Clinical outcomes and complications of eyelid versus eyebrow approaches to supraorbital craniotomy: systematic review and indirect meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Eyebrow supraorbital craniotomy is a versatile keyhole technique for treating intracranial pathologies. The eyelid supraorbital approach, an alternative approach to an eyebrow supraorbital craniotomy, has not been widely adopted among most neurosurgeons. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to perform a pooled analysis of the complications of eyebrow or eyelid approaches for the treatment of aneurysms, meningiomas, and orbital tumors. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Review databases was conducted for identifying relevant literature using keywords such as "supraorbital," "eyelid," "eyebrow," "tumor," and "aneurysm." Eyebrow supraorbital craniotomies with or without orbitotomies and eyelid supraorbital craniotomies with orbitotomies for the treatment of orbital tumors, intracranial meningiomas, and aneurysms were selected. The primary outcomes were overall complications, cosmetic complications, and residual aneurysms and tumors. Secondary outcomes included five complication domains: orbital, wound-related, scalp or facial, neurological, and other complications. RESULTS: One hundred three articles were included in the synthesis. The pooled numbers of patients in the eyebrow and eyelid groups were 4689 and 358, respectively. No differences were found in overall complications or cosmetic complications between the eyebrow and eyelid groups. The proportion of residuals in the eyelid group (11.21%, effect size [ES] 0.26, 95% CI 0.12-0.41) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the eyebrow group (6.17%, ES 0.10, 95% CI 0.08-0.13). A subgroup analysis demonstrated significantly higher incidences of orbital, wound-related, and scalp or facial complications in the eyelid group (p < 0.05), but higher other complications in the eyebrow group. Performing an orbitotomy substantially increased the complication risk. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first meta-analysis that quantitatively compared complications of eyebrow versus eyelid approaches to supraorbital craniotomy. This study found similar overall complication rates but higher rates of selected complication domains in the eyelid group. The literature is limited by a high degree of variability in the reported outcomes.

The generation and application of antigen-specific T cell therapies for cancer and viral-associated disease.

Immunotherapy with antigen-specific T cells is a promising, targeted therapeutic option for patients with cancer as well as for immunocompromised patients with virus infections. In this review, we characterize and compare current manufacturing protocols for the generation of T cells specific to viral and non-viral tumor-associated antigens. Specifically, we discuss: (1) the different methodologies to expand virus-specific T cell and non-viral tumor-associated antigen-specific T cell products, (2) an overview of the immunological principles involved when developing such manufacturing protocols, and (3) proposed standardized methodologies for the generation of polyclonal, polyfunctional antigen-specific T cells irrespective of donor source. Ex vivo expanded cells have been safely administered to treat numerous patients with virus-associated malignancies, hematologic malignancies, and solid tumors. Hence, we have performed a comprehensive review of the clinical trial results evaluating the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of these products in the clinic. In summary, this review seeks to provide new insights regarding antigen-specific T cell technology to benefit a rapidly expanding T cell therapy field.

Cardiac patterns for differentiation of neurogenic stunned myocardium in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage versus acute ischemic stroke.

AIMS: Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) has heterogeneous presentations for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We sought to better define NSM and differences between AIS and SAH by evaluating individual left ventricular (LV) functional patterns by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). METHODS: We evaluated consecutive patients with SAH and AIS. Via STE, LV longitudinal strain (LS) values of basal, mid, and apical segments were averaged and compared. Different multivariable logistic regression models were created by defining stroke subtype (SAH or AIS) and functional outcome as dependent variables. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four patients with SAH and AIS were identified. Univariable analyses using the chi-squared test and independent samples t-test identified demographic variables and global and regional LS segments with significant differences. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, when comparing AIS to SAH, AIS was associated with older age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13, p = 0.01), poor clinical condition on admission (OR 7.74, 95% CI 2.33-25.71, p < 0.001), decreased likelihood of elevated admission serum troponin (OR .09, 95% CI .02-.35, p < 0.001), and worse LS basal segments (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.37, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In patients with neurogenic stunned myocardium, significantly impaired LV contraction by LS basal segments was found in patients with AIS but not with SAH. Individual LV segments in our combined SAH and AIS population were also not associated with clinical outcomes. Our findings suggest that strain echocardiography may identify subtle forms of NSM and help differentiate the NSM pathophysiology in SAH and AIS.

Reducing implicit bias in the neurosurgery application and interview process: a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVE: The neurosurgical match is a challenging process for applicants and programs alike. Programs must narrow a wide field of applicants to interview and then determine how to rank them after limited interaction. To streamline this, programs commonly screen applicants using United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step scores. However, this approach removes nuance from a consequential decision and exacerbates existing biases. The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of effecting minor modifications to the residency application process, as the authors have done at their institution, specifically by reducing the prominence of USMLE board scores and Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) status, both of which have been identified as bearing racial biases. METHODS: At the authors' institution, residents and attendings holistically reviewed applications with intentional redundancy so that every file was reviewed by two individuals. Reviewers were blinded to applicants' photographs and test scores. On interview day, the applicant was evaluated for their strength in three domains: knowledge, commitment to neurosurgery, and integrity. For rank discussions, applicants were reviewed in the order of their domain scores, and USMLE scores were unblinded. A regression analysis of the authors' rank list was made by regressing the rank list by AΩA status, Step 1 score, Step 2 score, subinternship, and total interview score. RESULTS: No variables had a significant effect on the rank list except total interview score, for which a single-point increase corresponded to a 15-position increase in rank list when holding all other variables constant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The goal of this holistic review and domain-based interview process is to mitigate bias by shifting the focus to selected core qualities in lieu of traditional metrics. Since implementation, the authors' final rank lists have closely reflected the total interview score but were not significantly affected by board scores or AΩA status. This system allows for the removal of known sources of bias early in the process, with the aim of reducing potential downstream effects and ultimately promoting a final list that is more reflective of stated values.

Posterior communicating artery infundibulum with oculomotor nerve palsy treated with microvascular decompression: a case report and 2-dimensional technical operative video.

Oculomotor nerve palsies are typically associated with posterior communicating artery (PcommA) aneurysms. We report a rare case of an oculomotor nerve palsy caused by a PcommA infundibular dilatation. Although there are cases of infundibular dilatations causing cranial nerve palsies, only reports of three involving the PcommA exists. We review these reported cases in the literature and discuss their treatments as well as other non-aneurysmal compressive etiologies that may cause oculomotor nerve palsies. We present the case of a 53-year-old female with transient oculomotor nerve palsy that was initially diagnosed with a PcommA aneurysm. She underwent a craniotomy with plans of microsurgical clipping; however, the dilatation was identified correctly as an infundibulum intraoperatively. The operation was completed as a microvascular decompression and her oculomotor nerve palsy has not returned at the 1-year follow-up. We provide a detailed microsurgical report and video detailing the operative technique and relevant anatomy for this operation. Although rare and not as life-threatening as aneurysms, infundibular dilatations as a cause of oculomotor nerve palsy should remain as a differential diagnosis. Given the difference in natural history and treatment of these two entities, it is important to diagnose and treat them appropriately. Multimodal imaging such as thin-sliced computed tomography angiogram (CTA) and 3-dimensional (3D) rotational angiography can aid in diagnosis.

Comparable transforming growth factor beta-mediated immune suppression in ex vivo-expanded natural killer cells from cord blood and peripheral blood: implications for adoptive immunotherapy.

T cell-based therapies like genetically modified immune cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors have shown robust anti-cancer activity in vivo, especially in patients with blood cancers. However, extending this approach to an "off-the-shelf" setting can be challenging, as allogeneic T cells carry a significant risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). By contrast, allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells recognize malignant cells without the need for prior antigen exposure and have been used safely in multiple cancer settings without the risk of GVHD. However, similar to T cells, NK cell function is negatively impacted by tumor-induced transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) secretion, which is a ubiquitous and potent immunosuppressive mechanism employed by most malignancies. Allogeneic NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy can be sourced from peripheral blood (PB) or cord blood (CB), and the authors' group and others have previously shown that ex vivo expansion and gene engineering can overcome CB-derived NK cells' functional immaturity and poor cytolytic activity, including in the presence of exogenous TGF-ß.  However, a direct comparison of the effects of TGF-ß-mediated immune suppression on ex vivo-expanded CB- versus PB-derived NK cell therapy products has not previously been performed. Here the authors show that PB- and CB-derived NK cells have distinctive gene signatures that can be overcome by ex vivo expansion. Additionally, exposure to exogenous TGF-ß results in an upregulation of inhibitory receptors on NK cells, a novel immunosuppressive mechanism not previously described. Finally, the authors provide functional and genetic evidence that both PB- and CB-derived NK cells are equivalently susceptible to TGF-ß-mediated immune suppression. The authors believe these results provide important mechanistic insights to consider when using ex vivo-expanded, TGF-ß-resistant PB- or CB-derived NK cells as novel immunotherapy agents for cancer.

Turnover Time Between Elective Operative Cases: Does the Witching Hour Exist for the Operating Room?

BACKGROUND: Efficient resource management in the operating room (OR) contributes significantly to healthcare expenditure and revenue generation for health systems. We aim to assess the influence that surgeon, anesthesiology, and nursing team assignments and time of day have on turnover time (TOT) in the OR. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of elective cases at a single academic hospital that were completed between Monday and Friday between the hours of 0700 and 2359 from July 1, 2017, through March 31, 2018. Emergent cases and unplanned, add-on cases were excluded. Data regarding patient characteristics, OR teams, TOT, and procedure start and end times were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2174 total cases across 13 different specialties were included in our study. A multivariate regression of relevant variables affecting TOT was performed. Consecutive specialty (p < 0.0001), consecutive surgeon (p < 0.0001), anesthesiologist (p < 0.0001), and prior case ending before 1400 (p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of lower TOT. A receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.848 and a cutoff of 1400 having the highest sensitivity and specificity for TOT difference. CONCLUSIONS: TOT can be significantly affected by the time of the day the procedure is performed. Staffing availability during late procedures and the differences in how OR team staff are scheduled may affect OR efficiency. Additional studies may be needed to determine the long-term implications of changes implemented to decrease organizational operational costs related to the OR.

Middle meningeal artery embolization with subdural evacuating port system for primary management of chronic subdural hematomas.

Optimal treatment for chronic subdural hematomas remains controversial and perioperative risks and comorbidities may affect management strategies. Minimally invasive procedures are emerging as alternatives to the standard operative treatments. We evaluate our experience with middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization combined with Subdural Evacuating Port System (SEPS) placement as a first-line treatment for patients with cSDH. A single institution retrospective review was performed of all patients undergoing intervention. Patients were stratified by treatment with MMA embolization and SEPS placement, MMA embolization and surgery, SEPS placement only, and surgery only for cSDH from 2017 to 2020, and cohorts were compared against each other. Patients treated with MMA/SEPS were more likely to be older, be on anticoagulation, have significant comorbidities, have shorter length of stay, and less likely to have symptomatic recurrence compared to SEPS only cohort. Thus, MMA/SEPS appears to be a safe and equally effective minimally invasive treatment for cSDH patients with significant comorbidities who are poor surgical candidates.

Should asymptomatic cervical stenosis be treated in the setting of progressive thoracic myelopathy? A systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Unlike tandem stenosis of the cervical and lumbar spine, tandem cervical and thoracic stenosis (TCTS) of the spine is less common, and the approach and order of intervention are controversial. We aim to review the literature to evaluate the incidence and interventions for patients with cervical and thoracic stenosis. We provide illustrative cases to demonstrate that thoracic myelopathy in the setting of asymptomatic cervical stenosis can be treated safely. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature through electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was performed to present the current literature that evaluates TCTS as it relates to incidence and surgical interventions. We also present two cases of patients undergoing operative intervention for thoracic myelopathy in the setting of concurrent cervical stenosis. RESULTS: A total of 26 English original studies and case reports were identified. Nine studies evaluated the incidence of TCTS. 20 studies with a total of 168 patients with TCTS presented information on surgical intervention options. There is an overall aggregate incidence of 11.6% (530/4751) based on incidence studies. 165 patients underwent thoracic intervention. Of these patients, 63 patients underwent cervical intervention first, 29 underwent thoracic intervention first, and 73 underwent simultaneous, single-stage intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting with myelopathy, both cervical and thoracic spine should be evaluated for TCTS. Order of operative intervention is tailored to clinical and radiographic information. In cases of thoracic myelopathy with asymptomatic cervical stenosis, thoracic intervention can be pursued with precautions to prevent further cervical cord injury.

Early Fevers and Elevated Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio are Associated with Repeat Endovascular Interventions for Cerebral Vasospasm in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) may develop refractory arterial cerebral vasospasm requiring multiple endovascular interventions. The aim of our study is to evaluate variables associated with need for repeat endovascular treatments in refractory vasospasm and to identify differences in outcomes following one versus multiple treatments. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients treated for aSAH between 2017 and 2020 at two tertiary care centers. We included patients who underwent treatment (intraarterial infusion of vasodilatory agents or mechanical angioplasty) for radiographically diagnosed vasospasm in our analysis. Patients were divided into those who underwent single treatment versus those who underwent multiple endovascular treatments for vasospasm. RESULTS: Of the total 418 patients with aSAH, 151 (45.9%) underwent endovascular intervention for vasospasm. Of 151 patients, 95 (62.9%) underwent a single treatment and 56 (37.1%) underwent two or more treatments. Patients were more likely to undergo multiple endovascular treatments if they had a Hunt-Hess score > 2 (odds ratio [OR] 5.10 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.82-15.84]; p = 0.003), a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio > 8.0 (OR 3.19 [95% CI 1.40-7.62]; p = 0.028), and more than two fevers within the first 5 days of admission (OR 7.03 [95% CI 2.68-20.94]; p < 0.001). Patients with multiple treatments had poorer outcomes, including increased length of stay, delayed cerebral ischemia, in-hospital complications, and higher modified Rankin scores at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: A Hunt-Hess score > 2, a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio > 8.0, and early fevers may be predictive of need for multiple endovascular interventions in refractory cerebral vasospasm after aSAH. These patients have poorer functional outcomes at discharge and higher rates of in-hospital complications.

Consecutive Surgeon and Anesthesia Team Improve Turnover Time in the Operating Room.

Efficient management of the operating room (OR) contributes to much of today's healthcare expenditure and plays a critical role in generating revenue for most healthcare systems. Scheduling of OR cases with the same team and surgeon have been reported to improve turnover time between cases which in turn, improves efficiency and resource utilization. We aim to assess different operating room procedures within multiple subspecialties and explore the factors that positively and negatively influence turnover time (TOT) in the operating room. We conducted a retrospective review of cases that were completed on weekdays between 0600 and 2359 from July 2017 through March 2018. Cases between 0000 and 0559 were excluded from this study. Of the total 2,714 cases included in our study, transplant surgery had the highest mean TOT (71 ± 48 min) with orthopedic surgery cases without robots having the lowest mean TOT. OR cases in rooms with the same specialty had significantly less mean TOT compared to rooms switching between different subspecialties (70 vs. 117 min; p < 0.0001). Similarly, cases with the same surgeon and anesthesia team had a significant lower TOT (p < 0.0001). Consecutive specialty, surgeon, anesthesiologist, and prior procedure ending before 15:00 were all independent predictors of lower TOT (p < 0.0001). Our study shows scheduling cases with the same OR team for elective cases can decrease TOT and potentially increase operating room efficiency during the day. Further studies may be needed to assess the long-term effects of such variables affecting OR TOT on healthcare expenditure.

Abnormal neurological pupil index is associated with malignant cerebral edema after mechanical thrombectomy in large vessel occlusion patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Malignant cerebral edema (MCE) is a feared complication in patients suffering from large vessel occlusion. Variables associated with the development of MCE have not been clearly elucidated. Use of pupillometry and the neurological pupil index (NPi) as an objective measure in patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has not been explored. We aim to evaluate variables significantly associated with MCE in patients that undergo MT and hypothesize that abnormal NPi is associated with MCE in this population. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients with acute ischemic stroke who had undergone MT at our institution between 2017 and 2020 was performed. Baseline and outcome variables were collected, including NPi values from pupillometry readings of patients within 72 h after the MT. Patients were divided into two groups: MCE versus non-MCE group. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of 284 acute ischemic stroke patients, 64 (22.5%) developed MCE. Mean admission glucose (137 vs. 173; p < 0.0001), NIHSS on admission (17 vs. 24; p < 0.01), infarct core volume (27.9 vs. 17.9 mL; p = 0.0036), TICI score (p = 0.001), and number of passes (2.9 vs. 1.8; p < 0.0001) were significantly different between the groups. Pupillometry data was present for 64 patients (22.5%). Upon multivariate analysis, abnormal ipsilateral NPi (OR 21.80 95% CI 3.32-286.4; p = 0.007) and hemorrhagic conversion were independently associated with MCE. CONCLUSION: Abnormal NPi and hemorrhagic conversion are significantly associated with MCE in patients following MT. Further investigation is warranted to better define an association between NPi and patient outcomes in this patient population.

Outcomes of patients with nonepileptic transient neurologic symptoms after subdural hematoma evacuation.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing a subdural hematoma (SDH) evacuation can experience transient neurological symptoms (TNS) postoperatively. Electroencephalography (EEG) is used to rule out seizures. We aim to characterize patients with TNS and negative epileptiform activity on EEG and compare them to those with positive epileptiform EEG findings. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of adult patients who underwent EEG for evaluation of TNS after undergoing SDH evacuation. Patients were stratified based on SDH type (acute and non-acute) and whether or not their EEG demonstrated positive epileptiform activity. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of negative EEG findings. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-nine SDH patients were included (45 (34.9%) acute; 84 (65.1%) non-acute). Overall, 45 (24 acute and 21 non-acute SDH patients) had positive epileptiform EEG findings, and 84 (21 acute and 63 non-acute SDH patients) had a negative EEG. Acute and non-acute SDH patients with positive EEG findings were more likely to suffer from greater than five episodes of TNS, impaired awareness, and motor symptoms, while the negative EEG group was more likely to suffer from negative symptoms. Non-acute SDH patients with positive EEG had longer mean ICU stays (14.6 vs. 7.2; p = 0.005). Both acute and non-acute SDH-positive EEG patients had worse disposition upon discharge (p < 0.05), worse modified Rankin score at discharge (p < 0.05), and 3-month follow-up (p < 0.05) and were more likely to be discharged on more than one antiepileptic drug (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Postoperative acute and non-acute SDH patients with TNS and negative EEG results are likely to have a favorable clinical picture. This distinction is therapeutically and prognostically important as these patients may not respond to typical antiepileptic drugs and they have better functional outcomes.

Management of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Patients with a Left Ventricular Assist Device: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) has been reported to occur in up to 23% of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Currently, limited data exists to guide neurosurgical management strategies to optimize outcomes in patients with an LVAD who develop ICH. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was performed to evaluate the mortality rate in these patients following medical and/or surgical management and to evaluate antithrombotic reversal and resumption strategies after hemorrhage. RESULTS: 17 studies reporting on 3869 LVAD patients and 545 intracranial hemorrhages spanning investigative periods from 1996 to 2019 were included. The rate of ICH in LVAD patients was 10.6% (411/3869) with 58.6% (231/394) being intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH), 23.6% (93/394) subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and 15.5% (61/394) subdural hemorrhage (SDH). Total mortality rates for surgical management 65.6% (40/61) differed from medical management at 45.2% (109/241). There was an increased relative risk of mortality (RR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.10-1.91, p = 0.01) for ICH patients undergoing surgical intervention. The hemorrhage subtype most frequently managed with anticoagulation reversal was IPH 81.8% (63/77), followed by SDH 52.2% (12/23), and SAH 39.1% (18/46). Mean number of days until antithrombotic resumption ranged from 6 to 10.5 days. CONCLUSION: Outcomes remain poor, specifically for those undergoing surgery. As experience with this population increases, prospective studies are warranted to contribute to management and prognostication .

Admission Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio for Predicting Outcome in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the relationship between admission neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and functional outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with aSAH were treated at two tertiary stroke centers during a five-year period. Functional outcome was defined as discharge modified Rankin score dichotomized at scores 0-2 (good) vs. 3-6 (poor). RESULTS: 474 aSAH patients were evaluated with a mean NLR 8.6 (SD 8.3). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, poor functional outcome was independently associated with higher NLR, older age, poorer clinical status on admission, prehospital statin use, and vasospasm. Increasing NLR analyzed as a continuous variable was independently associated with higher odds of poor functional outcome (OR 1.03, 95%CI 1.00-1.07, p=0.05) after adjustment for potential confounders. When dichotomized using ROC curve analysis, a threshold NLR value of greater than 6.48 was independently associated with higher odds of poor functional outcome (OR 1.71, 95%CI 1.07-2.74, p=0.03) after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Higher admission NLR is an independent predictor for poor functional outcome at discharge in aSAH patients. The evaluation of anti-inflammatory targets in the future may allow for improved functional outcome after aSAH.

Manuka Honey: Feasibility and Safety in Postoperative Neurosurgical Wound Care.

OBJECTIVE: To date, no reports have been published on active Leptospermum manuka honey (ALH) feasibility as a postoperative topical wound supplement in neurosurgical patients. The objective of the study is to present the authors' initial experience with using ALH in postoperative neurosurgical patients. METHODS: A single-surgeon retrospective case series review of cranial and spinal operations between 2018 and 2020 was performed in patients with nonhealing wounds or wounds deemed "at risk" as defined by grade 1 Sandy surgical wound dehiscence grading classification. An ALH gel or ointment was applied to these incisions once a day for 2 to 4 weeks. Patients were followed up in the clinic every 2 weeks until incisions had healed. RESULTS: Twenty-five postoperative patients (12 cranial, 13 spinal) were identified to be at high risk of operative debridement. All 25 patients were prescribed a topical application of ALH, which was easily adopted without patient-related adverse events. Seven (four cranial, three spinal) patients required operative debridement and treatment with long-term antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In this small case series of neurosurgical patients who were at risk of poor wound healing, the application of medical-grade ALH was well tolerated without patient-reported adverse events. The ALH may have prevented the need for operative debridement in the majority of patients. Further prospective studies are necessary to establish its efficacy in wound healing in the neurosurgical population.

Vulnerability of the L5 nerve root during anterior lumbar interbody fusion at L5-S1: case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Nerve root injuries associated with anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) are uncommonly reported in the literature. This case series and review aims to describe the etiology of L5 nerve root injury following ALIF at L5-S1. METHODS: The authors performed a single-center retrospective review of prospectively collected data of patients who underwent surgery between 2017 and 2019 who had postoperative L5 nerve root injuries after stand-alone L5-S1 ALIF. They also reviewed the literature with regard to nerve root injuries after ALIF procedures. RESULTS: The authors report on 3 patients with postoperative L5 radiculopathy. All 3 patients had pain that improved. Two of the 3 patients had a neurological deficit, one of which improved. CONCLUSIONS: Stretch neuropraxia from overdistraction is an important cause of postoperative L5 radiculopathy after L5-S1 ALIF. Judicious use of implants and careful preoperative planning to determine optimal implant sizes are paramount.

A cross-sectional analysis of variables associated with morbidity and mortality in postoperative neurosurgical patients diagnosed with sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a systemic, inflammatory response to infection associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is a considerable lack of literature exploring sepsis in neurosurgery. We aimed to identify variables that were correlated with mortality and increased morbidity as defined by readmission and increased length of stay in postoperative neurosurgical patients that met a sepsis diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 105 patients who underwent a neurosurgical operation at our institution from 2012 to 2017 who were discharged with at least one sepsis diagnosis code and who did not have a preoperative infection. We identified variables that were correlated with mortality, readmission, and increased length of stay. RESULTS: Patients who survived were preferentially distributed towards lower ASA Physical Status Classification scores. A larger percentage of patients who did not survive had cranial surgery, whereas patients who survived were more likely to have undergone spinal surgery. Higher respiratory rates, higher maximum lactic acid levels, positive sputum cultures, and lower incoming Glasgow Coma Scores (GCS) were significantly correlated with mortality. A larger fraction of readmitted patients had positive surgical site cultures but had negative sputum cultures. Length of hospitalization was correlated with incoming GCS, non-elective operations, and Foley catheter, arterial line, central line, and endotracheal tube duration. CONCLUSIONS: Neurosurgical postoperative patients diagnosed with sepsis may be risk stratified for mortality, readmission, and increased length of stay based on certain variables that may help direct their care. Further prospective studies are needed to explore causal relationships.

Effect of Prescription Size on Opioid Use and Patient Satisfaction After Minor Hand Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of initial prescription size on opioid consumption after minor hand surgeries. Secondary outcomes include efficacy of pain control, patient satisfaction, and refill requests. BACKGROUND: Retrospective studies have shown that opioid prescriptions for acute pain after surgical procedures are often excessive in size, which encourages misuse. This is the first prospective randomized trial on the influence of initial prescription size on opioid consumption in the setting of acute postsurgical pain. METHODS: In a prospective randomized trial at a single-academic institution, patients were provided an initial prescription of either 10 or 30 hydrocodone/acetaminophen (5/325 mg) pills after surgery. Two hundred opioid-naive patients, aged 19 to 69, undergoing elective outpatient minor hand surgeries were enrolled over 9 months, with a follow-up period of 10 to 14 days. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-four patients were included in this analysis. Patients initially prescribed 30 pills (n = 79), when compared with patients initially prescribed 10 pills (n = 95), used significantly more opioid (P = <0.001, mean 11.9 vs 6.4 pills), had significantly more leftover medication (P = <0.001, mean 20.0 vs 5.2 pills), and were over 3 times more likely to still be taking opioid at follow-up (15% vs 4%). There was no significant difference in refills requested, or in patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control. CONCLUSIONS: Providing large opioid prescriptions for the management of acute pain after minor upper extremity surgeries increases overall opioid use when compared with smaller initial prescriptions. The size of initial opioid prescription is a modifiable variable that should be considered both in patient care and research design.

Primary cervical spine AL-κ amyloidoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Of the myriad of variants of amyloidoses where abnormally folded proteins damage native tissue, primary cervical spine amyloidoma represents one of the rarest forms. Since clinical presentations and imaging findings appear similar to other pathologies, including abscesses, metastatic lesions, and inflammatory lesions, a definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy with specific immunohistochemical stains. We present the first known case of primary cervical amyloid light-chain (AL)-κ subtype amyloidoma and compare the clinical presentations, imaging findings, treatment options, and immunohistochemical subtypes of primary, hemodialysis, and multiple myeloma cervical amyloidomas. Our case is of a 58-year-old man who developed neck pain radiating to the left arm with bilateral upper extremity weakness over several months. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a circumferential C1-C2 mass extending into the neural foramina inducing severe mass effect. The patient underwent C2 laminectomy and resection of the lesion which was discovered during surgery to be completely epidural. Postoperatively, his pain and weakness improved. A complete work-up was negative for systemic amyloidosis or inflammatory conditions. In the setting of a long clinical history of hemodialysis, this patient required specific staining and laboratory testing to correctly diagnose his primary cervical AL-κ subtype amyloidoma. Cervical amyloidomas comprise a very small minority of amyloid pathology with an exceptional prognosis following successful surgical resection and stabilization. It is recommended these patients undergo surgical resection with appropriate characterization and a complete work-up to rule out systemic disease.