Impact of ventricle size on neuropsychological outcomes in treated pediatric hydrocephalus: an HCRN prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: In pediatric hydrocephalus, shunts tend to result in smaller postoperative ventricles compared with those following an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). The impact of the final treated ventricle size on neuropsychological and quality-of-life outcomes is currently undetermined. Therefore, the authors sought to ascertain whether treated ventricle size is associated with neurocognitive and academic outcomes postoperatively. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included children aged 5 years and older at the first diagnosis of hydrocephalus at 8 Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network sites from 2011 to 2015. The treated ventricle size, as measured by the frontal and occipital horn ratio (FOR), was compared with 25 neuropsychological tests 6 months postoperatively after adjusting for age, hydrocephalus etiology, and treatment type (ETV vs shunt). Pre- and posttreatment grade point average (GPA), quality-of-life measures (Hydrocephalus Outcome Questionnaire [HOQ]), and a truncated preoperative neuropsychological battery were also compared with the FOR. RESULTS: Overall, 60 children were included with a mean age of 10.8 years; 17% had ≥ 1 comorbidity. Etiologies for hydrocephalus were midbrain lesions (37%), aqueductal stenosis (22%), posterior fossa tumors (13%), and supratentorial tumors (12%). ETV (78%) was more commonly used than shunting (22%). Of the 25 neuropsychological tests, including full-scale IQ (q = 0.77), 23 tests showed no univariable association with postoperative ventricle size. Verbal learning delayed recall (p = 0.006, q = 0.118) and visual spatial judgment (p = 0.006, q = 0.118) were negatively associated with larger ventricles and remained significant after multivariate adjustment for age, etiology, and procedure type. However, neither delayed verbal learning (p = 0.40) nor visual spatial judgment (p = 0.22) was associated with ventricle size change with surgery. No associations were found between postoperative ventricle size and either GPA or the HOQ. CONCLUSIONS: Minimal associations were found between the treated ventricle size and neuropsychological, academic, or quality-of-life outcomes for pediatric patients in this comprehensive, multicenter study that encompassed heterogeneous hydrocephalus etiologies.

Protecting Against Postoperative Dyspnea and Dysphagia After Occipitocervical Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Upper airway obstruction leading to dyspnea and dysphagia after occipitocervical fusion is a rare complication that has significant morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency of postoperative dyspnea and dysphagia in children after occipitocervical fusion and to identify variables associated with its occurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed outcomes from all pediatric occipitocervical fusions at our institution between 2007 and 2014. Pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans were compared to determine differences in the clivoaxial (OC2) angles. RESULTS: Sixty-seven pediatric patients underwent occipitocervical fusions. Median age was 9.6 yr (range 6 mo-18 yr). Fifty-six of 62 patients (90.3%) with at least 1 yr of follow-up had successful fusions. Eleven had pre-existing symptoms or otherwise compromised examination (eg, severe traumatic brain injury). None of 15 patients placed in extension (>2 degrees) relative to preoperative CT in Situ position developed new dyspnea or dysphagia. Nine of forty patients (23%) kept in Situ or flexed position developed new symptoms of dyspnea or dysphagia. Dysphagia in patients fused in the in Situ position was milder and resolved within a few weeks. No patient under age 5 (n = 20) developed symptoms of dyspnea or dysphagia regardless of head position. There were 3 cases of infection, 1 clinically silent vertebral artery injury, and 3 deaths at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Positioning of the child's head prior to occipitocervical fusion has considerable impact on outcomes, especially in older children. Careful measurements of the OC2 angle during surgery to ensure optimal head positioning in Situ or slightly extended position may prevent postoperative dysphagia or dyspnea.

Comparative Effectiveness of Surgical Treatments for Pediatric Hydrocephalus.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric hydrocephalus represents a high health care burden in the United States (US). Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. OBJECTIVE: To perform a comparative effectiveness analysis for endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement in pediatric hydrocephalus patients in the US using a large administrative claims database through the application of propensity scores matching. METHODS: The MarketScan® database (Truven Health Analytics, Atlanta, Georgia) 2003 to 2011 was used. Patients 19 yr or younger at first occurrence of ETV or shunt during the study period were included. The study outcome, surgery failure, was defined as further surgical treatment for hydrocephalus subsequent to initial ETV or shunt procedure. Age, etiology of hydrocephalus, and history of shunt were used to create matched samples for the ETV and shunt cohorts. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, stratified log-rank test, and Cox proportional-hazard models were used to analyze samples. RESULTS: There were 3231 eligible cases (478 ETV; 2753 shunt). Propensity scores matching produced 455 balanced pairs. For matched samples, 326 of 455 (72%) pairs were concordant, while 129 pairs were discordant in surgery outcomes within 3 mo. Among discordant pairs, ETV patients were more likely to experience surgery failure compared to patients receiving shunt (relative risk = 1.4, P value = .011). Furthermore, patients' age < 1 yr had lower ETV success rates than those with shunt (P value = .009). No similar pattern was found in patients' age ≥ 1 yr. CONCLUSION: There was no significant effect on time to failure between patients undergoing ETV and shunt, except in infants' age <1 yr.

Unplanned Intraoperative Extubations in Pediatric Neurosurgery: Analysis of Case Series to Increase Patient Safety.

OBJECTIVE: Unplanned intraoperative extubations (UIEs), rare but high-risk events. Unintentional extubations are used as quality improvement metrics in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, but intraoperative events have received scant attention in the literature. Complexity of patient positioning and proximity of the operative field to anesthesia make neurosurgical procedures unique. UIEs prolong operative time, increase risk of adverse outcomes, including cardiopulmonary collapse, and potentially require additional procedures. Investigating each event is critical to prevention. We aimed to analyze occurrences of UIEs in the pediatric population. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed UIE cases (12/2014-4/2017) in pediatric neurosurgical patients at a metropolitan pediatric Level I trauma center. Data were collected on patient demographics, procedure, operating room events before the event, and patient outcomes. RESULTS: Over 27 months, 5 UIEs in pediatric neurosurgical cases occurred, with an event rate of <0.3%. Two occurred in patients <1 year old. Two UIEs occurred in patients undergoing surgery for epilepsy. Root cause analysis identified varied etiologies of UIE: 2 were attributed to endotracheal tube securement, 2 were attributed to lighter anesthesia planes in epilepsy cases with limb movement, and 1 occurred while supinating a prone patient. Postoperative outcomes for these patients were no different from routine cases. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest an inverse correlation between patient age and UIE, with patient manipulation and anesthesia depth as risk factors. Meticulous attention to securing the endotracheal tube and streamlined communication between the surgical and anesthesia teams are critical for the goal of zero UIE occurrences.

Children presenting in delayed fashion after minor head trauma with scalp swelling: do they require further workup?

PURPOSE: It is common to evaluate children who have sustained minor head trauma with computed tomography (CT) of the head. Scalp swelling, in particular, has been associated with intracranial injury. A subset of patients, however, present in delayed fashion, often days after the head trauma, as soft tissue edema progresses and their caregiver notices scalp swelling. We explore the value of further workup in this setting. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively collected cohort of children ≤24 months of age presenting to the Texas Children's Hospital with scalp swelling more than 24 h following a head trauma. Cases were collected over a 2-year study period from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2016. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients comprising 78 patient encounters were included in our study. The mean age at presentation was 8.8 months (range 3 days-24 months). All patients had noncontrast CT of the head as part of their evaluation by emergency medicine, as well as screening for nonaccidental trauma (NAT) by the Child Protection Team. The most common finding on CT head was a linear/nondisplaced skull fracture (SF) with associated extra-axial hemorrhage (epidural or subdural hematoma), which was found in 31/78 patient encounters (40%). Of all 78 patient encounters, 43 patients (55%) were discharged from the emergency room (ER), 17 patients (22%) were admitted for neurologic monitoring, and 18 patients (23%) were admitted solely to allow further NAT evaluation. Of those patients admitted, none experienced a neurologic decline and all had nonfocal neurologic exams on discharge. No patient returned to the ER in delayed fashion for a neurologic decline. Of all the patient encounters, no patient required surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients ≤24 months of age presenting to the ER in delayed fashion with scalp swelling after minor head trauma-who were otherwise nonfocal on examination-did not require surgical intervention and did not experience any neurologic decline. Further radiographic investigation did not alter neurosurgical management in these patients; however, it should be noted that workup for child abuse and social care may have been influenced by CT findings, suggesting the need for the future development of a clinical decision-making tool to help safely avoid CT imaging in this setting.

Ventricular catheter entry site and not catheter tip location predicts shunt survival: a secondary analysis of 3 large pediatric hydrocephalus studies.

OBJECTIVE Accurate placement of ventricular catheters may result in prolonged shunt survival, but the best target for the hole-bearing segment of the catheter has not been rigorously defined. The goal of the study was to define a target within the ventricle with the lowest risk of shunt failure. METHODS Five catheter placement variables (ventricular catheter tip location, ventricular catheter tip environment, relationship to choroid plexus, catheter tip holes within ventricle, and crosses midline) were defined, assessed for interobserver agreement, and evaluated for their effect on shunt survival in univariate and multivariate analyses. De-identified subjects from the Shunt Design Trial, the Endoscopic Shunt Insertion Trial, and a Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network study on ultrasound-guided catheter placement were combined (n = 858 subjects, all first-time shunt insertions, all patients < 18 years old). The first postoperative brain imaging study was used to determine ventricular catheter placement for each of the catheter placement variables. RESULTS Ventricular catheter tip location, environment, catheter tip holes within the ventricle, and crosses midline all achieved sufficient interobserver agreement (κ > 0.60). In the univariate survival analysis, however, only ventricular catheter tip location was useful in distinguishing a target within the ventricle with a survival advantage (frontal horn; log-rank, p = 0.0015). None of the other catheter placement variables yielded a significant survival advantage unless they were compared with catheter tips completely not in the ventricle. Cox regression analysis was performed, examining ventricular catheter tip location with age, etiology, surgeon, decade of surgery, and catheter entry site (anterior vs posterior). Only age (p < 0.001) and entry site (p = 0.005) were associated with shunt survival; ventricular catheter tip location was not (p = 0.37). Anterior entry site lowered the risk of shunt failure compared with posterior entry site by approximately one-third (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51-0.83). CONCLUSIONS This analysis failed to identify an ideal target within the ventricle for the ventricular catheter tip. Unexpectedly, the choice of an anterior versus posterior catheter entry site was more important in determining shunt survival than the location of the ventricular catheter tip within the ventricle. Entry site may represent a modifiable risk factor for shunt failure, but, due to inherent limitations in study design and previous clinical research on entry site, a randomized controlled trial is necessary before treatment recommendations can be made.

Variability in Management of First Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Infection: A Prospective Multi-Institutional Observational Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the variation in approaches to surgical and antibiotic treatment for first cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infection and adherence to Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective cohort study of children undergoing treatment for first CSF infection at 7 Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network hospitals from April 2008 through December 2012. Univariate analyses were performed to describe the study population. RESULTS: A total of 151 children underwent treatment for first CSF shunt-related infection. Most children had undergone initial CSF shunt placement before the age of 6 months (n = 98, 65%). Median time to infection after shunt surgery was 28 days (IQR 15-52 days). Surgical management was most often shunt removal with interim external ventricular drain placement, followed by new shunt insertion (n = 122, 81%). Median time from first negative CSF culture to final surgical procedure was 14 days (IQR 10-21 days). Median duration of intravenous (IV) antibiotic use duration was 19 days (IQR 12-28 days). For 84 infections addressed by IDSA guidelines, 7 (8%) met guidelines and 61 (73%) had longer duration of IV antibiotic use than recommended. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment for infection frequently adheres to IDSA guidelines of shunt removal with external ventricular drain placement followed by new shunt insertion. However, duration of IV antibiotic use in CSF shunt infection treatment was consistently longer than recommended by the 2004 IDSA guidelines.

Hospitalization Cost Model of Pediatric Surgical Treatment of Chiari Type 1 Malformation.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a cost model for hospitalization costs of surgery among children with Chiari malformation type 1 (CM-1) and to examine risk factors for increased costs. STUDY DESIGN: Data were extracted from the US National Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project 2009 Kids' Inpatient Database. The study cohort was comprised of patients aged 0-20 years who underwent CM-1 surgery. Patient charges were converted to costs by cost-to-charge ratios. Simple and multivariable generalized linear models were used to construct cost models and to determine factors associated with increased hospital costs of CM-1 surgery. RESULTS: A total of 1075 patients were included. Median age was 11 years (IQR 5-16 years). Payers included public (32.9%) and private (61.5%) insurers. Median wage-adjusted cost and length-of-stay for CM-1 surgery were US $13 598 (IQR $10 475-$18 266) and 3 days (IQR 3-4 days). Higher costs were found at freestanding children's hospitals: average incremental-increased cost (AIIC) was US $5155 (95% CI $2067-$8749). Factors most associated with increased hospitalization costs were patients with device-dependent complex chronic conditions (AIIC $20 617, 95% CI $13 721-$29 026) and medical complications (AIIC $13 632, 95% CI $7163-$21 845). Neurologic and neuromuscular, metabolic, gastrointestinal, and other congenital genetic defect complex chronic conditions were also associated with higher hospital costs. CONCLUSIONS: This study examined cost drivers for surgery for CM-1; the results may serve as a starting point in informing the development of financial risk models, such as bundled payments or prospective payment systems for these procedures. Beyond financial implications, the study identified specific risk factors associated with increased costs.

Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program: Useful for Quality Improvement in Craniosynostosis Surgery?

The American College of Surgeons and the American Pediatric Surgical Association collaborate to provide pediatric hospitals with multispeciality surgical outcomes data through the Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP Peds). The authors used this national multicenter database to describe 30-day outcomes from craniosynostosis surgery and identify associations with perioperative events and blood transfusion.Data from NSQIP Peds were used to describe children undergoing craniosynostosis surgery. The authors examined statistical association of clinical risk factors with the defined end point outcomes of perioperative complications and blood transfusion.Five hundred seventy-two surgeries were included. By Common Procedural Terminology codes, 93 identified as single suture synostosis, the remainder as multiple or unknown suture involvement. Location of the affected suture is not captured. Mean surgical time was 196.84 minutes (SD 113.46). Mean length of stay was 4.22 days (SD 5.04). Sixty-seven percent of patients received blood transfusions. 3.15% were other perioperative occurrences, including infection, wound disruption, unplanned reintubation, stroke/hemorrhage, cardiac arrest, seizures, thromboembolism. 2.8% were readmitted; 2.45% underwent reoperation within 30 days. Duration of surgery and length of hospital stay significantly differed in the presence of blood transfusion versus none. On multivariate analysis, duration from anesthesia start to surgery start, duration from surgery end to anesthesia end, and duration of operation were risk factors for blood transfusion.Pediatric NSQIP gives a national overview of 30-day outcome metrics in craniosynostosis surgery. Perioperative adverse event rate was 3.15%. Duration of surgery and duration of anesthesia were significantly associated with blood transfusion. The authors identified opportunities for pediatric NSQIP database improvement.

Safety of epidural triamcinolone acetonide use during lumbar decompression surgery in pediatric patients: an association with delayed pseudomeningocele formation.

OBJECTIVE The complication profile of epidural triamcinolone acetonide use during lumbar decompression surgery is not known. However, isolated reports of increased risk of delayed CSF leakage with the use of triamcinolone acetonide in adult spinal surgery patients have been published. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of epidural triamcinolone acetonide use in conjunction with lumbar decompression surgery in pediatric patients. METHODS The medical records of all patients who underwent lumbar decompression surgery with or without discectomy between July 1, 2007, and July 31, 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS During the study period, 58 patients underwent 59 spine procedures at Texas Children's Hospital. There were 33 female and 25 male patients. The mean age at surgery was 16.5 years (range 12-24 years). Patients were followed for an average of 38.2 months (range 4-97 months). Triamcinolone acetonide was used in 28 (of 35 total) cases of discectomy; there were no cases of delayed symptomatic CSF leaks (0%) in the minimally invasive and open discectomies. On the other hand, triamcinolone acetonide was used in 14 (of 24 total) cases of multilevel laminectomy, among which there were 10 delayed CSF leaks (71.4%) requiring treatment. The use of triamcinolone acetonide in patients who underwent multilevel laminectomy was significantly associated with an increased risk of delayed CSF leaks or pseudomeningoceles (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS There was an unacceptable incidence of delayed postoperative CSF leaks when epidural triamcinolone acetonide was used in patients who underwent multilevel laminectomy.

Use of subtransverse process polyester bands in pediatric spine surgery: a case series of 4 patients with a minimum of 12 months' follow-up.

OBJECT In a previous study, the authors reported on their experience with the use of sublaminar polyester bands as part of segmental spinal constructs. However, the risk of neurological complications with sublaminar passage of instrumentation, such as spinal cord injury, limits the use of this technique. The present study reports the novel use of subtransverse process polyester bands in posterior instrumented spinal fusions of the thoracic and lumbar spines and sacrum or ilium in 4 patients. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed the demographic and procedural data of patients who had undergone posterior instrumented fusion using subtransverse process polyester bands. RESULTS Four patients, ranging in age from 11 to 22 years, underwent posterior instrumented fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis (3 patients) and thoracic hyperkyphosis (1 patient). There were 3 instances of transverse process fracture, with application and tensioning of the polyester band in 1 patient. Importantly, there was no instance of spinal cord injury with subtransverse process passage of the polyester band. The lessons learned from this technique are discussed. CONCLUSIONS This study has shown the "Eleghia" technique of passing subtransverse process bands to be a technically straightforward and neurologically safe method of spinal fixation. Pedicle screws, laminar/pedicle/transverse process hooks, and sublaminar metal wires/bands have been incorporated into posterior spinal constructs; they have been widely reported and used in the thoracic and lumbar spines and sacrum or ilium with varying success. This report demonstrates the promising results of hybrid posterior spinal constructs that include the Eleghia technique of passing subtransverse process polyester bands. This technique incorporates technical ease with minimal risk of neurological injury and biomechanical stability.

A new Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network protocol to reduce cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection.

OBJECT In a previous report by the same research group (Kestle et al., 2011), compliance with an 11-step protocol was shown to reduce CSF shunt infection at Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) centers (from 8.7% to 5.7%). Antibiotic-impregnated catheters (AICs) were not part of the protocol but were used off protocol by some surgeons. The authors therefore began using a new protocol that included AICs in an effort to reduce the infection rate further. METHODS The new protocol was implemented at HCRN centers on January 1, 2012, for all shunt procedures (excluding external ventricular drains [EVDs], ventricular reservoirs, and subgaleal shunts). Procedures performed up to September 30, 2013, were included (21 months). Compliance with the protocol and outcome events up to March 30, 2014, were recorded. The definition of infection was unchanged from the authors' previous report. RESULTS A total of 1935 procedures were performed on 1670 patients at 8 HCRN centers. The overall infection rate was 6.0% (95% CI 5.1%-7.2%). Procedure-specific infection rates varied (insertion 5.0%, revision 5.4%, insertion after EVD 8.3%, and insertion after treatment of infection 12.6%). Full compliance with the protocol occurred in 77% of procedures. The infection rate was 5.0% after compliant procedures and 8.7% after noncompliant procedures (p = 0.005). The infection rate when using this new protocol (6.0%, 95% CI 5.1%-7.2%) was similar to the infection rate observed using the authors' old protocol (5.7%, 95% CI 4.6%-7.0%). CONCLUSIONS CSF shunt procedures performed in compliance with a new infection prevention protocol at HCRN centers had a lower infection rate than noncompliant procedures. Implementation of the new protocol (including AICs) was associated with a 6.0% infection rate, similar to the infection rate of 5.7% from the authors' previously reported protocol. Based on the current data, the role of AICs compared with other infection prevention measures is unclear.

Impact of antibiotic prophylaxis for intrathecal baclofen pump surgery in pediatric patients.

OBJECT This study explored antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) in pediatric patients undergoing intrathecal baclofen pump (ITBP) surgery and factors associated with perioperative AP compliance with clinical guidelines. METHODS Data were obtained from the Pediatric Health Information System. The study cohort comprised patients who underwent ITBP surgery within 3 days of admission, between July 1, 2004, and March 31, 2014, with a minimum prior screening period and follow-up of 180 days. Exclusion criteria were prior infection, antibiotic use within 30 days of admission, and/or missing financial data. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine factors associated with compliance with AP guidelines in ITBP surgeries. RESULTS A total of 1,534 patients met the inclusion criteria; 91.5% received AP and 37.6% received dual coverage or more. Overall bundled compliance comprised 2 components: 1) perioperative antibiotic administration and 2) < 24-hour postoperative antibiotic course. The most frequently used antibiotics in surgery were cefazolin (n = 873, 62.2%) and vancomycin (n = 351, 25%). Documented bundled AP compliance rates were 70.2%, 62.0%, 66.0%, and 55.2% in West, South, Midwest, and Northeast regions of the US, respectively. Compared with surgeries in the Northeast, procedures carried out in the West (OR 2.0, 95% C11.4-2.9, p < 0.001), Midwest (OR 1.6, 95% C11.1-2.3, p = 0.007), and South (OR 1.5, 95% C11.1-2.0, p = 0.021) were more likely to have documented AP compliance. Black (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.55-1.00, p = 0.05) and Hispanic (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.47-0.86, p = 0.004) patients were less likely to have documented AP compliance in ITBP surgeries than white patients. There were no significant differences in compliance rate by age, sex, type of insurance, and diagnosis. AP process measures were associated with shorter length of stay, lower hospitalization costs, and lower 6-month rates of surgical infection/complication. One of the 2 noncompliance subgroups, missed preoperative antibiotic administration, was correlated with a significantly higher 6-month surgical complication/infection rate (27.03%) compared with bundled compliance (20.00%, p = 0.021). For the other subgroup, prolonged antibiotic use > 24 hours postoperatively, the rate was insignificantly higher (22.00%, p = 0.368). Thus, of direct relevance to practicing clinicians, missed preoperative antibiotics was associated with 48% higher risk of adverse complication/infection outcome in a 6-month time frame. Adjusted hospitalization costs associated with baclofen pump surgery differed significantly (p < 0.001) with respect to perioperative antibiotic practices: 22.83, 29.10, 37.66 (× 1000 USD) for bundled compliance, missed preoperative antibiotics, and prolonged antibiotic administration, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Significant variation in ITBP antibiotic prophylaxis was found. Documented AP compliance was associated with higher value of care, showing favorable clinical and financial outcomes. Of most impact to clinical outcome, missed preoperative antibiotics was significantly associated with higher risk of 6-month surgical complication/infection. Prolonged antibiotic use was associated with significantly higher hospital costs compared with those with overall bundled antibiotic compliance. Future research is warranted to examine factors associated with practice variation and how AP compliance is associated with outcomes and quality, aiming for improving delivery of care to pediatric patients undergoing ITBP procedures.

The effect of weekend and after-hours surgery on morbidity and mortality rates in pediatric neurosurgery patients.

OBJECT: Several studies have indicated that the 30-day morbidity and mortality risks are higher among pediatric and adult patients who are admitted on the weekends. This "weekend effect" has been observed among patients admitted with and for a variety of diagnoses and procedures, including myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, stroke, peptic ulcer disease, and pediatric surgery. In this study, morbidity and mortality outcomes for emergency pediatric neurosurgical procedures carried out on the weekend or after hours are compared with emergency surgical procedures performed during regular weekday business hours. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of operative data was conducted. Between December 1, 2011, and August 20, 2014, a total of 710 urgent or emergency neurosurgical procedures were performed at Texas Children's Hospital in children younger than than 18 years of age. These procedures were then stratified into 3 groups: weekday regular hours, weekday after hours, and weekend hours. By cross-referencing these events with a prospectively collected morbidity and mortality database, the impact of the day and time on complication incidence was examined. Outcome metrics were compared using logistic regression models. RESULTS: The weekday regular hours and after-hours (weekday after hours and weekends) surgery groups consisted of 341 and 239 patients and 434 and 276 procedures, respectively. There were no significant differences in the types of cases performed (p = 0.629) or baseline preoperative health status as determined by American Society of Anesthesiologists classifications (p = 0.220) between the 2 cohorts. After multivariate adjustment and regression, children undergoing emergency neurosurgical procedures during weekday after hours or weekends were more likely to experience complications (p = 0.0227). CONCLUSIONS: Weekday after-hours and weekend emergency pediatric neurosurgical procedures are associated with significantly increased 30-day morbidity and mortality risk compared with procedures performed during weekday regular hours.

Use of a formal assessment instrument for evaluation of resident operative skills in pediatric neurosurgery.

OBJECT Currently there is no standardized tool for assessment of neurosurgical resident performance in the operating room. In light of enhanced requirements issued by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's Milestone Project and the Matrix Curriculum Project from the Society of Neurological Surgeons, the implementation of such a tool seems essential for objective evaluation of resident competence. Beyond compliance with governing body guidelines, objective assessment tools may be useful to direct early intervention for trainees performing below the level of their peers so that they may be given more hands-on teaching, while strong residents can be encouraged by faculty members to progress to conducting operations more independently with passive supervision. The aims of this study were to implement a validated assessment tool for evaluation of operative skills in pediatric neurosurgery and determine its feasibility and reliability. METHODS All neurosurgery residents completing their pediatric rotation over a 6-month period from January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2014, at the authors' institution were enrolled in this study. For each procedure, residents were evaluated by means of a form, with one copy being completed by the resident and a separate copy being completed by the attending surgeon. The evaluation form was based on the validated Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills for Surgery (OSATS) and used a 5-point Likert-type scale with 7 categories: respect for tissue; time and motion; instrument handling; knowledge of instruments; flow of operation; use of assistants; and knowledge of specific procedure. Data were then stratified by faculty versus resident (self-) assessment; postgraduate year level; and difficulty of procedure. Descriptive statistics (means and SDs) were calculated, and the results were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Student t-test. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Six faculty members, 1 fellow, and 8 residents completed evaluations for 299 procedures, including 32 ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt revisions, 23 VP shunt placements, 19 endoscopic third ventriculostomies, and 18 craniotomies for tumor resection. There was no significant difference between faculty and resident self-assessment scores overall or in any of the 7 domains scores for each of the involved residents. On self-assessment, senior residents scored themselves significantly higher (p < 0.02) than junior residents overall and in all domains except for "time and motion." Faculty members scored senior residents significantly higher than junior residents only for the "knowledge of instruments" domain (p = 0.05). When procedure difficulty was considered, senior residents' scores from faculty members were significantly higher (p = 0.04) than the scores given to junior residents for expert procedures only. Senior residents' self-evaluation scores were significantly higher than those of junior residents for both expert (p = 0.03) and novice (p = 0.006) procedures. CONCLUSIONS OSATS is a feasible and reliable assessment tool for the comprehensive evaluation of neurosurgery resident performance in the operating room. The authors plan to use this tool to assess resident operative skill development and to improve direct resident feedback.

The Impact of Insurance, Race, and Ethnicity on Age at Surgical Intervention among Children with Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of demographic factors, including insurance type, family income, and race/ethnicity, on patient age at the time of surgical intervention for craniosynostosis surgery in the US. STUDY DESIGN: The Kids' Inpatient Database was queried for admissions of children younger than 3 years of age undergoing craniosynostosis surgery in 2009. Descriptive data regarding age at surgery for various substrata are reported. Multivariate regression was used to evaluate the effect of patient and hospital characteristics on the age at surgery. RESULTS: Children with private insurance were, on average, 6.8 months of age (95% CI 6.2-7.5) at the time of surgery; children with Medicaid were 9.1 months old (95% CI 8.4-9.8). White children received surgery at mean age of 7.2 months (95% CI 6.5-8.0) and black and Hispanic children at a mean age of 9.1 months (95% CI 8.2-10.1). Multivariate regression analysis found Medicaid insurance (beta coefficient [B]=1.93, P<.001), black or Hispanic race/ethnicity (B=1.34, P=.022), and having 2 or more chronic conditions (B=2.86, P<.001) to be significant independent predictors of older age at surgery. CONCLUSION: Public insurance and nonwhite race/Hispanic ethnicity were statistically significant predictors for older age at surgery, adjusted for sex, zip code median family income, year, and hospital factors such as size, type, region, and teaching status. Further research into these disparities is warranted.

Congenital neurocristic tumor presenting as an isolated calvarial defect in an infant: case report.

In infants, the presence of a cranial defect may be due to a variety of traumatic, inflammatory, neoplastic, and congenital abnormalities. Differentiation between these possible etiologies is facilitated by clinical presentation, patient history, and physical examination. Congenital cutaneous neural crest-derived lesions are unlikely to be considered in a patient presenting with an asymptomatic cranial defect without overlying mass or skin pigmentation. The authors present an unusual case of a 2-month-old infant with an asymptomatic calvarial defect with normal overlying skin. Pathology of the excised tissue showed features consistent with a congenital neurocristic tumor: a pigmented, neural crest-derived hamartomatous tumor that typically presents as a melanotic skin lesion.

The efficacy of routine use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in occipitocervical and atlantoaxial fusions of the pediatric spine: a minimum of 12 months' follow-up with computed tomography.

OBJECT The purpose of this study focusing on fusion rate was to determine the efficacy of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) use in posterior instrumented fusions of the craniocervical junction in the pediatric population. The authors previously reported the short-term (mean follow-up 11 months) safety and efficacy of rhBMP-2 use in the pediatric age group. The present study reports on their long-term results (minimum of 12 months' follow-up) and focuses on efficacy. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective review of 83 consecutive pediatric patients who had undergone posterior occipitocervical or atlantoaxial spine fusion at Texas Children's Hospital or Riley Children's Hospital during the period from October 2007 to October 2012. Forty-nine patients were excluded from further analysis because of death, loss to follow-up, or lack of CT evaluation of fusion at 12 or more months after surgery. Fusion was determined by postoperative CT scan at a minimum of 12 months after surgery. The fusion was graded and classified by a board-certified fellowship-trained pediatric neuroradiologist. Other factors, such as patient age, diagnosis, number of vertebral levels fused, use of allograft or autograft, dosage of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), and use of postoperative orthosis, were recorded. RESULTS Thirty-four patients had a CT scan at least 12 months after surgery. The average age of the patients at surgery was 8 years, 1 month (range 10 months-17 years). The mean follow-up was 27.7 months (range 12-81 months). There were 37 fusion procedures in 34 patients. Solid fusion (CT Grade 4 or 4-) was achieved in 89.2% of attempts (33 of 37), while incomplete fusion or failure of fusion was seen in 10.8%. Based on logistic regression analysis, there was no significant association between solid fusion and age, sex, BMP dose, type of graft material, use of postoperative orthosis, or number of levels fused. Three of 34 patients (8.8%) required revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS Despite the large number of adult studies reporting positive effects of BMP on bone fusion, our long-term outcomes using rhBMP-2 in the pediatric population suggest that rates of fusion failure are higher than observed in contemporary adult and pediatric reports of occipitocervical and atlantoaxial spine fusions.

Routine use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in posterior fusions of the pediatric spine and incidence of cancer.

OBJECT The aim of this study was to determine the safety of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) use in posterior instrumented fusions in the pediatric population, focusing on cancer risk. In a previous study, the authors reported the short-term (mean follow-up of 11 months) safety and efficacy of rhBMP-2 in the pediatric age group. The present study reports their results with a minimum of 24 months' follow-up. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed 57 consecutive cases involving pediatric patients who underwent posterior occiptocervical, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or lumbosacral spine fusion from October 1, 2007, to June 30, 2011, at Texas Children's Hospital. Seven cases were excluded from further analysis because of loss to follow-up. Three patients died during the follow-up period and were placed in a separate cohort. RESULTS The patients' average age at the time of surgery was 11 years, 4 months (range 9 months to 20 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 48.4 months (range 24-70 months). Cancer status was determined at the most recent encounter with the patient and/or caretaker(s) in person, or in telephone follow-up. Twenty-four or more months after administration of rhBMP-2, there were no cases of new malignancy, degeneration, or metastasis of existing tumors. The cause of death of the patients who died during the study period was not related to BMP or to the development, degeneration, or metastasis of cancer. CONCLUSIONS Despite the large number of adult studies reporting increased cancer risk associated with BMP use, the authors' outcomes with rhBMP-2 in the pediatric population suggest that it is a safe adjunct to posterior spine fusions of the occipitocervical, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and lumbosacral spine. There were no new cases of cancer, or degeneration or metastasis of existing malignancies in this series.

Patient-, procedure-, and hospital-related risk factors of allogeneic and autologous blood transfusion in pediatric spinal fusion surgery in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using data from the Health Care Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database. OBJECTIVE: Blood loss during spinal fusion surgery may lead to the need for transfusion. Preoperative identification of patient-related, procedure-related, or hospital-related risk factors for blood transfusion would allow for implementation of interventions designed to control excessive bleeding. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several studies have analyzed predictors associated with transfusion in spinal fusion. Identified predictors include age, female sex, anemia, comorbidities, number of fusion levels, osteotomy, and greater hospital volume. There have been few studies examining these predictors in children undergoing spinal fusion. METHODS: Using Kids' Inpatient Database data, univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (aOR). P values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We identified 9538 pediatric hospitalizations (patients <21 yr) with spinal fusion in 2009. Overall, 25.1% were associated with blood transfusion. The following factors were associated with transfusions: female sex (aOR 1.14, P = 0.023), black race (aOR 1.35, P = 0.005), length of hospital stay (aOR 1.03, P < 0.001), anterior approach/lumbar segment (aOR 2.11, P = 0.011) and posterior approach/lumbar segment (aOR 2.75, P < 0.001) compared with anterior approach/cervical segment, midlength fusion (aOR 1.71, P < 0.001), and long length fusion (aOR 2.85, P < 0.001) compared with short length. Higher transfusion rates were observed in patients with complications of fever and hematoma but not wound infection. CONCLUSION: This study showed significant patient-, procedure-, and hospital-related predictors of allogeneic and autologous blood transfusion in spinal fusion in the pediatric age group. Higher health care resource utilization of length of stay and additional procedures are directed toward care of this transfused subgroup. Therapies to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirement are necessary for this pediatric population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.