Does state malpractice environment affect outcomes following spinal fusions? A robust statistical and machine learning analysis of 549,775 discharges following spinal fusion surgery in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Spine surgery is especially susceptible to malpractice claims. Critics of the US medical liability system argue that it drives up costs, whereas proponents argue it deters negligence. Here, the authors study the relationship between malpractice claim density and outcomes. METHODS: The following methods were used: 1) the National Practitioner Data Bank was used to determine the number of malpractice claims per 100 physicians, by state, between 2005 and 2010; 2) the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for spinal fusion patients; and 3) the Area Resource File was queried to determine the density of physicians, by state. States were categorized into 4 quartiles regarding the frequency of malpractice claims per 100 physicians. To evaluate the association between malpractice claims and death, discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and total costs, an inverse-probability-weighted regression-adjustment estimator was used. The authors controlled for patient and hospital characteristics. Covariates were used to train machine learning models to predict death, discharge disposition not to home, LOS, and total costs. RESULTS: Overall, 549,775 discharges following spinal fusions were identified, with 495,640 yielding state-level information about medical malpractice claim frequency per 100 physicians. Of these, 124,425 (25.1%), 132,613 (26.8%), 130,929 (26.4%), and 107,673 (21.7%) were from the lowest, second-lowest, second-highest, and highest quartile states, respectively, for malpractice claims per 100 physicians. Compared to the states with the fewest claims (lowest quartile), surgeries in states with the most claims (highest quartile) showed a statistically significantly higher odds of a nonhome discharge (OR 1.169, 95% CI 1.139-1.200), longer LOS (mean difference 0.304, 95% CI 0.256-0.352), and higher total charges (mean difference [log scale] 0.288, 95% CI 0.281-0.295) with no significant associations for mortality. For the machine learning models-which included medical malpractice claim density as a covariate-the areas under the curve for death and discharge disposition were 0.94 and 0.87, and the R2 values for LOS and total charge were 0.55 and 0.60, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal fusion procedures from states with a higher frequency of malpractice claims were associated with an increased odds of nonhome discharge, longer LOS, and higher total charges. This suggests that medicolegal climate may potentially alter practice patterns for a given spine surgeon and may have important implications for medical liability reform. Machine learning models that included medical malpractice claim density as a feature were satisfactory in prediction and may be helpful for patients, surgeons, hospitals, and payers.

Concordance of common data elements for assessment of subjective cognitive complaints after mild-traumatic brain injury: a TRACK-TBI Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine characteristics and concordance of subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) 6 months following mild-traumatic brain injury (mTBI) as assessed by two different TBI common data elements (CDEs). RESEARCH DESIGN: The Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) Pilot Study was a prospective observational study that utilized the NIH TBI CDEs, Version 1.0. We examined variables associated with SCC, performance on objective cognitive tests (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, California Verbal Learning Test, and Trail Making Tests A and B), and agreement on self-report of SCCs as assessed by the acute concussion evaluation (ACE) versus the Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ). RESULTS: In total, 68% of 227 participants endorsed SCCs at 6 months. Factors associated with SCC included less education, psychiatric history, and being assaulted. Compared to participants without SCC, those with SCC defined by RPQ performed significantly worse on all cognitive tests. There was moderate agreement between the two measures of SCCs (kappa = 0.567 to 0.680). CONCLUSION: We show that the symptom questionnaires ACE and RPQ show good, but not excellent, agreement for SCCs in an mTBI study population. Our results support the retention of RPQ as a basic CDE for mTBI research. ABBREVIATIONS: BSI-18: Brief Symptom Inventory; 18CDEs: common data elements; CT: computed tomography; CVLT: California Verbal Learning Test; ED: emergency department; GCS: Glasgow coma scale; LOC: loss of consciousnessm; TBI: mild-traumatic brain injury; PTA: post-traumatic amnesia; SCC: subjective cognitive complaints; TBI: traumatic brain injury; TRACK-TBI: Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury; TMT: Trail Making Test; WAIS-PSI: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition, Processing Speed Index.

Informatics for neurocritical care: challenges and opportunities.

Neurocritical care relies on the continuous, real-time measurement of numerous physiologic parameters. While our capability to obtain such measurements from patients has grown markedly with multimodal monitoring in many neurologic or neurosurgical intensive care units (ICUs), our ability to transform the raw data into actionable information is limited. One reason is that the proprietary nature of medical devices and software often prevents neuro-ICUs from capturing and centrally storing high-density data. Also, ICU alarm systems are often unreliable because the data that are captured are riddled with artifacts. Informatics is the process of acquiring, processing, and interpreting these complex arrays of data. The development of next-generation informatics tools allows for detection of complex physiologic events and brings about the possibility of decision support tools to improve neurocritical care. Although many different approaches to informatics are discussed and considered, here we focus on the Bayesian probabilistic paradigm. It quantifies the uncertainty inherent in neurocritical care instead of ignoring it, and formalizes the natural clinical thought process of updating prior beliefs using incoming patient data. We review this and other opportunities, as well as challenges, for the development and refinement of informatics tools in neurocritical care.

Medicaid Insurance is a Predictor of Prolonged Hospital Length of Stay After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Stratified National Trauma Data Bank Cohort Analysis of 552 949 Patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hospital length of stay (HLOS) is a metric of injury severity, resource utilization, and healthcare access. Recent evidence has shown an association between Medicaid insurance and increased HLOS after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aims to validate the association between Medicaid and prolonged HLOS after TBI using the National Trauma Data Bank. METHODS: National Trauma Data Bank Trauma Quality Programs Participant Use Files (2003-2021) were queried for adult patients with TBI using traumatic intracranial injury ICD-9/ICD-10 codes. Patients with complete HLOS, age, sex, race, insurance payor, Glasgow Coma Scale, Injury Severity Score, and discharge disposition data were included (N = 552 949). Analyses were stratified by TBI severity using Glasgow Coma Scale. HLOS was coded into Tiers according to percentiles within TBI severity categories (Tier 1: 1-74th; 2: 75-84th; 3: 85-94th; 4: 95-99th). Multivariable logistic regressions evaluated associations between insurance payor and prolonged (Tier 4) HLOS, controlling for sociodemographic, Injury Severity Score, cranial surgery, and discharge disposition variables. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% CI were reported. RESULTS: HLOS Tiers consisted of 0-19, 20-27, 28-46, and ≥47 days (Tiers 1-4, respectively) in severe TBI (N = 103 081); 0-15, 16-21, 22-37, and ≥38 days in moderate TBI (N = 39 904); and 0-7, 8-10, 11-19, and ≥20 days in mild TBI (N = 409 964). Proportion of Medicaid patients increased with Tier ([Tier 1 vs Tier 4] severe: 16.0% vs 36.1%; moderate: 14.1% vs 31.6%; mild TBI: 10.2% vs 17.4%; all P < .001). On multivariable analyses, Medicaid was associated with prolonged HLOS (severe TBI: aOR = 2.35 [2.19-2.52]; moderate TBI: aOR = 2.30 [2.04-2.61]; mild TBI: aOR = 1.75 [1.67-1.83]; reference category: private/commercial). CONCLUSION: This study supports Medicaid as an independent predictor of prolonged HLOS across TBI severity strata. Reasons may include different efficacies in care delivery and reimbursement, which require further investigation. Our findings support the development of discharge coordination pathways and policies for Medicaid patients with TBI.

Isolated Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage on Head Computed Tomography Scan May Not Be Isolated: A Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury Study (TRACK-TBI) Study.

Isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) on head computed tomography (CT) scan is often regarded as a "mild" injury, with reduced need for additional workup. However, tSAH is also a predictor of incomplete recovery and unfavorable outcome. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of CT-occult intracranial injuries on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in TBI patients with emergency department (ED) arrival Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score 13-15 and isolated tSAH on CT. The prospective, 18-center Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury Study (TRACK-TBI; enrollment years 2014-2019) enrolled participants who presented to the ED and received a clinically-indicated head CT within 24 h of TBI. A subset of TRACK-TBI participants underwent venipuncture within 24 h for plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) analysis, and research MRI at 2-weeks post-injury. In the current study, TRACK-TBI participants age ≥17 years with ED arrival GCS 13-15, isolated tSAH on initial head CT, plasma GFAP level, and 2-week MRI data were analyzed. In 57 participants, median age was 46.0 years [quartile 1 to 3 (Q1-Q3): 34-57] and 52.6% were male. At ED disposition, 12.3% were discharged home, 61.4% were admitted to hospital ward, and 26.3% to intensive care unit. MRI identified CT-occult traumatic intracranial lesions in 45.6% (26 of 57 participants; one additional lesion type: 31.6%; 2 additional lesion types: 14.0%); of these 26 participants with CT-occult intracranial lesions, 65.4% had axonal injury, 42.3% had subdural hematoma, and 23.1% had intracerebral contusion. GFAP levels were higher in participants with CT-occult MRI lesions compared with without (median: 630.6 pg/mL, Q1-Q3: [172.4-941.2] vs. 226.4 [105.8-436.1], p = 0.049), and were associated with axonal injury (no: median 226.7 pg/mL [109.6-435.1], yes: 828.6 pg/mL [204.0-1194.3], p = 0.009). Our results indicate that isolated tSAH on head CT is often not the sole intracranial traumatic injury in GCS 13-15 TBI. Forty-six percent of patients in our cohort (26 of 57 participants) had additional CT-occult traumatic lesions on MRI. Plasma GFAP may be an important biomarker for the identification of additional CT-occult injuries, including axonal injury. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given our small sample size and await validation from larger studies.

Performance of the IMPACT and CRASH prognostic models for traumatic brain injury in a contemporary multicenter cohort: a TRACK-TBI study.

OBJECTIVE: The International Mission on Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in Traumatic Brain Injury (IMPACT) and Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury (CRASH) prognostic models for mortality and outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) were developed using data from 1984 to 2004. This study examined IMPACT and CRASH model performances in a contemporary cohort of US patients. METHODS: The prospective 18-center Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) study (enrollment years 2014-2018) enrolled subjects aged ≥ 17 years who presented to level I trauma centers and received head CT within 24 hours of TBI. Data were extracted from the subjects who met the model criteria (for IMPACT, Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score 3-12 with 6-month Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended [GOSE] data [n = 441]; for CRASH, GCS score 3-14 with 2-week mortality data and 6-month GOSE data [n = 831]). Analyses were conducted in the overall cohort and stratified on the basis of TBI severity (severe/moderate/mild TBI defined as GCS score 3-8/9-12/13-14), age (17-64 years or ≥ 65 years), and the 5 top enrolling sites. Unfavorable outcome was defined as GOSE score 1-4. Original IMPACT and CRASH model coefficients were applied, and model performances were assessed by calibration (intercept [< 0 indicated overprediction; > 0 indicated underprediction] and slope) and discrimination (c-statistic). RESULTS: Overall, the IMPACT models overpredicted mortality (intercept -0.79 [95% CI -1.05 to -0.53], slope 1.37 [1.05-1.69]) and acceptably predicted unfavorable outcome (intercept 0.07 [-0.14 to 0.29], slope 1.19 [0.96-1.42]), with good discrimination (c-statistics 0.84 and 0.83, respectively). The CRASH models overpredicted mortality (intercept -1.06 [-1.36 to -0.75], slope 0.96 [0.79-1.14]) and unfavorable outcome (intercept -0.60 [-0.78 to -0.41], slope 1.20 [1.03-1.37]), with good discrimination (c-statistics 0.92 and 0.88, respectively). IMPACT overpredicted mortality and acceptably predicted unfavorable outcome in the severe and moderate TBI subgroups, with good discrimination (c-statistic ≥ 0.81). CRASH overpredicted mortality in the severe and moderate TBI subgroups and acceptably predicted mortality in the mild TBI subgroup, with good discrimination (c-statistic ≥ 0.86); unfavorable outcome was overpredicted in the severe and mild TBI subgroups with adequate discrimination (c-statistic ≥ 0.78), whereas calibration was nonlinear in the moderate TBI subgroup. In subjects ≥ 65 years of age, the models performed variably (IMPACT-mortality, intercept 0.28, slope 0.68, and c-statistic 0.68; CRASH-unfavorable outcome, intercept -0.97, slope 1.32, and c-statistic 0.88; nonlinear calibration for IMPACT-unfavorable outcome and CRASH-mortality). Model performance differences were observed across the top enrolling sites for mortality and unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The IMPACT and CRASH models adequately discriminated mortality and unfavorable outcome. Observed overestimations of mortality and unfavorable outcome underscore the need to update prognostic models to incorporate contemporary changes in TBI management and case-mix. Investigations to elucidate the relationships between increased survival, outcome, treatment intensity, and site-specific practices will be relevant to improve models in specific TBI subpopulations (e.g., older adults), which may benefit from the inclusion of blood-based biomarkers, neuroimaging features, and treatment data.

Prior traumatic brain injury is a risk factor for in-hospital mortality in moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: a TRACK-TBI cohort study.

Objectives: An estimated 14-23% of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) incur multiple lifetime TBIs. The relationship between prior TBI and outcomes in patients with moderate to severe TBI (msTBI) is not well delineated. We examined the associations between prior TBI, in-hospital mortality, and outcomes up to 12 months after injury in a prospective US msTBI cohort. Methods: Data from hospitalized subjects with Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3-12 were extracted from the Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury Study (enrollment period: 2014-2019). Prior TBI with amnesia or alteration of consciousness was assessed using the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method. Competing risk regressions adjusting for age, sex, psychiatric history, cranial injury and extracranial injury severity examined the associations between prior TBI and in-hospital mortality, with hospital discharged alive as the competing risk. Adjusted HRs (aHR (95% CI)) were reported. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed the associations between prior TBI, mortality, and unfavorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended score 1-3 (vs. 4-8)) at 3, 6, and 12 months after injury. Results: Of 405 acute msTBI subjects, 21.5% had prior TBI, which was associated with male sex (87.4% vs. 77.0%, p=0.037) and psychiatric history (34.5% vs. 20.7%, p=0.010). In-hospital mortality was 10.1% (prior TBI: 17.2%, no prior TBI: 8.2%, p=0.025). Competing risk regressions indicated that prior TBI was associated with likelihood of in-hospital mortality (aHR=2.06 (1.01-4.22)), but not with hospital discharged alive. Prior TBI was not associated with mortality or unfavorable outcomes at 3, 6, and 12 months. Conclusions: After acute msTBI, prior TBI history is independently associated with in-hospital mortality but not with mortality or unfavorable outcomes within 12 months after injury. This selective association underscores the importance of collecting standardized prior TBI history data early after acute hospitalization to inform risk stratification. Prospective validation studies are needed. Level of evidence: IV. Trial registration number: NCT02119182.

Socioeconomic and clinical factors associated with prolonged hospital length of stay after traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Hospital length of stay (HLOS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a metric of injury severity, resource utilization, and access to services. This study aimed to evaluate socioeconomic and clinical factors associated with prolonged HLOS after TBI. METHODS: Retrospective data from adult hospitalized patients diagnosed with acute TBI at a US Level 1 trauma center between August 1, 2019 - April 1, 2022 were extracted from the electronic health record. HLOS was stratified by Tier (1: 1-74th percentile; 2: 75-84th; 3: 85-94th; 4: 95-99th). Demographic, socioeconomic, injury severity, and level-of-care factors were compared by HLOS. Multivariable logistic regressions evaluated associations between socioeconomic and clinical variables and prolonged HLOS, using multivariable odds ratios (mOR) and [95% confidence intervals]. Estimated daily charges were calculated for a subset of medically-stable inpatients awaiting placement. Statistical significance was assessed at p < 0.05. RESULTS: In 1443 patients, median HLOS was 4 days (interquartile range 2-8; range 0-145). HLOS Tiers were 0-7, 8-13, 14-27, and ≥28 days (Tiers 1-4, respectively). Patients with Tier 4 HLOS differed significantly from others, with increased Medicaid insurance (53.4% vs. 30.3-33.1%, p = 0.003), severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale 3-8: 38.4% vs. 8.7-18.2%, p < 0.001), younger age (mean 52.3-years vs. 61.1-63.7-years, p = 0.003), low socioeconomic status (53.4% vs. 32.0-33.9%, p = 0.003), and need for post-acute care (60.3% vs. 11.2-39.7%, p < 0.001). Independent factors associated with prolonged (Tier 4) HLOS were Medicaid (mOR = 1.99 [1.08-3.68], vs. Medicare/commercial), moderate and severe TBI (mOR = 3.48 [1.61-7.56]; mOR = 4.43 [2.18-8.99], respectively, vs. mild TBI), and need for post-acute placement (mOR = 10.68 [5.74-19.89], while age was protective (per-year mOR = 0.98 [0.97-0.99]). Estimated daily charges for a medically-stable inpatient was $17126. CONCLUSIONS: Medicaid insurance, moderate/severe TBI, and need for post-acute care were independently associated with prolonged HLOS ≥28 days. Medically-stable inpatients awaiting placement accrue immense daily healthcare costs. At-risk patients should be identified early, receive care transitions resources, and be prioritized for discharge coordination pathways.

Neuroworsening in the Emergency Department Is a Predictor of Traumatic Brain Injury Intervention and Outcome: A TRACK-TBI Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Neuroworsening may be a sign of progressive brain injury and is a factor for treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in intensive care settings. The implications of neuroworsening for clinical management and long-term sequelae of TBI in the emergency department (ED) require characterization. METHODS: Adult TBI subjects from the prospective Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury Pilot Study with ED admission and disposition Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were extracted. All patients received head computed tomography (CT) scan <24 h post-injury. Neuroworsening was defined as a decline in motor GCS at ED disposition (vs. ED admission). Clinical and CT characteristics, neurosurgical intervention, in-hospital mortality, and 3- and 6-month Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E) scores were compared by neuroworsening status. Multivariable regressions were performed for neurosurgical intervention and unfavorable outcome (GOS-E ≤ 3). Multivariable odds ratios (mOR) with [95% confidence intervals] were reported. RESULTS: In 481 subjects, 91.1% had ED admission GCS 13-15 and 3.3% had neuroworsening. All neuroworsening subjects were admitted to intensive care unit (vs. non-neuroworsening: 26.2%) and were CT-positive for structural injury (vs. 45.4%). Neuroworsening was associated with subdural (75.0%/22.2%), subarachnoid (81.3%/31.2%), and intraventricular hemorrhage (18.8%/2.2%), contusion (68.8%/20.4%), midline shift (50.0%/2.6%), cisternal compression (56.3%/5.6%), and cerebral edema (68.8%/12.3%; all p < 0.001). Neuroworsening subjects had higher likelihoods of cranial surgery (56.3%/3.5%), intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring (62.5%/2.6%), in-hospital mortality (37.5%/0.6%), and unfavorable 3- and 6-month outcome (58.3%/4.9%; 53.8%/6.2%; all p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, neuroworsening predicted surgery (mOR = 4.65 [1.02-21.19]), ICP monitoring (mOR = 15.48 [2.92-81.85], and unfavorable 3- and 6-month outcome (mOR = 5.36 [1.13-25.36]; mOR = 5.68 [1.18-27.35]). CONCLUSIONS: Neuroworsening in the ED is an early indicator of TBI severity, and a predictor of neurosurgical intervention and unfavorable outcome. Clinicians must be vigilant in detecting neuroworsening, as affected patients are at increased risk for poor outcomes and may benefit from immediate therapeutic interventions.

Longitudinal Recovery Following Repetitive Traumatic Brain Injury.

Importance: One traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of subsequent TBIs. Research on longitudinal outcomes of civilian repetitive TBIs is limited. Objective: To investigate associations between sustaining 1 or more TBIs (ie, postindex TBIs) after study enrollment (ie, index TBIs) and multidimensional outcomes at 1 year and 3 to 7 years. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included participants presenting to emergency departments enrolled within 24 hours of TBI in the prospective, 18-center Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) study (enrollment years, February 2014 to July 2020). Participants who completed outcome assessments at 1 year and 3 to 7 years were included. Data were analyzed from September 2022 to August 2023. Exposures: Postindex TBI(s). Main Outcomes and Measures: Demographic and clinical factors, prior TBI (ie, preindex TBI), and functional (Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended [GOSE]), postconcussive (Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire [RPQ]), psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory-18 [BSI-18]), depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 [PCL-5]), and health-related quality-of-life (Quality of Life After Brain Injury-Overall Scale [QOLIBRI-OS]) outcomes were assessed. Adjusted mean differences (aMDs) and adjusted relative risks are reported with 95% CIs. Results: Of 2417 TRACK-TBI participants, 1572 completed the outcomes assessment at 1 year (1049 [66.7%] male; mean [SD] age, 41.6 [17.5] years) and 1084 completed the outcomes assessment at 3 to 7 years (714 [65.9%] male; mean [SD] age, 40.6 [17.0] years). At 1 year, a total of 60 participants (4%) were Asian, 255 (16%) were Black, 1213 (77%) were White, 39 (2%) were another race, and 5 (0.3%) had unknown race. At 3 to 7 years, 39 (4%) were Asian, 149 (14%) were Black, 868 (80%) were White, 26 (2%) had another race, and 2 (0.2%) had unknown race. A total of 50 (3.2%) and 132 (12.2%) reported 1 or more postindex TBIs at 1 year and 3 to 7 years, respectively. Risk factors for postindex TBI were psychiatric history, preindex TBI, and extracranial injury severity. At 1 year, compared with those without postindex TBI, participants with postindex TBI had worse functional recovery (GOSE score of 8: adjusted relative risk, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.34-0.96) and health-related quality of life (QOLIBRI-OS: aMD, -15.9; 95% CI, -22.6 to -9.1), and greater postconcussive symptoms (RPQ: aMD, 8.1; 95% CI, 4.2-11.9), psychological distress symptoms (BSI-18: aMD, 5.3; 95% CI, 2.1-8.6), depression symptoms (PHQ-9: aMD, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.5-4.4), and PTSD symptoms (PCL-5: aMD, 7.8; 95% CI, 3.2-12.4). At 3 to 7 years, these associations remained statistically significant. Multiple (2 or more) postindex TBIs were associated with poorer outcomes across all domains. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of patients with acute TBI, postindex TBI was associated with worse symptomatology across outcome domains at 1 year and 3 to 7 years postinjury, and there was a dose-dependent response with multiple postindex TBIs. These results underscore the critical need to provide TBI prevention, education, counseling, and follow-up care to at-risk patients.

Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm Mimicking a Vestibular Schwannoma.

Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) aneurysms are rare pathologies that may present with hearing loss, facial paralysis, vertigo, and tinnitus. Otologic symptoms at the time of presentation may prompt physicians to order an MRI, which can lead to the misdiagnosis of AICA aneurysms as vestibular schwannomas. We discuss the case of a 27-year-old female who presented with sudden-onset vertigo and right-sided hearing loss. She was found to have a right homogeneously enhancing internal auditory canal (IAC) mass abutting the vestibular nerve on post-gadolinium T1 MRI two hours after the presentation, which was initially diagnosed as a vestibular schwannoma. Serial T1 MRI highlighted the evolution of blood products within this mass by presenting as bright at two days and dark at two months after presentation. Profound ipsilateral sensorineural hearing loss and absent vestibulocochlear function were confirmed on audiometry and vestibular testing, respectively. The diagnostic cerebral angiogram was complicated by an iatrogenic right mid-cervical vertebral artery dissection, and the patient ultimately underwent successful embolization two months after presentation with the resolution of all presenting symptoms except right-sided hearing loss. Early recognition and treatment of an AICA aneurysm may help prevent associated vascular complications, and they should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis for IAC lesions despite their rarity.

Paraparesis caused by intradural thoracic spinal granuloma secondary to organizing hematoma: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Spinal granulomas form from infectious or noninfectious inflammatory processes and are rarely present intradurally. Intradural granulomas secondary to hematoma are unreported in the literature and present diagnostic and management challenges. OBSERVATIONS: A 70-year-old man receiving aspirin presented with encephalopathy, subacute malaise, and right lower extremity weakness and was diagnosed with polysubstance withdrawal and refractory hypertension requiring extended treatment. Seven days after admission, he reported increased bilateral lower extremity (BLE) weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed T2-3 and T7-8 masses abutting the pia, with spinal cord compression at T2-3. He was transferred to the authors' institution, and work-up showed no vascular shunting or malignancy. He underwent T2-3 laminectomies for biopsy/resection. A firm, xanthochromic mass was resected en bloc. Pathology showed organizing hematoma without infection, vascular malformation, or malignancy. Subsequent coagulopathy work-up was unremarkable. His BLE strength significantly improved, and he declined resection of the inferior mass. He completed physical therapy and was cleared for placement in a skilled nursing facility. LESSONS: Spinal granulomas can mimic vascular lesions and malignancy. The authors present the first report of paraparesis caused by intradural granuloma secondary to organizing hematoma, preceded by severe refractory hypertension. Tissue diagnosis is critical, and resection is curative. These findings can inform the vigilant clinician for expeditious treatment.

Predictors of Extreme Hospital Length of Stay After Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Hospital length of stay (HLOS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important metric of injury severity, resource utilization, and access to post-acute care services. Risk factors for protracted HLOS after TBI require further characterization. METHODS: Data regarding adult inpatients admitted to a single U.S. level 1 trauma center with a diagnosis of acute TBI between August 1, 2019, and April 1, 2022, were extracted from the electronic health record. Patients with extreme HLOS (XHLOS, >99th percentile of institutional TBI HLOS) were compared with those without XHLOS. Socioeconomic status (SES), clinical/injury factors, and discharge disposition were analyzed. RESULTS: In 1638 patients, the median HLOS was 3 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 2-8 days). XHLOS threshold was >70 days (N = 18; range: 72-146 days). XHLOS was associated with younger age (XHLOS/non-XHLOS: 50.4/59.6 years; P = 0.042) and greater proportions with severe TBI (55.6%/11.4%; P < 0.001), low SES (72.2%/31.4%; P < 0.001), and Medicaid insurance (77.8%/30.1%; P < 0.001). XHLOS patients were more likely to die in hospital (22.2%/8.1%) and discharge to post-acute facility (77.8%/16.3%; P < 0.001). No XHLOS patients were discharged to home. In XHLOS patients alive at discharge, medical stability was documented at median 39 days (IQR: 28-58 days) and were hospitalized for another 56 days (IQR: 26.5-78.5 days). CONCLUSIONS: XHLOS patients were more likely to have severe injuries, low SES, and Medicaid. XHLOS is associated with in-hospital mortality and need for post-acute placement. XHLOS patients often demonstrated medical stability long before placement, underscoring complex relationships between SES, health insurance, and outcome. These findings have important implications for quality improvement and resource utilization at acute care hospitals and await validation from larger trials.

Evacuation of a multi-loculated acute-on-chronic subdural hematoma using tandem bedside subdural evacuation port systems.

Background: Traumatic subdural hematomas (SDH) can have devastating neurologic consequences. Acute-on-chronic SDHs are more frequent in the elderly, who have increased comorbidities and perioperative risks. The subdural evacuation port system (SEPS) procedure consists of a twist drill hole connected to a single drain on suction, which can be performed at bedside to evacuate SDHs without requiring general anesthesia. However, a single SEPS can be limited due to inability to evacuate across septations between SDHs of different ages. Purpose: We present to our knowledge the first case of using tandem SEPS to evacuate a multi-loculated SDH. We discuss the technical nuances of the procedure as a treatment option for complex SDHs. Findings: An 86-year-old man with cognitive impairment and recurrent falls presented acutely after ground-level fall with worsening dysarthria and right hemiparesis. Computed tomography scan showed a 11 mm left holohemispheric mixed-density SDH with loculated acute and subacute/chronic components with 2 mm midline shift. Following two interval stability scans, the patient underwent drainage of a superficial chronic component, and a posterolateral acute/subacute component using two sequential SEPS drains at bedside in the intensive care unit. The patient's symptoms markedly improved, drains were removed, and the patient was discharged home with home health on post-procedure day 6. Conclusions: Judicious patient selection and pre-procedural planning can enable the use of tandem SEPS to evacuate multi-loculated SDHs under moderate sedation. Using multiple subdural ports to evacuate complex SDHs should be an option for proceduralists in settings where general anesthesia is not feasible.

Do social determinants of health impact access to neurosurgical care in the United States? A workforce perspective.

OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to use neurosurgical workforce distribution to uncover the social determinants of health that are associated with disparate access to neurosurgical care. METHODS: Data were compiled from public sources and aggregated at the county level. Socioeconomic data were provided by the Brookings Institute. Racial and ethnicity data were gathered from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research. Physician density was retrieved from the Health Resources and Services Administration Area Health Resources Files. Catchment areas were constructed based on the 628 counties with neurosurgical coverage, with counties lacking neurosurgical coverage being integrated with the nearest covered county based on distances from the National Bureau of Economic Research's County Distance Database. Catchment areas form a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive breakdown of the entire US population and licensed neurosurgeons. Socioeconomic factors, race, and ethnicity were chosen as independent variables for analysis. Characteristics for each catchment area were calculated as the population-weighted average across all contained counties. Linear regression analysis modeled two outcomes of interest: neurosurgeon density per capita and average distance to neurosurgical care. Coefficient estimates (CEs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and scaled by 1 SD to allow for comparison between variables. RESULTS: Catchment areas with higher poverty (CE = 0.64, 95% CI 0.34-0.93) and higher prime age employment (CE = 0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.76) were significantly associated with greater neurosurgeon density. Among categories of race and ethnicity, catchment areas with higher proportions of Black residents (CE = 0.21, 95% CI 0.06-0.35) were associated with greater neurosurgeon density. Meanwhile, catchment areas with higher proportions of Hispanic residents displayed lower neurosurgeon density (CE = -0.17, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.03). Residents of catchment areas with higher housing vacancy rates (CE = 2.37, 95% CI 1.31-3.43), higher proportions of Native American residents (CE = 4.97, 95% CI 3.99-5.95), and higher proportions of Hispanic residents (CE = 2.31, 95% CI 1.26-3.37) must travel farther, on average, to receive neurosurgical care, whereas people living in areas with a lower income (CE = -2.28, 95% CI -4.48 to -0.09) or higher proportion of Black residents (CE = -3.81, 95% CI -4.93 to -2.68) travel a shorter distance. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple factors demonstrate a significant correlation with neurosurgical workforce distribution in the US, most notably with Hispanic and Native American populations being associated with greater distances to care. Additionally, higher proportions of Hispanic residents correlated with fewer neurosurgeons per capita. These findings highlight the interwoven associations among socioeconomics, race, ethnicity, and access to neurosurgical care nationwide.

Paradoxical trends in the management of unruptured cerebral aneurysms in the United States: analysis of nationwide database over a 10-year period.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to characterize demographics, treatments, and outcomes in the management of unruptured cerebral aneurysms in the United States using a national healthcare database. METHODS: Clinical data were derived from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 1997 through 2006. Patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms were identified using the appropriate International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision code (437.3). Hospitalizations, length of stay, hospital charges, discharge pattern, age and gender distribution, and nature of intervention were analyzed. A Bureau of Labor statistics tool was used to adjust hospital and national charges for inflation. Population-adjusted rates were calculated using population estimates generated by the U.S. Census Bureau. RESULTS: Over 100 000 records were retrieved for analysis. During the time period studied, there was a 75% increase in the number of hospitalizations associated with unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Inflation adjusted hospital charges increased by 60%, whereas the total national bill increased by 200%. Overall, length of stay decreased by 37% and in-hospital mortality rates decreased by 54%. The increasing number of hospitalizations and total national charges related to inpatient treatment of unruptured aneurysms were significantly associated with endovascular treatment rather than surgical clipping. CONCLUSIONS: Despite recent studies suggesting a low risk of rupture of incidentally diagnosed cerebral aneurysms, data from this study suggest an increasing trend of treatment for this entity in the United States. Furthermore, endovascular intervention is now the major driving force behind the increasing overall national charges. Given the current healthcare climate, the impact of these trends warrants discussion and debate.

The impact of R&D and innovation on global supply chain transition: GTAP analysis on Japan's public R&D investment.

Policymaking for science, technology, and innovation (R&D) is stepping into a new era in the twenty-first century within a highly integrated production network, making it more challenging to capture the impact of R&D investment from an evidence-based approach. To unfold the paradox of the R&D spillover effect spared in the global supply chain, we use computable general equilibrium model with the GTAP database v10 to analyze the impact of Japan's public R&D investment to the world focus on key sectors of global supply chain, namely chemical and pharmaceutical, electronic equipment, machinery, and transportation equipment to examine its output, external trades, and welfare. The productivity parameters triggered by public R&D investment are calibrated from the SciREX Policymaking Intelligent Assistance System-Economic Simulator (SPIAS-e). The simulation results show significant increase in Japan's output and export for chemical and pharmaceutical, electronic equipment, and transportation equipment. The GDP growth was stimulated by 0.6% and substantial welfare improvement by USD 78,000 million, while other countries such as Malaysia and Taiwan by 0.4-0.6%. In contrast, the economic indicators of China reveal a negative impact, implying a structural change in the composition of the production network. It is notable to see a higher economic integration of Oceania within the region through its vibrant production and trades. The study provides comprehensive global analysis on production networks and insights for evaluating the R&D investment spillover effects.

Neurovascular trauma: Diagnosis and therapy.

Traumatic cerebrovascular injuries are common in both military and civilian populations. Whether such injuries occur in the aftermath of blunt or penetrating trauma has major implications for characteristics, classification, diagnosis, and optimal management of these lesions. Advances in screening methods, including particularly the dramatic rise of high-quality CT angiography, have facilitated early detection of these lesions. Fortunately, these diagnostic advances have occurred alongside improvements in pharmacological treatment and endovascular intervention, which now play an important role alongside surgical intervention in reducing the likelihood of adverse clinical outcomes. While the management of victims of trauma remains challenging, improved understanding of and ability to appropriately manage traumatic cerebrovascular lesions promises to yield better clinical outcomes for these vulnerable patients.

Assessing Factors Associated with TB Awareness in Nepal: A National and Subnational Study.

Tuberculosis (TB) has still remained a serious global health threat in low- and middle-income countries in recent years. As of 2021, Nepal is one of the high TB burden countries, with an increasing prevalence of cases. This study evaluates factors associated with TB awareness in Nepal. This study uses data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey carried out from June 2016 to January 2017. Multilevel logistic regression is performed to examine the association of demographic and socioeconomic factors with TB awareness. Our findings show a high level of TB awareness in all seven provinces of Nepal. Province 5 has the highest level of awareness (98.1%) among all provinces, followed by provinces 3 and 4, while province 6 has the lowest awareness level (93.2%) compared to others. Socioeconomic factors such as wealth, education and owning a mobile phone are significantly associated with TB awareness. Socioeconomic determinants are influential factors associated with TB awareness in Nepal. The wide variation in the proportion of awareness at a regional level emphasizes the importance of formulating tailored strategies to increase TB awareness. For instance, the use of mobile phones could be an effective strategy to promote TB awareness at a regional level. This study provides valuable evidence to support further research on the contribution of information and communication technology (ICT) usage to improving TB awareness in Nepal.

The Morbidity and Mortality of Surgery for Traumatic Brain Injury in Geriatric Patients: A Study of Over 100 000 Patient Cases.

BACKGROUND: Geriatric patients have the highest rates of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)-related hospitalization and death. This contributes to an assumption of futility in aggressive management in this population. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of surgical intervention on the morbidity and mortality of geriatric patients with TBI. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients ≥80 yr old with TBI from 2003 to 2016 was performed using the National Trauma Data Bank. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare outcomes between surgery and nonsurgery groups. RESULTS: A total of 127 129 patient incidents were included: 121 185 (95.3%) without surgery and 5944 (4.7%) with surgery. The surgical group was slightly younger (84.0 vs 84.3, P < .001) and predominantly male (60.2% vs 44.4%, P < .001). Mean emergency department (ED) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was lower in surgical patients (12.4 vs 13.7, P < .001). Complications (OR = 1.91, CI:1.80-2.02, P < .001) and hospital length of stay (LOS, ß = 5.25, CI:5.08-5.42, P < .001) were independently associated with surgery. Intensive care unit (ICU) LOS (ß = 3.19, CI:3.05-3.34, P < .001), ventilator days (ß = 1.57, CI:1.22-1.92, P < .001), and reduced discharge home (OR = 0.434, CI:0.400-0.470, P < .001) were also independently associated with surgery. However, surgery was not independently associated with mortality on multivariate analysis (OR = 1.03, CI:0.955-1.12, P = .423). Recursive partitioning analysis identified ED GCS and injury severity score (ISS) as prognosticators of mortality following surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of geriatric patients with TBI is associated with increased complications, hospital LOS, ICU LOS, and ventilator days as well as reduced discharge to home. However, surgery is not associated with increased mortality. ISS and ED GCS are prognosticators of mortality following surgical intervention.