Lumbar Drain Use during Middle Fossa Approaches for Nonneoplastic Pathology of the Skull Base.

Introduction The middle fossa craniotomy (MFCs) is commonly utilized for spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, encephaloceles, and superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD). This study compares postoperative outcomes of MFCs with and without LD use. Methods A retrospective cohort study of adults over the age of 18 years presenting for the repair of nonneoplastic CSF leak, encephalocele, or SSCD via MFC from 2009 to 2021 was conducted. The main exposure of interest was the placement of an LD. The primary outcome was the presence of postoperative complications (acute/delayed neurologic deficit, meningitis, intracranial hemorrhage, and stroke). Secondary outcomes included operating room (OR) time, length of stay, recurrence, and need for reoperation. Results In total, 172 patients were included, 96 of whom received an LD and 76 who did not. Patients not receiving an LD were more likely to receive intraoperative mannitol ( n = 24, 31.6% vs. n = 16, 16.7%, p = 0.02). On univariate logistic regression, LD placement did not influence overall postoperative complications (OR: 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05-2.02, p = 0.28), CSF leak recurrence (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.25-2.29, p = 0.61), or need for reoperation (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 0.48-4.96, p = 0.51). While OR time was shorter for patients not receiving LD (349 ± 71 vs. 372 ± 85 minutes), this difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.07). Conclusion No difference in postoperative outcomes was observed in patients who had an intraoperative LD placed compared to those without LD. Operative times were increased in the LD cohort, but this difference was not statistically significant. Given the similar outcomes, we conclude that LD is not necessary to facilitate safe MCF for nonneoplastic skull base pathologies.

Resident Salary Compared to Living Wages at United States Training Institutions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare living wages and salaries at US residency programs. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: It is unknown how resident salary compares to living wages across the United States (US). METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of publicly available resident salary affordability from training centers with post-graduate-year (PGY)-1 through PGY-7 resident compensation for 2022-2023 was compared with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living-Wage Calculator. Resident salary to living wage ratios were calculated using PGY-4 salary for each family composition. Univariate and multivariable analysis of PGY-4 salary affordability was performed, accounting for proportion of expected living wages to taxes, transportation, housing, healthcare, childcare, and food, as well as unionization and state income-tax. RESULTS: 118 residency programs, representing over 60% of US trainees, were included, 20 (17%) of which were unionized. Single-parent families were unable to earn a living wage until PGY-7. Residents with 1 child in 2-adult (single-income) and 2-adult (dual-income) families earn below living wages until PGY-5 and PGY-3, respectively. Residents with more than 1 child never earn a living wage. Multivariable regression analysis using PGY-4 salary: living wage ratios in single-child, 2-parent homes showed food expense and unionization status were consistent predictors of affordability. Unionization was associated with lower affordability pre-stipend, almost equivalent affordability post-stipend, and lower affordability post-stipend and union dues. CONCLUSIONS: Resident salaries often preclude residents with children from earning a living wage. Unionization is not associated with increased resident affordability in this cross-sectional analysis. All annual reimbursement data should be centrally compiled, and additional stipends should be considered for residents with children.

Techniques to Reduce the Rate of Infection in Surgeries for Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting in Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement is associated with high rates of infection. Multiple standardized protocols, particularly in pediatric populations, have been proposed to mitigate this infection rate. We sought to determine the effectiveness of a standardized shunt infection protocol in a large adult population. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of adults presenting for primary cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement from 2012 to 2022. The primary outcome of interest was shunt infection. The primary exposure of interest was implementation of the shunt protocol (began October 2015). Secondary exposures of interest included use and type of perioperative antibiotics and total operating room time. RESULTS: In total, 820 patients were included, 140 before protocol implementation and 680 after protocol implementation. The overall number of infections over the study period was 15 (1.8% infection rate), with 8 infections preprotocol (5.7%) and 7 infections during the protocol period (1.0%). The infection protocol was associated with a decreased infection rate (odds rato [OR] 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05-0.58, P = 0.002). Total operating room time (OR 1.38 per 30-minute increase, 95% CI 1.05-1.81, P = 0.021) was associated with increased infection rate. Patients who received antibiotics with primarily gram-positive coverage (cefazolin or equivalent) did not have significantly different odds of shunt infection as patients who received broad-spectrum coverage (OR 2.10, 95% CI 0.56-7.88, P = 0.274). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an evidence-based perioperative shunt infection protocol is an effective method to decrease shunt infections. Broad-spectrum perioperative antibiotics may not have greater efficacy than gram-positive only coverage, but more research is required.

Global pediatric craniopharyngioma management modalities and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric craniopharyngioma is a complex pathology, with optimal management involving a multidisciplinary approach and thoughtful care coordination. To date, no studies have compared various treatment modalities and outcomes described in different global regions. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review to compare demographics, clinical presentation, treatment approach and outcomes of children diagnosed with craniopharyngioma globally. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Search terms included "craniopharyngioma" and country-specific terms. Inclusion criteria included full-text studies published between 2000-2022, primarily examining pediatric patients 18-years old or younger diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, and reporting management and outcomes of interest. Data extracted included country of origin, demographical data, initial presentation and treatment modality, and outcomes. Descriptive statistics and between-group comparisons based on country of origin were performed. RESULTS: Of 797 search results, 35 articles were included, mostly originating from high-income countries (HIC) (n = 25, 71.4%). No studies originated from low-income countries (LIC). When comparing HIC to middle-income countries (MIC), no differences in patient demographics were observed. No differences in symptomatology at initial presentation, tumor type, surgical approach or extent of surgical resection were observed. HIC patients undergoing intracystic therapy were more likely to receive bleomycin (n = 48, 85.7%), while the majority of MIC patients received interferon therapy (n = 10, 62.5%). All MIC patients undergoing radiation therapy underwent photon therapy (n = 102). No statistically significant differences were observed in postoperative complications or mean follow-up duration between HIC and MIC (78.1 ± 32.2 vs. 58.5 ± 32.1 months, p = 0.241). CONCLUSION: Pediatric craniopharyngioma presents and is managed similarly across the globe. However, no studies originating from LICs and resource-poor regions examine presentation and management to date, representing a significant knowledge gap that must be addressed to complete the global picture of pediatric craniopharyngioma burden and management.

Conditional Recurrence-Free Survival After Surgical Resection of Meningioma.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence after meningioma resection warrants serial surveillance imaging, but little evidence guides the optimal time interval between imaging studies/surveillance duration. OBJECTIVE: To describe recurrence-free survival (RFS) after meningioma resection, conditioned to short-term RFS. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study for adults presenting for meningioma resection from 2000 to 2018 was conducted. The primary outcome was postoperative follow-up RFS. Conditional RFS Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 years, conditioned to 6-month and 12-month RFS. RFS probabilities conditioned to 6-month RFS were estimated in subgroups, stratified by World Health Organization grade, extent of resection, and need for postoperative radiation. RESULTS: In total, 723 patients were included. Median age at surgery was 57.4 years (IQR = 47.2-67.2). Median follow-up was 23.5 months (IQR = 12.3-47.8). Recurrence was observed in 90 patients (12%), with median time to recurrence of 14.4 months (IQR = 10.3-37.1). Conditioned to 6-month postoperative RFS, patients had 90.3% probability of remaining recurrence-free at 2 years and 69.4% at 10 years. Subgroup analysis conditioned to 6-month RFS demonstrated grade 1 meningiomas undergoing gross total resection (GTR) had 96.0% probability of RFS at 1 year and 82.8% at 5 years, whereas those undergoing non-GTR had 94.5% and 79.9% probability, respectively. RFS probability was 78.8% at 5 years for non-grade 1 meningiomas undergoing GTR, compared with 69.7% for non-grade 1 meningiomas undergoing non-GTR. Patients with non-grade 1 meningiomas undergoing upfront radiation had a 1-year RFS of 90.1% and 5-year RFS of 51.7%. CONCLUSION: Recurrence risk after meningioma resection after an initial recurrence-free period is reported, with high-risk subgroups identified. These results can inform objective shared decision-making for optimal follow-up.

Which Approach Leads to More Reoperations in Single-Level, Open, Posterior Lumbar Fusion: Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion or Posterolateral Fusion Alone?

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and posterolateral fusion (PLF) without an interbody device are two common approaches for single-level, open posterior fusion. Presently, it is unknown whether one of these operations leads to better outcomes. We sought to compare reoperation, complication, and readmission rates between TLIF and PLF for patients undergoing elective single-level, open, posterior lumbar fusion. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective cohort study utilizing prospectively collected data was performed. Inclusion criteria were patients undergoing elective single-level, open, posterior lumbar decompression and fusion between October 2010 and April 2021 with at least 1-year follow-up. The two comparison groups were TLIF vs PLF alone without interbody. The primary outcome was need for reoperation at most recent follow-up. Secondary outcomes included 90-day complication and readmission rates. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 850 patients were included, 591 (69.5%) of whom underwent TLIF and 259 (30.5%) of whom underwent PLF. Median follow-up was 6.1 years (interquartile range 3.7-8.9). No significant difference was found in overall reoperation rates (12.4% vs 13.9%, P = 0.534). When stratified by <5-year follow-up (n = 231 TLIF, n = 85 PLF; 37.2%) and ≥5-year follow-up (n = 360 TLIF, n = 174 PLF; 62.8%), no significant differences were seen in either cohort (<5 years: n = 24 TLIF vs n = 9 PLF, P = 0.959; 5+ years: n = 49 TLIF vs n = 27 PLF, P = 0.555). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the presence of interbody fusion was not associated with reoperation (OR 2.26, 95% CI 0.66-7.74, P = 0.194). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For patients undergoing elective single-level, open, posterior lumbar fusion without isthmic spondylolisthesis, no differences were seen in reoperation rates at long-term follow-up. Similar 90-day complication and readmission rates were seen. These results suggest that in degenerative lumbar spine disease without isthmic spondylolisthesis, TLIF and PLF achieved similar outcomes.

Association between preoperative hematologic markers and aggressive behavior in meningiomas.

INTRODUCTION: Meningiomas have varying degrees of aggressive behavior. Some systemic hematologic makers are associated with malignancy, but their value in predicting aggressive meningioma behavior is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between preoperative markers such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-monocyte ratio (NMR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and diagnostic and prognostic factors including WHO grade, proliferation index, presence of edema on preoperative MRI, and tumor recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients treated between 2000 and 2019 with a preoperative complete blood count (CBC) differential lab draw before intracranial meningioma resection was conducted. All preoperative steroid dosages were converted to dexamethasone equivalents. Primary outcomes included presence/absence of perilesional edema, WHO grade, Ki-67/MIB-index, and recurrence. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 209 meningioma patients were included. Of these, 143 (68 %) were WHO grade I, 61 (29 %) grade II and 5 (2 %) were grade III. Recurrence was reported in 19 (9.1 %) tumors. No hematologic markers were associated with recurrence. In separate multivariable logistic analyses, no biomarkers were associated with perilesional edema or WHO grade. MLR was associated with higher MIB-index (p = 0.018, OR 6.57, 95 % CI 1.37-30.91). CONCLUSION: Most hematologic markers were not associated with meningioma invasiveness, grade, proliferative index, or aggressiveness. Preoperative MLR was associated with high proliferation index in patients undergoing surgery for intracranial meningioma. Higher MLR could be a surrogate for meningioma proliferation and has potential to be used as an adjunct for risk-stratifying meningiomas.

Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Versus Posterolateral Fusion Alone in the Treatment of Grade 1 Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and posterolateral fusion (PLF) alone are two operations performed to treat degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. To date, it is unclear which operation leads to better outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To compare TLIF vs PLF alone regarding long-term reoperation rates, complications, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with degenerative grade 1 spondylolisthesis. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data between October 2010 and May 2021 was undertaken. Inclusion criteria were patients aged 18 years or older with grade 1 degenerative spondylolisthesis undergoing elective, single-level, open posterior lumbar decompression and instrumented fusion with ≥1-year follow-up. The primary exposure was presence of TLIF vs PLF without interbody fusion. The primary outcome was reoperation. Secondary outcomes included complications, readmission, discharge disposition, return to work, and PROMs at 3 and 12 months postoperatively, including Numeric Rating Scale-Back/Leg and Oswestry Disability Index. Minimum clinically important difference of PROMs was set at 30% improvement from baseline. RESULTS: Of 546 patients, 373 (68.3%) underwent TLIF and 173 underwent (31.7%) PLF. Median follow-up was 6.1 years (IQR = 3.6-9.0), with 339 (62.1%) >5-year follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression showed that patients undergoing TLIF had a lower odds of reoperation compared with PLF alone (odds ratio = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.54-0.99, P = .048). Among patients with >5-year follow-up, the same trend was seen (odds ratio = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.03-0.95, P = .045). No differences were observed in 90-day complications ( P = .487) and readmission rates ( P = .230) or minimum clinically important difference PROMs. CONCLUSION: In a retrospective cohort study from a prospectively maintained registry, patients with grade 1 degenerative spondylolisthesis undergoing TLIF had significantly lower long-term reoperation rates than those undergoing PLF.

In Single-Level, Open, Posterior Lumbar Fusion, Does Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion or Posterolateral Fusion Lead to Better Outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Two common approaches for open, one-level, posterior lumbar fusions include transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and posterolateral fusion (PLF) alone without an interbody. OBJECTIVE: To compare TLIF vs PLF alone in (1) discharge disposition, (2) return to work (RTW), and (3) patient-reported outcomes (PROs). METHODS: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was undertaken between October 2010 and May 2021, all with a 1-year follow-up and excluding patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis. Minimum clinically important difference for each PRO was used, which included Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Logistic/linear regression controlled for age, body mass index, disc height, flexion-extension movement, amount of movement on flexion-extension, and spondylolisthesis grade. RESULTS: Of 850 patients undergoing open, 1-level, posterior lumbar fusion, 591 (69.5%) underwent a TLIF and 259 (30.5%) underwent a PLF alone. Patients undergoing TLIF were younger (59.0 ± 11.3 vs 63.3 ± 12.6, P < .001), had higher body mass index (31.3 ± 6.6 vs 30.2 ± 12.6, P = .019), and more often had private insurance (50.3% vs 39.0%, P < .001). Regarding discharge disposition, no significance was found in multivariate regression (odds ratio = 2.07, 95% CI = 0.39-10.82, P = .385) with similar RTW between TLIF and PLF alone (80.8% vs 80.4%, P = .645) (odds ratio = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.19-6.81, P = .873). Regarding PROs, patients undergoing a TLIF had higher preoperative (6.7 ± 2.3 vs 6.4 ± 2.5, P = .046) and 3-month NRS-back pain (3.4 ± 2.6 vs 2.9 ± 2.5, P = .036), with similar 12-month NRS-back pain. Regarding NRS-leg pain, no differences were observed preoperatively ( P = .532) and at 3 months ( P = .808). No other significant differences were observed in ODI. CONCLUSION: TLIF patients had slightly higher NRS-back pain at baseline and 3 months, but similar NRS-leg pain, despite the added risk of placing an interbody. No differences were seen in discharge disposition, RTW, and 12-month pain scores and ODI.

Comparison of supratentorial meningioma resection outcomes by dural reconstruction technique.

OBJECTIVE: Excision of intracranial meningiomas often requires resection or coagulation of the dura mater. The choice of dural closure technique is individualized and based on surgeon preference. The objective of this study was to determine outcomes following various dural closure techniques for supratentorial meningiomas. METHODS: A retrospective, single-center cohort study was performed for patients who underwent excision of supratentorial meningiomas from 2000 to 2019. Outcomes including operative time, postoperative in-hospital complications, readmission, causes of readmission including surgical site infection, pseudomeningocele, need for shunt surgery, and imaging appearance of pseudomeningocele on long-term follow-up imaging were compared. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 353 patients who had complete clinical and operative data available for review were included. Of these patients, 227 (64.3%) had nonsutured dural graft reconstruction and 126 (35.7%) had sutured dural repair, including primary closure, artificial dura, or pericranial graft. There was significant variability in using nonsutured dural reconstruction compared with sutured dural repair technique among surgeons (p < 0.001). Tumors with sagittal sinus involvement were more likely to undergo nonsutured closure (n = 79, 34.8%) than dural repair (n = 26, 20.6%) (p = 0.003). There were no other differences in preoperative imaging findings or WHO grade. Frequency of surgical site infection and pseudomeningocele, need for shunt surgery, and recurrence were similar between those undergoing nonsutured and those undergoing sutured dural repair. The mean operative time for the study cohort was 234.9 (SD 106.6) minutes. The nonsutured dural reconstruction group had a significantly shorter mean operative time (223.9 [SD 99.7] minutes) than the sutured dural repair group (254.5 [SD 115.8] minutes) (p = 0.015). In a multivariable linear regression analysis, after controlling for tumor size and sinus involvement, nonsutured dural graft reconstruction was associated with a 36.8-minute reduction (95% CI -60.3 to -13.2 minutes; p = 0.002) in operative time. CONCLUSIONS: Dural reconstruction using a nonsutured graft and sutured dural repair exhibit similar postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing resection for supratentorial meningiomas. Although sutured grafts may sometimes be necessary, nonsutured graft reconstruction for most supratentorial meningioma resections may suffice. The decreased operative time associated with nonsutured grafts may ultimately result in cost savings. These findings should be taken into consideration when selecting a dural reconstruction technique for supratentorial meningioma.

Barbed Suture versus Interrupted Suture in Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery: Are They Equivalent?

Introduction: Posterior cervical spine approaches have been associated with increased rates of wound complications compared to anterior approaches. While barbed suture wound closure for lumbar spine surgery has been shown to be safe and efficacious, there is no literature regarding its use in posterior cervical spine surgery. In a cohort of patients undergoing elective posterior cervical spine surgery, we sought to compare postoperative complication rates between barbed and traditional interrupted suture closure. Methods: A retrospective review of demographics, past medical history, and operative and postoperative variables collected from a prospective registry between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2020 was undertaken. All patients 18 years old and above undergoing elective posterior cervical fusion were included. The primary outcome of interest was wound complications, including surgical site infection (SSI), dehiscence, or hematoma. In addition, numerical rating scale (NRS) neck pain (NP), NRS arm pain (AP), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and operative time were collected. A variety of statistical tests were used to compare the two suture groups. Results: Of 117 patients undergoing posterior cervical fusion, 89 (76%) were closed with interrupted suture and 28 (24%) with barbed suture. The interrupted cohort were more likely to have >1 comorbidity (p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (p=0.013), and coronary artery disease (p=0.002). No difference in postoperative wound complications between interrupted/barbed sutures was observed after univariate (OR 1.07, 95% CI: 0.27-4.25, p=0.927) and multivariable logistic regression analysis (OR 0.77, 95% CI: 0.15-4.00, p=0.756). Univariate logistic regression revealed no differences in achieving minimal clinically important difference (MCID) NRS-NP (OR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.28-1.88, p=0.508) or NRS-AP (OR 0.68, 95% CI: 0.25-1.90, p=0.464) at 3 months between suture groups. The interrupted suture group was less likely to achieve MCID NDI at 3 months (OR 0.29, 95% CI: 0.11-0.80, p=0.016). Conclusions: Barbed suture closure in posterior cervical spine surgery does not lead to higher rates of postoperative wound complications/SSI compared to traditional interrupted fascial closure.

Matched case-control analysis of outcomes following surgical resection of incidental meningioma.

PURPOSE: The management of incidentally discovered meningioma remains controversial. We sought to compare outcomes following surgical resection of incidental meningioma to a matched cohort of symptomatic meningiomas. METHODS: A retrospective single-center case-control study was conducted for patients undergoing resection of incidental meningioma from 2000 to 2019. A 1:1 case-control matching for incidental and symptomatic meningioma was performed using the following variables: age at initial visit, gender, tumor location/size, and presence of peritumoral edema. Primary outcomes included (1) WHO grading/histopathological subtype/MIB-1 index, (2) extent of resection (gross total resection or subtotal resection), and (3) recurrence. Outcomes were compared between groups using descriptive/bivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 91 incidental meningiomas were analyzed. Trauma was the most common reason (n = 19, 21%) to obtain imaging, and tumor size the leading reason to operate (n = 37, 41%). Median time-to-surgery from initial clinical encounter was 5-months (Q1:3, Q3:16.5). More incidental meningioma patients (n = 47, 52%) were privately insured compared to their matched symptomatic cohort (n = 30, 33%) (P = 0.006). Patients with incidental meningioma had significantly higher mean Karnofsky Performance Scale at time-of-surgery (93.2, SD:11.1 vs. 81.4, SD:12.7) (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in primary/secondary outcomes between the groups. Incidental meningioma was not associated with recurrence on Cox proportional hazards analysis (HR: 0.795, 95%CI: 0.3-2.1, P = 0.637). CONCLUSION: Matched case-control analysis demonstrated no significant differences in clinical, histopathological, and functional outcomes following resection of incidental and symptomatic meningioma. While non-operative management with close follow-up and serial imaging is preferred for incidental meningiomas, those undergoing resection when indicated can anticipate similar safety and efficacy as symptomatic meningiomas.

Outcomes following surgical resection of cystic intracranial meningiomas.

INTRODUCTION: Cystic meningiomas are rare, accounting for 2-7% of all intracranial meningiomas. Little is known regarding whether these meningiomas behave differently compared to solid meningiomas. We sought to study this relatively uncommon imaging appearance of meningioma and to evaluate its clinical significance. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective cohort study of surgically-treated meningioma patients between 2000 and 2019 was conducted. Cystic meningioma was defined as a tumor with an intratumoral or peritumoral cyst present on preoperative imaging. Demographics, preoperative imaging, histopathology characteristics, operative data, and surgical outcomes were reviewed. Imaging variables, histopathology and outcomes were reported for cystic meningiomas and compared with non-cystic meningiomas. Univariate/multivariable analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Of 737 total meningiomas treated surgically, 38 (5.2%) were cystic. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 84.2% of cystic meningioma patients. Eighty-two percent of cystic meningiomas were WHO grade I (n = 31), 15.7% were grade II and 2.6% were grade III. Most cystic meningiomas had low Ki-67/MIB-1 proliferation index (n = 24, 63.2%). A total of 18.4% (n = 7) patients with cystic meningioma had recurrence compared to 12.2% (n = 80) of patients with non-cystic meningioma (p = 0.228). No significant difference in median time to recurrence was observed between cystic and non-cystic meningiomas (25.4, Q1:13.9, Q3:46.9 months vs. 13.4, Q1:8.6, Q3:35.5 months, p = 0.080). CONCLUSIONS: A small portion of intracranial meningiomas have cystic characteristics on imaging. Cystic meningiomas are frequently WHO grade I, have low proliferation index, and had similar outcomes compared to non-cystic meningioma. Cysts in meningioma may not be a surrogate to determine aggressive meningioma behavior.

Loss to Follow-up and Unplanned Readmission After Emergent Surgery for Acute Subdural Hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Loss to follow-up (LTF) and unplanned readmission are barriers to recovery after acute subdural hematoma evacuation. The variables associated with these postdischarge events are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To determine factors associated with LTF and unplanned readmission, emphasizing socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of surgical patients with acute subdural hematoma managed operatively from 2009 to 2019 at a level 1 regional trauma center. Area Deprivation Index (ADI), which is a neighborhood-level composite socioeconomic score, was used to measure SES. Higher ADI corresponds to lower SES. To decrease the number of covariates in the model, principal components (PCs) analysis was used. Multivariable logistic regression analyses of PCs were performed for LTF and unplanned readmission. RESULTS: A total of 172 patients were included in this study. Thirty-six patients (21%) were LTF, and 49 (28%) patients were readmitted; 11 (6%) patients were both LTF and readmitted ( P = .9). The median time to readmission was 10 days (Q1: 4.5, Q3: 35). In multivariable logistic regression analyses for LTF, increased ADI and distance to hospital through PC2 (odds ratio [OR] 1.49; P = .009) and uninsured/Medicaid status and increased length of stay through PC4 (OR 1.73; P = .015) significantly contributed to the risk of LTF. Unfavorable discharge functional status and nonhome disposition through PC3 were associated with decreased odds of unplanned readmission (OR = 0.69; P = .028). CONCLUSION: Patients at high risk for LTF and unplanned readmissions, as identified in this study, may benefit from targeted resources individualized to their needs to address barrier to follow-up and to ensure continuity of care.

Impact of Thrombocytopenia on Preoperative Hematoma Expansion for Acute Traumatic Subdural Hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Acute subdural hematoma is a neurosurgical emergency. Thrombocytopenia poses a management challenge for these patients. We aimed to determine the impact of thrombocytopenia on preoperative hemorrhage expansion and postoperative outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated patients presenting at our institution with acute subdural hematoma between 2009 and 2019. Patients who underwent surgery, had thrombocytopenia (platelets <150,000/µL), and had multiple preoperative computed tomography scans were included. Case control 1:1 matching was performed to generate a matched cohort with no thrombocytopenia. Univariate analyses were conducted to determine changes in subdural thickness and midline shift, postoperative Glasgow Coma Scale score, mortality, length of stay, and readmission rates. RESULTS: We identified 19 patients with both thrombocytopenia and multiple preoperative computed tomography scans. Median platelet count was 112,000/µL (Q1 69,000, Q3 127,000). Comparing the thrombocytopenia cohort with the control group, there was a statistically significant difference in change in subdural thickness (median 5 mm [Q1 2, Q3 7.4] vs. 0 mm [Q1 0, Q3 1.5]; P = 0.001) and change in midline shift (median 3 mm [Q1 0, Q3 9.5] vs. median 0.5 mm [Q1 0, Q3 1.5]; P = 0.018). The thrombocytopenia cohort had higher in-hospital mortality (10 [52.6%] vs. 2 [10.5%]; P = 0.003). No significant differences were found in postoperative Glasgow Coma Scale score, length of stay, number of readmissions, and number of reoperations. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombocytopenia is significantly associated with expansion of hematoma preoperatively in patients with acute subdural hematoma. While the benefit of early platelet correction cannot be determined from this study, patients who present with thrombocytopenia will benefit from close monitoring, a low threshold to obtain repeat imaging, and anticipating early surgical evacuation after platelet optimization.

Evaluating caregiver stress in craniosynostosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Caregiver stress from a child's diagnosis can impact a caregiver's ability to participate in treatment decisions, comply, and manage long-term illness. The aim of this study was to compare caregiver stress in children with craniosynostosis at diagnosis and postoperatively. METHODS: This prospective study included caregivers of pediatric patients with craniosynostosis receiving operative intervention. Demographics and Parenting Stress Index, Short Form (PSI-SF) and Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) surveys at baseline (preoperatively) and 3 and 6 months postoperatively were completed. PSI-SF scores between 15 and 80 are considered normal, with > 85 being clinically significant and requiring follow-up. Higher PIP scores represent increased frequency and difficulty of stressful events due to the child's illness. Pairwise comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess for PSI-SF and PIP predictors. RESULTS: Of 106 caregivers (84% Caucasian), there were 62 mothers and 40 fathers. There were 68 and 45 responses at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, respectively. Regarding the baseline group, more than 80% were between 20 and 40 years of age and 58% had less than 2 years of college education. The median household income fell in the $45,001-$60,000 bracket. There was no significant difference between median baseline PSI-SF score (65, IQR 51-80) and those at 3 months (p = 0.45) and 6 months (p = 0.82) postoperatively. Both median PIP frequency (89 vs 74, p < 0.01) and difficulty (79 vs 71, p < 0.01) scores were lower at 3 months, although no significant difference was observed at 6 months (frequency: 95 vs 91, p = 0.67; difficulty: 82 vs 80, p = 0.34). Female sex, uninsured status, and open surgery type were all risk factors for higher parental stress. CONCLUSIONS: Stress levels ranged from normal to clinically significant in the caregivers, with sex, uninsured status, and open repair predicting higher stress. Stress decreased at 3 months postoperatively before increasing at 6 months. Intervention targeting caregiver stress should be explored to maintain lower stress observed at 3 months after surgery.

Red blood cell distribution width in glioblastoma.

INTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadly adult brain tumor. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been found in non-central nervous system neoplasms to be associated with survival. This study aims to assess the prognostic value of pre-operative RDW and trends in RDW over time during the disease course. METHODS: This single-institution retrospective cohort study identified patients ≥ 18 years old with pathology-proved glioblastoma treated between April 2003-May 2017 from an institutional database. A Cox proportional hazards model was developed using known prognostic clinical variables to predict overall survival time; a second model incorporating continuously valued RDW was then created. The additional prognostic value of RDW was assessed with a joint model F-test. The variation of RDW-CV over time was evaluated with linear mixed model of RDW. A post-hoc exploratory analysis was performed to assess the trend in RDW lab value leading up to time of death. RESULTS: 346 adult GBM patients were identified; complete survival data was available for all patients. The addition of RDW to the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model did not increase prognostic value. There was an upward trend in RDW throughout the post-operative disease course. In a post-hoc analysis, there was an upward trend in RDW leading up to the time of death. CONCLUSION: Although RDW has been prognostic of survival for many inflammatory, prothrombotic, and neoplastic diseases, pre-operative RDW was not associated with overall survival in GBM patients. RDW trended upwards throughout the disease course, suggesting possible systemic inflammatory effects of either glioblastoma or treatment.

Defining the relative utility of lumbar spine surgery: A systematic literature review of common surgical procedures and their impact on health states.

Degenerative lumbar spondylosis is a common indication for patients undergoing spine surgery. As healthcare costs rise, measuring quality of life (QOL) gains after surgical procedures is critical in assessing value. We set out to: 1) compare baseline and postoperative EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) scores for lumbar spine surgery and common surgical procedures to obtain post-operative quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gain, and 2) establish the relative utility of lumbar spine surgery as compared to other commonly performed surgical procedures. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify all studies reporting preoperative/baseline and postoperative EQ-5D scores for common surgical procedures. For each study, the number of patients included and baseline/preoperative and follow-up mean EQ-5D scores were recorded, and mean QALY gained for each intervention was calculated. A total of 67 studies comprising 95,014 patients were identified. Patients with lumbar spondylosis had the worst reported QOL at baseline compared to other surgical cohorts. The greatest QALY gain was seen in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty (0.38), knee arthroplasty (0.35) and lumbar spine surgery (0.32), nearly 2.5-fold greater QALY gained than for all other procedures. The low preoperative QOL, coupled with the improvements offered with surgery, highlight the utility and value of lumbar spine surgery compared to other common surgical procedures.

Admission trends in pediatric isolated linear skull fracture across the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric isolated linear skull fractures commonly result from head trauma and rarely require surgery, yet patients are often admitted to the hospital-a costly care plan. In this study, the authors utilized a national database to investigate trends in admission for skull fractures across the United States. METHODS: Children younger than 18 years with isolated linear skull fracture, according to ICD-9 diagnosis codes in the Kids' Inpatient Database of the Healthcare and Utilization Project (HCUP), who presented between 2003 and 2016 were included. HCUP collected data in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2016. Children with a depressed skull fracture, multiple traumatic injuries, and acute intracranial findings were excluded. Sample-level data were translated into population-level data by using an HCUP-specific discharge weight. RESULTS: Overall, 11,355 patients (64% males) were admitted to 1605 hospitals. National admissions decreased from 3053 patients in 2003 to 1203 in 2016. The mean ± SD age at admission also decreased from 6.3 ± 5.9 years to 1.2 ± 3.0 years (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients in the lowest quartile of median household income increased by 9%, while that in the highest income quartile decreased by 7% (p < 0.001). Admission was generally more common in the summer months (June, July, and August) and on weekdays (68%). The mean ± SD hospital length of stay decreased from 2.0 ± 3.1 days to 1.4 ± 1.4 days between 2003 and 2012, and then increased to 2.1 ± 6.8 days in 2016 (p < 0.001). When adjusted for inflation, the mean total hospital charges increased from $13,099 to $21,204 (p < 0.001). The greatest proportion of admissions was in the South (35%), and the lowest was in the Northeast (17%). The proportion of patients admitted to large hospitals increased (59% to 72%, p < 0.001), which corresponded to a decrease in patients admitted to small hospitals (16% to 9%, p < 0.001). Overall, the total proportion of admissions to rural hospitals decreased by 6%, and that to urban teaching centers increased by 15% (p < 0.001). Since 2003, no child has undergone a neurosurgical procedure or died as an inpatient. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a general nationwide decrease in admissions for pediatric linear isolated skull fracture, but associated costs increased. Admissions became less common at smaller rural hospitals and more common at larger urban teaching hospitals. This patient population required no inpatient neurosurgical intervention after 2003.

Predicting for Lost to Follow-up in Surgical Management of Patients with Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Lost to follow-up (LTF) represents an understudied barrier to effective management of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). Understanding the factors associated with LTF after surgical treatment of cSDH could uncover pathways for quality improvement efforts and modify discharge planning. We sought to identify the demographic and clinical factors associated with patient LTF. METHODS: A single-institution, retrospective cohort study of patients treated surgically for convexity cSDH from 2009 to 2019 was conducted. The primary outcome was LTF, with neurosurgical readmission as the secondary outcome. Univariate analysis was conducted using the student-t test and χ2 test. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the factors associated with LTF and neurosurgical readmission. RESULTS: A total of 139 patients were included, 29% of whom were LTF. The mean first postoperative follow-up duration was 60 days. On univariate analysis, uninsured/Medicaid coverage was associated with increased LTF compared with private insurance/Medicare coverage (62.5% vs. 41.4%; P = 0.039). A higher discharge modified Rankin scale score was also associated with LTF (3.7 vs. 3.5; P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, uninsured/Medicaid patients had a significantly greater risk of LTF compared with private insurance/Medicare patients (odds ratio, 2.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-5.23; P = 0.022). LTF was independently associated with an increased risk of neurosurgical readmission (odds ratio, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-3.24; P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Uninsured and Medicaid patients had a greater likelihood of LTF compared with private insurance and Medicare patients. LTF was further associated with an increased risk of neurosurgical readmission. The results from the present study emphasize the need to address barriers to follow-up to reduce readmission after surgery for cSDH. These findings could inform improved discharge planning, such as predischarge repeat imaging studies and postdischarge contact.