substantially greater risk factors and poor outcomes postoperatively. In addition, low BMI also presents unique challenges for patients. Further research is needed for comprehensive analysis on outcomes of cervical spine surgery after correcting BMI.

Disparities in Access to Robotic Knee Arthroplasty: A Geospatial Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of robotic knee arthroplasty (RKA) continues to increase across the United States. The aim of this geospatial analysis was to elucidate if RKA is distributed uniformly across the United States or if disparities exist in patient access. METHODS: Publicly available provider-finding functions for 5 major manufacturers of RKA systems were used to obtain the practice locations of surgeons performing RKA along with their associated RKA system manufacturer. The average travel distance for each county to the nearest RKA surgeon was calculated and Moran's index clustering analysis was used to find hotspots and coldspots of RKA access. A logistic regression model was used to identify the predictive odds ratios between robotic hotspots and coldspots with county-level sociodemographic variables. Of the 34,216 currently practicing orthopedic surgeons in 2022, 2,571 have access to robotic assistance for knee arthroplasty. RESULTS: Hotspots of increased travel time were predominantly in West South Central and West North Central census regions. Hotspots were significantly more rural and consisted of predominantly White populations, with lower median income and health insurance coverage. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study align with existing literature, demonstrating absolute geographic access disparities for rural and economically disadvantaged populations. Additionally, relative access disparities persist for minority populations and individuals with high comorbidity burdens residing in urban areas.

Long-term assessment of the functional independence measure in sports-related spinal cord injury.

CONTEXT: Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) secondary to traumatic sports-related etiology potentially face loss of independence. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) assesses the amount of assistance patients require and has shown sensitivity to changes in patient functional status post injury. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to (1) examine long-term outcomes following sports-related SCI (SRSCI) using FIM scoring at the time of injury, one year, and five years post-injury, and (2) determine predictors of independence at one and five-year follow-up considering surgical and non-surgical management. Few studies have investigated the cohort analyzed in this study. METHODS: The 1973-2016 National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Database was used to develop a SRSCI cohort. The primary outcome of interest captured functional independence using a multivariate logistic regression, defined by FIM individual scores greater than or equal to six, evaluated at one and five years. RESULTS: A total of 491 patients were analyzed, 60 (12%) were female, 452 (92%) underwent surgery. The cohort demographics were stratified by patients with and without spine surgery and evaluated for functional independence in FIM subcategories. Increased time spent in inpatient rehabilitation and FIM score at post-operative discharge were associated with greater likelihood of functional ability at both one and five-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that SRSCI patients are a unique subset of SCI patients for whom factors repeatedly associated with independence at one year follow-up were dissimilar to those associated with independence at five-year follow-up. Larger prospective studies should be conducted to establish guidelines for this unique subcategory of SCI patients.

Understanding Geospatial Trends in Lumbar Fusion Incidence and Technique in Medicare Populations.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study with epidemiologic analysis of public Medicare data. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to utilize geospatial analysis to identify distinct trends in lumbar fusion incidence and techniques in Medicare populations. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: With an aging population and new technologies, lumbar fusion is an increasingly common procedure. There is controversy, however, regarding which indications and techniques achieve optimal outcomes, leading to significant intersurgeon variation and potential national disparities in care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medicare billing datasets were supplemented with Census Bureau socioeconomic data from 2013 to 2020. These databases listed lumbar fusions billed to Medicare by location, specialty, and technique. Hotspots and coldspots of lumbar fusion incidence and technique choice were identified with county-level analysis and compared with Mann-Whitney U . A linear regression of fusion incidence and a logistic regression of lumbar fusion hotspots/coldspots were also calculated. RESULTS: Between 2013 and 2020, 624,850 lumbar fusions were billed to Medicare. Lumbar fusion hotspots performed fusions at nearly five times the incidence of coldspots (101.6-21.1 fusions per 100,000 Medicare members) and were located in the Midwest, Colorado, and Virginia while coldspots were in California, Florida, Wisconsin, and the Northeast. Posterior and posterolateral fusion were the most favored techniques, with hotspots in the Northeast. Combined posterior and posterolateral fusion and posterior interbody fusion was the second most favored technique, predominantly in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Colorado. CONCLUSIONS: The geographic distribution of lumbar fusions correlates with variations in residency training, fellowship, and specialty. The geospatial patterning in both utilization and technique reflects a lack of consensus in the application of lumbar fusion. The strong variance in utilization is a potentially worrying finding that could suggest that the nonstandardization of lumbar fusion indication has led to both overtreatment and undertreatment across the nation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3-retrospective.