Women in neurosurgery: a cross-sectional demographic study of female neurosurgery residents in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Over the past several decades, the number of women applying to medical school has increased significantly. However, parallel recruitment and retention of women in the field of neurosurgery continues to lag. The aim of this study was to identify the ratio and trend of female neurosurgery residents to the total number of residents during the past 7 years across all US neurosurgery residency programs. METHODS: The authors conducted a cross-sectional demographic study investigating the ratio of female neurosurgery residents to the total number of neurosurgery residents across US neurosurgical programs from 2016 to 2022. Using the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database, all neurosurgical residency programs in the US were collected. Data were further divided into postgraduate years 1-7 to dissect the data collection per residency year. One hundred fourteen programs were included in the study. RESULTS: The number of female neurosurgery residents was 71 (29.8%) in 2022, 58 (25.2%) in 2021, 65 (27.9%) in 2020, 62 (27.3%) in 2019, 46 (21.4%) in 2018, 33 (15.2%) in 2017, and 34 (15.9%) in 2016. The trend line showed a significant increase using the Mann-Kendall test (p = 0.035). The total number of international medical graduate (IMG) female neurosurgery residents was 3 (4.2%) in 2022, 4 (6.9%) in 2021, 3 (4.6%) in 2020, 1 (1.6%) in 2019, 1 (2.2%) in 2018, 1 (3%) in 2017, and 2 (5.9%) in 2016. CONCLUSIONS: The number of women matching into neurosurgery residency programs is modestly increasing, especially for IMG women. Future steps toward fewer gender disparities should focus on career advancement and leadership diversification in organized and academic neurosurgery.

Onyx Versus Particles for Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization in Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has recently emerged as a treatment option for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). It is considered a simple and potentially safe endovascular procedure. OBJECTIVE: To compare between 2 different embolic agents; onyx (ethylene vinyl alcohol) and emboparticles (polyvinyl alcohol particles-PVA) for endovascular treatment of cSDH. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent MMA embolization for cSDH treatment in 2 comprehensive centers between August 2018 and December 2021. Primary outcomes were failure of embolization and need for rescue surgical evacuation. RESULTS: Among 97 MMA embolizations, 49 (50.5%) received onyx and 48 (49.5%) received PVA. The presence of acute or subacute on cSDH was higher in the PVA group 11/49 (22.5%) vs 30/48 (62.5%), respectively, P < .001. There were no significant differences between both groups regarding failure of embolization 6/49 (12.2%) vs 12/48 (25.0%), respectively, P = .112, and need of unplanned rescue surgical evacuation 5/49 (10.2%) vs 8/48 (16.7%), respectively, P = .354. Hematoma thickness at late follow-up was significantly smaller in the PVA group 7.8 mm vs 4.6 mm, respectively; P = .017. CONCLUSION: Both onyx and PVA as embolic agents for cSDH can be used safely and have comparable clinical and surgical outcomes.

Carole A. Miller, MD: Matriarch of the Ohio State University's Department of Neurosurgery.

Carole A. Miller, M.D., was born (May 7, 1939) and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She obtained her undergraduate and medical degrees at the Ohio State University. She went on to complete her neurosurgical training at the Ohio State University Medical Center. After her first faculty role at the University of Michigan (1971), she returned to the Ohio State University Medical Center (1975) where she spent nearly 4 decades. She thrived in the specialty, achieving in every facet of academic practice including scientific contributions, graduate medical education, clinical care, and leadership roles within her academic department, locally, and at the national level of organized neurosurgery. Dr. Miller passed away peacefully, on October 28, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer. Based on her essential programmatic and specialty-related contributions, she is remembered as the 'founding mother' of neurosurgery at the Ohio State University.

Predictors of aneurysm occlusion following treatment with the WEB device: systematic review and case series.

The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is becoming increasingly popular for treatment of wide-neck aneurysms. As experience with this device grows, it is important to identify factors associated with occlusion following WEB treatment to guide decision making and screen patients at high risk for recurrence. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with adequate aneurysm occlusion following WEB device treatment in the neurosurgical literature and in our case series. A systematic review of the present literature was conducted to identify studies related to the prediction of WEB device occlusion. In addition, a retrospective review of our institutional data for patients treated with the WEB device was performed. Demographics, aneurysm characteristics, procedural variables, and 6-month follow-up angiographic outcomes were recorded. Seven articles totaling 450 patients with 456 aneurysms fit our criteria. Factors in the literature associated with inadequate occlusion included larger size, increased neck width, partial intrasaccular thrombosis, irregular shape, and tobacco use. Our retrospective review identified 43 patients with 45 aneurysms. A total of 91.1% of our patients achieved adequate occlusion at a mean follow-up time of 7.32 months. Increasing degree of contrast stasis after WEB placement on the post-deployment angiogram was significantly associated with adequate occlusion on follow-up angiogram (p = 0.005) and with Raymond-Roy classification (p = 0.048), but not with retreatment (p = 0.617). In our systematic review and case series totaling 450 patients with 456 aneurysms, contrast stasis on post-deployment angiogram was identified as a predictor of adequate aneurysm occlusion, while morphological characteristics such as larger size and wide neck negatively impact occlusion.

Simultaneous bilateral mechanical thrombectomy in a patient with COVID-19.

Owing to systemic inflammation and widespread vessel endotheliopathy, SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to confer an increased risk of cryptogenic stroke, particularly in patients without any traditional risk factors. In this report, we present a case of a 67-year-old female who presented with acute stroke from bilateral anterior circulation large vessel occlusions, and was incidentally found to be COVID-positive on routine hospital admission screening. The patient had a large area of penumbra bilaterally, and the decision was made to pursue bilateral simultaneous thrombectomy, with two endovascular neurosurgeons working on each side to achieve a faster time to recanalization. Our study highlights the utility and efficacy of simultaneous bilateral thrombectomy, and this treatment paradigm should be considered for use in patients who present with multifocal large vessel occlusions.

Biographies of international women leaders in neurosurgery.

We received so many biographies of women neurosurgery leaders for this issue that only a selection could be condensed here. In all of them, the essence of a leader shines through. Many are included as "first" of their country or color or other achievement. All of them are included as outstanding-in clinical, academic, and organized neurosurgery. Two defining features are tenacity and service. When faced with shocking discrimination, or numbing indifference, they ignored it or fought valiantly. When choosing their life's work, they chose service, often of the most neglected-those with pain, trauma, and disability. These women inspire and point the way to a time when the term "women leaders" as an exception is unnecessary.-Katharine J. Drummond, MD, on behalf of this month's topic editors.

Venous infarction secondary to congestive encephalopathy from central venous occlusive disease in a chronic hemodialysis patient: A case report.

Central venous occlusive disease secondary to chronic hemodialysis catheterization rarely progresses to encephalopathy, cerebral infarction, and/or hemorrhage. A 59-year-old male with 15 years of haemodialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease presented with acutely altered mental status, extensor rigidity with left hemiparesis and equal, but small and nonreactive pupils. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated infarction and cerebral edema. Cranial angiogram through right brachial artery injection revealed right subclavian vein opacification via a patent AV-fistula and retrograde flow to the right internal jugular vein and superior sagittal sinus secondary to occlusion of the brachiocephalic vein. All cerebral and right upper extremity venous drainage occurred via the contralateral venous outflow tract. Internal carotid artery injections revealed significant venous congestion. Despite successful angioplasty with stenting and resolution of venous flow reversal, the patient failed to recover neurologically. The devastating nature of the presented case emphasizes the need for frequent neurologic evaluation of such patients to avoid catastrophic cerebrovascular injury.

Scoring of Middle Cerebral Artery Collaterals Predicts RAPID CT-Perfusion Analysis and Short-Term Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Thrombectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The rapid processing of perfusion and diffusion (RAPID) system for automating perfusion and diffusion data from head computed tomography has improved acute ischemic stroke treatment by quickly and accurately identifying those patients who may benefit from thrombectomy. Collateral scoring (CS) of cerebral arteries using computed tomography angiography (CTA) has proven useful in predicting postintervention infarct volumes and functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. Here we evaluate the relationship between CS and RAPID software in an effort to augment triage and provide improved predictability of functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of 77 mechanical thrombectomy patients from January 2017 to October 2018 with large vessel occlusions of the anterior circulation who underwent RAPID and CTA imaging was performed. Baseline characteristics, RAPID data, CS, modified Rankin Scale score, and procedural data were collected. magnetic resonance imaging was used to calculate the postintervention stroke volume. RESULTS: CS inversely correlates with the volume of RAPID cerebral blood flow <30% (ß= -18.131, 95% confidence interval [CI] -24.384 to -11.879, P < 0.001), RAPID Tmax >6s (ß= -22.205, 95% CI -39.125 to -5.285, P = 0.011), postintervention stroke volume (ß= -30.637, 95% CI -41.554 to -19.720, P < 0.001), and discharge National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (ß= -1.922, 95% CI -3.575 to -0.269, P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: CS on CTA may be a useful way to identify patients who would benefit from mechanical thrombectomy and predict functional outcomes postintervention. CS may allow the stroke team to optimize the care of patients who may not be able to obtain RAPID analysis.

One and Done: Multimodal Treatment of Pediatric Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations in a Single Anesthesia Event.

BACKGROUND: Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are complex vascular lesions composed of abnormal arteries directly connected to veins without the typical intervening angioarchitecture. Rupture rates range from 2% to 4%, with that risk increasing to 4.5% per year for those presenting with hemorrhage. Mortality ranges from 12% to 66.7% after rupture, and up to 40% of survivors suffer from permanent neurologic sequelae. Treatment commonly includes a multimodality approach consisting of a combination of microsurgery, embolization, and radiosurgery. Typically, preoperative embolization is undertaken in a staged manner several days to weeks prior to microsurgical resection. METHODS: We describe a series of 5 pediatric patients harboring intracranial AVMs who underwent embolization and resection in the same anesthetic event, an approach that has not yet been described in the literature. RESULTS: Three patients presented symptomatically, whereas 2 AVMs were discovered incidentally, and average Spetzler-Martin grade was 1.6. Average anesthesia length was 580.8 minutes, and intraoperative angiography revealed complete resection in all cases. All patients were extubated at the end of the case and were discharged and followed up with a modified Rankin Scale score of 0. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a novel approach to treatment of pediatric intracranial AVMs that is shown to be safe and feasible. A single anesthesia event allows for aggressive preoperative embolization without increasing the risk of hemorrhage in the waiting period until resection. A single anesthesia event also prevents the patients from undergoing another intubation and anesthesia and decreases the risk associated with another anesthesia in a relatively short time frame.

C2-C3 Anterior Cervical Arthrodesis in the Treatment of Bow Hunter's Syndrome: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Bow hunter's syndrome (BHS) or rotational vertebral artery occlusion is a rare syndrome of vertebrobasilar insufficiency due to compression or occlusion of the contralateral vertebral artery with cervical axial rotation. Compression at the C2-C3 level, the junction between the axial and subaxial spine, has not been described. Management can include medical treatment with antiplatelet medications, surgical fusion, or vertebral artery decompression. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient presented with dizziness and loss of consciousness with axial head rotation to the left. Dynamic digital subtraction angiography revealed occlusion of the right vertebral artery with the head turning to the left, with concurrent symptom onset. The left vertebral artery largely ended in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. The patient underwent C2-C3 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without vertebral artery decompression. His postoperative course was uneventful, with complete symptom resolution. Follow-up dynamic angiography demonstrated a patent right vertebral artery with axial head rotation to the left. CONCLUSIONS: This case report demonstrates that even high cervical etiology for BHS can be successfully managed from an anterior approach. At present, no consensus has been reached for the treatment of BHS. A review of the current data demonstrated that anterior approaches without decompression are slightly safer than posterior approaches, with a smaller risk of vertebral artery injury. Depending on the anatomic variant and the pathophysiology of vertebral compression, an anterior approach without decompression provides a feasible alternative for the treatment of symptomatic BHS.

A Retrospective Study of Cervical Spine MRI Findings in Children with Abusive Head Trauma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Increasing attention has been given to the possible association of cervical spine (c-spine) injuries with abusive head trauma (AHT). The aims of this study were to describe c-spine MRI findings in hospitalized AHT patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of children under the age of 5 years with AHT admitted to hospital in 2004-2013. Those with c-spine MRI were identified, and the images were reviewed. RESULTS: 250 AHT cases were identified, with 34 (14%) undergoing c-spine MRI. Eleven patients (32%) had 25 findings, including hematoma in 2, occiput-C1-C2 edema in 3, prevertebral edema in 6, facet edema in 2, and interspinous and/or muscular edema in 10. No patients had a clinically evident c-spine injury, a clinically unstable c-spine, or required c-spine surgery. CONCLUSIONS: C-spine MRI may identify abnormalities not apparent upon physical examination and the procedure should therefore be considered in cases of suspected AHT.

Personalized Medicine for Nervous System Manifestations of von Hippel-Lindau Disease.

von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a familial neoplasia syndrome associated with multisystem tumor development. Depending on tumor type and location, current treatments for VHL-associated tumors can include a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgery. Central nervous system (CNS) manifestations of VHL include craniospinal hemangioblastomas and endolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs). While the first-line treatment for both types of VHL-associated CNS tumors is surgery, the indications for treatment are patient specific and different for each tumor type. Although early sign/symptom formation is the primary indication for resection of craniospinal hemangioblastomas, radiographic discovery (asymptomatic and symptomatic) of ELSTs can be an indication for resection of ELSTs in VHL patients. Recently, research has revealed that specific VHL germline mutations may permit targeted medical treatments of not only CNS manifestations of VHL-associated tumors but also visceral tumors. Specifically, missense mutations can result in the translation of functional VHL protein (pVHL) that is rapidly degraded resulting in functional loss of the pVHL, and inhibitors of pVHL degradation may slow protein degradation and restore pVHL function. Emerging research will investigate the safety and practicality of using potential targeted therapies.

Origins and prevalence of the American Founder Mutation of MSH2.

Large germline deletions within the mismatch repair gene MSH2 account for a significant proportion (up to 20%) of all deleterious mutations of this gene which are associated with Lynch syndrome. An exons 1 to 6 deletion of MSH2, originally reported in nine families, has been associated with a founding event within the United States, which genealogic studies had previously dated to 1727, and the number of present day carriers was estimated to be 18,981. Here, we report the development of a robust multiplex PCR which has assisted in the detection of 32 new families who carry the MSH2 American Founder Mutation (AFM). By offering testing to family members, 126 carriers of the AFM have been identified. Extensive genealogic studies have connected 27 of the 41 AFM families into seven extended pedigrees. These extended families have been traced back to around the 18th century without any evidence of further convergence between them. Characterization of the genomic sequence flanking the deletion and the identification of a common disease haplotype of between 0.6 and 2.3 Mb in all probands provides evidence for a common ancestor between these extended families. The DMLE+2.2 software predicts an age of approximately 500 years (95% confidence interval, 425-625) for this mutation. Taken together, these data are suggestive of an earlier founding event than was first thought, which likely occurred in a European or a Native American population. The consequences of this finding would be that the AFM is significantly more frequent in the United States than was previously predicted.