Reduction Cranioplasty in Cases of Hydrocephalic Macrocephaly: Pearls and Pitfalls of Computer-Assisted Surgery.

Reduction cranioplasty may be indicated to address functional or cosmetic sequelae of hydrocephalic macrocephaly. With the advent of CAD/CAM digital workflow, surgeons can design and fabricate craniotomy guides, templates, and models that allow for precise cranial reconstruction. Although there are several advantages of virtual planning, pre-determined surgical plans may limit intraoperative flexibility, requiring surgeons to troubleshoot errors in pre-operative planning or model design. The purpose of this report is to present a series of cases demonstrating our institution's technique for single-stage reduction cranioplasty using a CAD/CAM workflow. This report will highlight the benefits and challenges associated with a contemporary digital workflow for reduction cranioplasty.

Comparative Analysis of the 3 Cervical Vertebral Bone Quality (C-VBQ) Score Methodologies and Their Correlations to the Lumbar Vertebral Bone Quality (VBQ) Score.

OBJECTIVE: Common complications after spinal fusion, such as pseudoarthrosis, cage subsidence, or instrumentation failure, are affected by patients' bone quality. The cervical-vertebral bone quality (C-VBQ) score, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based adaption of the lumbar vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score, was developed by 3 separate research groups simultaneously to evaluate bone quality in cervical spinal fusion patients. We present the first analysis comparing these scoring methods to the well-validated VBQ score. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data for consecutive patients who underwent spine surgery at a single institution was completed. The VBQ score was calculated using the Ehresman et al. METHOD: The C-VBQ scores, named according to placement of the region of interest within the cerebral spinal fluid, were calculated separately using the methods of Soliman et al. (C2-VBQ), Razzouk et al. (C5-VBQ), and Huang et al. (T1-VBQ). Linear regression models were utilized to evaluate correlations to the VBQ score. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients were identified (mean age, 57.0 ± 11.9 years; women, 50.5%). Mean scores were C2-VBQ, 2.37 ± 0.55; C5-VBQ, 2.36 ± 0.61; and T1-VBQ, 2.64 ± 0.68. The C-VBQ scores for the C2 level were significantly higher than those for the C3-C6 levels (3.18 ± 0.96 vs. 2.63 ± 0.77, P < 0.001), whereas the C7 level was found to have significantly lower C-VBQ scores (2.42 ± 0.78 vs. 2.63 ± 0.77, P = 0.04). The C2-VBQ (r = 0.63) score had the strongest correlation to the VBQ score, compared to C5-VBQ (r = 0.41) and T1-VBQ (r = 0.43) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the C2-VBQ had the strongest correlation to the lumbar VBQ score among all C-VBQ scores.

Expansion and Subsequent Rupture of Carotid Pseudoaneurysm After Tandem Carotid and Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Treated With Mechanical Thrombectomy and Carotid Stenting.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Extracranial carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare entity with potential etiologies including infection, blunt trauma, postsurgical atherosclerotic disease, and invasive neoplasia. Although the natural history of carotid pseudoaneurysm is difficult to determine because of its rarity, complications such as stroke, rupture, and local mass effect may occur at staggering rates. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: In this case, a middle-aged man presented with a tandem carotid, middle cerebral artery occlusion that was treated with a carotid stent and mechanical thrombectomy. He returned 3 weeks later with a ruptured carotid pseudoaneurysm that was then treated with a covered stent. He made a full recovery and was neurologically intact on follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates a rare potential complication of carotid occlusion and stenting with possible catastrophic consequences. The goal of this report was to educate other clinicians in remaining vigilant in awareness of this complication and provide a framework for potential treatment if and when it occurs.

Risk factors of early complications after thoracic and lumbar spinal deformity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine risk factors increasing susceptibility to early complications (intraoperative and postoperative within 6 weeks) associated with surgery to correct thoracic and lumbar spinal deformity. METHODS: We systematically searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases for studies published between January 1990 and September 2021. Observational studies evaluating predictors of early complications of thoracic and lumbar spinal deformity surgery were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated via the random effects model. RESULTS: Fifty-two studies representing 102,432 patients met the inclusion criteria. Statistically significant patient-related risk factors for early complications included neurological comorbidity (OR = 3.45, 95% CI 1.83-6.50), non-ambulatory status (OR = 3.37, 95% CI 1.96-5.77), kidney disease (OR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.80-4.36), American Society of Anesthesiologists score > 2 (OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.76-2.84), previous spine surgery (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.41-2.77), pulmonary comorbidity (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.21-3.09), osteoporosis (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.17-2.20), cardiovascular diseases (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.20-1.78), hypertension (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.23-1.52), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.30-2.60), preoperative Cobb angle (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI 0.29, 0.57), number of comorbidities (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI 0.12, 0.70), and preoperative lumbar lordotic angle (SMD = - 0.20, 95% CI - 0.35, - 0.06). Statistically significant procedure-related factors were fusion extending to the sacrum or pelvis (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.53-4.16), use of osteotomy (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.12-2.29), longer operation duration (SMD = 0.72, 95% CI 0.05, 1.40), estimated blood loss (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI 0.07, 0.85), and number of levels fused (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI 0.03, 0.70). CONCLUSION: These data may contribute to development of a systematic approach aimed at improving quality-of-life and reducing complications in high-risk patients.

Spinal cord detethering without laminectomy or laminotomy.

BACKGROUND: Tethered cord syndrome occurs when there is abnormal tension on the distal spinal cord, which limits its elevation as patients grow. This results in stretching of the neural elements and microvasculature, resulting in both direct and ischemic injury.[7] Animal studies suggest that impairment of oxidative metabolic pathways may contribute to neuronal injury.[7] Associated conditions include myelomeningocele, lipomyelomeningocele, intraspinal lipomas, diastematomyelia, thickened/fatty filum terminale, and trauma.[2] Tethering may be asymptomatic or result in a variety of symptoms including lower extremity weakness/sensory deficits, bowel/bladder dysfunction, scoliosis, pes cavus, and back/leg pain.[6] Early surgical intervention has been shown to improve outcomes and may be performed prophylactically or to prevent symptom progression.[1,3] More specifically, retrospective studies demonstrate that surgical intervention in patients under the age of 2 years is associated with improved outcomes.[5] In some cases, detethering may result in clinical improvement.[3]. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a case of a 6-month-old male with a low-lying conus medullaris, lumbar syrinx, mildly abnormal urodynamic studies, and asymmetric utilization of his lower extremities observed during the evaluation of a Y-shaped gluteal cleft. He underwent elective spinal cord detethering via the safe and effective, minimally invasive technique described in the video.The patient's parents gave informed consent for treatment and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. CONCLUSION: Given the variety of surgical techniques used for cord detethering, this video may assist other surgeons in developing techniques that require little to no compromise of the developing bony spinal column while achieving sufficient release of the spinal cord.[4].