Model-based analysis of the acute effects of transcutaneous magnetic spinal cord stimulation on micturition after spinal cord injury in humans.

AIM: After spinal cord injuries (SCIs), patients may develop either detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) or urinary incontinence, depending on the level of the spinal injury. DSD and incontinence reflect the loss of coordinated neural control among the detrusor muscle, which increases bladder pressure to facilitate urination, and urethral sphincters and pelvic floor muscles, which control the bladder outlet to restrict or permit bladder emptying. Transcutaneous magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied to the spinal cord after SCI reduced DSD and incontinence. We defined, within a mathematical model, the minimum neuronal elements necessary to replicate neurogenic dysfunction of the bladder after a SCI and incorporated into this model the minimum additional neurophysiological features sufficient to replicate the improvements in bladder function associated with lumbar TMS of the spine in patients with SCI. METHODS: We created a computational model of the neural circuit of micturition based on Hodgkin-Huxley equations that replicated normal bladder function. We added interneurons and increased network complexity to reproduce dysfunctional micturition after SCI, and we increased the density and complexity of interactions of both inhibitory and excitatory lumbar spinal interneurons responsive to TMS to provide a more diverse set of spinal responses to intrinsic and extrinsic activation of spinal interneurons that remains after SCI. RESULTS: The model reproduced the re-emergence of a spinal voiding reflex after SCI. When we investigated the effect of monophasic and biphasic TMS at two frequencies applied at or below T10, the model replicated the improved coordination between detrusor and external urethral sphincter activity that has been observed clinically: low-frequency TMS (1 Hz) within the model normalized control of voiding after SCI, whereas high-frequency TMS (30 Hz) enhanced urine storage. CONCLUSION: Neuroplasticity and increased complexity of interactions among lumbar interneurons, beyond what is necessary to simulate normal bladder function, must be present in order to replicate the effects of SCI on control of micturition, and both neuronal and network modifications of lumbar interneurons are essential to understand the mechanisms whereby TMS reduced bladder dysfunction after SCI.

Cervical Epidural Electrical Stimulation Increases Respiratory Activity through Somatostatin-Expressing Neurons in the Dorsal Cervical Spinal Cord in Rats.

We tested the hypothesis that dorsal cervical epidural electrical stimulation (CEES) increases respiratory activity in male and female anesthetized rats. Respiratory frequency and minute ventilation were significantly increased when CEES was applied dorsally to the C2-C6 region of the cervical spinal cord. By injecting pseudorabies virus into the diaphragm and using c-Fos activity to identify neurons activated during CEES, we found neurons in the dorsal horn of the cervical spinal cord in which c-Fos and pseudorabies were co-localized, and these neurons expressed somatostatin (SST). Using dual viral infection to express the inhibitory Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD), hM4D(Gi), selectively in SST-positive cells, we inhibited SST-expressing neurons by administering Clozapine N-oxide (CNO). During CNO-mediated inhibition of SST-expressing cervical spinal neurons, the respiratory excitation elicited by CEES was diminished. Thus, dorsal cervical epidural stimulation activated SST-expressing neurons in the cervical spinal cord, likely interneurons, that communicated with the respiratory pattern generating network to effect changes in ventilation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A network of pontomedullary neurons within the brainstem generates respiratory behaviors that are susceptible to modulation by a variety of inputs; spinal sensory and motor circuits modulate and adapt this output to meet the demands placed on the respiratory system. We explored dorsal cervical epidural electrical stimulation (CEES) excitation of spinal circuits to increase ventilation in rats. We identified dorsal somatostatin (SST)-expressing neurons in the cervical spinal cord that were activated (c-Fos-positive) by CEES. CEES no longer stimulated ventilation during inhibition of SST-expressing spinal neuronal activity, thereby demonstrating that spinal SST neurons participate in the activation of respiratory circuits affected by CEES. This work establishes a mechanistic foundation to repurpose a clinically accessible neuromodulatory therapy to activate respiratory circuits and stimulate ventilation.

Epidural electrical stimulation of the cervical spinal cord opposes opioid-induced respiratory depression.

Opioid overdose suppresses brainstem respiratory circuits, causes apnoea and may result in death. Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) at the cervical spinal cord facilitated motor activity in rodents and humans, and we hypothesized that EES of the cervical spinal cord could antagonize opioid-induced respiratory depression in humans. Eighteen patients requiring surgical access to the dorsal surface of the spinal cord between C2 and C7 received EES or sham stimulation for up to 90 s at 5 or 30 Hz during complete (OFF-State) or partial suppression (ON-State) of respiration induced by remifentanil. During the ON-State, 30 Hz EES at C4 and 5 Hz EES at C3/4 increased tidal volume and decreased the end-tidal carbon dioxide level compared to pre-stimulation control levels. EES of 5 Hz at C5 and C7 increased respiratory frequency compared to pre-stimulation control levels. In the OFF-State, 30 Hz cervical EES at C3/4 terminated apnoea and induced rhythmic breathing. In cadaveric tissue obtained from a brain bank, more neurons expressed both the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) and somatostatin (SST) in the cervical spinal levels responsive to EES (C3/4, C6 and C7) compared to a region non-responsive to EES (C2). Thus, the capacity of cervical EES to oppose opioid depression of respiration may be mediated by NK1R+/SST+ neurons in the dorsal cervical spinal cord. This study provides proof of principle that cervical EES may provide a novel therapeutic approach to augment respiratory activity when the neural function of the central respiratory circuits is compromised by opioids or other pathological conditions. KEY POINTS: Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) using an implanted spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is an FDA-approved method to manage chronic pain. We tested the hypothesis that cervical EES facilitates respiration during administration of opioids in 18 human subjects who were treated with low-dose remifentanil that suppressed respiration (ON-State) or high-dose remifentanil that completely inhibited breathing (OFF-State) during the course of cervical surgery. Dorsal cervical EES of the spinal cord augmented the respiratory tidal volume or increased the respiratory frequency, and the response to EES varied as a function of the stimulation frequency (5 or 30 Hz) and the cervical level stimulated (C2-C7). Short, continuous cervical EES restored a cyclic breathing pattern (eupnoea) in the OFF-State, suggesting that cervical EES reversed the opioid-induced respiratory depression. These findings add to our understanding of respiratory pattern modulation and suggest a novel mechanism to oppose the respiratory depression caused by opioids.

C2 translaminar screw fixation in pediatric occipitocervical fusion.

PURPOSE: Rigid occipitocervical (O-C) instrumentation can reduce the anterior pathology and has a high fusion rate in children with craniovertebral instability. Typically, axis (C2) screw fixation utilizes C1-C2 transarticular screws or C2 pars screws. However, anatomic variation may preclude these screw types due to the size of fixation elements or by placing the vertebral artery at risk for injury. Pediatric C2 translaminar screw fixation has low risk of vertebral artery injury and may be used when the anatomy is otherwise unsuitable for C1-C2 transarticular screws or C2 pars screws. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a neurosurgical database at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland for patients who had undergone a cervical spinal fusion that utilized translaminar screws for occipitocervical instrumentation between 2002 and 2020. We then reviewed the operative records to determine the parameters of C2 screw fixations performed. Demographic and all other relevant clinical data were then recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients ranging from 2 to 18 years of age underwent O-C fusion, with a total of 43 translaminar screws at C2 placed. Twenty-three patients were fused (92%) after initial surgery with a mean follow-up of 43 months. Two patients, both with Down syndrome, had a nonunion. Another 2 patients had a superficial wound dehiscence that required wound revision. One patient died of unknown cause 7 months after surgery. One patient developed an adjacent-level kyphosis. CONCLUSION: When performing occipitocervical instrumentation in the pediatric population, C2 translaminar screw fixation is an effective option to other methods of C2 screw fixation dependent on anatomic feasibility.

Rehabilitation of hand function after spinal cord injury using a novel handgrip device: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Activity-based therapy (ABT) for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), which consists of repetitive use of muscles above and below the spinal lesion, improves locomotion and arm strength. Less data has been published regarding its effects on hand function. We sought to evaluate the effects of a weekly hand-focused therapy program using a novel handgrip device on grip strength and hand function in a SCI cohort. METHODS: Patients with SCI were enrolled in a weekly program that involved activities with the MediSens (Los Angeles, CA) handgrip. These included maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and a tracking task that required each subject to adjust his/her grip strength according to a pattern displayed on a computer screen. For the latter, performance was measured as mean absolute accuracy (MAA). The Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) was used to measure each subject's independence prior to and after therapy. RESULTS: Seventeen patients completed the program with average participation duration of 21.3 weeks. The cohort included patients with American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) A (n = 12), AIS B (n = 1), AIS C (n = 2), and AIS D (n = 2) injuries. The average MVC for the cohort increased from 4.1 N to 21.2 N over 20 weeks, but did not reach statistical significance. The average MAA for the cohort increased from 9.01 to 21.7% at the end of the study (p = .02). The cohort's average SCIM at the end of the study was unchanged compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: A weekly handgrip-based ABT program is feasible and efficacious at increasing hand task performance in subjects with SCI.

Identifying predictors for postoperative clinical outcome in lumbar spinal stenosis patients using smart-shoe technology.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 33% of the patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) who undergo surgery are not satisfied with their postoperative clinical outcomes. Therefore, identifying predictors for postoperative outcome and groups of patients who will benefit from the surgical intervention is of significant clinical benefit. However, many of the studied predictors to date suffer from subjective recall bias, lack fine digital measures, and yield poor correlation to outcomes. METHODS: This study utilized smart-shoes to capture gait parameters extracted preoperatively during a 10 m self-paced walking test, which was hypothesized to provide objective, digital measurements regarding the level of gait impairment caused by LSS symptoms, with the goal of predicting postoperative outcomes in a cohort of LSS patients who received lumbar decompression and/or fusion surgery. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and predominant pain level measured via the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used as the postoperative clinical outcome variables. RESULTS: The gait parameters extracted from the smart-shoes made statistically significant predictions of the postoperative improvement in ODI (RMSE =0.13, r=0.93, and p<3.92×10-7) and predominant pain level (RMSE =0.19, r=0.83, and p<1.28×10-4). Additionally, the gait parameters produced greater prediction accuracy compared to the clinical variables that had been previously investigated. CONCLUSIONS: The reported results herein support the hypothesis that the measurement of gait characteristics by our smart-shoe system can provide accurate predictions of the surgical outcomes, assisting clinicians in identifying which LSS patient population can benefit from the surgical intervention and optimize treatment strategies.

Initiation and modulation of locomotor circuitry output with multisite transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the spinal cord in noninjured humans.

The mammalian lumbar spinal cord has the capability to generate locomotor activity in the absence of input from the brain. Previously, we reported that transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the spinal cord at vertebral level T11 can activate the locomotor circuitry in noninjured subjects when their legs are placed in a gravity-neutral position (Gorodnichev RM, Pivovarova EA, Pukhov A, Moiseev SA, Savokhin AA, Moshonkina TR, Shcherbakova NA, Kilimnik VA, Selionov VA, Kozlovskaia IB, Edgerton VR, Gerasimenko IU. Fiziol Cheloveka 38: 46-56, 2012). In the present study we hypothesized that stimulating multiple spinal sites and therefore unique combinations of networks converging on postural and locomotor lumbosacral networks would be more effective in inducing more robust locomotor behavior and more selective control than stimulation of more restricted networks. We demonstrate that simultaneous stimulation at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar levels induced coordinated stepping movements with a greater range of motion at multiple joints in five of six noninjured subjects. We show that the addition of stimulation at L1 and/or at C5 to stimulation at T11 immediately resulted in enhancing the kinematics and interlimb coordination as well as the EMG patterns in proximal and distal leg muscles. Sequential cessation of stimulation at C5 and then at L1 resulted in a progressive degradation of the stepping pattern. The synergistic and interactive effects of transcutaneous stimulation suggest a multisegmental convergence of descending and ascending, and most likely propriospinal, influences on the spinal neuronal circuitries associated with locomotor activity. The potential impact of using multisite spinal cord stimulation as a strategy to neuromodulate the spinal circuitry has significant implications in furthering our understanding of the mechanisms controlling posture and locomotion and for regaining significant sensorimotor function even after a severe spinal cord injury.

Quantitative Data-driven Utilization of Hematologic Labs Following Lumbar Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Large national inpatient databases estimate that approximately 200,000 lumbar fusions are performed annually in the United States alone. It is common for surgeons to routinely order postoperative hematologic studies to rule out postoperative anemia despite a paucity of data to support routine laboratory utilization. OBJECTIVE: To describe quantitative criteria to guide postoperative utilization of hematologic laboratory assessments. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 490 consecutive lumbar fusion procedures performed at a single institution by 3 spine surgeons was performed. Inclusion criteria included instrumented and noninstrumented lumbar fusions performed for any etiology. Data were acquired on preoperative and postoperative hematocrit, platelets, and international normalized ratio as well as age, sex, number of levels undergoing operation, indication for surgery, and intraoperative blood loss. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine correlation to postoperative transfusion requirement. RESULTS: A total of 490 patients undergoing lumbar fusion were identified. Twenty-five patients (5.1%) required postoperative transfusion. No patients required readmission for anemia or transfusion. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that reduced preoperative hematocrit and increased intraoperative blood loss were independent predictors of postoperative transfusion requirement. Intraoperative blood loss >1000 mL had an odds ratio of 8.9 (P=0.013), and preoperative hematocrit <35 had an odds ratio of 4.37 (P=0.008) of requiring a postoperative transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Routine postoperative hematologic studies are not necessary in many patients. High intraoperative blood loss and low preoperative hematocrit were independent predictors of postoperative blood transfusion. Our results describe quantitative preoperative and intraoperative criteria to guide data-driven utilization of postoperative hematologic studies following lumbar fusion.

Utilization of a novel digital measurement tool for quantitative assessment of upper extremity motor dexterity: a controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The current methods of assessing motor function rely primarily on the clinician's judgment of the patient's physical examination and the patient's self-administered surveys. Recently, computerized handgrip tools have been designed as an objective method to quantify upper-extremity motor function. This pilot study explores the use of the MediSens handgrip as a potential clinical tool for objectively assessing the motor function of the hand. METHODS: Eleven patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) were followed for three months. Eighteen age-matched healthy participants were followed for two months. The neuromotor function and the patient-perceived motor function of these patients were assessed with the MediSens device and the Oswestry Disability Index respectively. The MediSens device utilized a target tracking test to investigate the neuromotor capacity of the participants. The mean absolute error (MAE) between the target curve and the curve tracing achieved by the participants was used as the assessment metric. The patients' adjusted MediSens MAE scores were then compared to the controls. The CSM patients were further classified as either "functional" or "nonfunctional" in order to validate the system's responsiveness. Finally, the correlation between the MediSens MAE score and the ODI score was investigated. RESULTS: The control participants had lower MediSens MAE scores of 8.09%±1.60%, while the cervical spinal disorder patients had greater MediSens MAE scores of 11.24%±6.29%. Following surgery, the functional CSM patients had an average MediSens MAE score of 7.13%±1.60%, while the nonfunctional CSM patients had an average score of 12.41%±6.32%. The MediSens MAE and the ODI scores showed a statistically significant correlation (r=-0.341, p<1.14×10⁻5). A Bland-Altman plot was then used to validate the agreement between the two scores. Furthermore, the percentage improvement of the the two scores after receiving the surgical intervention showed a significant correlation (r=-0.723, p<0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The MediSens handgrip device is capable of identifying patients with impaired motor function of the hand. The MediSens handgrip scores correlate with the ODI scores and may serve as an objective alternative for assessing motor function of the hand.

Methylprednisolone Following Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression: A Large Prospective Single-Institution Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized. OBJECTIVE: Intraoperative methylprednisolone is a common adjunct following microscopic laminectomy/microdiscectomy. The goal of epidural instillation is a rapid symptomatic reduction in irritation of neural elements. There is inconsistent data supporting its use intraoperatively. To understand whether this maneuver results in any clinical effect, we performed a multiyear prospective study. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous work has demonstrated equivocal effects on pain with a suggestion of an increased risk of complication. These studies tend to suffer from small sample sizes and short follow-ups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study obtained IRB approval. During the study period from 2013 to 2019, nearly equivalent numbers of patients who had received steroids during MIS decompressions were followed. Primary outcomes included pain (visual analog scale) and disability [Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)] at 2 weeks and 4 months. Secondary outcomes included complications, readmissions, and reoperation rates during the study period. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-six patients were followed for a mean follow-up of 5.17 years. The index case was more likely to be a revision surgery in the steroid group. Across all patients, there was no difference in pain at 2 weeks or 4 months. Disability was reduced at 2 weeks in the steroid group (ODI: 16.71 vs . 21.02, P = 0.04) but not at 4 months. By subgroup analysis, this is largely explained by ODI reduction in patients with high preoperative ODI (13.00 vs . 43.43, P = 0.03). Patients in the steroid cohort were more likely to undergo subsequent spinal surgery during the study period. CONCLUSION: Methylprednisolone instillation is associated with a large, transient reduction in ODI for patients with high preoperative ODI; there is no measurable effect on pain. There is equivocal effect on risk of subsequent reoperation. This issue was clarified in peer review but changes did not make it to the abstract. Therefore, the technique is likely best reserved for patients with significant preoperative disability.

Does diabetes affect outcome or reoperation rate after lumbar decompression or arthrodesis? A matched analysis of the Quality Outcomes Database data set.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for postsurgical and systemic complications after lumbar spinal surgery. Smaller studies have also demonstrated diminished improvements in patient-reported outcomes (PROs), with increased reoperation and readmission rates after lumbar surgery in patients with DM. The authors aimed to examine longer-term PROs in patients with DM undergoing lumbar decompression and/or arthrodesis for degenerative pathology. METHODS: The Quality Outcomes Database was queried for patients undergoing elective lumbar decompression and/or arthrodesis for degenerative pathology. Patients were grouped into DM and non-DM groups and optimally matched in a 1:1 ratio on 31 baseline variables, including the number of operated levels. Outcomes of interest were readmissions and reoperations at 30 and 90 days after surgery in addition to improvements in Oswestry Disability Index, back pain, and leg pain scores and quality-adjusted life-years at 90 days after surgery. RESULTS: The matched decompression cohort comprised 7836 patients (3236 [41.3] females) with a mean age of 63.5 ± 12.6 years, and the matched arthrodesis cohort comprised 7336 patients (3907 [53.3%] females) with a mean age of 64.8 ± 10.3 years. In patients undergoing lumbar decompression, no significant differences in nonroutine discharge, length of stay (LOS), readmissions, reoperations, and PROs were observed. In patients undergoing lumbar arthrodesis, nonroutine discharge (15.7% vs 13.4%, p < 0.01), LOS (3.2 ± 2.0 vs 3.0 ± 3.5 days, p < 0.01), 30-day (6.5% vs 4.4%, p < 0.01) and 90-day (9.1% vs 7.0%, p < 0.01) readmission rates, and the 90-day reoperation rate (4.3% vs 3.2%, p = 0.01) were all significantly higher in the DM group. For DM patients undergoing lumbar arthrodesis, subgroup analyses demonstrated a significantly higher risk of poor surgical outcomes with the open approach. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with and without DM undergoing lumbar spinal decompression alone have comparable readmission and reoperation rates, while those undergoing arthrodesis procedures have a higher risk of poor surgical outcomes up to 90 days after surgery. Surgeons should target optimal DM control preoperatively, particularly for patients undergoing elective lumbar arthrodesis.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy and driving abilities: defining the prevalence and long-term postoperative outcomes using the Quality Outcomes Database.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) can cause significant difficulty with driving and a subsequent reduction in an individual's quality of life due to neurological deterioration. The positive impact of surgery on postoperative patient-reported driving capabilities has been seldom explored. METHODS: The CSM module of the Quality Outcomes Database was utilized. Patient-reported driving ability was assessed via the driving section of the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire. This is an ordinal scale in which 0 represents the absence of symptoms while driving and 5 represents a complete inability to drive due to symptoms. Patients were considered to have an impairment in their driving ability if they reported an NDI driving score of 3 or higher (signifying impairment in driving duration due to symptoms). Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate mediators of baseline impairment and improvement at 24 months after surgery, which was defined as an NDI driving score < 3. RESULTS: A total of 1128 patients who underwent surgical intervention for CSM were included, of whom 354 (31.4%) had baseline driving impairment due to CSM. Moderate (OR 2.3) and severe (OR 6.3) neck pain, severe arm pain (OR 1.6), mild-moderate (OR 2.1) and severe (OR 2.5) impairment in hand/arm dexterity, severe impairment in leg use/walking (OR 1.9), and severe impairment of urinary function (OR 1.8) were associated with impaired driving ability at baseline. Of the 291 patients with baseline impairment and available 24-month follow-up data, 209 (71.8%) reported postoperative improvement in their driving ability. This improvement seemed to be mediated particularly through the achievement of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in neck pain and improvement in leg function/walking. Patients with improved driving at 24 months noted higher postoperative satisfaction (88.5% vs 62.2%, p < 0.01) and were more likely to achieve a clinically significant improvement in their quality of life (50.7% vs 37.8%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-third of patients with CSM report impaired driving ability at presentation. Seventy-two percent of these patients reported improvements in their driving ability within 24 months of surgery. Surgical management of CSM can significantly improve patients' driving abilities at 24 months and hence patients' quality of life.

Impact of Educational Background on Preoperative Disease Severity and Postoperative Outcomes Among Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database. OBJECTIVE: Assess differences in preoperative status and postoperative outcomes among patients of different educational backgrounds undergoing surgical management of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patient education level (EL) has been suggested to correlate with health literacy, disease perception, socioeconomic status (SES), and access to health care. METHODS: The CSM data set of the Quality Outcomes Database (QOD) was queried for patients undergoing surgical management of CSM. EL was grouped as high school or below, graduate-level, and postgraduate level. The association of EL with baseline disease severity (per patient-reported outcome measures), symptoms >3 or ≤3 months, and 24-month patient-reported outcome measures were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 1141 patients with CSM, 509 (44.6%) had an EL of high school or below, 471 (41.3%) had a graduate degree, and 161 (14.1%) had obtained postgraduate education. Lower EL was statistically significantly associated with symptom duration of >3 months (odds ratio=1.68), higher arm pain numeric rating scale (NRS) (coefficient=0.5), and higher neck pain NRS (coefficient=0.79). Patients with postgraduate education had statistically significantly lower Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores (coefficient=-7.17), lower arm pain scores (coefficient=-1), and higher quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) scores (coefficient=0.06). Twenty-four months after surgery, patients of lower EL had higher NDI scores, higher pain NRS scores, and lower QALY scores ( P <0.05 in all analyses). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing surgical management for CSM, those reporting a lower educational level tended to present with longer symptom duration, more disease-inflicted disability and pain, and lower QALY scores. As such, patients of a lower EL are a potentially vulnerable subpopulation, and their health literacy and access to care should be prioritized.

Minimally invasive surgery for lumbar microdiscectomy.

Symptomatic disc herniation is a common indication for spinal operations. The open microscopic discectomy has been the traditional method of addressing this pathology, but minimally invasive techniques are increasingly popular. Potential advantages of the MIS microdiscectomy approach include decreased muscle and soft tissue disruption, shorter length of stay and decreased postoperative pain. Here we demonstrate an MIS microdiscectomy on a 24-year-old female with a left L-4 and L-5 radiculopathy secondary to a large L4-5 disc herniation. The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/aXyZ2FJMh2s.

Minimally invasive palliative resection of lumbar epidural metastasis.

Spinal metastatic lesions are the most common tumors encountered by spinal surgeons. As with procedures for degenerative disease, minimally invsive surgery techniques have been applied to minimize muscle and soft tissue destruction in procedures for tumor resection. Here, we present a 23-year-old female with radiculopathy and foot drop secondary to nerve root compression by epidural metastases from Ewing's sarcoma. This patient had a history of previous resection and instrumentation as well as multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation that failed to control her disease. The patient presented with three weeks of radicular pain and foot drop that was continuing to worsen at the time of her operation. The decision was therefore made to perform a palliative resection and decompression for relief of her progressive symptoms. In this video, we demonstrate a palliative tumor debulking and nerve root decompression utilizing an MIS approach. The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/tq4kbvKTebI.

Minimally invasive tubular surgery for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) was originally developed as a method for circumferential fusion via a single posterior approach and is now an extremely common procedure for the treatment of lumbar instability. More recently, minimally invasive techniques have been applied to this procedure with the goal of decreasing tissue disruption, blood loss and postoperative patient discomfort. Here we describe a minimally invasive tubular TLIF on a 60-year-old male with radiculopathy from an unstable L4-5 spondylolisthesis. The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/0BbxQiUmtRc.

Minimally-invasive tubular resection of thoracolumbar intradural schwannoma.

Minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approaches to the spine are increasingly adopted for intradural pathology. In this setting, they may especially be useful to minimize risk of CSF leakage due to the decreased disruption to paraspinal musculature and minimal dead space. Herein, the authors demonstrate their technique for the resection of an intradural thoracolumbar schwannoma in a 30-year-old woman via an MIS approach using a nonexpandable tubular retractor. Salient points include the use of bayonetted instruments and the technique for dural closure in a small corridor. Indications for this technique are discussed in the context of a series of patients with intradural extramedullary lesions.

Sleep Disturbances in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Prevalence and Postoperative Outcomes-an Analysis From the Quality Outcomes Database.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study, level of evidence 1 for prognostic investigations. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of sleep impairment and predictors of improved sleep quality 24 months postoperatively in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) using the quality outcomes database. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Sleep disturbances are a common yet understudied symptom in CSM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The quality outcomes database was queried for patients with CSM, and sleep quality was assessed through the neck disability index sleep component at baseline and 24 months postoperatively. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to identify risk factors of failure to improve sleep impairment and symptoms causing lingering sleep dysfunction 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: Among 1135 patients with CSM, 904 (79.5%) had some degree of sleep dysfunction at baseline. At 24 months postoperatively, 72.8% of the patients with baseline sleep symptoms experienced improvement, with 42.5% reporting complete resolution. Patients who did not improve were more like to be smokers [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.85], have osteoarthritis (aOR: 1.72), report baseline radicular paresthesia (aOR: 1.51), and have neck pain of ≥4/10 on a numeric rating scale. Patients with improved sleep noted higher satisfaction with surgery (88.8% vs 72.9%, aOR: 1.66) independent of improvement in other functional areas. In a multivariable analysis including pain scores and several myelopathy-related symptoms, lingering sleep dysfunction at 24 months was associated with neck pain (aOR: 1.47) and upper (aOR: 1.45) and lower (aOR: 1.52) extremity paresthesias. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients presenting with CSM have associated sleep disturbances. Most patients experience sustained improvement after surgery, with almost half reporting complete resolution. Smoking, osteoarthritis, radicular paresthesia, and neck pain ≥4/10 numeric rating scale score are baseline risk factors of failure to improve sleep dysfunction. Improvement in sleep symptoms is a major driver of patient-reported satisfaction. Incomplete resolution of sleep impairment is likely due to neck pain and extremity paresthesia.

Susceptibilities to amphotericin B, fluconazole and voriconazole of Trichosporon clinical isolates.

A total of 35 Trichosporon isolates were collected from the Taiwan Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Yeasts (TSARY) project from 1999 to 2006, and their identifications as well as drug susceptibilities were determined. The most frequently isolated species was T. asahii (62.9%), and the most common clinical sample that yielded Trichosporon isolates was urine (37.1%). The etiology of all seven invasive trichosporonosis was T. asahii. For the 22 T. asahii isolates, the MIC(50) and MIC(90) for amphotericin B were 0.25 and 1 µg/mL, respectively. Those for fluconazole were 2 and 4 µg/mL, respectively, and for voriconazole 0.031 and 0.063 µg/mL, respectively. When the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and agreements were calculated, we found that the MICs of fluconazole obtained from different methods were similar and the inter-method discrepancies were low. Nevertheless, no unanimous MIC of amphotericin B and voriconazole was obtained among different methods.

Machine learning predicts improvement of functional outcomes in traumatic brain injury patients after inpatient rehabilitation.

Survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) have an unpredictable clinical course. This unpredictability makes clinical resource allocation for clinicians and anticipatory guidance for patients difficult. Historically, experienced clinicians and traditional statistical models have insufficiently considered all available clinical information to predict functional outcomes for a TBI patient. Here, we harness artificial intelligence and apply machine learning and statistical models to predict the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores after rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Tree-based algorithmic analysis of 629 TBI patients admitted to a large acute rehabilitation facility showed statistically significant improvement in motor and cognitive FIM scores at discharge.