Committee on Surgical Combat Casualty Care position statement: Neurosurgical capability for the optimal management of traumatic brain injury during deployed operations.

BACKGROUND: Experiences over the last three decades of war have demonstrated a high incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in a persistent need for a neurosurgical capability within the deployed theater of operations. Despite this, no doctrinal requirement for a deployed neurosurgical capability exists. Through an iterative process, the Joint Trauma System Committee on Surgical Combat Casualty Care (CoSCCC) developed a position statement to inform medical and nonmedical military leaders about the risks of the lack of a specialized neurosurgical capability. METHODS: The need for deployed neurosurgical capability position statement was identified during the spring 2021 CoSCCC meeting. A triservice working group of experienced forward-deployed caregivers developed a preliminary statement. An extensive iterative review process was then conducted to ensure that the intended messaging was clear to senior medical leaders and operational commanders. To provide additional context and a civilian perspective, statement commentaries were solicited from civilian clinical experts including a recently retired military trauma surgeon boarded in neurocritical care, a trauma surgeon instrumental in developing the Brain Injury Guidelines, a practicing neurosurgeon with world-renowned expertise in TBI, and the chair of the Committee on Trauma. RESULTS: After multiple revisions, the position statement was finalized, and approved by the CoSCCC membership in February 2023. Challenges identified include (1) military neurosurgeon attrition, (2) the lack of a doctrinal neurosurgical capabilities requirement during deployed combat operations, and (3) the need for neurosurgical telemedicine capability and in-theater computed tomography scans to triage TBI casualties requiring neurosurgical care. CONCLUSION: Challenges identified regarding neurosurgical capabilities within the deployed trauma system include military neurosurgeon attrition and the lack of a doctrinal requirement for neurosurgical capability during deployed combat operations. To mitigate risk to the force in a future peer-peer conflict, several evidence-based recommendations are made. The solicited civilian commentaries strengthen these recommendations by putting them into the context of civilian TBI management. This neurosurgical capabilities position statement is intended to be a forcing function and a communication tool to inform operational commanders and military medical leaders on the use of these teams on current and future battlefields. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level V.

The diagnostic accuracy of 332 incisional biopsies in patients with malignant tumors in the musculoskeletal system.

BACKGROUND: It is known that specimen collection followed by histopathological workup is the core of evidence-based medical therapy of musculoskeletal tumors. There exist many controversies about how a biopsy should be performed. While some centers recommend minimal invasive biopsy procedures, mostly the core needle biopsy (CNB), others prefer the incisional biopsy. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to determine the accuracy of incisional biopsy for malignant tumors in the musculoskeletal system. Moreover, advantages and disadvantages to other biopsy methods are discussed. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center study about 844 incisional biopsies (benign and malignant) analysis the diagnostic accuracy of 332 malignant tumors, concerning the final histopathological result. In addition, surgical complications are analyzed to find the best way to plan and treat patients timely and correct. Secondary endpoints are the patients age, the pure operation time, as well as the type of tumor, and the subsequent therapy. RESULTS: In summary, incisional biopsy corresponded a sensitivity of 100% for malignancy in 844 incisional biopsies and a specificity of 97.6% in 332 malignant tumors, but it features greater operative expense (incision/suture 23.5 min) and the risk of general anesthesia. CONCLUSION: The method of biopsy should be tailored to the individual patient and the experience of the center performing the procedure.

Formulation and Production of Tattoo Ink Stock Products for Cosmetic and Medical Applications: Pigment Raw Materials, Ingredients, Auxiliary Substances and Contaminants.

Permanent makeup (PMU) is a descendant of tattoo ink products and used with the intention of giving the face more advantageous contours. PMU makes it possible to condense eyelashes and eyebrows with fine lines or to visually correct them with cleverly placed contour lines. Even the correction of most subtle irregularities on the skin is possible through skillful pigmentation. Microblading describes a special technique in which the skin is carved with a certain "needle blade." The ink is then applied on the fresh wound and massaged into the cuts in order to depose the pigments in the skin. The field of medical tattooing belongs to PMU as well. Hence, PMU can be regarded as versatile as classic tattooing. Investigating online advertisements, the frequent use of the terms biological-organic or mineral pigments is notable. In opposition to the claim of being permanent, the cosmetical tattoo is often considered temporal. Web-based statements claim the use of special pigments for PMU, 100% free of heavy metals and therefore not aging to reddish, bluish, or greenish altered marks after healing. Statements are made to convey safety to consumers. Facts are mixed with fiction. This review will deal with the general structure of tattoo colorants and explain the differences and parallels to PMU ink. Certain raw material groups will be clarified further, and possible risks linked to certain material groups shall be listed and explained as well.

Return-to-active-duty rates after anterior cervical spine surgery in military pilots.

OBJECTIVESymptomatic cervical spondylosis with or without radiculopathy can ground an active-duty military pilot if left untreated. Surgically treated cervical spondylosis may be a waiverable condition and allow return to flying status, but a waiver is based on expert opinion and not on recent published data. Previous studies on rates of return to active duty status following anterior cervical spine surgery have not differentiated these rates among military specialty occupations. No studies to date have documented the successful return of US military active-duty pilots who have undergone anterior cervical spine surgery with cervical fusion, disc replacement, or a combination of the two. The aim of this study was to identify the rate of return to an active duty flight status among US military pilots who had undergone anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or total disc replacement (TDR) for symptomatic cervical spondylosis.METHODSThe authors performed a single-center retrospective review of all active duty pilots who had undergone either ACDF or TDR at a military hospital between January 2010 and June 2017. Descriptive statistics were calculated for both groups to evaluate demographics with specific attention to preoperative flight stats, days to recommended clearance by neurosurgery, and days to return to active duty flight status.RESULTSAuthors identified a total of 812 cases of anterior cervical surgery performed between January 1, 2010, and June 1, 2017, among active duty, reserves, dependents, and Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs patients. There were 581 ACDFs and 231 TDRs. After screening for military occupation and active duty status, there were a total of 22 active duty pilots, among whom were 4 ACDFs, 17 TDRs, and 2 hybrid constructs. One patient required a second surgery. Six (27.3%) of the 22 pilots were nearing the end of their career and electively retired within a year of surgery. Of the remaining 16 pilots, 11 (68.8%) returned to active duty flying status. The average time to be released by the neurosurgeon was 128 days, and the time to return to flying was 287 days. The average follow-up period was 12.3 months.CONCLUSIONSAdhering to military service-specific waiver guidelines, military pilots may return to active duty flight status after undergoing ACDF or TDR for symptomatic cervical spondylosis.

Ewing Sarcoma of the Spine: Prognostic Variables for Survival and Local Control in Surgically Treated Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter, ambispective observational study. OBJECTIVE: To quantify mortality and local recurrence after surgical treatment of spinal Ewing sarcoma (ES) and to determine whether an Enneking appropriate procedure and surgical margins (en bloc resection with wide/marginal margins) are associated with improved prognosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Treatment of primary ES of the spine is complex. Ambiguity remains regarding the role and optimal type of surgery in the treatment of spinal ES. METHODS: The AOSpine Knowledge Forum Tumor developed a multicenter database including demographics, diagnosis, treatment, mortality, and recurrence rate data for spinal ES. Patients were stratified based on surgical margins and Enneking appropriateness. Survival and recurrence were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with primary spinal ES underwent surgery. Enneking appropriateness of surgery was known for 55 patients; 24 (44%) treated Enneking appropriately (EA) and 31 (56%) treated Enneking inappropriately (EI). A statistically significant difference in favor of EA-treated patients was found with regards to survival (P = 0.034). Neoadjuvant and postoperative chemotherapy was significantly associated with increased survival (P = 0.008). Local recurrence occurred in 22% (N = 5) of patients with an EA procedure versus 38% (N = 11) of patients with an EI procedure. The timing of chemotherapy treatment was significantly different between the Enneking cohorts (P < 0.001) and all EA-treated patients received chemotherapy treatment. Although, local recurrence was not significantly different between Enneking cohorts (P = 0.140), intralesional surgical margins and patients who received a previous spine tumor operation were associated with increased local recurrence (P = 0.025 and P = 0.018, respectively). CONCLUSION: Surgery should be undertaken when an en bloc resection with wide/marginal margins is feasible. An EA surgery correlates with improved survival, but the impact of other prognostic factors needs to be evaluated. En bloc resection with wide/marginal margins is associated with local control. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Noncalcified Hypertrophic Ligamentum Flavum Causing Severe Cervical Stenosis and Myelopathy: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Calcified hypertrophic ligamentum flavum is a known entity that causes myeloradiculopathy of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine and is seen more commonly in Asian populations. Noncalcified hypertrophic changes are less common and may mimic other epidural space-occupying lesions. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 59-year-old woman presented with progressive myelopathy, and imaging studies were consistent with an epidural space-occupying lesion from C4-T3. The patient underwent posterior cervical decompression and fusion with instrumentation. Pathology specimens revealed noncalcified hypertrophic ligamentum flavum. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, noncalcified hypertrophic ligamentum flavum causing progressive cervical myelopathy has never been reported in the English literature. This entity should be considered in cases with epidural masses causing progressive myelopathy.

Making innovative tattoo ink products with improved safety: possible and impossible ingredients in practical usage.

Today's tattoo inks are no longer just simple solids in liquid suspension. Nowadays, these inks are high-tech dispersions made from finely spread pigments in a binder-solvent mixture. These so-called colour dispersions must follow the modern standards of tattooing, which are increasing every year. They must be rich in chromophoric pigments and yet fluid, they must not dry rapidly, and there should be no occurrence of any sedimentation, even during longer tattoo seasons. An innovative tattoo ink should enable long-lasting, brilliant tattoos without a negative impact on the artist's workflow and of course without endangering the consumer. The high standard in tattoos, regarding the motives and techniques, that is witnessed today could not be achieved by the artists without quality tools and modern tattoo ink. This article will give the reader a brief overview of the different ingredients of tattoo ink and of the function of binding agents and solvents in modern tattoo ink as well as describe what additives are used to achieve the desired behaviour during application. Furthermore, the article will take a look into the pigments that are used in tattoo ink and show why certain pigments are not suited for tattoo ink. The differences, advantages and disadvantages of organic and inorganic pigments will be explained.

Symptomatic lumbar osteochondroma treated via a multidisciplinary military surgical team: case report and review of the literature.

The authors describe the case of a giant osteochondroma emanating from the L5 vertebral body and extending into the retroperitoneum of a 40-year-old man, causing low back pain. Osteochondromas are benign bony tumors that typically occur within the appendicular skeleton, although in the sporadic form, up to 4% occur in the spine. A review of the English language literature has returned 44 cases of lumbar osteochondroma, including the present example. The lesions were sporadic in 81% of cases. Mean age of presentation overall is 39.5 years, with a mean age of 18.4 years (range 8-34 years) for hereditary cases and 45.7 years (range 11-81 years) for solitary lesions. Of the instances where gender was reported, 64% were male. The most common level of origin was L4 (38%). The most common anatomic site of origin was the inferior articular process (one-third). Of those lesions treated operatively, 46% underwent simple decompression, with 22% requiring decompression and fusion. This particular lesion was resected via a transperitoneal approach performed by a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons, and urologists. The bony tumor measured 6.1 × 7.8 × 7.7 cm. Removal of the lesion resulted in a significant improvement of the patient's symptoms.

Long-term natural history of neurofibromatosis Type 2-associated intracranial tumors.

OBJECT: Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) is a heritable tumor predisposition syndrome that leads to the development of multiple intracranial tumors, including meningiomas and schwannomas. Because the natural history of these tumors has not been determined, their optimal management has not been established. To define the natural history of NF2-associated intracranial tumors and to optimize management strategies, the authors evaluated long-term clinical and radiographic data in patients with NF2. METHODS: Consecutive NF2 patients with a minimum of 4 years of serial clinical and MRI follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: Seventeen patients, 9 males and 8 females, were included in this analysis (mean follow-up 9.5±4.8 years, range 4.0-20.7 years). The mean age at initial evaluation was 33.2±15.5 years (range 12.3-57.6 years). Patients harbored 182 intracranial neoplasms, 164 of which were assessable for growth rate analysis (18 vestibular schwannomas [VSs], 11 nonvestibular cranial nerve [CN] schwannomas, and 135 meningiomas) and 152 of which were assessable for growth pattern analysis (15 VSs, 9 nonvestibular CN schwannomas, and 128 meningiomas). New tumors developed in patients over the course of the imaging follow-up: 66 meningiomas, 2 VSs, and 2 nonvestibular CN schwannomas. Overall, 45 tumors (29.6%) exhibited linear growth, 17 tumors (11.2%) exhibited exponential growth, and 90 tumors (59.2%) displayed a saltatory growth pattern characterized by alternating periods of growth and quiescence (mean quiescent period 2.3±2.1 years, range 0.4-11.7 years). Further, the saltatory pattern was the most frequently identified growth pattern for each tumor type: meningiomas 60.9%, VSs 46.7%, and nonvestibular schwannoma 55.6%. A younger age at the onset of NF2-related symptoms (p=0.01) and female sex (p=0.05) were associated with an increased growth rate in meningiomas. The identification of saltatory growth in meningiomas increased with the duration of follow-up (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Neurofibromatosis Type 2-associated intracranial tumors most frequently demonstrated a saltatory growth pattern. Because new tumors can develop in NF2 patients over their lifetime and because radiographic progression and symptom formation are unpredictable, resection may be best reserved for symptom-producing tumors. Moreover, establishing the efficacy of nonsurgical therapeutic interventions must be based on long-term follow-up (several years).

A von Hippel-Lindau disease-associated microcystic adenoma of the ethmoid sinus: case report.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: We present a unique case of an anterior cranial base von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL)-associated microcystic neoplasm. To determine the lesion's relationship with VHL and its appropriate management, we discuss its salient clinical, pathological, and molecular features. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old woman with VHL presented with a 3-month history of phantosmia. Serial magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed a lesion within the ethmoid and frontal sinus region that was first evident 18 months before symptom development and demonstrated progressive growth over the interval period. The lesion was resected via a transbasal approach. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed a microcystic lesion composed of bland clear cells and underlying endothelial cells consistent with a VHL-associated microcystic neoplasm that are not known to metastasize. Molecular testing demonstrated loss of heterozygosity of the VHL locus, verifying the tumor as a VHL-related neoplasm. CONCLUSION: Because primary VHL-associated microcystic tumors in the anterior cranial base have not been described previously, the natural history of these tumors remains unclear. Based on the benign features of these lesions, they can be managed conservatively with close observation and surgical intervention reserved for those that produce symptoms.

Outcomes of 33 patients from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan undergoing bilateral or bicompartmental craniectomy.

OBJECT: There are no published long-term data for patients with penetrating head injury treated with bilateral supratentorial craniectomy, or supra- and infratentorial craniectomy. The authors report their experience with 33 patients treated with bilateral or bicompartmental craniectomy from the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. METHODS: An exploratory analysis of Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores at 6 months in 33 patients was performed. Follow-up lasting a median of more than 2 years was performed in 30 (91%) of these patients. The association of GOS score with categorical variables was explored using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test or Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used for ordinal/continuous data. To provide a clinically meaningful format to present GOS scores with categorical variables, patients with GOS scores of 1-3 were categorized as having a poor outcome and those with scores of 4 and 5 as having a good outcome. This analysis does not include the patients who died in theater or in Germany who underwent bilateral decompressive craniectomy because those figures have not been released due to security concerns. RESULTS: All patients were men with a median age of 24 years (range 19-46 years) and a median initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 5 (range 3-14). At 6 months, 9 characteristics were statistically significant: focus of the initial injury, systemic infection, initial GCS score, initial GCS score excluding patients with a GCS score of 3, GCS score on arrival to the US, GCS score on dismissal from the medical center, Injury Severity Score, and patients with cerebrovascular injury. Six factors were significant at long-term follow-up: focus of initial injury, systemic infection, initial GCS score excluding patients with a GCS score of 3, GCS score on arrival to the US, and GCS score on dismissal from the medical center. At long-term follow-up, 7 (23%) of 30 patients had died, 5 (17%) of 30 had a GOS score of 2 or 3, and 18 (60%) of 30 had a GOS score of 4 or 5. CONCLUSIONS: In this selected group of patients who underwent bilateral or bicompartmental craniectomy, 60% are independent at long-term follow-up. Patients with bifrontal injury fared best. Systemic infection and cerebrovascular injury corresponded with a worse outcome.

Early decompressive craniectomy for severe penetrating and closed head injury during wartime.

OBJECT: Decompressive craniectomy has defined this era of damage-control wartime neurosurgery. Injuries that in previous conflicts were treated in an expectant manner are now aggressively decompressed at the far-forward Combat Support Hospital and transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in Bethesda for definitive care. The purpose of this paper is to examine the baseline characteristics of those injured warriors who received decompressive craniectomies. The importance of this procedure will be emphasized and guidance provided to current and future neurosurgeons deployed in theater. METHODS: The authors retrospectively searched a database for all soldiers injured in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom between April 2003 and October 2008 at WRAMC and NNMC. Criteria for inclusion in this study included either a closed or penetrating head injury suffered during combat operations in either Iraq or Afghanistan with subsequent neurosurgical evaluation at NNMC or WRAMC. Exclusion criteria included all cases in which primary demographic data could not be verified. Primary outcome data included the type and mechanism of injury, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and injury severity score (ISS) at admission, and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at discharge, 6 months, and 1-2 years. RESULTS: Four hundred eight patients presented with head injury during the study period. In this population, a total of 188 decompressive craniectomies were performed (154 for penetrating head injury, 22 for closed head injury, and 12 for unknown injury mechanism). Patients who underwent decompressive craniectomies in the combat theater had significantly lower initial GCS scores (7.7 +/- 4.2 vs 10.8 +/- 4.0, p < 0.05) and higher ISSs (32.5 +/- 9.4 vs 26.8 +/- 11.8, p < 0.05) than those who did not. When comparing the GOS scores at hospital discharge, 6 months, and 1-2 years after discharge, those receiving decompressive craniectomies had significantly lower scores (3.0 +/- 0.9 vs 3.7 +/- 0.9, 3.5 +/- 1.2 vs 4.0 +/- 1.0, and 3.7 +/- 1.2 vs 4.4 +/- 0.9, respectively) than those who did not undergo decompressive craniectomies. That said, intragroup analysis indicated consistent improvement for those with craniectomy with time, allowing them, on average, to participate in and improve from rehabilitation (p < 0.05). Overall, 83% of those for whom follow-up data are available achieved a 1-year GOS score of greater than 3. CONCLUSIONS: This study of the provision of early decompressive craniectomy in a military population that sustained severe penetrating and closed head injuries represents one of the largest to date in both the civilian and military literature. The findings suggest that patients who undergo decompressive craniectomy had worse injuries than those receiving craniotomy and, while not achieving the same outcomes as those with a lesser injury, did improve with time. The authors recommend hemicraniectomy for damage control to protect patients from the effects of brain swelling during the long overseas transport to their definitive care, and it should be conducted with foresight concerning future complications and reconstructive surgical procedures.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography identifies symptomatic cavum septum pellucidum cyst: case report.

OBJECTIVE: Cavum Septum Pellucidum (CSP) cysts are considered normal anatomic variants, comprising as many as 15% of the adult and 85% of pediatric populations. On rare occasions, the cavum can obstruct CSF outflow from the lateral ventricles causing elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) and headaches. The purpose of this paper is to present a challenging case of new onset symptomatic CSP in a previously healthy adult male without papilledema and elevated ICP detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 44 year-old man presented to the neurology service with debilitating positional headaches that were mitigated solely by recumbent positioning. A magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) of the brain revealed a cavum septum pellucidum. A lumbar puncture was performed and revealed normal ICP. No papilledema was evident on fundoscopic examination. A CSF flow study revealed normal dye opacification pattern without evidence of CSF leak. INTERVENTION: Without other clinical indicators of high ICP, but a history suspicious for symptomatic CSP, TCD study was performed and revealed abnormally low cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFV's) and significantly elevated pulsatility indices (PI's) for patient's age indicative of high ICP. Endoscopic fenestration of the septum pellucidum was performed improving the patient's headaches and normalization of the PI's and CBFV's to normal (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic CSP is a difficult diagnosis to make based on existing diagnostic paradigm. TCD in the absence of other objective confirmatory studies, can aid in the diagnosis and provide information about the success of fenestration of the cavum septum.