Comparison of Fusion versus Nonunion After 4-Level and 5-Level Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion With Anterior Plate Fixation.

BACKGROUND: Nonunion remains a concern in multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), yet there are limited data on nonunion after 4 to 5-level ACDF. In fact, the largest series on 4-level or 5-level ACDF focused specifically on the swallowing outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To assess nonunion after 4 to 5-level ACDF. METHODS: Forty-one patients treated with 4 to 5-level ACDF with minimum of 12-month radiographic follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. Nonunion was found in 25 patients (61%) and 42 levels (25%) and complete fusion in 16 (39%) patients and 126 levels (75%). The 2 groups were further compared. RESULTS: One-level nonunion was by far the most common pattern compared with multilevel nonunion. Nonunion occurred more frequently at the caudal than the cranial or middle segments ( P < .0001). There were significantly more subsidence ( P < .0001) and screw fractures/pullouts ( P < .0001) in the nonunion compared with the fusion group. The symptomatic patients were significantly younger than the asymptomatic patients ( P = .044). The symptomatic levels were significantly more than asymptomatic levels ( P = .048). Equal proportion of patients implanted with allograft and polyetheretherketone had nonunion. However, there were markedly more nonunion than fused levels with allograft and more fused than nonunion levels with polyetheretherketone ( P = .023). The reoperation rate was 24.4% and mostly due to nonunion. There were no reoperations within 90 days of the primary surgery. CONCLUSION: The nonunion rate for 4-level and 5-level ACDF may be higher than previously reported. Symptomatic nonunion remains a major reason for reoperation after multilevel ACDF. Baseline characteristics that negatively affect fusion may be obviated by careful patient selection.

Clinical Outcomes After 4- and 5-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Treatment of Symptomatic Multilevel Cervical Spondylosis.

OBJECTIVE: There are limited patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) data on 4-level and 5-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). The largest series to date solely focused on complications. This retrospective series evaluates PROMs after 4-level and 5-level ACDF. METHODS: Pertinent data from adult patients treated with a 4-level or 5-level ACDF in 2011-2019 were analyzed. PROMs and minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) were assessed. Factors associated with favorable and unfavorable outcomes were identified. RESULTS: There were 34 patients (30 underwent 4-level and 4 underwent 5-level ACDFs) with a mean age of 59.6 years; 55.9% were women. At 3 months, there were significant improvements in PROMs except Short-Form 12-Item Survey (SF-12) mental component subscale, which showed modest improvement. At 12 months, there were significant improvements in PROMs except SF-12 physical component subscale (PCS), which showed moderate improvement. The proportions of patients who met the MCID cutoffs ranged from 35.3% (numeric rating scale [NRS]-neck) to 75% (Veteran RAND 12-Item Survey [VR-12] PCS) at 3 months and 38.2% (NRS-arm) to 65.5% (VR-12 mental component subscale) at 12 months. Shorter symptom duration was associated with significantly reduced postoperative pain and Neck Disability Index scores. Shorter length of stay was associated with significantly improved postoperative functional outcomes. patients undergoing 4-level compared with 5-level ACDF achieved better postoperative PROMs. Shorter procedure duration was associated with improved PROMs at 3 months. No patient returned to the operating room within 30 days. Patients who required reoperation achieved significantly inferior Neck Disability Index, NRS-neck, and SF-12 PCS scores at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed satisfactory PROMs up to 12 months after 4-level and 5-level ACDF despite the complication rate. With thorough preoperative planning and meticulous technique, performing this procedure in carefully selected patients may be associated with acceptable PROMs.

Conductive and injectable hyaluronic acid/gelatin/gold nanorod hydrogels for enhanced surgical translation and bioprinting.

There is growing evidence indicating the need to combine the rehabilitation and regenerative medicine fields to maximize functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI), but there are limited methods to synergistically combine the fields. Conductive biomaterials may enable synergistic combination of biomaterials with electric stimulation (ES), which may enable direct ES of neurons to enhance axon regeneration and reorganization for better functional recovery; however, there are three major challenges in developing conductive biomaterials: (1) low conductivity of conductive composites, (2) many conductive components are cytotoxic, and (3) many conductive biomaterials are pre-formed scaffolds and are not injectable. Pre-formed, noninjectable scaffolds may hinder clinical translation in a surgical context for the most common contusion-type of SCI. Alternatively, an injectable biomaterial, inspired by lessons from bioinks in the bioprinting field, may be more translational for contusion SCIs. Therefore, in the current study, a conductive hydrogel was developed by incorporating high aspect ratio citrate-gold nanorods (GNRs) into a hyaluronic acid and gelatin hydrogel. To fabricate nontoxic citrate-GNRs, a robust synthesis for high aspect ratio GNRs was combined with an indirect ligand exchange to exchange a cytotoxic surfactant for nontoxic citrate. For enhanced surgical placement, the hydrogel precursor solution (i.e., before crosslinking) was paste-like, injectable/bioprintable, and fast-crosslinking (i.e., 4 min). Finally, the crosslinked hydrogel supported the adhesion/viability of seeded rat neural stem cells in vitro. The current study developed and characterized a GNR conductive hydrogel/bioink that provided a refinable and translational platform for future synergistic combination with ES to improve functional recovery after SCI.

Solitary osteochondroma of the cervical spine presenting with quadriparesis and hand contracture.

BACKGROUND: Spinal osteochondromas are rare, benign tumors arising from the cartilaginous elements of the spine that may appear as solitary lesions versus multiple lesions in patients with hereditary multiple exostoses. Here, we present a 15-year-old female with a solitary C3-C4 osteochondroma who presented with a progressive quadriparesis and hand contracture successfully managed with a laminectomy/posterior spinal fusion. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 15-year-old female presented with a 3-month history of progressive quadriparesis and hand contracture secondary to a magnetic resonance (MR) documented C3-C4 cervical spine osteochondroma. The MR imaging revealed a solitary osseous extramedullary outgrowth arising from the left laminar cortex of the C-3 vertebral body extending to C-4. Due to the marked resultant canal stenosis, the patient underwent a cervical laminectomy of C3- C4 with posterior spinal fusion. Gross total resection was achieved, and the pathology confirmed an osteochondroma. The patient's myelopathy resolved, and 2 years later, she demonstrated no residual deficits or tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: Here, we report the successful management of a 15-year-old female with a C3-C4 osteochondroma and progressive quadriparesis through cervical laminectomy/fusion.

Surgical Treatment of Tethered Cord Syndrome in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: In the healthy spine, the spinal cord moves unimpeded with spinal fluid pulsation in the rostral and caudal directions. When a portion of the spinal cord becomes attached to lesions within the spinal column, excess strain can cause signs and symptoms such as pain, motor deficits, sensory deficits, bladder dysfunction, and bowel dysfunction. This condition is termed tethered cord syndrome. There are no clear guidelines for offering surgical intervention, although there is a general consensus that worsening signs and symptoms increase the likelihood that patients will need surgery. METHODS: In this article, we conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis for all available literature within the Ovid (MEDLINE), PubMed, and Google Scholar databases to evaluate common symptoms among patients with tethered cord and to examine how surgery affects symptoms. RESULTS: Within the cohort of 730 patients, 708 (97%) were treated surgically by a detethering procedure. The most common preoperative sign or symptom was pain (81%), followed by motor deficits (63%), sensory deficits (61%), bladder dysfunction (56%), and bowel dysfunction (15%). One percent of patients had no deficit or symptom. Pain was the symptom that was most responsive to surgery, with 81% of patients reporting that their pain improved after detethering. CONCLUSIONS: Tethered cord syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with back or leg pain, somatosensory symptoms of the lower extremities, muscular weakness, urodynamic dysfunction, or bowel dysfunction. After a definitive diagnosis is made, patients should be counseled about surgical detethering as an option.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion requiring resection of the superior horn of thyroid cartilage: case report.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the most common surgical procedure utilized for degenerative diseases of the cervical spine. The authors present the case of a 64-year-old man who underwent an ACDF for degenerative changes causing cervical stenosis with myelopathy. The patient's symptoms consisted of pain and weakness of the bilateral upper extremities that slowly progressed over 1.5 years. During the procedure, the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage impeded proper retraction, preventing adequate visualization due to its prominent size. At this point, otorhinolaryngology was consulted, which allowed for safe resection of this portion of the thyroid cartilage while preserving nearby critical structures. With the frequent usage of this surgical approach for various etiologies, the importance of proper recognition and consultation is paramount. Encountering prominent thyroid cartilage resulting in surgical obstruction has not been described in the literature and this report represents a paradigm for the proper course of action.

An Awake Contralateral, Transcallosal Approach for Deep-Seated Gliomas of the Basal Ganglia.

BACKGROUND: The basal ganglia and thalamus are uncommon locations for infiltrating gliomas. Tumors here are usually managed with biopsy and adjuvant therapy, with relatively poor results. Rarely do patients undergo extensive surgical intervention. It seems reasonable to suggest that successful cytoreduction may help these patients. However, this hypothesis has not been studied because of the general view that it is not possible to remove deep-seated brain tumors with acceptable outcomes. METHODS: Through retrospective data collection, we describe a small case series of patients undergoing awake contralateral, transcallosal surgery for deep-seated brain tumors affecting the basal ganglia. We describe our patient cohort, report on patient outcomes, and describe our surgical technique. RESULTS: Four patients underwent awake contralateral, transcallosal surgery for glioblastoma invading the basal ganglia. All 4 patients demonstrated hemibody weakness contralateral to the side of their tumors, with 3 patients confined to wheelchairs at presentation. Their ages ranged from 25 to 64 years. Tumor volumes ranged from 14 to 93 cm3. More than 50% resection of each tumor was achieved during surgery. In 2 cases, approximately 90% resection was achieved. Motor strength improved in 1 patient who presented with hemiplegia. Two patients required ventriculoperitoneal shunting for complications related to hydrocephalus. At the writing of this article, 2 of our patients were still alive, functional, and free of tumor progression. CONCLUSIONS: We present the results of our attempts to resect large gliomas infiltrating the basal ganglia in 4 patients. Our technique combined a contralateral, transcallosal approach with awake neuromonitoring. Our results suggest it is possible to remove these tumors with reasonable outcomes.

Blunt vertebral artery injury in occipital condyle fractures.

OBJECTIVEA shifting emphasis on efficient utilization of hospital resources has been seen in recent years. However, reduced screening for blunt vertebral artery injury (BVAI) may result in missed diagnoses if risk factors are not fully understood. The authors examined the records of blunt trauma patients with fractures near the craniocervical junction who underwent CTA at a single institution to better understand the risk of BVAI imposed by occipital condyle fractures (OCFs).METHODSThe authors began with a query of their prospectively collected trauma registry to identify patients who had been screened for BVAI using ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes. Grade and segment were recorded in instances of BVAI. Locations of fractures were classified into 3 groups: 1) OCFs, 2) C1 (atlas) fractures, and 3) fractures of the C2-6 vertebrae. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify any fracture types associated with BVAI.RESULTSDuring a 6-year period, 719 patients underwent head and neck CTA following blunt trauma. Of these patients, 147 (20%) had OCF. BVAI occurred in 2 of 43 patients with type I OCF, 1 of 42 with type II OCF, and in 9 of 62 with type III OCF (p = 0.12). Type III OCF was an independent risk factor for BVAI in multivariate modeling (OR 2.29 [95% CI 1.04-5.04]), as were fractures of C1-6 (OR 5.51 [95% CI 2.57-11.83]). Injury to the V4 segment was associated with type III OCF (p < 0.01).CONCLUSIONSIn this study, the authors found an association between type III OCF and BVAI. While further study may be necessary to elucidate the mechanism of injury in these cases, this association suggests that thorough cerebrovascular evaluation is warranted in patients with type III OCF.

An Examination of the Role of Supramaximal Resection of Temporal Lobe Glioblastoma Multiforme.

BACKGROUND: Resection of the T1 contrast-enhancing portion of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has been shown to increase patient survival, although whether GBM resection beyond these boundaries has an additional survival benefit is not clear. In this study, we examined the effect of resecting the enhancement and a margin of brain tissue surrounding the enhancement in patients with GBM of the temporal lobe. METHODS: We identified 32 consecutive patients with temporal lobe GBM who underwent initial resection between 2012 and 2015. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed based on the following categories: subtotal resection (STR; <99% of contrast enhancement removed), gross total resection (GTR; 100% of T1 contrast enhancement removed), and supramaximal resection (SMR; removal of T1 contrast enhancement plus removal of at least 1 cm of brain tissue surrounding the enhancement). RESULTS: Patients undergoing SMR demonstrated a substantially improved median PFS (15 months) compared with those undergoing GTR (7 months) or those undergoing STR (6 months) (P < 0.003). A median OS advantage was also present in the SMR group (24 months) compared with the GTR (11 months) and STR (9 months) groups (P < 0.004). SMR significantly improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.093; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.89; P = 0.039) and OS (HR, 0.169; 95% CI, 0.05-0.57; P < 0.004) when controlling for other variables. The complication rates did not differ among the resection groups (P = 0.66). CONCLUSIONS: Achieving SMR substantially improved survival in patients with temporal lobe GBM compared with GTR of the enhancement alone.

The crossed frontal aslant tract: A possible pathway involved in the recovery of supplementary motor area syndrome.

Introduction: Supplementary motor area (SMA) syndrome is a constellation of temporary symptoms that may occur following tumors of the frontal lobe. Affected patients develop akinesia and mutism but often recover within weeks to months. With our own case examples and with correlations to fiber tracking validated by gross anatomical dissection as ground truth, we describe a white matter pathway through which recovery may occur. Methods: Diffusion spectrum imaging from the Human Connectome Project was used for tractography analysis. SMA outflow tracts were mapped in both hemispheres using a predefined seeding region. Postmortem dissections of 10 cadaveric brains were performed using a modified Klingler technique to verify the tractography results. Results: Two cases were identified in our clinical records in which patients sustained permanent SMA syndrome after complete disconnection of the SMA and corpus callosum (CC). After investigating the postoperative anatomy of these resections, we identified a pattern of nonhomologous connections through the CC connecting the premotor area to the contralateral premotor and SMAs. The transcallosal fibers have projections from the previously described frontal aslant tract (FAT) and thus, we have termed this path the "crossed FAT." Conclusions: We hypothesize that this newly described tract may facilitate recovery from SMA syndrome by maintaining interhemispheric connectivity through the supplementary motor and premotor areas.

Method for temporal keyhole lobectomies in resection of low- and high-grade gliomas.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe a method of resecting temporal gliomas through a keyhole lobectomy and to share the results of using this technique. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective review of data obtained in all patients in whom the senior author performed resection of temporal gliomas between 2012 and 2015. The authors describe their technique for resecting dominant and nondominant gliomas, using both awake and asleep keyhole craniotomy techniques. RESULTS Fifty-two patients were included in the study. Twenty-six patients (50%) had not received prior surgery. Seventeen patients (33%) were diagnosed with WHO Grade II/III tumors, and 35 patients (67%) were diagnosed with a glioblastoma. Thirty tumors were left sided (58%). Thirty procedures (58%) were performed while the patient was awake. The median extent of resection was 95%, and at least 90% of the tumor was resected in 35 cases (67%). Five of 49 patients (10%) with clinical follow-up experienced permanent deficits, including 3 patients (6%) with hydrocephalus requiring placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and 2 patients (4%) with weakness. Three patients experienced early postoperative anomia, but no patients had a new speech deficit at clinical follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The authors provide their experience using a keyhole lobectomy for resecting temporal gliomas. Their data demonstrate the feasibility of using less invasive techniques to safely and aggressively treat these tumors.

Frontal Keyhole Craniotomy for Resection of Low- and High-Grade Gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive techniques are increasingly being used to access intra-axial brain lesions. OBJECTIVE: To describe a method of resecting frontal gliomas through a keyhole craniotomy and share the results with these techniques. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of data obtained on all patients undergoing resection of frontal gliomas by the senior author between 2012 and 2015. We describe our technique for resecting dominant and nondominant gliomas utilizing both awake and asleep keyhole craniotomy techniques. RESULTS: After excluding 1 patient who received a biopsy only, 48 patients were included in the study. Twenty-nine patients (60%) had not received prior surgery. Twenty-six patients (54%) were diagnosed with WHO grade II/III tumors, and 22 patients (46%) were diagnosed with glioblastoma. Twenty-five cases (52%) were performed awake. At least 90% of the tumor was resected in 35 cases (73%). Three of 43 patients with clinical follow-up experienced permanent deficits. CONCLUSION: We provide our experience in using keyhole craniotomies for resecting frontal gliomas. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of using minimally invasive techniques to safely and aggressively treat these tumors.

Dural Closure in Confined Spaces of the Skull Base with Nonpenetrating Titanium Clips.

BACKGROUND: Dural repair in areas with limited operative maneuverability has long been a challenge in skull base surgery. Without adequate dural closure, postoperative complications, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and infection, can occur. OBJECTIVE: To show a novel method by which nonpenetrating, nonmagnetic titanium microclips can be used to repair dural defects in areas with limited operative access along the skull base. METHODS: We reviewed 53 consecutive surgical patients in whom a dural repair technique utilizing titanium microclips was performed from 2013 to 2016 at our institution. The repairs primarily involved difficult-to-reach dural defects in which primary suturing was difficult or impractical. A detailed surgical technique is described in 3 selected cases involving the anterior, middle, and posterior fossae, respectively. An additional 5 cases are provided in more limited detail to demonstrate clip artifact on postoperative imaging. Rates of postoperative CSF leak and other complications are reported. RESULTS: The microclip technique was performed successfully in 53 patients. The most common pathology in this cohort was skull base meningioma (32/53). Additional surgical indications included traumatic dural lacerations (9/53), nonmeningioma tumors (8/53), and other pathologies (4/53). The clip artifact present on postoperative imaging was minor and did not interfere with imaging interpretation. CSF leak occurred postoperatively in 3 (6%) patients. No obvious complications attributable to microclip usage were encountered. CONCLUSION: In our experience, intracranial dural closure with nonpenetrating, nonmagnetic titanium microclips is a feasible adjunct to traditional methods of dural repair.

A Simplified Method of Accurate Postprocessing of Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Use in Brain Tumor Resection.

BACKGROUND: Use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in brain tumor resection has been limited in part by a perceived difficulty in implementing the techniques into neurosurgical practice. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a simple DTI postprocessing method performed without a neuroscientist and to share results in preserving patient function while aggressively resecting tumors. METHODS: DTI data are obtained in all patients with tumors located within presumed eloquent cortices. Relevant white matter tracts are mapped and integrated with neuronavigation by a nonexpert in < 20 minutes. We report operative results in 43 consecutive awake craniotomy patients from January 2014 to December 2014 undergoing resection of intracranial lesions. We compare DTI-expected findings with stimulation mapping results for the corticospinal tract, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (65%) underwent surgery for high-grade gliomas and 11 patients (26%) for low-grade gliomas. Seventeen patients had posterior temporal lesions; 10 had posterior frontal lesions; 8 had parietal-temporal-occipital junction lesions; and 8 had insular lesions. With DTI-defined tracts used as a guide, a combined 65 positive maps and 60 negative maps were found via stimulation mapping. Overall sensitivity and specificity of DTI were 98% and 95%, respectively. Permanent speech worsening occurred in 1 patient (2%), and permanent weakness occurred in 3 patients (7%). Greater than 90% resection was achieved in 32 cases (74%). CONCLUSION: Accurate DTI is easily obtained, postprocessed, and implemented into neuronavigation within routine neurosurgical workflow. This information aids in resecting tumors while preserving eloquent cortices and subcortical networks.

A Technique for Resecting Occipital Pole Gliomas Using a Keyhole Lobectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose is to describe a method of resecting occipital pole gliomas through a keyhole lobectomy and share the patient outcomes of this technique. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of data obtained on all patients who underwent resection of occipital pole gliomas by the senior author between 2012 and 2016. We describe our technique for resecting these tumors using a keyhole lobectomy and share the patient outcomes of this operation. RESULTS: Eight patients were included in this study. Four patients (50%) had not received previous surgery. One patient (13%) was diagnosed with a World Health Organization grade II tumor, and 7 patients (88%) were diagnosed with glioblastoma. Two tumors (25%) were left sided and 6 (75%) right sided. The median size of resection was 28 cm3. The median extent of resection was 96%, and at least 90% of the tumor was resected in all cases. None of the patients experienced permanent postoperative complications. Temporary neurologic complications included 3 patients (38%) with encephalopathy and 1 patient (13%) with aphasia. There were no neurosurgical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides details on the technical aspects of occipital keyhole lobectomies and gives the outcomes of patients who have received an operation for tumors in this uncommon location. Taking white matter tract anatomy into consideration, we show that the keyhole method can be applied to gliomas of the occipital lobe.

Simultaneous Resection of Multiple Metastatic Brain Tumors with Multiple Keyhole Craniotomies.

BACKGROUND: The proper management of symptomatic patients with 2 or more brain metastases is not entirely clear, and the surgical outcomes of these patients undergoing multiple simultaneous craniotomies have not been well described. In this article, we describe patient outcomes after simultaneously resecting metastatic lesions through multiple keyhole craniotomies. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of data obtained for all patients undergoing resection of multiple brain metastases in one operation between 2014 and 2016. We describe a technique for resecting multiple metastatic lesions and share the patient outcomes of this operation. RESULTS: Twenty patients with 46 tumor resections were included in the study. The primary site of metastases for the majority of patients was lung, followed by melanoma, renal, breast, colon, and testes. Nine of 20 (45%) patients had 2 preoperative intracranial lesions, and 11 (55%) had three or more. Karnofsky performance scales were calculated for 14 patients: postoperatively 10 of 14 (71%) scores improved, 2 of 14 (14%) worsened, and 2 of 14 (14%) remained unchanged. After surgery, 9 of 14 (64%) patients were weaned off steroids by 2-month follow-up. The overall median survival time from date of surgery was 10.8 months. CONCLUSIONS: We present patient outcomes after simultaneously resecting metastatic brain tumors through multiple keyhole craniotomies in symptomatic patients. Our results suggest comparable outcomes and similar surgical risk compared with those undergoing resection of a single brain metastasis. Resection of multiple brain metastases may improve Karnofsky Performance Scale scores in the early postoperative period and allow patients to be weaned from steroids.

Hitler's parkinsonism.

Of the multitude of medical and psychiatric conditions ascribed to Hitler both in his lifetime and since his suicide in April 1945, few are more substantiated than parkinsonism. While the timeline of the development of this condition, as well as its etiology, are debated, there is clear evidence for classic manifestations of the disease, most prominently a resting tremor but also stooped posture, bradykinesia, micrographia, and masked facial expressions, with progression steadily seen over his final years. Though ultimately speculation, some have suggested that Hitler suffered from progressive cognitive and mood disturbances, possibly due to parkinsonism, that affected the course of events in the war. Here, the authors discuss Hitler's parkinsonism in the context of the Third Reich and its eventual destruction, maintaining that ultimately his disease had little effect on the end result.

Intradural, extramedullary amyloidoma involving cervical and thoracic spine.

We present the case of a 46-year-old woman with insidious lower extremity paralysis and bowel and bladder disruption found to have an intradural, extramedullary amyloidoma from the levels of C4-T4. To our knowledge, this is the first known reported case of amyloidoma occurring in this location. Solitary amyloidoma of the spine is a rare entity typically manifesting as an extradural tumor with bony involvement.