Association of Do-Not-Resuscitate orders and in-hospital mortality among patients undergoing cranial neurosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies identified pre-existing DNR orders as a predictor of mortality after surgery. We sought to evaluate mortality of patients receiving cranial neurosurgery with DNR orders placed at the time of, or within 24 h of admission. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the California State Inpatient Database, January 2018 to December 2020. We used International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes to identify emergent hospitalizations with principal diagnosis of brain injury, including traumatic brain injury [TBI], ischemic stroke [IS], intracerebral hemorrhage [ICH], subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH], or malignant brain tumor [mBT]. We used procedure and Diagnosis Related Group codes to identify cranial neurosurgery. Patients with DNR were one-to-one matched to non-DNR controls based on diagnosis (exact matching), age, sex, Elixhauser comorbidity index, and organ failure (coarsened matching). The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. RESULTS: In California, 30,384 patients underwent cranial neurosurgery, 2018-2020 (n = 3,112, 10% DNR). DNR patients were older, more often female, more often White, with greater comorbidity and organ system dysfunction. There were 2,505 patients with DNR orders 1:1 matched to controls. Patients with DNR had greater inpatient mortality (56% vs. 23%, p < 0.001; Hazard Ratio 3.11, 95% CI 2.50-3.86), received tracheostomy (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.37, 95% CI 0.24-0.57) and gastrostomy less (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.58) compared to controls. Multivariable analysis of the unmatched cohort demonstrated similar results. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing cranial neurosurgery with early or pre-existing DNR have high inpatient mortality compared to clinically similar non-DNR patients; 1 in 2 died during their hospitalization.

Common comorbid and secondary conditions leading to hospitalization in multiple sclerosis patients in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the burden of hospitalization and common primary admitting diagnoses among MS patients in the United States (US). BACKGROUND: The burden of hospitalizations and conditions leading to hospitalizations in MS patients in the US has not been well described. DESIGN/METHODS: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2001-2010, all patients with principal or secondary diagnosis of MS were identified, and the principal admitting diagnoses were compared with that of non-MS patients. Trends in hospitalizations were studied in specific age groups (1-9 yrs, 10-19 yrs, 20-29 yrs, 30-39 yrs, 40-49 yrs, 50-59 yrs, 60-69 yrs,70-79 yrs, 80-84 yrs and ≥85 yrs), and population level rates were obtained and compared with non-MS patients to obtain rate ratios (RR) and odds ratios (OR). RESULTS: A total of 1,240,410 MS patients were identified representing 4 out of every 1000 US hospital admissions, with an estimated female/male ratio of 2.72/1. The median age for MS hospitalizations was 53 years (Interquartile range=18). The majority of all MS hospitalizations occurred in the 30-69-year age bracket (82.17 %). The average length of in-patient hospital stays for MS patients compared to the non-MS population was 5.8 vs. 4.5 days (p < 0.001), and more MS patients had Medicare insurance (50.36 % vs. 42.24 %, p < 0.001). Overall, conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTI) - (RR11.43, p < 0.001), septicemia (RR8.53, p < 0.001), pneumonia (RR2.84, p < 0.001), chronic skin ulcers (RR20.64, p < 0.001), and lower limb and femoral neck fractures (RR2.86, p < 0.001) were present with increased frequency among MS patients. Patterns of comorbidity varied markedly by age group. The estimated average annual in-hospital charges adjusted to 2010 dollars for all MS inpatient hospitalizations was 3 billion U.S. dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MS are admitted into hospital at a younger age, are hospitalized longer and consume more Medicare resources than the similar patients without MS in the general population. Infections account for a large proportion of MS-associated hospitalizations, from young adulthood onward. These findings are particularly significant in light of the increasing availability of disease modifying therapies with more potent immunosuppressive properties, as well as the accumulating data that systemic infection can drive MS relapses.

Cranioplasty Outcomes From 500 Consecutive Neuroplastic Surgery Patients.

BACKGROUND: Cranioplasty is critical to cerebral protection and restoring intracranial physiology, yet this procedure is fraught with a high risk of complications. The field of neuroplastic surgery was created to improve skull and scalp reconstruction outcomes in adult neurosurgical patients, with the hypothesis that a multidisciplinary team approach could help decrease complications. OBJECTIVE: To determine outcomes from a cohort of cranioplasty surgeries performed by a neuroplastic surgery team using a consistent surgical technique and approach. METHODS: The authors reviewed 500 consecutive adult neuroplastic surgery cranioplasties that were performed between January 2012 and September 2020. Data were abstracted from a prospectively maintained database. Univariate analysis was performed to determine association between demographic, medical, and surgical factors and odds of revision surgery. RESULTS: Patients were followed for an average of 24 months. Overall, there was a reoperation rate of 15.2% (n = 76), with the most frequent complications being infection (7.8%, n = 39), epidural hematoma (2.2%, n = 11), and wound dehiscence (1.8%, n = 9). New onset seizures occurred in 6 (1.2%) patients.Several variables were associated with increased odds of revision surgery, including lower body mass ratio, 2 or more cranial surgeries, presence of hydrocephalus shunts, scalp tissue defects, large-sized skull defect, and autologous bone flaps. importantly, implants with embedded neurotechnology were not associated with increased odds of reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: These results allow for comparison of multiple factors that impact risk of complications after cranioplasty and lay the foundation for development of a cranioplasty risk stratification scheme. Further research in neuroplastic surgery is warranted to examine how designated centers concentrating on adult neuro-cranial reconstruction and multidisciplinary collaboration may lead to improved cranioplasty outcomes and decreased risks of complications in neurosurgical patients.

Cranioplasty With Customized Craniofacial Implants and Intraoperative Resizing for Single-Stage Reconstruction Following Oncologic Resection of Skull Neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Craniectomies requiring skull reconstruction are indicated following oncological resection of masses involving the underlying brain and/or skull. Immediate cranioplasties have previously been performed using suboptimal hand-bending or molding techniques using "off - the - shelf" products. Today with computer - aided design, customized craniofacial implants have become widely available for personalized reconstruction of resected bone and soft tissue. We present here the largest series to date of single stage reconstruction using alloplastic biomaterials in consecutive patient series with oversized customized implants. METHODS: A single-surgeon, retrospective, 8-year study was conducted on all consecutive patients undergoing single stage cranioplasty with prefabricated implants using a myriad of biomaterials. All outcomes were analyzed in detail and compared with previous studies utilizing similar alloplastic implants. RESULTS: In total, 56 patients underwent resection of skull neoplasms and subsequent cranioplasty reconstruction using customized implants. The most common neoplasms were meningiomas (39%). The most common complications seen among patients were dehiscence - (7%), and extrusion of implant - (3.5%). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between patients who had postoperative chemotherapy/radiotherapy versus those that did not (22.2% versus 13.1%, P = 0.39). One-year follow-up revealed acceptable cranial contour and symmetry in all 56 cases. CONCLUSIONS: This is a consecutive case series of prefabricated single-stage cranioplasty, following resection of brain tumors with bone extension or skull bone neoplasm, demonstrating excellent results with regards to safety and patient satisfaction. There are several advantages such as comprehensive resection and reconstruction plan using 3D models, shorter operative time, and better restoration of complex anatomy.

Geographic Variation in Costs of Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Geographic variations in health care costs have been reported for many surgical specialties. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we sought to describe national and regional costs associated with transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TPS). METHODS: Data from the Truven-MarketScan 2010-2014 were analyzed. We examined overall total, hospital/facility, physician, and out-of-pocket payments in patients undergoing TPS including technique-specific costs. Mean payments were obtained after risk adjustment for patient-level and system-level confounders and estimated differences across regions. RESULTS: The estimated overall annual burden was $43 million/year in our cohort. The average overall total payment associated with TPS was $35,602.30, hospital/facility payment was $26,980.45, physician payment was $4685.95, and out-of-pocket payment was $2330.78. Overall total and hospital/facility costs were highest in the West and lowest in the South (both P < 0.001), whereas physician reimbursements were highest in the North-east and lowest in the South (P < 0.001). There were no differences in out-of-pocket expenses across regions. On a national level, there were significantly higher overall total and hospital/facility payments associated with endoscopic compared with microscopic procedures (both P < 0.001); there were no significant differences in physician payments or out-of-pocket expenses between techniques. There were also significant within-region cost differences in overall total, hospital/facility, and physician payments in both techniques as well as in out-of-pocket expenses associated with microsurgery. There were no significant regional differences in out-of-pocket expenses associated with endoscopic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show significant geographic cost disparities associated with TPS. Understanding factors behind disparate costs is important for developing cost containment strategies.

Risk of Complications in Primary Versus Revision-Type Cranioplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Cranioplasty (CP) is a multifaceted procedure in a heterogenous patient population, with a high risk for complication. However, no previous large-scale studies have compared outcomes in primary (ie, first attempt) CP versus revision CP (ie, following previous attempts). The authors, therefore, analyzed long-term outcomes of 506 consecutive primary and revision CPs, performed by a single surgeon. METHODS: All CPs performed between 2012 and 2019 were analyzed under IRB protocol approval. Surgeries were categorized as either primary (no previous CP; n = 279) or revision CP (at least one previous CP; n = 227). Complications were defined as either major or minor. Subgroup analyses investigated whether or not CP complication risk directly correlated with the number of previous neuro-cranial surgeries and/or CP attempts. RESULTS: The primary CP group experienced a major complication rate of 9% (26/279). In comparison, the revision CP group demonstrated a major complication rate of 32% (73/227). For the revision CP group, the rate of major complications rose with each additional surgery, from 4% (1 prior surgery) to 17% (2 prior surgeries) to 39% (3-4 prior surgeries) to 47% (≥5 prior surgeries). CONCLUSION: In a review of 506 consecutive cases, patients undergoing revision CP had a 3-fold increase in incidence of major complications, as compared to those undergoing primary CP. These results provide critical insight into overall CP risk stratification and may guide preoperative risk-benefit discussions. Furthermore, these findings may support a center-of-excellence care model, particularly for those patients with a history of previous neuro-cranial surgeries and/or CP attempts.

Impact of frailty on short-term outcomes in patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Frailty, a state of decreased physiological reserve, has been shown to significantly impact outcomes of surgery. The authors sought to examine the impact of frailty on the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. METHODS: Weighted data from the 2000-2014 National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample were studied. Patients diagnosed with pituitary tumors or disorders who had undergone transsphenoidal pituitary surgery were identified. Frailty was determined using the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG) frailty-defining diagnoses indicator. Standard descriptive techniques and matched propensity score analyses were used to explore the odds ratios of postoperative complications, discharge dispositions, and costs. RESULTS: A total of 115,317 cases were included in the analysis. Frailty was present in 1.48% of cases. The mean age of frail versus non-frail patients was 57.14 ± 16.96 years (mean ± standard deviation) versus 51.91 ± 15.88 years, respectively (p < 0.001). A greater proportion of frail compared to non-frail patients had an age ≥ 65 years (37.08% vs 24.08%, respectively, p < 0.001). Frail patients were more likely to be black or Hispanic (p < 0.001), possess Medicare or Medicaid insurance (p < 0.001), belong to lower-median-income groups (p < 0.001), and have greater comorbidity (p < 0.001). Results of propensity score-matched multivariate analysis revealed that frail patients were more likely to develop fluid and electrolyte disorders (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.07-2.43, p = 0.02), intracranial vascular complications (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.01-7.49, p = 0.04), mental status changes (OR 3.60, 95% CI 1.65-7.82, p < 0.001), and medical complications including pulmonary insufficiency (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.13-4.05, p = 0.02) and acute kidney failure (OR 4.70, 95% CI 1.88-11.74, p = 0.01). The mortality rate was higher among frail patients (1.46% vs 0.37%, p < 0.001). Frail patients also demonstrated a greater likelihood for nonroutine discharges (p < 0.001), higher mean total charges ($109,614.33 [95% CI $92,756.09-$126,472.50] vs $56,370.35 [95% CI $55,595.72-$57,144.98], p < 0.001), and longer hospitalizations (9.27 days [95% CI 7.79-10.75] vs 4.46 days [95% CI 4.39-4.53], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty in patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is associated with worse postoperative outcomes and higher costs, indicating that state's potential role in routine preoperative risk stratification.

Costs and Their Predictors in Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary surgical approaches to pituitary pathologies include transsphenoidal microsurgical and, more recently, endoscopic techniques. Data reporting direct costs in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery are limited. OBJECTIVE: To examine direct costs (including overall total, hospital/facility, and physician payments) of microscopic and endoscopic pituitary surgery and evaluate predictors of differential costs in transsphenoidal pituitary surgery using a national database. METHODS: The Truven MarketScan® database 2010-2014 (IBM, Armonk, New York) was queried and patients undergoing microscopic and/or endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery identified. Mean costs and predictors of differential costs were analyzed using analysis of variance and generalized linear models. Beta-coefficients (ß) assessed relative contributions of independent predictors. RESULTS: Mean overall total ($34 943.13 [SD ± 19 074.54]) and hospital/facility ($26 505.93 [SD ± 16 819.52]) payments were higher in endoscopic compared to microscopic surgeries (both P < .001). Lengths of hospital stay (LOS) were similar between groups. Predictors of overall total and hospital/facility payments were similar including surgical technique, age, geographical region, comorbidity index, postoperative surgical and medical complications, and LOS with LOS being the most significant predictor (ß = 0.27 and ß = 0.29, respectively). Mean physician payments ($4549.24 [SD ± 3956.27]) were similar in microscopic and endoscopic cohorts (P = .26). Predictors of physician payments included age, health plan, geographical region, postoperative surgical complications, and LOS with health plan being the most significant predictor (ß = -0.21). CONCLUSION: Higher overall total and hospital/facility costs are associated with endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery compared to microsurgery. In contrast, physician reimbursements are similar between techniques. Whereas LOS was the strongest predictor of overall total and hospital/facility costs, health plan was the strongest predictor of differential physician reimbursements.

Endonasal endoscopic resection of olfactory neuroblastoma: an 11-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the sinonasal cavity. Surgery has been and remains a mainstay of treatment for patients with this tumor. Open craniofacial resections have been the treatment of choice for many decades. More recently, experience has been growing with endoscopic approaches in the management of patients with ONB. The object of this study is to report the authors' experience over the past 11 years with ONB patients treated with purely endonasal endoscopic techniques. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective chart review of 20 consecutive patients with ONB who underwent a completely endonasal endoscopic approach for an oncological tumor resection at their institution between January 2006 and January 2017. Patient demographics, tumor stage, pathological grade, frozen section analysis, permanent margin assessment, perioperative complications, postoperative therapy, length of follow-up, and outcomes at last follow-up were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Eighteen patients presented with newly diagnosed disease, with a modified Kadish stage of A in 2 cases, B in 3, C in 11, and D in 2. Two patients presented with recurrent tumors. An average of 25.3 specimens per patient were examined by frozen section analysis. Although analysis of intraoperative frozen section margins was negative in all but 1 case, microscopic foci of tumor were found in 7 cases (35%) on permanent histopathological analysis. Perioperative complications occurred in 7 patients (35%) including 1 patient who developed a cerebrospinal fluid leak; there were no episodes of meningitis. All but 1 patient received postoperative radiotherapy, and 5 patients received postoperative chemotherapy. With a mean follow-up of over 5 years, 19 patients were alive and 1 patient died from an unrelated cause. There were 2 cases of tumor recurrence. The 5-year overall, disease-specific, and recurrence-free survival rates were 92.9%, 100%, and 92.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The current results provide additional evidence for the continued use of endoscopic procedures in the management of this malignancy.

Analysis of Cervical Spine Injuries in Elderly Patients from 2001 to 2010 Using a Nationwide Database: Increasing Incidence, Overall Mortality, and Inpatient Hospital Charges.

BACKGROUND: Cervical spine (C-spine) injuries cause significant morbidity and mortality among elderly patients. Although the population of older-adults ≥65 years in the United States is expanding, estimates of the burden and outcome of C-spine injury are lacking. METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2001-2010 was analyzed. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes identified patients with isolated C-spine fractures (ICF) and C-spine fractures with spinal cord injury (CSCI). Annual admission and mortality rates were calculated using U.S. Census data. RESULTS: A total of 167,278 older adults were included. Median age was 81 years (interquartile range = 74-86). Most patients were female (54.9%), had Medicare coverage (77.6%), were treated in teaching hospitals (63.2%), and had falls as the leading injury mechanism (51.2%). ICF occurred in 91.3%, whereas CSCI occurred in 8.7% (P < 0.001). ICF was more common in ≥85-year-old patients and CSCI in 65- to 69-year-old patients (P < 0.001). The most common injured C-spine level in ICF was the C2 level (47.6%, P < 0.001) and in CSCI was C1-C4 level (4.5%, P < 0.001). Overall, 15.8% underwent C-spine surgery. Hospitalization rates increased from 26/100,000 in 2001 to 68/100,000 in 2010 (∼167% change, P < 0.001). Correspondingly, overall mortality increased from 3/100,000 in 2001 to 6/100,000 in 2010, P < 0.001. In-hospital mortality was 11.3%, was strongly associated with increasing age and CSCI (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, C-spine fractures among U.S. older adults constitute a significant health care burden. ICFs occur commonly, C2-vertebra fractures are most frequent, whereas CSCIs are linked to increased hospital-resource use and worse outcomes. The incidence of C-spine fractures and mortality more than doubled over the past decade; however, proportional in-hospital mortality is decreasing.

Conscious status is associated with the likelihood of trauma centre care and mortality in patients with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification-derived conscious status and mortality rates in trauma centres (TC) vs. non-trauma centres (NTC). METHODS: Patients in the 2006-2011 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample meeting, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for traumatic brain injury (TBI), with head/neck Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores ≥3 were included. Loss of consciousness (LOC) was computed for each patient. Primary outcomes included treatment at a level I/II TC vs. NTC and in-hospital mortality. We compared logistic regression models controlling for patient demographics, injury characteristics, and AIS score with identical models that also included LOC. RESULTS: Of 66,636 patients with isolated TBI identified, 15,761 (23.6%) had missing LOC status. Among the remaining 50,875 patients, 59.0% were male, 54.0% were ≥65 years old, 56.7% were treated in TCs, and 27.3% had extended LOC. Patients with extended LOC were more likely to be treated in TCs vs. those with no/brief LOC (71.1% vs. 51.4%, p < 0.001). Among patients aged <65, TC treatment was associated with increased odds of mortality [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 1.79]; accounting for LOC substantially mitigated this relationship [AOR 1.27]. Similar findings were observed among older patients, with reduced effect size. CONCLUSION: Extended LOC was associated with TC treatment and mortality. Accounting for patient LOC reduced the differential odds of mortality comparing TCs vs. NTCs by 60%. Research assessing TBI outcomes using administrative data should include measures of consciousness.

Comparison of Complications, Trends, and Costs in Endoscopic vs Microscopic Pituitary Surgery: Analysis From a US Health Claims Database.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgical and endoscopic techniques are commonly utilized surgical approaches to pituitary pathologies. There are limited data comparing these 2 procedures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate postoperative complications, associated costs, and national and regional trends of microscopic and endoscopic techniques in the United States employing a nationwide database. METHODS: The Truven MarketScan database 2010 to 2014 was queried and Current Procedural Terminology codes identified patients that underwent microscopic and/or endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. International Classification of Diseases codes identified postoperative complications. Adjusted logistic regression and matched propensity analysis evaluated independent odds for complications. RESULTS: Among 5886 cases studied, 54.49% were microscopic and 45.51% endoscopic. The commonest surgical indications were benign pituitary tumors. Annual trends showed increasing utilization of endoscopic techniques vs microscopic procedures. Postoperative complications occurred in 40.04% of cases, including diabetes insipidus (DI; 16.90%), syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH; 2.02%), iatrogenic hypopituitarism (1.36%), fluid/electrolyte abnormalities (hypoosmolality/hyponatraemia [5.03%] and hyperosmolality/hypernatraemia [2.48%]), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks (CSF rhinorrhoea [4.42%] and other CSF leak [6.52%]). In our propensity-based model, patients that underwent endoscopic surgery were more likely to develop DI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28-1.72), SIADH (OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.04-2.24), hypoosmolality/hyponatraemia (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.01-1.34), CSF rhinorrhoea (OR = 2.48; 95% CI = 1.88-3.28), other CSF leak (OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.28-1.98), altered mental status (OR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.01-2.60), and postoperative fever (OR = 4.31; 95% CI = 1.14-16.23). There were no differences in hemorrhagic complications, ophthalmological complications, or bacterial meningitis. Postoperative complications resulted in longer hospitalization and increased healthcare costs. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic approaches are increasingly being utilized to manage sellar pathologies relative to microsurgery. Postoperative complications occur in both techniques with higher incidences observed following endoscopic procedures.

Conscious status predicts mortality among patients with isolated traumatic brain injury in administrative data.

BACKGROUND: Outcome studies in trauma using administrative data traditionally employ anatomy-based definitions of injury severity; however, physiologic factors, including consciousness, may correlate with outcomes. We examined whether accounting for conscious status in administrative data improved mortality prediction among patients with moderate to severe TBI. METHODS: Patients meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for TBI in the 2006 to 2011 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample were identified. Patients were dichotomized as having no/brief loss of consciousness (LOC) vs extended LOC greater than 1 hour using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) fifth digit modifiers. Receiver operating curves compared the ability of logistic regression to predict mortality in models that included LOC vs models that did not. RESULTS: Overall, 98,397 individuals met criteria, of whom 25.8% had extended LOC. In univariate analysis, AIS alone predicted mortality in 69.6% of patients (area under receiver operating characteristic curve .696, 95% CI .689 to .702), extended LOC alone predicted mortality in 76.8% (AUROC .768, 95% CI .764 to .773), and a combination of AIS and extended LOC predicted mortality in 82.6% of cases (AUROC .826, 95% CI .821 to .830). Similar differences were observed in best-fit models. CONCLUSIONS: Accounting for LOC along with anatomical measures of injury severity improves mortality prediction among patients with moderate/severe TBI in administrative datasets. Further work is warranted to determine whether other physiological measures may also improve prediction across a variety of injury types.

Why No Signals? Cerebral Anatomy Predicts Success of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring During Correction of Scoliosis Secondary to Cerebral Palsy.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is widely used to reduce postoperative neurological complications during scoliosis correction. IONM allows intraoperative detection of neurological insults to the spinal cord and enables surgeons to react in real time. IONM failure rates can reach 61% in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Factors decreasing the quality of IONM signals or making IONM impossible in CP patients undergoing scoliosis correction have not been well described. METHODS: We categorized IONM data from 206 children with CP who underwent surgical scoliosis correction at a single institution from 2002 through 2013 into 3 groups: (1) "no signals," if neither somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEP) nor transcranial motor-evoked potentials (TcMEP) could be obtained; (2) "no sensory," if no interpretable SSEP were obtained regardless of interpretable TcMEP; and (3) "no motor," if no interpretable TcMEP were obtained regardless of interpretable SSEP. We analyzed preexisting neuroimaging, available for 93 patients, and neurological status of the full cohort against these categories. Statistical analysis of univariate and multivariate associations was performed using logistic regression. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated with significance set at P<0.05. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed significant associations of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), hydrocephalus, and encephalomalacia with lack of meaningful and interpretable signals. Focal PVL (Fig. 1) was associated with no motor (OR=39.95; P=0.04). Moderate hydrocephalus was associated with no signals (OR=32.35; P<0.01), no motor (OR=10.14; P=0.04), and no sensory (OR=8.44; P=0.03). Marked hydrocephalus (Fig. 2) was associated with no motor (OR=20.46; P<0.01) and no signals (OR=8.83; P=0.01). Finally, encephalomalacia (Fig. 3) was associated with no motor (OR=6.99; P=0.01) and no signals (OR=4.26; P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Neuroanatomic findings of PVL, hydrocephalus, and encephalomalacia are significant predictors of limited IONM signals, especially TcMEP. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Tackling causes and costs of ED presentation for American football injuries: a population-level study.

BACKGROUND: American tackle football is the most popular high-energy impact sport in the United States, with approximately 9 million participants competing annually. Previous epidemiologic studies of football-related injuries have generally focused on specific geographic areas or pediatric age groups. Our study sought to examine patient characteristics and outcomes, including hospital charges, among athletes presenting for emergency department (ED) treatment of football-related injury across all age groups in a large nationally representative data set. METHODS: Patients presenting for ED treatment of injuries sustained playing American tackle football (identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code E007.0) from 2010 to 2011 were studied in the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. Patient-specific injuries were identified using the primary International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code and categorized by type and anatomical region. Standard descriptive methods examined patient demographics, diagnosis categories, and ED and inpatient outcomes and charges. RESULTS: During the study period 397363 football players presented for ED treatment, 95.8% of whom were male. Sprains/strains (25.6%), limb fractures (20.7%), and head injuries (including traumatic brain injury; 17.5%) represented the most presenting injuries. Overall, 97.9% of patients underwent routine ED discharge with 1.1% admitted directly and fewer than 11 patients in the 2-year study period dying prior to discharge. The proportion of admitted patients who required surgical interventions was 15.7%, of which 89.9% were orthopedic, 4.7% neurologic, and 2.6% abdominal. Among individuals admitted to inpatient care, mean hospital length of stay was 2.4days (95% confidence interval, 2.2-2.6) and 95.6% underwent routine discharge home. The mean total charge for all patients was $1941 (95% confidence interval, $1890-$1992) with substantial injury type-specific variability. Overall, at the US population, estimated total charges of $771299862 were incurred over the 2-year period. CONCLUSION: In this nationally representative sample, most ED-treated injuries associated with football were not acutely life threatening and very few required major therapeutic intervention. This study provides a cross-sectional overview of ED presentation for acute football-related injury across age groups at the population level in recent years. Longitudinal studies may be warranted to examine associations between the patterns of injury observed in this study and long-term outcomes among American tackle football players.

United States trends in thrombolysis for older adults with acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Thrombolysis for ischemic stroke has been increasing in the United States. We sought to investigate recent trends in thrombolysis use in older adults. METHODS: A retrospective, observational analysis of hospitalization data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) in 2005-2010 was performed. Older adults (≥65 years) admitted with a primary diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke were included. Trends in the population-based rates of thrombolysis and outcomes from the NIS were evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage test. RESULTS: Thrombolysis in older adult stroke patients increased from 1.7% to 5.4% (2005-2010; trend P<0.001). Large increases were observed among urban patients, urban hospitals, and high volume facilities. Individuals ≥85 years were less likely to receive thrombolysis than younger ages throughout the study period, although there was an increase from an odds ratio of 0.50 (95% CI: 0.44-0.57) to 0.75 (95% CI: 0.69-0.81) from 2005-2006 to 2009-2010 when compared to 65-74 year olds. For those receiving thrombolysis, no change was observed in intracerebral hemorrhage over time. In-hospital mortality rates did not change significantly over the study period for age subgroups and length of stay declined from 2005 to 2010 for the thrombolysis group (7.6 vs 7.0 days; trend P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Rates of thrombolysis in older adults progressively increased, especially in the oldest old. Increases were largely driven by urban and high volume hospitals.

Trends in incidence and severity of sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the emergency department, 2006-2011.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize and identify trends in sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) emergency department (ED) visits from 2006-2011. METHODS: This study reviewed data on sports-related TBI among individuals under age 65 from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample from 2006-2011. Visits were stratified by age, sex, injury severity, payer status and other criteria. Variations in incidence and severity were examined both between groups and over time. Odds of inpatient admission were calculated using regression modelling. RESULTS: Over the period examined, 489 572 sports-related TBI ED visits were reported. The majority (62.2%) of these visits occurred among males under the age of 18. The average head Abbreviated Injury Severity score among these individuals was 1.93 (95% CI = 1.93-1.94) and tended to be lowest among those in middle school and high school age groups; these were also less likely to be admitted. The absolute annual number of visits grew 65.9% from 2006 until 2011, with the majority of this growth occurring among children under age 15. Hospitalization rates dropped 35.6% over the same period. CONCLUSION: Changes in year-over-year presentation rates vs. hospitalization rates among young athletes suggest that players, coaches and parents may be more aware of sports-related TBI and have developed lower thresholds for seeking medical attention.

Traumatic brain injury in the elderly: morbidity and mortality trends and risk factors.

An estimated 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) annually in the United States. We sought to examine factors contributing to mortality among TBI patients aged ≥65 y in the United States. TBI data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample were combined from 2000-2010. Patients were stratified by age, sex, mechanism of injury, payer status, comorbidity, injury severity, and other factors. Odds of death were explored using an adjusted multivariable logistic regression. A total of 950,132 TBI-related hospitalizations and 107,666 TBI-related deaths occurred among adults aged ≥65 y from 2000-2010. The most common mechanism of injury was falling, and falls were more common among the oldest age groups. Logistic regression analysis showed highest odds of death among male patients, those whose mechanism of injury was motor vehicle related, patients with three or more comorbidities, and patients who were designated as self-paying.