Validating the Supraorbital Notch-Nasion-Supraorbital Notch Angle as a Marker for Metopic Craniosynostosis Severity.

OBJECTIVE: Metopic craniosynostosis (MCS) can be difficult to differentiate from metopic ridge (MR) or normal frontal morphology. This study assess whether the supraorbital notch-nasion-supraorbital notch (SNS) angle can help identify MCS. METHODS: Records of 212 patients with preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography scans were examined. The SNS angles, surgeon craniofacial dysmorphology rankings, and CranioRate metopic severity scores (MSSs) were compared with the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with Youden J-statistic and cross-validation of regression models assessed the ability of these measures to predict surgery. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients were included, consisting of 78 MCS, 37 MR, and 97 controls. Both the mean SNS angle (MCS: 111.7 ± 10.7 degrees, MR: 126.0 ± 8.2 degrees, controls: 130.7 ± 8.8 degrees P < 0.001) and MSS (MCS: 5.9 ± 2.0, MR: 1.4 ± 1.9, controls: 0.2 ± 1.9, P < 0.001) were different among the cohorts. The mean SNS angle (111.5 ± 10.7 versus 129.1 ± 8.8, P < 0.001) was lower in those who had surgery and CranioRate score (5.9 ± 2.1 versus 0.8 ± 2.2, P < 0.001) was higher in those who underwent surgery. SNS angles were positively correlated with surgeon craniofacial dysmorphology rankings (r = 0.41, P < 0.05) and CranioRate MSS (r = 0.54, P < 0.05). The ROC curve requiring high sensitivity revealed an SNS angle of 124.8 degrees predicted surgery with a sensitivity of 88.7% and a specificity of 71.3%. A ROC curve using the CranioRate MCC values ≥3.19 predicted surgery with 88.7% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity. CONCLUSION: Orbital dysmorphology in patients with MCS is well captured by the supraorbital-nasion angle. Both the SNS angle and CranioRate MSS scores accurately predict surgical intervention.

Crowdsourcing the Impact of Illustration in Cleft Surgery Education.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) assess layperson preferences for how surgical information is presented; (2) evaluate how the format of visual information relates to layperson comfort with undergoing surgery, perceptions of surgeon character traits, and beliefs about artistic skill impacting plastic surgery practice; and (3) identify sociodemographic characteristics associated with these outcomes. DESIGN: A survey was developed in which one of five standardized sets of information depicting a unilateral cleft lip repair was presented as (1) text alone, (2) quick sketches, (3) simple drawings, (4) detailed illustrations, or (5) photographs. SETTING: Online crowdsourcing platform. PARTICIPANTS: Raters aged 18 years and older from the United States. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): After viewing the surgical information, participants answered three sets of Likert scale questions. Ratings were averaged to produce three composite scores assessing (1) comfort with undergoing surgery (2) perceptions of surgeon character traits, and (3) beliefs about plastic surgery and artistry. RESULTS: Four hundred seventy-nine participants were included. Surgeon character traits score was highest among participants who viewed detailed illustrations at 4.46 ± 0.59, followed by photographs at 4.43 ± 0.54, text alone at 4.28 ± 0.59, simple drawings at 4.17 ± 0.67, and quick sketches at 4.17 ± 0.71 (p = 0.0014). Participants who viewed detailed illustrations rated surgical comfort score and plastic surgery and artistry score highest, although differences did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Viewing detailed cleft lip repair illustrations was significantly associated with positive perceptions of surgeon character traits. Our data help to contextualize methods of communication and education valued by the public when seeking cleft care.

Nasal Airway Volumes are More Asymmetric in Skeletally Mature Patients With Cleft lip and Palate Than Controls on 3-Dimensional Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses nasal airway volumes in skeletally mature patients with CLP and healthy controls and examines the relationship among nasal volumes, cleft laterality, and facial asymmetry. METHODS: Computed tomography images from patients with CLP and controls were analyzed using Mimics Version 23.0 (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). Relationships among nasal airway volume, cleft laterality, and facial asymmetry were compared. RESULTS: The 89 patients in this study included 66 (74%) CLP and 23 (17%) controls. Nasal airway volumes in CLP were more asymmetric than controls (26.8±17.5% vs. 17.2±14.4%; P=0.015). In UCLP, the smaller nasal airway was on the cleft side 81% of the time (P<0.001). Maximum airway stenosis was on the cleft side 79% of the time (P<0.001), and maximum stenosis was on the same side as the smaller airway 89% of the time (P<0.001). There was a mild linear relationship between nasal airway asymmetry and maximum stenosis (r=0.247, P=0.023). On 3-dimensional image reconstruction, the septum often bowed convexly into the cleft-sided nasal airway with a caudal deviation towards the noncleft side. Nasal airway asymmetry was not associated with facial midline asymmetry (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The nasal airway is more asymmetric in patients with cleft lip and palate compared with the general population, with the area of maximum stenosis usually occurring on the cleft-sided airway. In patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate, the septum often bows into the cleft side, reducing the size of that nasal airway. Nasal airway asymmetry did not correlate with facial asymmetry.

Long-term sequelae of normocephalic pansynostosis: a rare but insidious entity.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with normocephalic pansynostosis, who have a grossly normal head shape, are often overlooked early in life and present late with elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) requiring timely cranial vault expansion. This study evaluates the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with normocephalic pansynostosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with a clinical and radiographic diagnosis of primary pansynostosis who underwent vault reconstruction between 2000 and 2023. Clinical and treatment course after craniofacial interventions was followed in patients with normocephaly to assess outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients with primary pansynostosis were identified, of which eight (23.5%) had normocephaly and underwent initial vault expansion at a mean age of 5.0 ± 2.4 years. All eight patients (50.0% male) presented with symptoms of elevated ICP including headaches (50.0%), nausea and vomiting (50.0%), and developmental delay (62.5%) and/or signs of elevated ICP including papilledema (75.0%) and radiologic thumbprinting on head computed tomography scan (87.5%). Three of the four normocephalic patients who had over 7 years of postoperative follow-up developed subjective headaches, vision changes, or learning and behavioral issues in the long-term despite successful vault reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Our longitudinal experience with this rare but insidious entity demonstrates the importance of timely intervention and frequent postoperative monitoring, which are critical to limiting long-term neurological sequelae. Multidisciplinary care by craniofacial surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and neuropsychology with follow-up into adolescence are recommended to assess for possible recurrence of elevated ICP secondary to cranio-cerebral disproportion.

A Novel Macroglossia Severity Index for Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE/ SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: We propose the first classification scheme for macroglossia in patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS), the BWS Index of macroGlossia (BIG). METHODS: Patients with molecularly confirmed BWS seen from 2004-2023 were included to develop this system. Relationships among BIG scores, tongue reduction surgery, BWS clinical score, percent mosaicism, and polysomnography findings were examined. RESULTS: Patients were classified from BIG0 to BIG3. BIG0 includes those without macroglossia; BIG1 includes those with macroglossia not protruding beyond the teeth/alveolus; BIG2 includes those with tongue protrusion past the teeth/alveolus to the lips but that can be contained within the mouth; and BIG3 includes those with tongues that protrude beyond the teeth/alveolus and lips but that cannot be closed within the mouth. Of the 459 patients with molecularly confirmed BWS, 266 (58.0%) patients were scored. One hundred and eleven (41.7%) were BIG0, 44 (16.5%) were BIG1, 90 (33.8%) were BIG2, and 21 (7.9%) were BIG3. As scores increased, patients had an increased incidence of tongue reduction surgery (BIG0: 0% versus BIG1: 20.5% versus BIG2: 51.1% versus BIG3: 100%; r=0.66, P <0.01). Higher BIG scores were associated with elevated BWS clinical scores (r=0.68, P <0.01) and increased tissue mosaicism (r=0.50, P <0.01) as well as trends towards worse obstructive apnea-hypopnea indices (r=0.29, P =0.02) and lower SpO 2 nadirs (r=-0.29, P =0.02). CONCLUSION: In this large series of patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, increased BIG score correlates with undergoing tongue reduction surgery and increased phenotypic severity. Adoption of the BIG scoring system may facilitate communication and risk stratification across institutions.

Quality appraisal of clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of primary hyperparathyroidism.

PURPOSE: Multiple groups have created clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). This report provides a rigorous quality assessment using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation Instrument (AGREE II) to identify high-performing guidelines and areas for improvement. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted to isolate CPGs addressing the management of PHPT. Guideline data was extracted and quality ratings were assigned by four independent reviewers. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to ensure interrater reliability. RESULTS: Twelve guidelines were assessed. The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES) guideline had the highest mean scaled score across all domains (73.6 ± 31.4%). No other published guideline achieved a "high" quality designation. The highest scoring domain was "clarity of presentation" (mean 60.5 ± 26.5%). The lowest scoring domain was "applicability" (mean 19.8 ± 18.2%). Scoring reliability was excellent, with ICC ≥ 0.89 for all AGREE II 6 domains. CONCLUSION: Although several working groups have developed guidelines to address PHPT management, only those published by the AAES meet all methodologic quality criteria necessary to ensure incorporation of recommendations into clinical practice. Future guidelines would benefit from the development of tools, resources, monitoring criteria that enhance applicability.

Trends in Blood Mosaicism and Clinical Phenotype Score in Patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Evaluated for Tongue Reduction Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Most patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) have macroglossia with some requiring tongue reduction surgery (TRS). This study reports correlations between levels of affected cells (mosaicism) and BWS clinical score in patients evaluated for TRS. We also show correlations of clinical score and mosaicism with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity. METHODS: Blood mosaicism levels and BWS clinical score were recorded in patients with macroglossia referred to plastic surgery for evaluation. Associations among blood mosaicism, BWS clinical score, TRS, and OSA were assessed with appropriate statistics. RESULTS: Of the 225 patients included, BWS blood testing was available in 128 (56.9%). Mosaicism levels were higher in those who underwent TRS compared to those who did not (85.9 85.9 (56.5-95.9)% vs. 29.7 (2.8-73.1)%, p<0.001). BWS clinical score was also higher in those requiring TRS (9.0 (8.0-11.0) versus 7.0 (6.0-9.0), p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between clinical score and obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (r=0.320, p=0.011). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a clinical score ≥11 had 100% specificity and 36.4% sensitivity for detecting patients requiring TRS. Blood mosaicism ≥80% had 63.6% sensitivity and 83.6% specificity for predicting surgery. A combined criteria of BWS clinical score ≥11 or mosaicism ≥80% had 72.7% sensitivity and 83.6% specificity for predicting TRS. CONCLUSION: Blood mosaicism levels and higher BWS clinical scores appear associated with a greater frequency of having surgery in patients with macroglossia referred for surgical evaluation. Elevations in BWS clinical scoring are associated with increased OSA severity while increased blood mosaicism is not.

The Kaleidoscope of Midface Management in Apert Syndrome: A 23-Year Single-Institution Experience.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses operative trends over time and outcomes of five osteotomy techniques used to treat the Apert midface. Using clinical and photogrammetric data, we present our institution's selection rationale for correcting specific dysmorphologies of the Apert midface based on the individual phenotype. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with Apert syndrome who underwent midface distraction from 2000 to 2023. Patients were temporally divided by the year 2012 to assess differences in surgical approach. Postoperative facial dimension changes, surgical and perioperative characteristics, and complications data were compared across techniques. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with Apert syndrome underwent 41 midface distraction procedures: 23 (56%) in the early cohort and 18 (44%) in the late cohort. The use of segmental osteotomies for frontofacial advancement increased from 0% before 2012 to 61% from 2012 onwards (p<0.001). Monobloc with bipartition was the only technique that decreased intercanthal distance (p=0.016), and Le Fort II with zygomatic repositioning achieved the greatest median change in bilateral canthal tilt of 8.7° (IQR 1.3°, 8.7°; p=0.068). Monobloc with Le Fort II achieved the greatest median change in facial convexity of -34.9° (IQR -43.3°, -29.2°; p=0.031). Severity of complications, stratified by Clavien-Dindo grade, was greater in transcranial than subcranial procedures but similar between segmental and non-segmental osteotomies (p=0.365). CONCLUSIONS: In studying the Apert midface and attempting to resolve its varying functional and aesthetic issues, we document an evolution towards multi-piece osteotomies over time. With an appreciation for differential midface hypoplasia, segmentation is associated with more effective normalization of the Apert face.

Mandibular condyle volumes are associated with facial asymmetry in patients with cleft lip and palate: A retrospective cohort study.

This study compares condylar volumetric asymmetry and facial asymmetry in patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) and controls. The mandibular condyle is important to facial growth, but its role in facial asymmetry for those with CLP has not been described. Condylar volumes and mandibular asymmetry were retrospectively calculated using Mimics Version 23.0 (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) from patients with CLP undergoing computed tomography (CT) imaging and a cohort of controls. A total of 101 participants, 60 with CLP and 41 controls, had mean condylar volumetric asymmetry of 16.4 ± 17.4 % (CLP) and 6.0 ± 4.0 % (controls) (p = 0.0002). Patients with CLP who had clinically significant chin deviation (>4 mm) had more asymmetric condyles than those without significant chin deviation (p = 0.003). The chin deviated toward the smaller condyle in patients with facial asymmetry more often than in patients without facial asymmetry (81 % vs. 62 %, p = 0.033). While controls had some degree of condylar asymmetry, it tended to be milder and not associated with facial asymmetry. There is a greater degree of condylar volumetric asymmetry in patients with CLP compared to individuals in the general population. Clinically significant facial asymmetry in CLP is associated with a higher degree of condylar asymmetry, with the facial midline deviating toward the smaller condyle.

Predicting reoperation and readmission for head and neck free flap patients using machine learning.

BACKGROUND: To develop machine learning (ML) models predicting unplanned readmission and reoperation among patients undergoing free flap reconstruction for head and neck (HN) surgery. METHODS: Data were extracted from the 2012-2019 NSQIP database. eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) was used to develop ML models predicting 30-day readmission and reoperation based on demographic and perioperative factors. Models were validated using 2019 data and evaluated. RESULTS: Four-hundred and sixty-six (10.7%) of 4333 included patients were readmitted within 30 days of initial surgery. The ML model demonstrated 82% accuracy, 63% sensitivity, 85% specificity, and AUC of 0.78. Nine-hundred and four (18.3%) of 4931 patients underwent reoperation within 30 days of index surgery. The ML model demonstrated 62% accuracy, 51% sensitivity, 64% specificity, and AUC of 0.58. CONCLUSION: XGBoost was used to predict 30-day readmission and reoperation for HN free flap patients. Findings may be used to assist clinicians and patients in shared decision-making and improve data collection in future database iterations.

Clinical Research Fellowship Fosters Mentorship, Teamwork, and Productivity: Our 11-Year Experience With a Craniofacial Research Fellowship.

INTRODUCTION: This study describes the development and explores the academic impact of a cleft and craniofacial research fellowship. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Research and career outcomes from 3 cleft and craniofacial surgeons, 14 clinical fellows, and 25 research fellows between 2010 and 2023 were examined. Academic productivity was measured by the number of peer-reviewed publications indexed in PubMed and podium presentations at national/international meetings. Residency match statistics were recorded for eligible research fellows. RESULTS: Over this 14-year period (11 with research fellows), the team produced 500 publications in 96 peer-reviewed journals, with 153 (31%) in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 117 (23%) in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, and 32 (6%) in The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal. Yearly publications increased from 15.3±7.6 per year (before fellowship) to 23.0±5.3 (with 1 fellow) to 38.3±12.9 (2 fellows) to 81.0±5.7 (3 fellows; P<0.001). There was a strong annual linear growth in publications since the beginning the research fellowship position (r=0.88, P<0.001). All (100%) clinical research fellows developed strong relationships with senior surgeons, and all who applied to plastic surgery residency matched a significantly higher success rate than the national average (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Implementing a structured cleft and craniofacial clinical research fellowship was associated with a broad impact across all cleft and craniofacial team members, as reflected by increased academic output and high match rates among fellows. The fellowship also strengthens the talent pipeline into plastic surgery by fostering meaningful mentor/mentee relationships and provides a model that can be adopted in both surgical and nonsurgical fields.

Delayed Postnatal Synostosis without Spheno-occipital Synchondrosis Fusion: A Curious Case of Apert Syndrome.

Apert syndrome classically presents with craniosynostosis at birth, most commonly of the bilateral coronal sutures, which may lead to cephalocranial disproportion and elevated intracranial pressure, the latter of which is associated with optic atrophy, visual loss, and developmental delays. A small number of patients with syndromic craniosynostosis demonstrate open sutures at birth; however, all previously reported patients of this subtype have been reported to develop premature suture fusion in the early postnatal period and/or require cranial vault expansion for increased intracranial pressure. Here, we report on a patient with Apert syndrome who did not have closed sutures at birth, and only began to demonstrate unilateral coronal suture fusion between ages 4 and 6 years, yet neither developed phenotypic signs of craniosynostosis nor evidence of intracranial hypertension. Moreover, despite demonstrating patency of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis, the patient developed progressive midface hypoplasia, requiring a subcranial Le Fort 3 advancement with external distraction at age 9. Now at skeletal maturity, this patient has a normal cranial shape and will likely never require cranial vault surgery for functional or aesthetic concerns. We are not aware of any prior reports of a patient with Apert syndrome who did not require intracranial surgery over long-term follow-up.

Autologous Cranioplasty Using a Dental SafeScraper Device.

SUMMARY: Conventional methods to reconstruct cortical bone defects introduced by pediatric cranial vault remodeling (CVR) procedures have shortcomings. Use of bone burr shavings as graft material leads to variable ossification, and harvesting split-thickness cortical grafts is time-intensive and often not possible in thin infant calvaria. Since 2013, the authors' team has used the SafeScraper, originally developed as a dental instrument, to harvest cortical and cancellous bone grafts during CVR. The authors assessed the effectiveness of this technique by analyzing postoperative ossification using computed tomography scans of 52 patients, comparing cohorts treated with the SafeScraper versus those who received conventional methods of cranioplasty during fronto-orbital advancement. The SafeScraper cohort had a greater reduction in total surface area of all defects (-83.1% ± 14.9 versus -68.9% ± 29.8; P = 0.034), demonstrating a greater and more consistent degree of cranial defect ossification compared with conventional methods of cranioplasty, suggesting potential adaptability of this tool. This is the first study that describes the technique and efficacy of the SafeScraper in reducing cranial defects in CVR. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Radioactive Iodine in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic AGREE II Clinical Practice Guideline Appraisal.

OBJECTIVE: Identify and appraise clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for radioactive iodine (RAI) indications in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), and the treatment for radioactive iodine refractory (RAI-R) DTC using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tool. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (Pubmed), Ovid (EMBASE), and Scopus. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify CPGs addressing RAI in DTC. CPGs were appraised by 4 independent reviewers in 6 distinct areas of quality. Scaled domain scores were subsequently calculated for each domain. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for each domain to assess interrater reliability. RESULTS: Sixteen guidelines were found addressing RAI indications for DTC. Of these 16, 9 also addressed the treatment of RAI-R DTC. A further 6 unique guidelines were identified that exclusively address RAI-R DTC, bringing the total number of guidelines to 22. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines for adult thyroid cancer were the highest scoring with a mean score of 83.5%. Two guidelines scored >60% in 5 or more domains, qualifying as "high" quality: ATA and British Thyroid Association. The highest scoring domain was domain 4: clarity of presentation (80.4%) while the lowest scoring domain was domain 5: applicability (38.6%). CONCLUSION: Of the 22 guidelines identified, only two were "high quality." CPGs exclusively addressing the treatment of RAI-R DTC were weak with most guidelines scoring in the "low" quality range. This report reveals an unmet need for rigorously developed guidelines addressing indications for RAI in DTC, as well as the treatment for RAI-R DTC.

Management of the Difficult Airway: An Appraisal of Clinical Practice Guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: Management of the difficult airway can be a challenging process, which necessitates actionable recommendations from well-established guidelines. Herein, clinical practice guideline (CPG) quality is evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic literature search was performed using Scopus, EMBASE, and MEDLINE via PubMed. SETTING: Literature database. METHODS: Data were abstracted from relevant guidelines and appraised by 4 expert reviewers in the 6 domains of quality defined by AGREE II. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated across domains to quantify interrater reliability. RESULTS: Twelve guidelines met the inclusion criteria. With a mean quality score of 83.1%, the highest quality guideline was authored by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Low-quality content was observed in CPGs authored by the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists (JSA) and the Chinese Collaboration Group for Emergency Airway Management (CCGEAM). Overall, deficits were most pronounced in domains describing the involvement of stakeholders, developmental rigor, and editorial independence. These findings were consistent among the panel of independent reviewers, with high ICC inter-rater reliability scores of 58.0% to 70.0% for the referenced domains. CONCLUSION: By providing a comprehensive appraisal of guidelines, this report may serve as a reference for clinicians seeking to understand and improve upon the developmental quality of difficult airway management resources. According to AGREE II criteria for the quality of the guideline creation process, the 2022 ASA guideline outperforms its predecessors.

The Use of Resorbable Fixation for Posterior Cranial Vault Distraction Osteogenesis.

SUMMARY: Posterior vault distraction osteogenesis (PVDO) traditionally relies on the use of cranial distractors affixed with titanium screws to the posterior cranial vault transport segment to allow for expansion of intracranial volume. We describe a novel technique using the Synthes RAPIDSORB IPS resorbable fixation system for stable fixation of the distraction hardware for PVDO. In a retrospective review of our experience with the IPS system, there was no instance of hardware or fixation failure. This off-label use of the IPS system results in a significant reduction in operative time for hardware removal while allowing for a more limited dissection, which can help reduce devascularization of the bony regenerate, bony relapse, and other complications.

Intraoperative angiography in neurosurgery: temporal trend, access site, and operative indication considerations from a 6-year institutional experience.

BACKGROUND: Historically, the transfemoral approach (TFA) has been the most common access site for cerebral intraoperative angiography (IOA). However, in line with trends in cardiac interventional vascular access preferences, the transradial approach (TRA) and transulnar approach (TUA) have been gaining popularity owing to favorable safety and patient satisfaction outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of TRA/TUA and TFA for cerebral and spinal IOA at an institutional level over a 6-year period. METHODS: Between July 2016 and December 2022, 317 angiograms were included in our analysis, comprising 60 TRA, 10 TUA, 243 TFA, and 4 transpopliteal approach cases. Fluoroscopy time, contrast dose, reference air kerma, and dose-area products per target vessel catheterized were primary endpoints. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to evaluate predictors of elevated contrast dose and radiation exposure and to assess time trends in access site selection. RESULTS: Contrast dose and radiation exposure metrics per vessel catheterized were not significantly different between access site groups when controlling for patient position, operative region, 3D rotational angiography use, and different operators. Access site was not a significant independent predictor of elevated radiation exposure or contrast dose. There was a significant relationship between case number and operative indication over the study period (P<0.001), with a decrease in the proportion of cases for aneurysm treatment offset by increases in total cases for the management of arteriovenous malformation, AVF, and moyamoya disease. CONCLUSIONS: TRA and TUA are safe and effective access site options for neurointerventional procedures that are increasingly used for IOA.

Sociodemographic Disparities in Craniosynostosis: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Given the consequences of delayed treatment and diagnosis of craniosynostosis, this study reviews the literature on sociodemographic risk factors and disparities associated with delayed craniosynostosis treatment. DESIGN: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search of PubMed/Medline and Embase was performed by two independent reviewers. Included studies discussed craniosynostosis health disparities. Demographic characteristics and outcomes were analyzed. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENTS: Patients with craniosynostosis. INTERVENTIONS: Standard surgical intervention for craniosynostosis. RESULTS: Our literature search yielded 273 studies, of which 18 were included for analysis. Included studies represented data from 31 256 U.S. patients with craniosynostosis. Sixty percent of patients (n = 16 510) were White, 13.8% were Hispanic/Latino, 6.2% were Black/African American, 1.3% were Asian, 0.3% were American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Average age at surgery was 6.36 months for White patients, 10.63 months for Black patients, and 9.18 months for Hispanic patients. Minority racial and/or ethnic status was a risk factor for delayed presentation, and increased incidence of open surgery, complication rates, hospital charges, operative time, anesthesia duration, and hospital length of stay. Government-funded health insurance was associated with delayed intervention and increased complications. CONCLUSIONS: Minority craniosynostosis patients experience delays in intervention and increased complication rates. Our findings highlight the importance of expedited and equitable referrals, screenings, and treatment, and the need for a standardized approach to investigating longitudinal demographic and outcomes data in this population.

Feasibility and safety of transradial intraoperative angiography for neurosurgery: An institutional experience.

BACKGROUND: Transradial approach for neuroangiography is becoming increasingly popular because of the advantages demonstrated by interventional cardiology. Many advantages of radial access could be applied to intraoperative angiography. OBJECTIVE: To report our institutional experience with transradial and transulnar intraoperative angiography, and evaluate its safety and feasibility. METHODS: Intraoperative angiography through upper extremity vessels was attempted in 70 consecutive patients between April 2019 and December 2022. Data on patient characteristics and surgical indications, procedural variables, and complications were collected. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients who underwent intraoperative angiography, 58.6% were female, and the mean age was 52.9 ± 14.0 years. The reason for surgery was aneurysm clipping in 42 (60.0%) cases. In total, 55 patients (78.6%) were positioned supine, 13 (18.6%) prone, and two (2.9%) were positioned three-quarters prone. Access was attempted via the radial artery in 60 (85.7%) patients and the ulnar artery in 10 (14.3%) patients. The procedure was successful in 69 of 70 cases (98.6%), as one required conversion to transfemoral approach due to significant spasm in the proximal right radial artery. The median fluoroscopy time was 8 min. No procedure was aborted, and no patient experienced access-site or angiography-related complications. Intraoperative angiography altered the surgical management in 3 (4.3%) cases. Re-access for follow-up angiography was unsuccessful in three (13.6%) of 22 due to radial artery occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Our institutional experience supports that transradial and transulnar intraoperative angiography is safe and feasible during neurovascular procedures for various indications and positions.