Nerve transfer for upper extremity reanimation in people with spinal cord injury: A 2-year follow-up case series.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the 2-year functional outcomes of nerve transfer (NT) for upper extremity reanimation. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective case series. SETTING: A highly specialized rehabilitation hospital for spinal cord injury (SCI) in Italy. INTERVENTION: Upper limb nerve transfer (32 NTs, 15 upper limbs). PARTICIPANTS: Twelve male individuals with traumatic SCI (AIS A or B, neurological level from C4 to C7) were enrolled; 24-month follow-up data were available for 11. OUTCOME MEASURES: We evaluated the strength recovery of recipient muscles through the Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale for Muscle Strength. Upper limb function and independence were assessed with the Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP) test version 1 and the Spinal Cord Independent Measure III (SCIM III). Patient satisfaction was also evaluated. RESULTS: After 24 months, median MRC scores (range) were: triceps 2 (1-2); extensor digitorum communis 3 (1-4); extensor pollicis longus 2.5 (1-4); flexor digitorum profundus 2 (0-4); flexor pollicis longus 2 (0-4). No complication occurred. GRASSP prehension ability and prehension performance total scores significantly improved at 24 months from 1 (0-4) to 2 (0-7) and from 1 (0-8) to 5 (0--22), respectively. The SCIM III self-care sub-scale score improved at 24-month follow-up (p = 0.009).This study has important limitations, including a limited generalizability of the results and a small sample size that does not allow definitive conclusions to be drawn. A large multicenter prospective study is needed to confirm our findings. CONCLUSIONS: NT represents a functional surgery option with few complications for the resuscitation of upper limbs in persons with tetraplegia.

Preoperative elastoplasty of aggressive vertebral hemangiomas in elderly patients: a new strategy for reducing intraoperative bleeding and complications.

PURPOSE: Preoperative elastoplasty could be an alternative strategy for treating aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) in frail patients needing for spinal cord decompression, combining the advantages of embolization and vertebroplasty. METHODS: Three elderly patients with spinal cord compression from thoracic aggressive VHs underwent XperCT-guided percutaneous injection of silicone (VK100), filling the whole affected vertebra, followed by a decompressive laminectomy. At 12-months follow-up no recurrences, vertebral collapse or segmental kyphosis were noted at the CT scans, with patients reporting an improvement of preoperative neurological deficits, VAS and Smiley-Webster pain scale (SWPS) parameters. RESULTS: With its elastic modulus, non-exothermic hardening, and lower viscosity than PMMA, VK100 allowed a preoperative augmentation of the affected vertebral body, pedicles, and laminae without complications, with a controlled silicone delivery even in part of VH's epidural components thanks to XperCT-guidance. CONCLUSION: When facing highly bony erosive VH encroaching the spinal canal, VK100 combines the advantages of embolization and vertebroplasty especially in elderly patients, permeating the whole VH's angioarchitecture, significantly reducing tumor.

Transpars approach for L5-S1 foraminal and extra-foraminal lumbar disc herniations: technical note.

BACKGROUND: The short pars and the narrowed surgical corridor for far lateral L5S1 herniation make the transpars approach challenging. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of the transpars microscopic approach for the treatment of L5-S1 foraminal and extraforaminal lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: From 2015 to 2019, patients with L5-S1 far lateral lumbar disc herniation were prospectively recruited. Drug intake, working days lost, NRS-leg, NRS-back, nerve-root palsy, Oswestry disability-index, Macnab criteria were recorded before surgery and at follow-up. Patients were seen at 1-6-12 months after surgery. Lumbar dynamic X-rays were performed at 6-12 months after surgery and again at 2-4 years after surgery. Key-steps of surgery are described. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were enrolled. NRS-leg and NRS-back scores significantly improved (from 7.93 to 1.43 and from 3.2 to 0.6, respectively; P<0.0001). Oswestry Score significantly decreased (from 63.14 to 19.36 at 12 months; P<0.0001). L5 Root palsy improved in all cases (from 3.72/5 to 5/5; P<0.0001). At 12-months, excellent or good outcome (Macnab criteria) was achieved in 12 (85.7%) and 2 (14.3%) patients, respectively. All patients who were not retired returned to work within 30 days after surgery. No recurrence, instability or re-operations occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The trans pars microscopic approach is feasible, safe, and effective for L5-S1 foraminal and extraforaminal disc herniation. During surgery, the key-point is the oblique working angle, directed caudally, parallel to L5 pedicle. The iliac crest does not seem to constitute an obstacle.

Etiological and epidemiological characteristics of surgically treated radial nerve lesions: A 20-year single-center experience.

Introduction: Radial nerve lesions present a clinical entity that may lead to disability, psychological distress, and job loss, and thus requires great attention. Knowledge of the etiology and exact mechanism of the nerve impairment is of great importance for appropriate management of these patients, and there are only a few papers that focused on these features in patients with surgically treated radial nerve lesions. The lack of studies presenting the etiology and injury mechanisms of surgically treated radial nerve lesions may be due to a relatively small number of specialized referral centers, dispersion to low-flow centers, and a greater focus on the surgical treatment outcomes. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the etiological and epidemiological characteristics of patients with surgically treated radial nerve lesions of various origins. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 147 consecutive patients with radial nerve lesion, treated in the department during the last 20 years, from January 1, 2001, until December 31, 2020. Results: The majority of patients belonged to the working population, and 70.1% of them were male. Most commonly, the etiology of nerve lesion was trauma (63.3%) or iatrogenic injury (28.6%), while the less common origin was idiopathic (4.1%) or neoplastic (4.1%). The most frequent location of the lesion was in the upper arm, followed by the elbow and forearm. Fracture-related contusion was the most common mechanism (29.9%), followed by postoperative fibrosis (17.7%), lacerations (17.7%), and compression (15.6%). Conclusion: Based on the fact that traumatic or iatrogenic injuries constitute the majority of cases, with their relevant mechanisms and upper arm predomination, it is crucial to raise awareness and understanding of the radial nerve injuries among orthopedic surgeons to decrease the numbers of these patients and properly preserve or treat them within the initial surgery.

Functional outcome after transfer of brachialis on anterior interosseous and supinator on posterior interosseous nerves: A preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting in tetraplegia is a leading cause of morbidity among young adults worldwide and its management remains challenging. Restoring hand function in these patients must be considered a top priority with great impact on their quality of life (QOL); although nerve and tendon transfer have been extensively described, type of procedure to be chosen is not standardized and few studies have determined the functional outcome of those procedure and their impact on QOL is still poorly assessed. We report a preliminary retrospective study regarding feasibility and functional outcomes of nerve transfer procedures including bilateral brachialis nerve on anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) and supinator branch on posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) for hand reanimation following SCI focusing on the impact of these procedures on QOL. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study involving patient sustained SCI and underwent nerve transfer of brachialis branch from musculocutaneous nerve on AIN and supinator branch from the trunk of the radial nerve on the PIN. We included 11 patients (14 limbs) with traumatic SCI resulting in C4 level tetraplegia in five patients, C5 in four and C6 and C7 in one case each, with a median age of 31.5 years underwent surgery at a median of 10 months after injury; including both transfers in 10 cases and AIN reanimation only in one. Functional assessment including medical research council (MCR) grade, graded redefined assessment of strength sensation and prehension (GRASSP) and spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) were performed at least 12 months follow up. RESULTS: Thirteen PIN innervated muscles achieved an MRC score ≥3/5 whereas AIN supplied muscles in 5 out of 15. GRASSP qualitative measure improved from a baseline value of 1 to 2, while quantitative measure passed from 1 to 3 after 12 months; the difference was statistically significant (p = .005 and p = .008, respectively). SCIM self-care sub-score also statistically significant improved from 3 to 4 at 12 months (p = .016). No complication or donor morbidity occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Functional performance has been significantly improved by nerve transfer procedures 1 year after surgery. Nerve transfers may represent a valuable option for the restoration of the hand function in patients with tetraplegia with minor or no morbidity.

Functional outcome of patients with unstable single-level/two-level lumbar stenosis treated with decompression plus divergent screws (cortical bone trajectory) or percutaneous convergent pedicle screws.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective comparative study was to assess the functional outcome in two groups of patients suffering from spinal lumbar instability and treated by decompression and stabilization with posterior lumbar interbody fusion using percutaneous pedicle screws (PCT) or a novel technique of divergent pedicle screws insertion using a cortical bone divergent trajectory (CBT). Functional outcome after surgery has been evaluated using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), Smiley-Webster Scale, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients were treated at our department from February 2013 to February 2018 for one-two levels unstable stenosis with one-year follow-up. Forty-one patients were treated with percutaneous screws and thirty-one patients were treated with divergent cortical bone trajectory screws. Functional outcome and complications were analyzed with logistic regression analysis. No funding was received for this research. RESULTS: Pain significantly improved in both groups. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI≥3) was the only variable associated with increased risk of complications (OR=5.73, P=0.04). Patients with BMI≥27.4 (median value) and patients with percutaneous screws had an increased risk of a worse Smiley-Webster Score (OR=3.675; P=0.029 and OR=3.747; P=0.05, respectively). Patients with BMI≥27.4, patients with percutaneous screws and patients with more comorbidities (CCI≥3) showed a higher risk of presenting severe/crippling Oswestry Disability Index Score (OR=6; P=0.027, OR=10.747; P=0.04 and OR=6.310; P=0.043, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cortical bone trajectory screws technique could represent a valid alternative to the traditional percutaneous pedicle screws technique in posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Surgical Treatment of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) Involving the Cervical Spine: Technical Nuances and Outcome of a Multicenter Experience.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter. OBJECTIVES: diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) involving the cervical spine is a rare condition determining disabling aero-digestive symptoms. We analyzed impact of preoperative settings and intraoperative techniques on outcome of patients undergoing surgery for DISH. METHODS: Patients with DISH needing for anterior cervical osteophytectomy were collected. Swallow studies and endoscopy supported imaging in targeting bone decompression. Patients characteristics, clinico-radiological presentation, outcome and surgical strategies were recorded. Impact on clinical outcome of duration and time to surgery and different surgical techniques was evaluated through ANOVA. RESULTS: 24 patients underwent surgery. No correlation was noted between specific spinal levels affected by DISH and severity of pre-operative dysphagia. A trend toward a full clinical improvement was noted preferring the chisel (P = 0.12) to the burr (P = 0.65), and whenever C2-C3 was decompressed, whether hyperostosis included that level (P = 0.15). Use of curved chisel reduced the surgical times (P = 0.02) and, together with the nasogastric tube, the risk of complications, while bone removal involving 3 levels or more (P = 0.04) and shorter waiting times for surgery (P < 0.001) positively influenced a complete swallowing recovery. Early decompressions were preferred, resulting in 66.6% of patients reporting disappearance of symptoms within 7 days. One and two recurrences respectively at clinical and radiological follow-up were registered 18-30 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: The "age of DISH" counts more than patients' age with timeliness of decompression being crucial in determining clinical outcome even with a preoperative mild dysphagia. Targeted bone resections could be reasonable in elderly patients, while in younger ones more extended decompressions should be preferred.

A New Insight in Nonaneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Potential Role of the Internal Jugular Veins.

BACKGROUND: Causes of the nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (na-SAH) are still debated. Many studies confirmed the possible involvement of the intracranial venous system, in particular variants of the basal vein of Rosenthal. STUDY OBJECT: The aim of this study is to investigate the role of extracranial venous system, in particular the jugular drainage, in the na-SAH pathophysiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective study including patients suffering from na-SAH who were radiologically screened to exclude vascular malformations. The course of the internal jugular veins was evaluated to reveal any stenosis (caliber reduction >80%). Particular attention was paid at the passage between the styloid process and the arch of C1 to detect possible compression. As a control group, we enrolled patients who underwent CT angiograms and/or cerebral DSAs in the past 2 years. RESULTS: We included 194 patients. The na-SAH group consisted of 94 patients, whereas the control group consisted of 100 patients. Fifty patients of the control group underwent a CT angiography for an ischemic cerebrovascular disease or trauma and 50 patients for an SAH due to a ruptured aneurysm. A significant jugular stenosis was found in 49 (52.1%) patients in the na-SAH group and in 18 (18%) patients in the control group. At univariate and multivariate analysis, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study investigating the correlation between jugular stenosis and the occurrence of na-SAH. The impaired venous outflow due to reduced venous caliber could result in an engorgement of the upstream intracranial veins with transient hypertensive phases facilitating ruptures. Further larger prospective studies are necessary to confirm these data.

Long term results of Dorsal Root Entry Zone (DREZ) lesions for the treatment of intractable pain: A systematic review of the literature on 1242 cases.

BACKGROUND: Different Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesion techniques have been reported as effective treatment for intractable painful conditions, though with contradictory results. Overall, good results were reported especially in specific conditions, such as pain due to brachial plexus avulsion, spinal cord injuries and oncological pain management. However, data on long term results in different clinical conditions are still missing. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to systematically review the pertinent literature to evaluate indications, clinical outcomes, and complications of DREZ lesion (DREZotomy), in chronic pain management. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. Papers on DREZotomy for chronic pain in cancer, brachial plexus avulsion, spinal cord injury, post herpetic neuralgia, and phantom limb pain were considered for eligibility. For each category we further identified two sub-group according to the length of follow up: medium term and long term follow up (more than 3 years) respectively. RESULTS: 46 papers, and 1242 patients, were included in the present investigation. When considering long term results DREZotomy provided favorable clinical outcomes in brachial plexus avulsion and spinal cord injury, in 60.8% and 55.8% of the cases respectively. Conversely, the success rate was 35.3% in phantom limb pain and 28.2% in post herpetic neuralgia. A poor clinical outcome was reported in over than 25% of the patients suffering from phantom limb pain, post herpetic neuralgia and spinal cord injury. The mean complications rate was 23.58%. While BPA and SCI patients presented stable improvement over time, good outcomes among PHN and PLP groups dropped by - 46.2%; and - 14.7% at long term follow up respectively. CONCLUSION: DREZotomy seems to be an effective treatment for chronic pain conditions, especially for brachial plexus avulsion, spinal cord injury and intractable cancer/post-radiation pain. According to the low level of evidence of the pertinent literature, further studies are strongly recommended, to better define potential benefits and limitations of this technique.

Anterior Dural Tear in Thoracic and Lumbar Spinal Fractures: Single-Center Experience with Coating Technique and Literature Review of the Available Strategies.

Differently from the posterior, the anterior dural tears associated with spinal fractures are rarely reported and debated. We document our experience with a coating technique for repairing ventral dural lacerations, providing an associated literature review on the available strategies to seal off such dural defects. A PubMed search on watertight repair techniques of anterior dural lacerations focused on their association with spinal fractures was performed. Studies on animal or cadaveric models, on cervical spine, or based on seal/gelfoam or "not suturing" strategies were excluded. 10 studies were finally selected and our experience of three patients with thoracic/lumbar spinal fractures with associated ventral dural tear was integrated into the analysis of the surgical techniques. Among the described repair techniques for ventral dural lacerations a preference for primary suturing, mostly trans-dural, was noted (n = 6/10 papers). Other documented strategies were the plugging of the dural opening with a fat graft sutured to its margins, or stitched to the dura adjacent to the defect, and the closure of the dural tear with two patches, both trans-dural and epidural. Our coating techniques of the whole dural sac with the heterologous patch were revealed as safe and effective alternatives strategies, even when patch flaps wrapping nerve roots have to be cut and a fat graft has to be stitched in the patch respectively for sealing off antero-lateral and wide anterior dural tears. Compared to all the documented strategies for obtaining a watertight closure of an anterior dural laceration, the coating techniques revealed advantages of preserving neural structures, being adaptable to anterior and antero-lateral dural tears of any size.

Surgical treatment of metastatic pheochromocytomas of the spine: a systematic review.

Metastatic pheochromocytoma of the spine (MPS) represents an extremely rare and challenging entity. While retrospective studies and case series make the body of the current literature and case reports, no systematic reviews have been conducted so far. This systematic review aims to perform a systematic review of the literature on this topic to clarify the status of the art regarding the surgical management of MPS. A systematic review according to PRISMA criteria has been performed, including all studies written in English and involving human participants. 15 papers for a total of 44 patients were finally included in the analysis. The median follow-up was 26.6 months. The most common localization was the thoracic spine (54%). In 30 out of 44 patients (68%), preoperative medications were administered. Open surgery was performed as the first step in 37 cases (84%). Neoadjuvant treatments, including preoperative embolization were reported in 18 (41%) cases, while adjuvant treatments were administered in 23 (52%) patients. Among those patients who underwent primary aggressive tumor removal and instrumentation, 16 out of 25 patients (64%) showed stable disease with no progression at the final follow-up. However, the outcome was not reported in 14 patients. Gross total resection of the tumor and spinal reconstruction appear to offer good long-term outcomes in selected patients. Preoperative alpha-blockers and embolization appear to be useful to enhance hemodynamic stability, avoiding potential detrimental complications.

Factors affecting functional outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Although anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) represents a standardized procedure for surgical treatment of a cervical herniated disc, several variables could affect patients' clinical and radiological outcome. We evaluated the impact of sex, age, body mass index (BMI), myelopathy, one- or two-level ACDF, and the use of postoperative collars on functional and radiological outcomes in a large series of patients operated for ACDF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Databases of three institutions were searched, resulting in the enrollment of 234 patients submitted to one- or two-level ACDF from January 2013 to December 2017 and followed as outpatients at 6- and 12-month follow-up. The impact of variables on functional and radiological outcomes was evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: At univariate analysis, female sex, higher BMI, two-level ACDF, and postoperative collar correlated with a significantly worse early and late Neck Disability Index (NDI). Multivariate analysis showed that male patients had a lower risk of worse early (P = 0.01) and late NDIs (P = 0.009). Patients with myelopathy showed better early NDI (P = 0.004). Cervical collar negatively influenced both early and late NDIs (P < 0.0001), with a higher risk of early nonfusion (P = 0.001) but a lower risk of late nonfusion (P = 0.01). Patients operated for two-level ACDF have a worse early NDI (P = 0.005), a worse late NDI (P = 0.01), and a higher risk of early nonfusion (P = 0.048). BMI and age did not influence outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Female sex, two-level surgery, and the use of postoperative collars significantly correlate with worse functional outcomes after one- or two-level ACDF.

Ct guided reference markers for spinal dorsal lesions: A safe and valuable tool impacting intraoperative localization time.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative localization of the correct spine level can be challenging when dealing with the thoracic spine; especially in morbidly obese patients and in mid-thoracic spine lesions. Different radiological reference markers techniques for dorsal surgery have been reported without a clear DAP (effective dose), localization and surgical time analysis. PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to analyze the radiological reference markers technique in terms of localization time and radiation dose during surgery for dorsal lesions. METHODS: We used a radiopaque marker (fiducial) directly positioned before surgery over the lamina or the spinous process using CT scan for precise localization and vertebra count. We prospectively collected data about patients who underwent preoperative thoracic localization between April 2015 and September 2018 at Neurosurgery Department of Ferrara University Hospital. Clinical data as pathology, related surgical technique, radiological exams, localization time and radiation exposure were analyzed. RESULTS: 19 patients who underwent preoperative radiopaque marker (fiducial) positioning and 11 patients who underwent fluoroscopy technique were enrolled. No complications related to fiducial placement and no wrong-level occurred. The localization time with the fiducial was reduced dramatically (3 min vs 15 min of the standard technique). The average DAP (effective dose) for the fiducial group was 20 Gy-cm2 compared with 16 Gy-cm2 of the traditional group. CONCLUSION: The use of preoperative fiducial for intraoperative localization of the target level in the thoracic spine dramatically reduce the location time without a significantly higher DAP (effective dose).

To drill or not to drill, that is the question: nonsurgical treatment of chronic subdural hematoma in the elderly. A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common neurosurgical pathologies, typically affecting the elderly. Its incidence is expected to grow along with the aging population. Surgical drainage represents the treatment of choice; however, postoperative complications and the rate of recurrence are not negligible. For this reason, nonsurgical alternatives (such as middle meningeal artery embolization, steroids, or tranexamic acid administration) are gaining popularity worldwide and need to be carefully evaluated, especially in the elderly population. METHODS: The authors performed a systematic review according to PRISMA criteria of the studies analyzing the nonsurgical strategies for CSDHs. They collected all papers in the English language published between 1990 and 2019 by searching different medical databases. The chosen keywords were "chronic subdural hematoma," "conservative treatment/management," "pharmacological treatment," "non-surgical," "tranexamic acid," "dexamethasone," "corticosteroid," "glucocorticoid," "middle meningeal artery," "endovascular treatment," and "embolization." RESULTS: The authors ultimately collected 15 articles regarding the pharmacological management of CSDHs matching the criteria, and 14 papers included the endovascular treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that surgery still represents the mainstay in cases of symptomatic patients with large CSDHs; however, adjuvant and alternative therapies can be effective and safe in a carefully selected population. Their inclusion in new guidelines is advisable.

Simplified four-step retropharyngeal approach for the upper cervical spine: technical note.

PURPOSE: In this paper, we propose a simplified four-step retropharyngeal approach, whose aim is getting straight to the upper cervical spine minimizing complications. METHODS: While the classical retropharyngeal approach includes about 11 steps, ours is a four-step approach: patient positioning, skin-platysma incision, hyoid bone superolateral dissection and retropharyngeal blunt exposure. We avoid several steps of the classical anterior retropharyngeal approach, particularly dissection of submandibular gland, facial veins, external carotid artery and thyroid artery, bellies of the digastric muscle, hypoglossal nerve, thyrohyoid membrane and the internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve. RESULTS: We have adopted this technique for five patients: two patients had a C2-C3 herniated disk with myelopathy, two patients had unstable Hangman fracture with no bone fusion after 2-month treatment with rigid collar, and one patient had a C2-C3 osteophyte with dysphagia. The intraoperative time needed for reaching the retropharyngeal space was 15 (first case), 9 (second case), 7 min (third case-illustrative case-and fourth case), 8 min (fifth case). No complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Our simplification, avoiding several steps, is simple, effective, safe, and rapid and requires a simple learning curve.

The controversial role of Bevacizumab in the treatment of patients with intracranial meningioma: a comprehensive literature review.

Introduction: Meningiomas represent the most common primary intracranial tumors. Today, surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy when indicated, is still the treatment of choice. In recent years, distinct oncogenic pathways have been identified, laying the foundations of new personalized targeted therapies.Areas covered: The aim of this study was to highlight the effects, complications, possible associations with other therapeutic approaches and multi-parametric outcome evaluation of Bevacizumab for the treatment of meningiomas. A literature review according to PRISMA criteria regarding the role of Bevacizumab for the treatment of various WHO grades of meningiomas was performed. 15 relevant papers, including 6 retrospective clinical trial series, 3 prospective trials, and 6 single patient case reports for a total of 134 patients and 211 meningiomas were include.Expert opinion: Because of the lack of strong clinical evidence about improved survival and related toxicity, the use of Bevacizumab for the treatment of meningiomas should be carefully evaluated. Further exploration, ideally with randomized controlled trials, is needed to better define the role of this drug in the treatment of meningiomas.

Effect of external cervical orthoses on clinical and radiological outcome of patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

BACKGROUND: The current use of external cervical orthoses (ECO) after cervical discectomy is still based on a common practice than a solid scientific literature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of ECO on radiological and functional outcomes in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). METHODS: We compared two cohorts of consecutive patients who underwent ACDF with and without ECO after surgery. Thirty-six patients operated from January 2015 to June 2016 received an ECO whereas 36 patients, operated from July 2016 to December 2017, did not. Each patient underwent radiological and functional evaluation using plain x-ray at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery and Neck Disability Index (NDI) at 2 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, respectively. RESULTS: In the ECO group, 5 patients (13.9%) presented an incomplete fusion and 31 patients (86.1%) presented a complete fusion (CI 0.705-0.953). In the non-ECO group, 8 patients (22.2%) presented an incomplete fusion and 28 patients (77.8% [CI 0.608-0.899]) had a complete fusion, with no statistically significant differences between two groups. No statistically significant differences were also observed regarding the NDI neither at 2 weeks nor at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. At multivariate analysis, patients who underwent two-level ACDF showed a five-fold increased risk of worse NDI at 3-, 6-, 12-month (p = 0.003, CI 1.770-14.584) follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We advise against the routine use of ECO after single- or two-level ACDF as we did not find out any significant statistical differences between the two groups.

Intraoperative Doppler ultrasound as a means of preventing vertebral artery injury during Goel and Harms C1-C2 posterior arthrodesis: technical note.

Vertebral artery injury (VAI) is a potential catastrophic complication of Goel and Harms C1-C2 posterior arthrodesis. Meticulous study of preoperative spinal CT angiography together with neuronavigation plays a fundamental role in avoiding VAI. Doppler ultrasonography may be an additional intraoperative tool, providing real-time identification of the vertebral artery (VA) and thus helping its preservation.Thirty-three consecutive patients with unstable odontoid fractures underwent Goel and Harms C1-C2 posterior arthrodesis. Surgery was performed with the aid of lateral fluoroscopic control in 16 cases (control group) that was supplemented by Doppler ultrasonography in 17 cases (Doppler group). Two patients in each group had a C1 ponticulus posticus. In the Doppler group, Doppler probing was performed during lateral subperiosteal muscle dissection, stepwise drilling, and tapping. Blood flow velocity in the V3 segment of the VA was recorded before and after posterior arthrodesis. All patients had a 12-month outpatient follow-up, and outcome was assessed using the Smiley-Webster Pain Scale. Neither VAI nor postoperative neurological impairments were observed in the Doppler group. In the control group, VAIs occurred in the 2 patients with C1 ponticulus posticus. In the Doppler group, 1 patient needed intra- and postoperative blood transfusions, and no difference in terms of Doppler signal or VA blood flow velocity was detected before and after C1-C2 posterior arthrodesis. In the control group, 3 patients needed intra- and postoperative blood transfusions.Useful in supporting fluoroscopy-assisted procedures, intraoperative Doppler may play a significant role even during surgeries in which neuronavigation is used, reducing the chance of a mismatch between the view on the neuronavigation screen and the actual course of the VA in the operative field and supplying the additional data of blood flow velocity.

Timing of Low-Dose Aspirin Discontinuation and the Influence on Clinical Outcome of Patients Undergoing Surgery for Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

BACKGROUND: An appropriate time (5-7 days) of discontinuation of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in patients undergoing surgery for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is recommended. However, patient clinical deterioration often does not allow to wait the recommended time for surgery. Clear guidelines regarding the perioperative management of patients with ASA therapy are still lacking. The aim of this study is to compare the surgical outcome, complications, and mortality of patients suffering from CSDHs who underwent urgent surgery or before and after 5 days of discontinuation of low-dose ASA. METHODS: A retrospective 3-center study included patients treated for CSDH taking low-dose ASA. Aspirin was discontinued on hospital admission. Based on the timing of discontinuation, we classified patients in 3 groups: urgent (surgery at admission), surgery within 5 days, and surgery 5 days after discontinuation. Surgery consisted of minicraniotomy or burr holes. Variables analyzed were age, comorbidities, modified Rankin Scale, complications, rebleedings, and mortality. Outcome measures were acute rebleeding requiring surgery, recurrence, mortality, complications, and clinical conditions. The χ2 test and the Fisher exact test were used to compare variables. Logistic regression analysis was used for defining the impact on outcome measures. RESULTS: We enrolled 164 patients. After aspirin discontinuation, patients underwent surgery: on admission (69 cases [42.1%]), within 5 days (59 patients [36%]), and after 5 days (36 cases [22%]). No correlation was observed between time of discontinuation and outcome measures, including having a worse clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the time of discontinuation of ASA does not influence outcome.