Racial disparities in short-term spinal fusion outcomes across 4263 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: Race plays a salient role in access to surgical care. However, few investigations have assessed the impact of race within surgical populations after care has been delivered. The objective of this study was to employ an exact matching protocol to a homogenous population of spine surgery patients in order to isolate the relationships between race and short-term postoperative outcomes. METHODS: In total, 4263 consecutive patients who underwent single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion at a single multihospital academic medical center were retrospectively enrolled. Of these patients, 3406 patients self-identified as White and 857 patients self-identified as non-White. Outcomes were initially compared across all patients via logistic regression. Subsequently, White patients and non-White patients were exactly matched on the basis of key demographic and health characteristics (1520 matched patients). Outcome disparities were evaluated between the exact-matched cohorts. Primary outcomes were readmissions, emergency department (ED) visits, reoperations, mortality, intraoperative complications, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: Before matching, non-White patients were less likely to be discharged home and more likely to be readmitted, evaluated in the ED, and undergo reoperation. After matching, non-White patients experienced higher rates of nonhome discharge, readmissions, and ED visits. Non-White patients did not have more surgical complications either before or after matching. CONCLUSIONS: Between otherwise similar cohorts of spinal fusion cases, non-White patients experienced unfavorable discharge disposition and higher risk of multiple adverse postoperative outcomes. However, these findings were not accounted for by differences in surgical complications, suggesting that structural factors underlie the observed disparities.

The Impact of Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage on Operative Outcomes after Single-Level Lumbar Fusion.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between socioeconomic status and neurosurgical outcomes has been investigated with respect to insurance status or median household income, but few studies have considered more comprehensive measures of socioeconomic status. This study examines the relationship between Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a comprehensive measure of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, and short-term postoperative outcomes after lumbar fusion surgery. METHODS: 1861 adult patients undergoing single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion at a single, multihospital academic medical center were retrospectively enrolled. An ADI matching protocol was used to identify each patient's 9-digit zip code and the zip code-associated ADI data. Primary outcomes included 30- and 90-day readmission, emergency department visits, reoperation, and surgical complication. Coarsened exact matching was used to match patients on key demographic and baseline characteristics known to independently affect neurosurgical outcomes. Odds ratios (ORs) were computed to compare patients in the top 10% of ADI versus lowest 40% of ADI. RESULTS: After matching (n = 212), patients in the highest 10% of ADI (compared to the lowest 40% of ADI) had significantly increased odds of 30- and 90-day readmission (OR = 5.00, P < 0.001 and OR = 4.50, P < 0.001), ED visits (OR = 3.00, P = 0.027 and OR = 2.88, P = 0.007), and reoperation (OR = 4.50, P = 0.039 and OR = 5.50, P = 0.013). There was no significant association with surgical complication (OR = 0.50, P = 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: Among otherwise similar patients, neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage (measured by ADI) was associated with worse short-term outcomes after single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion. There was no significant association between ADI and surgical complications, suggesting that perioperative complications do not explain the socioeconomic disparities in outcomes.

Socioeconomic Status Predicts Short-Term Emergency Department Utilization Following Supratentorial Meningioma Resection.

Introduction By identifying drivers of healthcare disparities, providers can better support high-risk patients and develop risk-mitigation strategies. Household income is a social determinant of health known to contribute to healthcare disparities. The present study evaluates the impact of household income on short-term morbidity and mortality following supratentorial meningioma resection. Methods A total of 349 consecutive patients undergoing supratentorial meningioma resection over a six-year period (2013-2019) were analyzed retrospectively. Primary outcomes were unplanned hospital readmission, reoperations, emergency department (ED) visits, return to the operating room, and all-cause mortality within 30 days of the index operation. Standardized univariate regression was performed across the entire sample to assess the impact of household income on outcomes. Subsequently, outcomes were compared between the lowest (household income ≤ $51,780) and highest (household income ≥ $87,958) income quartiles. Finally, stepwise regression was executed to identify potential confounding variables. Results Across all supratentorial meningioma resection patients, lower household income was correlated with a significantly increased rate of 30-day ED visits (p = 0.002). Comparing the lowest and highest income quartiles, the lowest quartile was similarly observed to have a significantly higher rate of 30-day ED evaluation (p = 0.033). Stepwise regression revealed that the observed association between household income and 30-day ED visits was not affected by confounding variables. Conclusion This study suggests that household income plays a role in short-term ED evaluation following supratentorial meningioma resection.

Matched Analysis of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool for Discharge Planning Following Single-Level Posterior Lumbar Fusion.

OBJECTIVES: Predicting patient needs for extended care after spinal fusion remains challenging. The Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) was externally developed to predict discharge disposition after nonspine orthopedic surgery but remains scarcely used in neurosurgery. The present study is the first to use coarsened exact matching-which incorporated patient characteristics known to independently affect outcomes-for 1:1 matching across a large population of single-level, posterior lumbar fusions, to isolate the predictive value of preoperative RAPT score on postoperative discharge disposition. METHODS: Preoperative RAPT scores were prospectively calculated for 1066 patients undergoing consecutive single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion within a single, university healthcare system. The primary outcome was discharge disposition. Logistic regression was executed across all patients, evaluating the RAPT score as a continuous variable to predict home discharge. Subsequently, patients were retrospectively clustered into predicted risk cohorts-validated within prior orthopedic joint research-based on the RAPT score (Lowest, Intermediate, and Highest Risk). Coarsened exact matching was performed among predicted risk cohorts, and outcomes were compared between exact-matched groups. RESULTS: Among all patients, single-point increases in the RAPT score (i.e., decrease in predicted risk) were associated a 75% increased odds of home discharge (P < 0.001). Exact-matched analysis demonstrated increased odds of home discharge by 400% when comparing the Lowest versus Highest Risk cohorts (P = 0.004), by 750% when comparing the Intermediate versus Highest Risk cohorts (P < 0.001), and by 200% when comparing the Lowest versus Intermediate Risk cohorts (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The RAPT score, captured in preoperative evaluations, can be highly predictive of discharge disposition following single-level, posterior lumbar fusion.

A Scoping Review of the Literature on the Relationship Between Social and Structural Determinants of Health and Neurosurgical Outcomes.

In the present study, we performed a scoping review of the social and structural determinant of health (SSDOH)-related academic literature from neurosurgery. To identify the studies to include or consider for our systematic review, we worked with a medical librarian to develop detailed search strategies for each database. The search was limited to studies reported from January 1, 1990 to December 3, 2020. All reports retrieved from the database searches were exported and stored in EndNote X.9 bibliographic and reference manager (Clarivate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA). The reports were screened by title and abstract independently by two of the co-authors (G.G. and A.O.). Any disagreements between the 2 reviewers were resolved by a third reviewer, who was unaware of the decisions of the primary reviewers. The search resulted in 5940 studies. After exclusions during data extraction, 99 studies remained for the final analysis. From the 99 included studies, 6 social determinants were analyzed, with 3 studies evaluating the highest level of educational attainment, 14 studies evaluating gender, 52 studies evaluating race, and 41 studies evaluating economic stability. Studies referencing SSDOH were found in 8 subspecialties, with 40 studies in spine surgery, 4 studies in functional neurosurgery, 14 studies in vascular neurosurgery, 27 studies in cranial oncology, 5 studies in spinal oncology, 5 studies in pediatric neurosurgery, 1 study in trauma, and 3 studies in general/unspecified subspecialties. Research gaps included the remaining neurosurgical subspecialties and numerous other SSDOHs. These gaps should be areas of future study, with the goal of aligning research with new healthcare initiatives and ensuring consideration of SSDOHs.

Social Determinants of Health and Neurosurgical Outcomes: Current State and Future Directions.

The relationship between social determinants of health (SDOH) and neurosurgical outcomes has become increasingly relevant. To date, results of prior work evaluating the impact of social determinants in neurosurgery have been mixed, and the need for robust data on this subject remains. The present review evaluates how gender, race, and socioeconomic status (SES) influence outcomes following various brain tumor resection procedures. Results from a number of prior studies from the senior author's lab are summarized, with all data acquired using the EpiLog tool (Epilog Laser). Separate analyses were performed for each procedure, evaluating the unique, isolated impact of gender, race, and SES on outcomes. A comprehensive literature review identified any prior studies evaluating the influence of these SDOH on neurosurgical outcomes. The review presented herein suggests that the effect of gender and race on outcomes is largely mitigated when equal access to care is attained, and socioeconomic factors and comorbidities are controlled for. Furthermore, when patients are matched upon for a number of clinically relevant covariates, SES impacts postoperative mortality. Elucidation of this disparity empowers surgeons to initiate actionable change to equilibrate future outcomes.

Assessment of Gender Disparities in Short-Term and Long-Term Outcomes Following Posterior Fossa Tumor Resection.

Introduction The analysis of social determinants of health (SDOH) across different surgical populations is critical for the identification of health disparities and the development risk mitigation strategies among vulnerable patients. Research into the impact of gender on neurosurgical outcomes remains limited. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of gender on outcomes, in a matched sample, following posterior fossa tumor resection, a high-risk neurosurgical procedure. Methods Two hundred seventy-eight consecutive patients undergoing posterior fossa tumor resection over a six-year period (June 07, 2013, to April 29, 2019) at a single academic medical system were retrospectively evaluated. Short-term outcomes included 30- and 90-day rates of emergency department (ED) visit, readmission, reoperation, and mortality. Long-term outcomes included mortality and reoperation for the duration of follow-up. Firstly, male and female patients in the entire pre-match sample were compared. Thereafter, coarsened exact matching was employed to control for confounding variables, matching male and female patients on key demographic factors - including history of prior surgery, median household income, and race, amongst others - and outcome comparison was repeated. Results In both the entire pre-match sample and matched cohort analyses, no significant differences in adverse postsurgical events were discerned between the female and male patients when evaluating 30-day or 90-day rates of ED visit, readmission, reoperation, and mortality. There were also no differences in reoperation or mortality for the duration of follow-up. Conclusion Gender does not appear to impact short- or long-term outcomes following posterior fossa tumor resection. As such, risk assessment and mitigation strategies in this population should focus on other SDOH. Further studies should assess the role of other SDOH within this population.

The Impact of Household Economics on Short-Term Outcomes in a Posterior Fossa Tumor Population.

Background Disparities exist in medical care and may result in avoidable negative clinical care outcomes for those affected. There remains a paucity in the literature regarding the impact of economic disparities on neurosurgical outcomes. Methods A total of 283 consecutive posterior fossa brain tumor resections, excluding cerebellopontine angle tumors, over a six-year period (June 07, 2013, to April 29, 2019) at a single, multihospital academic medical center were analyzed retrospectively. Outcomes evaluated included 30-day readmission and mortality, emergency department (ED) evaluation, unplanned return to surgery within 30 days, and return to surgery after index admission within 30 days. The population was divided into quartiles based on median household income, and univariate analysis was conducted between the lowest (Q1) and highest (Q4) socioeconomic quartiles, with significance set at a p < 0.05. Stepwise regression was conducted to determine the correlations among study variables and identify confounding factors. Results Whole population univariate analysis demonstrated lower socioeconomic status (SES) to be correlated with increased mortality within 30 post-operative days and increased return to surgery after index admission. No significant difference was found with regard to 30-day readmission, ED evaluation, unplanned reoperation, or return to surgery after index admission. Decreasing, but not significant, mortality was demonstrated between Q1 and Q4 socioeconomic quartiles. Conclusions This study suggests that low SES, when defined by household income, correlates with increased mortality within 30 days and an increased need for return to surgery within 30 days. There may be an opportunity for hospitals and care providers to use SES to proactively identify high-risk patients and test the impact of supports in the post-operative setting.

Survival Disparity Based on Household Income in 1970 Patients Following Brain Tumor Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The impact of household economics on outcomes is not well understood. We examined the relationship of income and surgical outcomes, after controlling for numerous patient characteristics. METHODS: Consecutive adult (≥18) patients (n = 1970, June 2013-April 2019) undergoing supratentorial brain tumor resection, at a single health system, were assessed. Univariate logistic regression was performed to assess the impact of household income on patient survival. The cohort was then separated into income quartiles (range: $18,119-$193,152). The lowest (Q1) and highest (Q4) income quartiles were then compared. Patients (Q1/Q4) subsequently underwent 1:1 coarsened exact matching based on a number of patient characteristics. Outcomes included mortality, emergency evaluations, and readmissions. RESULTS: Regression analysis of all 1970 patients demonstrated increasing survival with increasing household income (mortality 30-day P = 0.027, 90-day P = 0.002). Logistic regression of all Q1 versus Q4 patients (n = 970) demonstrated increased survival for the highest income patients (Q4) (mortality 30-day P = 0.220, 90-day P = 0.028, all follow-up P = 0.027). Analysis of exact-matched patients (Q1 vs. Q4; n = 462), demonstrated higher income was associated with escalating, nonsignificant, survival rates at 30 (mortality 3.90% Q1 vs. 2.60% Q4, P = 0.424) and 90 days (mortality 13.42% Q1 vs. 8.66 Q4, P = 0.101) but significantly increased survival during total follow-up (mortality Q1 46.75%, Q4 35.06%, P = 0.010). No significant difference was noted for the remaining studied outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Patients matched on a multitude of characteristics, of lesser household income, had higher long-term mortality after brain tumor resection. Further understanding of this disparity should be sought and differences mitigated.

Predictive index for 90-day postoperative outcomes following gynecologic surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of the potential of LACE+ index scores in patients undergoing gynecologic surgery to predict short-term undesirable outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study over a 2-year time period (2016-2018). METHODS: Coarsened exact matching was used to assess the predictive capacity of the LACE+ index among all gynecologic surgery cases over a 2-year period (2016-2018) at 1 health system (N = 12,225). Study subjects were matched on characteristics not assessed by LACE+, including race and duration of surgery. For comparison of outcomes, LACE+ score was divided into quartiles and otherwise matched populations were compared in reference to LACE+ quartile (Q): Q4 vs Q1, Q4 vs Q2, Q4 vs Q3. RESULTS: A total of 1715 patients were matched for Q1 to Q4, 1951 patients were matched for Q2 to Q4, and 1822 patients were matched for Q3 to Q4. Escalating LACE+ score significantly predicted increased readmission, reoperation, and emergency department (ED) visits from 30 to 90 postoperative days as well as readmission, reoperation, and ED visits from 0 to 90 postoperative days. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the LACE+ index is suitable as a prediction model for important patient outcomes in a gynecologic surgery population.

Local economic benefits increase positivity toward foreigners.

Can exposure to discernible economic benefits associated with the presence of a high-socioeconomic status immigrant group reduce xenophobic and antiforeigner attitudes? We explore this question using the case of Chinese internationals in the United States and an exogenous influx of foreign capital associated with their presence. Using a difference-in-differences design with panel data, along with analyses of pooled cross-sectional data, we find that immigration attitudes, as well as views towards China, became more positive over time among Americans residing in locales whose economies were stimulated by Chinese foreign investments. Our findings have implications for research on public attitudes towards immigration in an era of growing flows of high-socioeconomic status immigrants to the United States and other immigrant-receiving nations.

Assessment of Short-Term Patient Outcomes Following Overlapping Orthopaedic Surgery at a Large Academic Medical Center.

BACKGROUND: Overlapping surgery is a long-standing practice that has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to assess whether overlapping surgery is associated with untoward outcomes for orthopaedic patients. METHODS: Coarsened exact matching was used to assess the impact of overlap on outcomes among elective orthopaedic surgical interventions (n = 18,316) over 2 years (2014 and 2015) at 1 health-care system. Overlap was categorized as any overlap, and subcategories of exclusively beginning overlap and exclusively end overlap. Study subjects were matched on the Charlson comorbidity index score, duration of surgery, surgical costs, body mass index, length of stay, payer, and race, among others. Serious unanticipated events were studied. RESULTS: A total of 3,395 patients had any overlap and were matched (a match rate of 90.8% of 3,738). For beginning and end overlap, matched groups were created, with a match rate of 95.2% of 1043 and 94.7% of 863, respectively. Among matched patients, any overlap did not predict an unanticipated return to surgery at 30 days (8.2% for any overlap and 8.3% for no overlap; p = 0.922) or 90 days (14.1% and 14.1%, respectively; p = 1.000). Patients who had surgery with any overlap demonstrated no difference compared with controls with respect to reoperation, readmission, or emergency room (ER) visits at 30 or 90 days (a reoperation rate of 3.1% and 3.2%, respectively [p = 0.884] at 30 days and 4.2% and 3.5% [p = 0.173] at 90 days; a readmission rate of 10.3% and 11.0% [p = 0.352] at 30 days and 5.5% and 5.2% [p = 0.570] at 90 days; and an ER visit rate of 5.2% and 4.6% [p = 0.276] at 30 days and 4.8% and 4.3% [p = 0.304] at 90 days). Patients with surgical overlap showed reduced mortality compared with controls during follow-up (1.8% and 2.6%, respectively; p = 0.029). Patients with beginning and/or end overlap had a similar lack of association with serious unanticipated events; however, patients with end overlap showed an increased unexpected rate of return to the operating room after reoperation at 90 days (13.3% versus 9.7%; p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Nonconcurrent overlapping surgery was not associated with adverse outcomes in a large, matched orthopaedic surgery population across 1 academic health system. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) for Discharge Planning in a Posterior Lumbar Fusion Population.

BACKGROUND: As the use of bundled care payment models has become widespread in neurosurgery, there is a distinct need for improved preoperative predictive tools to identify patients who will not benefit from prolonged hospitalization, thus facilitating earlier discharge to rehabilitation or nursing facilities. OBJECTIVE: To validate the use of Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) in patients undergoing posterior lumbar fusion for predicting discharge disposition. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective posterior lumbar fusion from June 2016 to February 2017 were prospectively enrolled. RAPT scores and discharge outcomes were recorded for patients aged 50 yr or more (n = 432). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the ability of RAPT score to predict discharge disposition. Multivariate regression was performed in a backwards stepwise logistic fashion to create a binomial model. RESULTS: Escalating RAPT score predicts disposition to home (P < .0001). Every unit increase in RAPT score increases the chance of home disposition by 55.8% and 38.6% than rehab and skilled nursing facility, respectively. Further, RAPT score was significant in predicting length of stay (P = .0239), total surgical cost (P = .0007), and 30-d readmission (P < .0001). Amongst RAPT score subcomponents, walk, gait, and postoperative care availability were all predictive of disposition location (P < .0001) for both models. In a generalized multiple logistic regression model, the 3 top predictive factors for disposition were the RAPT score, length of stay, and age (P < .0001, P < .0001 and P = .0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Preoperative RAPT score is a highly predictive tool in lumbar fusion patients for discharge disposition.

The LACE+ Index as a Predictor of 30-Day Patient Outcomes in a Urologic Surgery Population: A Coarsened Exact Match Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential of LACE+ scores, in patients undergoing urologic surgery, to predict short-term undesirable outcomes. METHODS: Coarsened exact matching was used to assess the predictive value of the LACE+ index among all urologic surgery cases over a 2-year period (2016-2018) at 1 health system (n = 9824). Study subjects were matched on characteristics not assessed by LACE+, including duration of surgery and race, among others. For comparison of outcomes, matched populations were compared by LACE+ quartile with Q4 as the referent group: Q4 vs Q1, Q4 vs Q2, Q4 vs Q3. RESULTS: Seven hundred and twenty-two patients were matched for Q1-Q4; 1120 patients were matched for Q2-Q4; 2550 patients were matched for Q3-Q4. Escalating LACE+ score significantly predicted increased readmission (2.86% vs 4.91% for Q2 vs Q4; P = .012) and Emergency Room (ER) visits at 30 days postop (5.69% vs 11.37% for Q1 vs Q4, 4.11% vs 11.45% for Q2 vs Q4, 8.29% vs 13.32% for Q3 vs Q4; P <.001 for all). Increasing LACE score did not predict reoperation within 30 days or rate of death over follow-up within 30 postoperative days. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the LACE+ index is suitable as a prediction model for important patient outcomes in a urologic surgery population including unanticipated readmission and ER evaluation.

Evaluation of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool for Postoperative Disposition Needs After Cervical Spine Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bundled care payment models are becoming more prevalent in neurosurgery. Such systems place the cost of postsurgical facilities in the hands of the discharging health system. Opportunity exists to leverage prediction tools for discharge disposition by identifying patients who will not benefit from prolonged hospitalization and facilitating discharge to post-acute care facilities. OBJECTIVE: To validate the use of the Risk Assessment and Predictive Tool (RAPT) along with other clinical variables to predict discharge disposition in a cervical spine surgery population. METHODS: Patients undergoing cervical spine surgery at our institution from June 2016 to February 2017 and over 50 yr old had demographic, surgical, and RAPT variables collected. Multivariable regression analyzed each variable's ability to predict discharge disposition. Backward selection was used to create a binomial model to predict discharge disposition. RESULTS: A total of 263 patients were included in the study. Lower RAPT score, RAPT walk subcomponent, older age, and a posterior approach predicted discharge to a post-acute care facility compared to home. Lower RAPT also predicted an increased risk of readmission. RAPT score combined with age increased the predictive capability of discharge disposition to home vs skilled nursing facility or acute rehabilitation compared to RAPT alone (P < .001). CONCLUSION: RAPT score combined with age is a useful tool in the cervical spine surgery population to predict postdischarge needs. This tool may be used to start early discharge planning in patients who are predicted to require post-acute care facilities. Such strategies may reduce postoperative utilization of inpatient resources.

Initial Assessment of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool in a Heterogeneous Neurosurgical Patient Population.

BACKGROUND: Bundled care payments are increasingly being explored for neurosurgical interventions. In this setting, skilled nursing facility (SNF) is less desirable from a cost perspective than discharge to home, underscoring the need for better preoperative prediction of postoperative disposition. OBJECTIVE: To assess the capability of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) and other preoperative variables to determine expected disposition prior to surgery in a heterogeneous neurosurgical cohort, through observational study. METHODS: Patients aged 50 yr or more undergoing elective neurosurgery were enrolled from June 2016 to February 2017 (n = 623). Logistic regression was used to identify preoperative characteristics predictive of discharge disposition. Results from multivariate analysis were used to create novel grading scales for the prediction of discharge disposition that were subsequently compared to the RAPT Score using Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis. RESULTS: Higher RAPT Score significantly predicted home disposition (P < .001). Age 65 and greater, dichotomized RAPT walk score, and spinal surgery below L2 were independent predictors of SNF discharge in multivariate analysis. A grading scale utilizing these variables had superior discriminatory power between SNF and home/rehab discharge when compared with RAPT score alone (P = .004). CONCLUSION: Our analysis identified age, lower lumbar/lumbosacral surgery, and RAPT walk score as independent predictors of discharge to SNF, and demonstrated superior predictive power compared with the total RAPT Score when combined in a novel grading scale. These tools may identify patients who may benefit from expedited discharge to subacute care facilities and decrease inpatient hospital resource utilization following surgery.

Surgical Approaches for the Treatment of Multilevel Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Results of a Decision Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) often leads to cervical myelopathy. Although multiple procedures have been shown to be effective in the treatment of OPLL, outcomes are less predictable than in degenerative cervical myelopathy, and surgery is associated with high rates of complications and reoperation, which affect quality of life. In this study, we performed a decision analysis using postoperative complication data and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) utility scores to assess the average expected health utility and 5-year quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with the most common surgical approaches for multilevel cervical OPLL. METHODS: We searched Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for relevant articles published between 1990 and October 2017. Meta-analytically pooled complication data and HRQoL utility scores associated with each complication were evaluated in a long-term model. RESULTS: The overall incidence of perioperative complications ranged from 6.2% for laminectomy alone to 11.0% for anterior decompression and fusion. Revision surgery for hardware/fusion failure or progression was highest for laminectomy alone (3.0%) and lowest for laminectomy and fusion (1.6%). Laminoplasty resulted in the highest 5-year QALYs gained, compared with laminectomy and anterior approaches (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in QALY gained between laminectomy-fusion and laminoplasty. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that owing to the higher rates of complications associated with anterior cervical approaches, laminoplasty may result in improved long-term outcomes from an HRQoL standpoint. These findings may guide surgeons in cases where either procedure is a reasonable option.

Folk-economic beliefs as moral intuitions.

Although Boyer & Petersen's (B&P's) cataloguing of and evolutionary explanations for folk-economic beliefs is important and valuable, the authors fail to connect their theories to existing explanations for why people do not think like economists. For instance, people often have moral intuitions akin to principles of fairness and justice that conflict with utilitarian approaches to resource allocation.

Microvascular Decompression Versus Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Decision Analysis.

INTRODUCTION:  Both microvascular decompression (MVD) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) have been demonstrated to be effective in treating medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia. However, there is controversy over which one offers more durable pain relief and the patient selection for each treatment. We used a decision analysis model to calculate the health-related quality of life (QOL) for each treatment. METHODS:  We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for relevant articles on MVD or SRS for trigeminal neuralgia published between 2000 and 2015. Using data from these studies, we modeled pain relief and complication outcomes and assigned QOL values. A sensitivity analysis using a Monte Carlo simulation determined which procedure led to the greatest QOL. RESULTS: MVD produced a significantly higher QOL than SRS at a seven-year follow-up. Additionally, MVD patients had a significantly higher rate of complete pain relief and a significantly lower rate of complications and recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: With a decision-analytic model, we calculated that MVD provides more favorable outcomes than SRS for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.

Imaging Surveillance in Patients After a Benign Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the Thyroid: Associated Cost and Incidence of Subsequent Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to determine patterns and cost of imaging tumor surveillance in patients after a benign fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the thyroid in a large teaching hospital as well as the rate of subsequent cancer detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cohort study was approved by the appropriate institutional review board and complied with HIPAA. All patients who had a benign thyroid FNA biopsy between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2003, were identified from an institutional pathology database. We gathered information from electronic medical records on imaging tumor surveillance and subsequent cancer detection. Cost was determined using the facility total relative value unit and the 2014 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System conversion factor. RESULTS: Between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2003, 1685 patients had a benign thyroid FNA biopsy, 800 (47.5%) of whom underwent follow-up imaging. These patients underwent 2223 thyroid ultrasound examinations, 606 ultrasound-guided thyroid FNA biopsies, 78 thyroid scintigraphy examinations, 168 neck CTs, and 53 neck MRIs at a cost of $529,874, $176,157, $39,622, $80,580, and $53,114, respectively, for a total cost of $879,347 or $1099 per patient. The mean length of follow-up was 7.3 years, during which time 19 (2.4%) patients were diagnosed with thyroid cancer at a cost of $46,281 per cancer. Seventeen (89.5%) were diagnosed with papillary carcinoma and two (10.5%) with Hurthle cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Over a 5-year period, about half of the patients who had a benign thyroid FNA biopsy underwent follow-up imaging at considerable cost with a small rate of subsequent malignancy.