A case series of penetrating spinal trauma: comparisons to blunt trauma, surgical indications, and outcomes.

OBJECTIVEWhile blunt spinal trauma accounts for the majority of spine trauma, penetrating injuries affect a substantial number of patients. The goal of this study was to examine the epidemiology of penetrating spine injuries compared with blunt injuries and review the operative interventions and outcomes in the penetrating spine injury group.METHODSThe prospectively maintained trauma database was queried for spinal fractures from 2012 to 2018. Charts from patients with penetrating spine trauma were reviewed.RESULTSA total of 1130 patients were evaluated for traumatic spinal fractures; 154 injuries (13.6%) were secondary to penetrating injuries. Patients with penetrating injuries were significantly younger (29.2 years vs 44.1 years, p < 0.001), more likely male (87.7% vs 69.2%, p < 0.001), and more commonly African American (80.5% vs 33.3%, p < 0.05). When comparing primary insurers, the penetrating group had a significantly higher percentage of patients covered by Medicaid (60.4% vs 32.6%, p < 0.05) or prison (3.9% vs 0.1%, p < 0.05) or being uninsured (17.5% vs 10.3%, p < 0.05). The penetrating group had a higher Injury Severity Score on admission (20.2 vs 15.6, p < 0.001) and longer hospital length of stay (20.1 days vs 10.3 days, p < 0.001) and were less likely to be discharged home (51.3% vs 65.1%, p < 0.05). Of the penetrating injuries, 142 (92.2%) were due to firearms. Sixty-three patients (40.9%) with penetrating injuries had a concomitant spinal cord or cauda equina injury. Of those, 44 (69.8%) had an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade of A. Ten patients (15.9%) improved at least 1 AIS grade, while 2 patients (3.2%) declined at least 1 AIS grade. Nine patients with penetrating injuries underwent neurosurgical intervention: 5 for spinal instability, 4 for compressive lesions with declining neurological examination results, and 2 for infectious concerns, with some patients having multiple indications. Patients undergoing neurosurgical intervention did not show a significantly greater change in AIS grade than those who did not. No patient experienced a complication directly related to neurosurgical intervention.CONCLUSIONSPenetrating spinal trauma affects a younger, more publicly funded cohort than blunt spinal trauma. These patients utilize more healthcare resources and are more severely injured. Surgery is undertaken for limiting progression of neurological deficit, stabilization, or infection control.

The neurosurgical marriage: evaluating the interplay of work life and home life from the perspective of partners of neurosurgical residents.

OBJECTIVE: Burnout and work-life balance have been noted to be problems for residents across all fields of medicine, including neurosurgery. No studies to date have evaluated how these factors may contribute to issues outside of the hospital, specifically residents' home lives. This study aimed to evaluate the interplay between home life and work life of neurosurgical residents, specifically from the point of view of residents' significant others. METHODS: Online surveys were distributed to the significant others of neurosurgical residents at 12 US neurosurgery residencies. Residents' partners were asked about relationship dynamics, their views on neurosurgery residency (work-life balance and burnout), and their views of neurosurgery as a career. RESULTS: The majority of residents' significant others (84%) reported being satisfied with their relationship. Significant others who reported dissatisfaction with their relationship were more likely to report frustration with work-life balance and more likely to report their resident partner as having higher levels of burnout. CONCLUSIONS: From the perspective of neurosurgery residents' significant others, higher perceived levels of burnout and lower satisfaction with work-life balance are correlated with lower levels of relationship satisfaction. These findings speak to the complex interplay of work life and home life and can be used to inform future interventions into improving the quality of life for both the resident and the significant other.

The Impact of Drug and Alcohol Intoxication on Glasgow Coma Scale Assessment in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: The effect of intoxicating substances on assessment of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in the trauma setting has not been completely elucidated. METHODS: A trauma registry was queried for patients with blunt head trauma in 2013-2017. Initial GCS score and toxicology screening from the database were reviewed. Next recorded GCS score from the neurosurgery evaluation and change in GCS score (ΔGCS) were compared. RESULTS: We reviewed 468 patients. In 217 (46.4%) patients, no toxic substances were found, whereas >1 toxic substance was found in 104 (22.2%) patients. Alcohol level above the legal limit was found in 109 (23.3%) patients, marijuana was found in 105 (22.4%) patients, benzodiazepines were found in 94 (20.1%) patients, opiates were found in 48 (10.3%) patients, and cocaine was found in 41 (8.8%) patients. Mean change in GCS score was significantly higher in impaired patients compared with patients with a negative screening test (1.74 ± 2.4 vs. 0.75 ± 2.7, P < 0.001); this is despite both groups having a similar initial GCS score (6.23 ± 3.86 in impaired group vs. 6.47 ± 3.52 in sober group, P = 0.677). Initial GCS score was 3 in 187 patients, of whom 150 had a positive toxicology screen. Change in GCS score was significantly higher in the impaired group (2.75 ± 2.7 vs. 1.19 ± 1.8, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intoxicating substances can confound GCS assessment in trauma patients. This can have effects on patient care as well as performance metrics and predictive analytics. These patients should be screened, and intoxicating substances should be reversed or allowed to wear off before GCS score is recorded for benchmarking or quality reporting.

Change in Policy Allowing Overlapping Surgery Decreases Length of Stay in an Academic, Safety-Net Hospital.

BACKGROUND: The practice of surgeons running overlapping operating rooms has recently come under scrutiny. OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of hospital policy allowing overlapping rooms in the case of patients admitted to a tertiary care, safety-net hospital for urgent neurosurgical procedures. METHODS: The neurosurgery service at the hospital being studied transitioned from routinely allowing 1 room per day (period 1) to overlapping rooms (period 2), with the second room being staffed by the same attending surgeon. Patients undergoing neurosurgical intervention in each period were retrospectively compared. Demographics, indication, case type, complications, outcomes, and total charges were tracked. RESULTS: There were 59 urgent cases in period 1 and 63 in period 2. In the case of these patients, the length of stay was significantly decreased in period 2 (13.09 d vs 19.52; P = .006). The time from admission to surgery (wait time) was also significantly decreased in period 2 (5.12 d vs 7.00; P = .04). Total charges also trended towards less in period 2 (${\$}$150 942 vs ${\$}$200 075; P = .05). Surgical complications were no different between the groups (16.9% vs 14.3%; P = .59), but medical complications were significantly decreased in period 2 (14.3% vs 30.5%; P = .009). Significantly more patients were discharged to home in period 2 (69.8% vs 42.4%; P = .003). CONCLUSION: As a matter of policy, allowing overlapping rooms significantly reduces the length of stay in the case of a vulnerable population in need of urgent surgery at a single safety-net academic institution. This may be due to a reduction in medical complications in these patients.

The Use of Aspiration Catheter Systems for Embolic Protection during Intracranial Vertebral Artery Angioplasty and Stenting.

BACKGROUND: Posterior circulation strokes comprise approximately 20-25% of all strokes of ischemic origin. Strokes affecting this area carry a significantly higher risk for subsequent stroke or death as compared to anterior circulation strokes. Embolic protection device (EPD) use for carotid artery stenosis has translated into percutaneous interventions of proximal vertebral artery (VA) stenosis. However, the use of EPDs when treating intracranial lesions has yet to be studied and may not be feasible as the vessel caliber is frequently smaller than in existing devices. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe a proximal aspiration technique used during the treatment of intracranial VA and basilar artery (BA) atherosclerotic disease. METHODS: Proximal embolic protection was utilized during the treatment of intracranial VA/BA stenosis with angioplasty and stenting in patients with medically refractory disease. RESULTS: Three patients with severe symptomatic posterior circulation stenosis refractory to medical management were treated with angioplasty and stenting utilizing proximal aspiration. Pre- and post-treatment angiograms and MRIs were compared. Treated vascular stenoses were significantly improved, without new neurological deficits or ischemic injury identified on imaging. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed technique of proximal embolic protection may help overcome the challenge of embolus propagation inherent to the treatment modality that was encountered during the treatment of intracranial VA/BA stenosis.

Racial Disparities in Cranial Gunshot Wounds: Intent and Survival.

BACKGROUND: Gunshot wounds (GSW) to the head are associated with the highest mortality of all gun-related injuries, with assault reported as the leading cause of penetrating GSW. Several studies have explored factors and trends related to assault and self-inflicted GSW separately. The aim of this study was to investigate epidemiological characteristics and racial differences collectively in patients with GSW to the head by examining associations to injury intent and survival. METHOD: A retrospective study was performed by accessing the hospital trauma registry at our regional Level 1 Trauma Center. A query of neurosurgery consults with penetrating trauma was completed from January 2008 to October 2013. Patients with penetrating intracranial GSW were included in the study. A chi-square test was used to evaluate association between patients' characteristics and intent of injury. Logistic regression analyses predicting intent of injury and survival were also conducted. RESULTS: Of 111 patients, the majority were male (87.4 %). Most were African American (57.7 %) and Caucasian (35.1 %). Compared to African Americans, Caucasian patients were more likely to inflict self-harm (odds ratio (OR) 16.369 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 5.633-47.571), p < 0.0001), while African Americans (OR 26.413 (95 % CI 8.957-77.890), p < 0.0001) were more likely to be victims of assault. Race and other demographic variables did not predict survival nor did intent of injury (p = 0.368). CONCLUSION: This study reports that there are racial disparities between assault GSW and self-inflicted GSW. However, neither race nor intent is a predictor of survival outcome. Targeted efforts are needed to reduce occurrence of cranial GSW events in order to decrease associated morbidity and mortality.