Ultra-Early (<5 Hours) Decompression for Thoracolumbar Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Series.

Early surgical decompression within 24 hours for traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with improved neurological recovery. However, the ideal timing of decompression is still up for debate. The objective of this study was to utilize our retrospective single-institution series of ultra-early (<5 hours) decompression to determine if ultra-early decompression led to improved neurological outcomes and was a feasible target over previously defined early decompression targets. Retrospective data on patients with SCI who underwent ultra-early (<5 hours) decompression at a level one metropolitan trauma center were extracted and collected from 2015-2018. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) grade improvement was the primary outcome, with ASIA Motor score improvement and complication rate as secondary outcomes. Four individuals met the criteria for inclusion in this case series. All four suffered thoracolumbar SCI. All patients improved neurologically by AIS grade, and there were no complications directly related to ultra-early surgery. Given the small sample size, there was no statistically significant difference in outcomes compared to a control group who underwent early (5-24 hour) decompression in the same period. Ultra-early decompression is a feasible and safe target for thoracolumbar SCI and may lead to improved neurological outcomes without increased risk of complications. This case series can help create the foundation for future, larger studies that may definitively show the benefit of ultra-early decompression.

Microsurgical intraluminal obliteration of type IV perimedullary arteriovenous fistula with an in situ hemostatic agent: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Spinal arteriovenous fistulas (SAVFs) are underdiagnosed entities that can lead to severe morbidity from spinal cord dysfunction or hemorrhage. Treatment options include endovascular embolization or direct surgical obliteration at the level of the arteriovenous shunt. The authors present a case of intraluminal microsurgical access for occlusion with a hemostatic agent of a type IV SAVF near the conus medullaris as an alternative to clip occlusion to avoid nerve root compromise. OBSERVATIONS: Temporary microsurgical clipping of the SAVF led to nerve root compromise detected via intraoperative monitoring. Instead, the authors advanced elongated pieces of a hemostatic agent directly into the arterial lumen via arteriotomy to create direct obliteration of the fistula without intraoperative monitoring changes. LESSONS: In patients unable to tolerate clipping of the SAVF because of nerve root involvement and neurophysiological signal decline, open access of the vessels and direct intraluminal obliteration using a hemostatic agent should be considered as an alternative method of fistula occlusion.

Initial experience with minimally invasive endoscopic evacuation of intracerebral hemorrhage in the setting of radiographic herniation.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) can rapidly result in cerebral herniation, leading to poor neurologic outcomes or mortality. To date, neither decompressive hemicraniectomy (DH) nor hematoma evacuation have been conclusively shown to improve outcomes for comatose ICH patients presenting with cerebral herniation, with these patients largely excluded from clinical trials. Here we present the outcomes of a series of patients presenting with ICH and radiographic herniation who underwent emergent minimally invasive (MIS) ICH evacuation. METHODS: We reviewed our prospectively collected registry of patients undergoing MIS ICH evacuation at a single institution from 01/01/2017 to 10/01/2021. We selected all consecutive patients with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) ≤ 8 and radiographic herniation for this case series. Clinical and radiographic variables were collected, including admission GCS score, preoperative and postoperative hematoma volumes, National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) scores, and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at last follow-up. RESULTS: Of 176 patients with spontaneous supratentorial ICH who underwent minimally invasive endoscopic evacuation during the study time period, a total of 9 patients presented with GCS ≤ 8 and evidence of radiographic herniation. Among these patients, the mean age was 62 ± 12 years, the median GCS at presentation was 5 [IQR 4-6], the mean preoperative hematoma volume was 94 ± 44 mL, the mean time from ictus to evacuation was 12 ± 5 h, and the mean postoperative hematoma volume was 11 ± 16 mL, for a median evacuation percentage of 97% [83-99]. Three patients (33%) died, four (44%) survived with mRS 5 and two (22%) with mRS 4. Patients had a median NIHSS improvement of 5 compared to their initial NIHSS. Age was very strongly correlate to improvements in NIHSS (r2 = 0.90). CONCLUSION: Data from this initial experience suggest emergent MIS hematoma evacuation in the setting of ICH with radiographic herniation is feasible and technically effective. Further randomized studies are required to determine if such an intervention offers overall benefits to patients and their families.

Delayed Post-cholecystectomy Gallbladder Fossa Abscess Due to Citrobacter freundii.

While laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the treatment of choice for cholecystitis, complications such as abscess development can result even years after the intervention. We present a case of a patient with a remote history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy now diagnosed with gallbladder fossa abscess infected with Citrobacter freundii, a low-virulence pathogen typically seen in iatrogenic urinary tract infections. Subsequent conjoint percutaneous drainage and long-term antibiotics resulted in both clinical and radiological improvement for the patient. Therefore, in the absence of recent events or risk factors for developing an abdominal wall abscess, a previous remote history of surgical intervention needs to be considered for the possible etiology, especially those with low incidences and long latency periods such as Citrobacter.

Single-Stage Titanium Mesh Cranioplasty for the Treatment of Depressed Skull Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Historically, depressed skull fractures that warranted surgery were treated in 2 stages: the first stage involved debridement and craniectomy, followed by the second stage of delayed cranioplasty. More recently, single-stage autologous cranioplasty has been proven to be safe. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding single-stage titanium mesh cranioplasty when autologous repair is not possible. METHODS: A retrospective review identified 22 patients who underwent single-stage titanium mesh cranioplasty for the acute treatment of comminuted depressed skull fractures. Fracture location, fracture etiology, timing of surgery, neurologic complications, infection, and cosmetic deformity were recorded. Average follow-up was 9 months. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 34 years (range: 3-77); 83% were male. Seventeen (77%) involved the frontal bone, with 7 (32%) involving the frontal sinus. Eighteen (82%) had open defects at presentation. Sixteen (73%) were neurologically normal. Average time from presentation to repair was 11 hours (range: 1-28 hours). There were no neurologic worsening, seizures, or infections postoperatively. Antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed in 13 cases (57%). One patient required revision surgery for persistent cosmetic deformity. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous cranioplasty for depressed skull fractures is not always possible especially in cases of significant comminution. From our case series, single-stage titanium mesh cranioplasty appears to be a safe option.

Duodenal Adenocarcinoma in the Setting of Bariatric Surgery: A Perfect Storm for Wernicke's Encephalopathy.

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a condition resulting from thiamine deficiency that typically presents with acute neurologic symptoms including ataxia, eye movement disorders, and altered mental status. Though classically seen in patients with alcohol use disorder, it can also occur as a complication of bariatric surgery and gastrointestinal cancers. Here, we present a patient with a history of gastric band surgery and an intact alimentary tract. She presented with acute, intractable vomiting and epigastric abdominal pain, incompletely relieved by deflating her gastric band, and was found to have duodenal adenocarcinoma causing partial duodenal obstruction. She was then found to have binocular diplopia, horizontal nystagmus, dizziness, reduced proprioception, and pins-and-needles numbness in her bilateral lower extremities, and there was concern for gait instability; thus, WE was suspected. The patient was treated with high-dose thiamine repletion, and her symptoms resolved shortly thereafter. WE is rare in patients who have undergone gastric band surgery, and to our knowledge, this is the first case of WE in a patient with concurrent duodenal adenocarcinoma. This case illustrates that patients with a history of bariatric surgery may be more susceptible to developing WE in the face of a new gastrointestinal insult, such as duodenal cancer.

Compliance with venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis guidelines in non-operative traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of compliance of The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) for initiation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis after non-operative traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the explanation for the deviations. METHODS: A retrospective review from May 2018 to February 2020 in a Level II trauma center for patients with TBI and length of stay of more than 24 h. We performed an analysis of overall and subgroup compliance with guidelines. The ACS TQIP criteria for low and moderate-risk for hemorrhagic progression were used for subgroup classification. RESULTS: Of 393 patients, 239 (60.8%) patients received chemoprophylaxis in a mean of 64 (SD: +/-42) hours since admission. "Compliance" was achieved in 52.2% of patients. In subgroup analysis, 51.4% of patients in "low-risk" and 55.1% in "moderate-risk" were "compliant." The most common rationale for non-compliance in "low-risk" was a stay less than 48 h in 35.9% of patients. However, in "moderate-risk," the most common non-compliance was starting prophylaxis before the recommended 72 h from admission in 37% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Guidelines streamline clinical practice to optimize outcomes, but there are scenarios in which deviation of the recommendations may be indicated based on clinical judgment. We show that a stay of less than 48 h was the most common rationale for not starting prophylaxis in "low-risk" patients. However, in the "moderate-risk" subgroup, the most common reason was starting chemoprophylaxis before the recommended time frame, which we called a "paradoxical" non-compliance.

Transseptal interforniceal endoscopic removal of superiorly recessed colloid cysts.

OBJECTIVE: Transforaminal endoscopic colloid cyst resection is well described. However, some anatomical colloid cyst variants may warrant a modified approach. Rarely, colloid cysts separate the forniceal columns and grow superiorly within the leaflets of the septum pellucidum. Thus, the authors' goal was to characterize the imaging features, clinical presentation, surgical strategy, and outcomes of patients with this superiorly recessed colloid cyst variant. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of patients who underwent endoscopic resection of colloid cysts from 1999 to 2020 was performed. The patients were dichotomized depending on whether the cyst was located predominately below the forniceal columns or was superiorly recessed (forniceal column separation with variable intraseptal extension). This comparative cohort study focused on clinical presentation, imaging features, operative technique, and patient outcome. RESULTS: In total, 182 patients were identified. Seventeen patients had colloid cysts that were defined as superiorly recessed and underwent transseptal interforniceal removal, and 165 patients underwent a standard transforaminal approach. Patients had similar demographic characteristics. However, transseptal cysts were on average larger (17.8 mm vs 11.4 mm, p < 0.0001), and these patients had a greater frontal-occipital horn ratio (0.45 vs 0.41, p = 0.012). They were also more likely to have undergone a previous resection (p = 0.02). The two cohorts had similar surgical outcomes, with no differences in extent of resection, recurrence, or complications. CONCLUSIONS: Superiorly recessed intraseptal colloid cysts are larger and tend to splay the bodies of the fornix, thus requiring a parasagittal transseptal interforniceal endoscopic approach. This achieves complete removal with comparatively negligible morbidity or rare recurrence (5.9%).

Use of emerging technologies to enhance the treatment paradigm for spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage.

The presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) portends a worse prognosis in patients presenting with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Intraventricular hemorrhage increases the rates of hydrocephalus, ventriculitis, and long-term shunt dependence. Over the past decade, novel medical devices and protocols have emerged to directly treat IVH. Presently, we review new technological adaptations to treating intraventricular hemorrhage in an effort to focus further innovation in treating this morbid neurosurgical pathology. We summarize current and historical treatments as well as innovations in IVH including novel procedural techniques, use of the Integra Surgiscope, use of the Artemis evacuator, use of BrainPath, novel catheter technology, large bore external ventricular drains, the IRRAflow, the CerebroFlo, and the future directions of the field. Technology and medical devices for both surgical and nonsurgical methods are advancing the treatment of IVH. With many promising new technologies on the horizon, prospects for improved clinical care for IVH and its etiologies remain hopeful.

Time from image acquisition to endovascular team notification: a new target for enhancing acute stroke workflow.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the time between initial image acquisition (CT angiography (CTA)) and notification of the neuroendovascular surgery (NES) team, a potentially high yield time window to target for optimization of endovascular thrombectomy (ET) treatment times. METHODS: We reviewed our multihospital database for all patients with a stroke with emergent large vessel occlusion treated with ET between January 1, 2017 and August 5, 2020. We dichotomized patients into rapid (≤20 min) and delayed (>20 min) notification times and analyzed treatment characteristics and outcomes. RESULTS: Of 367 patients with ELVO undergoing ET for whom notification data were available, the median time from CTA to NES team notification was 24 min (IQR 12-47). The median total treatment time was 180 min (IQR 129-252). The median times from CTA to NES team notification for rapid (n=163) and delayed (n=204) cohorts were 11 (IQR 6-15) and 43 (IQR 30-80) min, respectively (p<0.001). The median overall times to reperfusion were 134 min (IQR 103-179) and 213 min (IQR 172-291), respectively (p<0.001). The delayed patients had a significantly lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on presentation (15 (IQR 9-20) vs 16 (IQR 11-22), p=0.03), were younger (70 (IQR 60-79) vs 77 (IQR 64-85), p<0.001), and more often presented with posterior circulation occlusion (16.7% vs 7.4%, p<0.01). The group with rapid notification time had a statistically larger median improvement in NIHSS score from admission to discharge (6 (IQR 0.5-14) vs 5 (IQR 0.5-10), p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Time delays from initial CTA acquisition to NES team notification can prevent expedient treatment with ET. Process improvements and automated stroke detection on imaging with automated notification of the NES team may ultimately improve time to reperfusion.

Availability and Readability of Spinal Cord Injury Online Information Materials for Spanish Speaking Population in Neurosurgical Academic Programs: A Nationwide Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent publications have demonstrated that information has been transmitted inappropriately to the lay person in different pathologies. This limitation is also observed in Spanish language. We evaluate the availability and readability of online patient education material (PEM) on spinal cord injury (SCI) information for the Spanish-speaking population from academic neurosurgery residency programs in the United States. METHODS: This is a descriptive analysis of online SCI PEM from neurosurgical residency programs websites. We assess the availability of information in Spanish using a modification of a previously published classification. To assess accessibility, we calculated the time spent and the number of clicks to find the information in Spanish. We calculated the readability of the material using the "Indice Flesch-Szigriszt" (INFLESZ), which determines the difficulty of readability of health-related material in Spanish. RESULTS: A total of 116 accredited neurosurgery residency programs comprised our cohort. Ten (9%) programs had available "mirrored" information in Spanish from its original version in English, 9 (8.1%) used a translation software, 79 (71.2%) provide interpreter services, and 3 (2%) did not have written information or information about translation services. A mean of 72.9 seconds (SD +/- 71.2) were required to have access to the Spanish information or contact information for translation services. Twelve (57.1%) websites with written Spanish information had an INFLESZ score above 55.00, which translates as an appropriate readability level for the general population. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the academic neurosurgery programs or affiliated hospital websites do not provide written informative material about SCI in Spanish. When available, the information is not always transmitted with a level of readability appropriate for the layperson. Most of the websites provide translation or interpreter services that are not directly related to SCI.

Quadriplegia, an Unusual Outcome After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Case Report.

CASE: A 68-year-old woman who underwent a C5 to C6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery presented with new-onset postoperative quadriplegia. During discectomy, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring alerted of a spinal cord (SC) dysfunction. The surgery was halted, and measures to ensure adequate SC perfusion were initiated. In the next 2-week follow-up, patient's motor deficit progressively improved. CONCLUSIONS: We report an unusual and devastating outcome of new-onset quadriplegia after an elective ACDF and highlight the relevance of intraoperative monitoring during cervical spine surgery to early recognize and treat SC impending injury.

Initial Experience With a Full Endoscopic Facet Fusion in Combination With Endoscopic Interbody Fusion.

Background Facet fusion has been described in open and minimally invasive approaches to promote fusion. Our objective is to describe the technique of an endoscopic facet decortication and allograft placement as an adjunct to an interbody fusion. Methodology This was a descriptive analysis of patients who underwent endoscopic interbody fusion combined with facet fusion and percutaneous screw placement. General demographics, clinical presentation, length of stay, follow-up, and outcome were gathered. The technique involves endoscopic access to the Kambin's triangle, discectomy/endplate preparation, expandable cage/allograft insertion, and percutaneous pedicle screw placement. A midline incision was performed, and the endoscope was advanced over the facet joints at the desired level. After removing the soft tissue with grasping forceps, cautery was used to disrupt the facet capsule. An articulating high-speed bur was used to drill inside and over the dorsal surface of the joint. Finally, allograft chips were placed through the endoscope cannula. Results From May 2019 to December 2019, four patients underwent endoscopic interbody fusion. All were female, with a mean age of 67.5 years (SD: 12.7). All had chronic low back pain and radiculopathy associated with Grade 1 spondylolisthesis. Two (50%) of the patients underwent two-level fusion. The median hospital stay was two days. Two (50%) reported improvement of both low back and radiculopathy symptoms. None of the patients had a significant complication or required reoperation in eight months' mean follow-up. Conclusions Facet decortication and allograft placement are feasible using an endoscopic approach in conjunction with interbody fusion.

Colloid cysts of the third ventricle in children.

OBJECTIVE: The rarity of colloid cysts in children makes it difficult to characterize this entity and offer meaningful advice on treatment. Infrequent case reports exist, but to date there has been no age-specific assessment. The purpose of this study was to define any differences between children and adults who are evaluated and treated for colloid cysts of the third ventricle. METHODS: Patients with colloid cysts were reviewed and stratified by age. Individuals ≤ 18 years of age were defined as pediatric patients and those > 18 years of age as adults. Clinical and radiographic data, treatment, and postoperative outcomes were compared between both groups. Bivariate analysis was conducted using the Fisher exact test for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Of 132 endoscopic resections (121 primary, 10 secondary, and 1 tertiary) of a colloid cyst, 9 (6.8%) were performed in pediatric patients (mean age 14.1 years, range 9-18 years) and 123 (93.2%) were performed in adult patients (mean age 43.8 years, range 19-73 years). Cases were found incidentally more commonly in pediatric than adult patients (66.7% vs 37.4%, p > 0.05), and pediatric patients had lower rates of hydrocephalus than adult patients (11.1% vs 63.4%, p < 0.05). Acute decompensation at presentation was found in 8 adults (6.5%) but no children. Complete cyst removal (88.9% vs 90.2%, p > 0.05) and length of stay (1.6 days vs 2.9 days, p > 0.05) were not significantly different between the groups. Postoperative complications (6.5% in adults, 0% in children) and recurrence (2.4% in adults, 0% in children) were rare in both groups, and there were no treatment-related deaths. The mean postoperative radiological follow-up was longer in pediatric patients (45 months, range 4-89 months) than adults (44.1 months, range 1-171 months). CONCLUSIONS: While differences exist between children and adults regarding colloid cyst presentation, these are in keeping with the predicted evolution of a slow-growing lesion. Consistent with this observation, children had lower rates of hydrocephalus and a smaller mean maximal cyst diameter. Contrary to the published literature, however, sudden deterioration was not observed in pediatric patients but occurred in adult patients. In this limited pediatric sample size, the authors have not recorded any postoperative complications or recurrences to date. These encouraging results with endoscopic removal may positively impact future decisions related to children given their protracted life expectancy and projected rates of progression.

Functional Outcome After Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Evacuation of Thalamic Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most devastating form of stroke, with thalamic hemorrhages carrying the worst outcomes. Minimally invasive (MIS) endoscopic ICH evacuation is a promising new therapy for the condition. However, it remains unclear whether therapy success is location dependent. Here we present long-term functional outcomes after MIS evacuation of spontaneous thalamic hemorrhages. METHODS: Patients presenting to a single urban health system with spontaneous ICH were triaged to a central hospital for management of ICH. Operative criteria for MIS evacuation included hemorrhage volume ≥15 mL, age ≥18, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≥6, and baseline modified Rankin Score (mRS) ≤3. Demographic, radiographic, and clinical data were collected prospectively, and descriptive statistics were performed retrospectively. Functional outcomes were assessed using 6-month mRS scores. RESULTS: Endoscopic ICH evacuation was performed on 21 patients. Eleven patients had hemorrhage confined to the thalamus, whereas 10 patients had hemorrhages in the thalamus and surrounding structures. Eighteen patients (85.7%) had intraventricular extension. The average preoperative volume was 39.8 mL (standard deviation [SD]: 31.5 mL) and postoperative volume was 3.8 mL (SD: 6.1 mL), resulting in an average evacuation rate of 91.4% (SD: 11.1%). One month after hemorrhage, 2 patients (9.5%) had expired and all other patients remained functionally dependent (90.5%). At 6-month follow-up, 4 patients (19.0%) had improved to a favorable outcome (mRS ≤ 3). CONCLUSION: Among patients with ICH undergoing medical management, those with thalamic hemorrhages have especially poor outcomes. This study suggests that MIS evacuation can be safely performed in a thalamic population. It also presents long-term functional outcomes that can aid in planning randomization schemes or subgroup analyses in future MIS evacuation clinical trials.

Transpedicular Approach for Ventral Epidural Abscess Evacuation in the Cervical Spine.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal epidural abscess may require prompt surgical intervention. Ventral cervical abscesses pose a particular challenge regarding the approach for surgical evacuation. The aim of this article was to describe the technical nuances of a posterior transpedicular cervical approach for evacuation of a ventral epidural abscess. METHODS: After a standard laminectomy, a foraminotomy was performed to identify the exiting nerve root. Then the medial aspect of the pedicle below the nerve was drilled. This allowed the insertion of a dissector to reach the ventral epidural space and drain the contents in conjunction with suction and irrigation. The posterolateral aspect of the superior endplate of the respective vertebra could be further drilled at this point, allowing access to the disc space with minimal retraction of the exiting nerve root. RESULTS: Two patients underwent emergent evacuation of a ventral epidural abscess in the cervical spine using this technique. Radiographic and clinical improvement was evident after evacuation of the abscesses in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: Access to the ventral epidural space is feasible using a transpedicular approach in the cervical spine for evacuation of an epidural abscess.

Trials in thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: Describing the state of clinical research in the field.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular thrombectomy has revolutionized treatment of ischemic stroke. Given the clinical and socioeconomic support for thrombectomy, new devices, procedures, and pharmaceuticals have emerged in recent years, and have been subject to a growing number of clinical trials worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To define the current state of thrombectomy clinical trials, highlight recent trends, and help guide future research in this area. METHODS: Current and previous clinical trials involving thrombectomy for ischemic stroke were queried from the Clinicaltrials.gov database. Trials were categorized by their current status, study design, funding type, exclusion criteria, study phase, enrollment, start and completion dates, country of origin, item of investigation, outcome metrics, and whether a peer-reviewed publication was linked to the trial. RESULTS: Querying the ClinicalTrials.gov registry yielded 196 trials, of which 161 (82.1 %) were started within the past 5 years. The average time to completion was 30.6 months. A total of 62 studies (31.6 %) examined the safety or efficacy of a thrombectomy device, 29 (14.8 %) investigated a pharmacological intervention alone or in combination with a device, 59 (30.1 %) examined aspects of the endovascular procedure on patient outcomes, and 14 (7.2 %) examined diagnostic utility during thrombectomy. Most trials were funded by academic centers (53.1 %) or industry (34.7 %). Although the United States contributed the most studies overall (59; 30.1 %), studies from European and Asian countries have been increasing since 2015. CONCLUSION: These trends indicate an increasing number of trials starting the past few years, with most occurring in Europe and examining devices or aspects of the thrombectomy procedure.