Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery: Outcome and Complications in Lateral Decubitus Position versus Semi-sitting Position-A Personal Learning Curve in a Series of 544 Cases over 3 Decades.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate influence of intraoperative positioning (semisitting vs. lateral decubitus) and surgeon's learning curve with regard to functional outcome of patients with vestibular schwannoma. METHODS: This study included 544 patients (median age 57 years) and spanned 3 decades: 1991-1999 (n = 103), 2000-2009 (n = 210), and 2010-2019 (n = 231). Surgery was performed in the lateral decubitus position in 318 patients and the semisitting position in 163 patients. Large T3 and T4 tumors were present in 77% of patients. RESULTS: Complete tumor removal was achieved in 94.3% of patients. A significant reduction in surgery duration and blood loss was observed over 3 decades for T3 (from 325 to 261 minutes, P < 0.001) and T4 (from 440 to 330 minutes, P < 0.001), but not for T1 and T2, tumors. The semisitting position diminished surgical time in T3 and T4 tumors by 1 more hour (P < 0.001). Over 3 decades, facial nerve outcome improved significantly from 59.8% House-Brackmann grade 1-2 in the first decade to 81.7% in the last decade (P < 0.001). Furthermore, hearing was preserved in 45.3%: 23.3% of patients in the first decade and 50.5% in the last decade (P = 0.03). However, neither facial nerve outcome nor hearing preservation significantly differed in patients operated on in the lateral decubitus versus the semisitting position. The most common complication was cerebrospinal fluid leak (6.1%) followed by hemorrhage (3.5%) and pulmonary embolism (2.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up over 3 decades illustrates a learning curve with significantly improved results. While the semisitting position accelerates the procedure and is associated with reduced blood loss, it does not significantly influence functional outcome.

Application of the Six Sigma concept for quality assessment of different strategies in DBS surgery.

BACKGROUND: For quality analysis, we applied the Six Sigma concept to define quality indicators and their boundaries as well as to compare treatment-dependent outcome data of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: The Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III with on medication and on stimulation, the reduction of daily levodopa equivalence doses (LED), and the stimulation amplitude 1 year after surgery were registered. Regarding the results of the EARLYSTIM study, sigma values for applicable studies were calculated and compared. Further, the impact of perioperative conditions on patients' outcomes was analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-one studies with 2184 patients were included. The bleeding risk was 1.36%. In median, UPDRS III on/on improved by 19.9% while the LED was reduced by 45.2%. The median stimulation amplitude was 2.84 V. With the Six Sigma principle, a comparison between different centers was possible. Microelectrode recordings (MER) did not correlate with occurrence of bleedings and did not impact patient outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The Six Sigma principle can be simply used to analyze, improve and compare complex medical processes, particularly, the DBS surgery. Based on these data, higher sigma values were reached for clinical improvement in UPDRS III on/on for patients who underwent surgery in local anesthesia with intraoperative test stimulation compared to surgery in general anesthesia. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Application of MER was found to be optional with no increased bleeding risk and no improvement on patient's outcome.

ActiGait implantable drop foot stimulator in multiple sclerosis: a new indication.

OBJECTIVE Direct stimulation of the peroneal nerve by the ActiGait implantable drop foot stimulator is a potent therapy that was described previously for stroke-related drop foot. The authors report here successful long-term application of the ActiGait implantable drop foot stimulator in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS Six patients with MS and 2 years of persisting central leg paresis received an implantable ActiGait drop foot stimulator after successful surface test stimulation. Ten weeks and 1 year after surgery, their gait speed, endurance, and safety were evaluated. Patient satisfaction was assessed with a questionnaire. RESULTS In the 20-m gait test, stimulation with the ActiGait stimulator significantly reduced the time needed, on average, by approximately 23.6% 10 weeks after surgery, and the time improved further by 36.3% after 1 year. The median distance covered by patients with the stimulator after 6 minutes of walking increased significantly from 217 m to 321 m and remained stable for 1 year; the distance covered by patients after surface stimulation was 264 m. Patients with an implanted ActiGait stimulator noticed pronounced improvement in their mobility, social participation, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS The ActiGait implantable drop foot stimulator improved gait speed, endurance, and quality of life in all patients over a period of 1 year. It may serve as a new therapeutic option for patients with MS-related drop foot.

New Therapeutic Option for Drop Foot with the ActiGait Peroneal Nerve Stimulator--a Technical Note.

A drop foot occurs in up to 20% of stroke patients and leads to an increased risk of falls. Until recently, only a foot orthosis or surface stimulation was able to improve the gait of these patients. Recent studies have shown that direct peroneal nerve stimulation with an implantable 4-channel peroneal nerve stimulator (ActiGait) allows independent electrode adjustment and leads to better functional results and an improved quality of life. The application of this therapeutic option is restricted to patients with a drop foot attributable to a lesion of the first motor neuron caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, or tumors. In this paper, we present the first technical note with possible pitfalls of the surgical procedure and the perioperative care after implantation of ActiGait drop foot stimulators in 50 patients.

Autologous bone flap cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy is combined with a high complication rate in pediatric traumatic brain injury patients.

OBJECTIVE: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a last treatment option of refractory intracranial hypertension in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Replacement of the autologous bone flap is the preferred method to cover the cranial defect after brain swelling has subsided. Long term outcomes and complications after replacement of the autologous bone flap in pediatric patients were studied in comparison to young, healthy adults. METHODS: Medical records of 27 pediatric patients who underwent DC and subsequent replacement of the bone flap between 1998 and 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two age groups (group 1: 18 children < 15 years; group 2:9 adolescents 15-18 years). For comparative reasons, a young adult control group of 39 patients between 18 and 30 years was additionally evaluated. RESULTS: With 81.8 % resorption of the bone flap, this was the major complication in young children. In up to 54.4 % of patients, a surgical revision of the osteolytic bone flap became necessary. However, in some pediatric patients, the osteolysis resolved spontaneously and further operations were not required. Probable enabling factors for bone flap resorption were young age (0-7 years), size of craniectomy, permanent shunt placement, and extent of dural opening/duraplasty. Other complications were bone flap infections, loosening of the re-inserted bone flap, and postoperative hematomas. CONCLUSION: There is an unacceptably high complication rate after reimplantation of the autologous bone following DC in pediatric TBI patients, especially in young children up to seven years of age. Artificial or synthetic cranioplasties may be considered as alternatives to initial bone flap reimplantation in the growing child. Despite the fact that DC is an effective treatment in TBI with persistent intracranial hypertension, it is important to realize that DC is not only combined with replacement of the autologous bone flap but also with a high rate of additional complications especially in pediatric patients.

Retractor-endoscopic nerve decompression in carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes: outcomes in a small series.

OBJECTIVE: To present midterm to long-term results obtained in carpal tunnel release, in situ decompression, and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve using the retractor integrated endoscope. METHODS: During the period 2000-2010, 145 patients underwent endoscopic carpal tunnel releases (n = 47), endoscopic in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve (n = 55), and endoscopic anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve (n = 52). Bilateral surgery was performed in 9 patients. Independent examinations at 24 months after surgery were used for objective results (Bishop score). Subjective results were procured using a questionnaire. RESULTS: After endoscopic carpal tunnel release, 59.6% of patients showed excellent results, 21.2% showed good results, 12.8% showed fair results, and 6.4% showed poor results according to objective scoring. In 85% of patients, subjective improvement was noted after surgery; symptoms were the same as before surgery in 12.8% of patients and were worse in 2.1% of patients after surgery. After endoscopic in situ decompression, 56.4% of patients showed excellent results on objective scoring, 32.7% showed good results, 9.1% showed fair results, and 1.8% showed poor results. On subjective questioning, 72.7% of patients reported improvement, 20% reported no change in symptoms, and 7.3% reported worse symptoms. After endoscopic anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve, 48.1% of patients showed excellent results on objective scoring, 26.9% showed good results, 23.1% showed fair results, and 1.9% showed poor results. Subjectively, 65.4% of patients reported improvement, 26.9% reported no change in symptoms, and 7.7% reported worse symptoms. Patients with symptom duration of <9 months before surgery showed better results than patients with symptom duration of >9 months. CONCLUSIONS: The retractor-endoscopic technique provides good long-term results after carpal tunnel release, in situ decompression, and anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve. Outcomes showed some correlation to the duration of preoperative symptoms.

Open vs retractor-endoscopic in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve in cubital tunnel syndrome: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Both open ulnar nerve decompression and retractor-endoscopic ulnar nerve decompression have been shown to yield good results. However, a comparative evaluation of the techniques is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of open and endoscopic surgery in cubital tunnel syndrome. METHODS: One hundred fourteen patients undergoing open (n = 59) or endoscopic (n = 55) decompression of the ulnar nerve for cubital tunnel syndrome were retrospectively compared. The long- and short-term outcomes were compared with respect to the time until return to full activity and the duration of postoperative pain. Additionally, matched pairs between the 2 groups were chosen for analysis (n = 34). RESULTS: Long-term results in the open vs endoscopic groups were as follows: excellent results, 54.2% vs 56.4%; good results, 23.8% vs 32.7%; fair results, 20.3% vs 9.1%; and poor results, 1.7% vs 1.8%, respectively. For the matched pairs, the results had similar significance levels (P = .84). The times until return to full activity in the open vs the endoscopic groups were as follows: 2 to 7 days, 18.6% vs 76.4%; 7 to 14 days, 55.9% vs 10.9%; and > 14 days, 25.4% vs 12.7% (P < .001 between nonmatched and matched pairs). The durations of postoperative pain in the open vs the endoscopic groups were as follows: 1 to 3 days, 45.8% vs 67.3%; 3 to 10 days, 42.5% vs 25.4%; and > 10 days, 11.7% vs 7.3% (P =.04 for nonmatched and P = .05 for matched pairs). CONCLUSION: There are no significant differences in long-term outcomes after open and retractor-endoscopic in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve in cubital tunnel syndrome. The short-term results are significantly better in endoscopic surgery.

Traumatic lesions of the brachial plexus: an analysis of outcomes in primary brachial plexus reconstruction and secondary functional arm reanimation.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze retrospectively the outcomes of primary as well as secondary functional reconstructions in 49 patients with traumatic brachial plexus lesions from a single service. Guidelines for treatment might be extracted from this analysis. METHODS: Among 152 cases of traumatic lesion of the brachial plexus presented to our clinic, 58 underwent primary brachial plexus reconstructive surgery. On exploration, all patients showed stretching and scarring of plexus elements; root avulsions were found in 28 patients (48%). Outcome evaluation was carried out in 49 of these patients with a follow-up period of 1 year or longer (mean follow-up, 27.9 mo; range, 12-72 mo). A total of 43 secondary reconstructive procedures to improve functionality of the involved arm were performed at a later stage in 25 of 58 patients. Outcomes of the secondary functional restorative procedures were evaluated (mean follow-up, 11.5 mo; range, 3-60 mo in 43 procedures). RESULTS: Patients with neurolysis as a stand-alone procedure (11 patients) showed an outcome grade of 4 or 5. The average outcome of the 19 patients with C5, C6, and C7 grafting was Grade 3, the same as in patients with nerve transfers to the upper plexus elements (C5-C6 root avulsions, 13 patients). Patients with multiple root avulsions (five cases) showed an overall poor outcome (Grades 0-2). Secondary functional restorative surgery was performed in 43% of the patients and helped improve individual outcomes, providing a favorable effect on the general functionality of the arm. Among the restorative operations performed, the Steindler procedure, wrist extension restoration, claw hand correction, and free functional muscle flap transfer to the arm and forearm were the most rewarding. CONCLUSION: A combination of primary brachial plexus reconstruction and carefully evaluated, selected, and planned function-restorative secondary procedures might offer favorable outcomes in patients with partial or total brachial plexus lesions.