Implantable Pulse Generator Site May Be Associated With Spinal Cord Stimulation Revision Surgeries.

BACKGROUND: The use of implantable pulse generators (IPG) for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in patients with chronic pain has been well established. Although IPG-related complications have been reported on, the association between IPG site and SCS complications has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether IPG placement site in buttock or flank is associated with SCS complications and, hence, revision surgeries. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study was performed that included 330 patients (52% female) treated at a single institution who underwent permanent implantation of an SCS system between 2014 and 2018. Patients ranged between 20 and 94 years of age (mean: 57.54 ± 13.25). Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics. Tests included independent samples t test, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and logistic regression. RESULTS: There was a total of 93 revision surgeries (rate of 28%), where 71 out of 330 patients (rate of 21.5%) had had at least one revision surgery. Univariate tests demonstrated a significant association between IPG site and revision surgeries (p = 0.028 [chi-square test] and p = 0.031 [Mann-Whitney U test]); however, multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that neither IPG site was more likely than the other to require revision surgeries (p = 0.286). CONCLUSION: Although this study found a significant association between IPG site and revision surgeries, the effect of IPG site was not found to be predictive. The IPG site likely influences whether a patient will require revision surgery, but further investigation is required to establish this association.

Flat-Detector Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Intracerebral Vasculature for Planning of Stereoelectroencephalography Electrode Implantation.

OBJECTIVE: Stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) requires extensive preoperative planning to optimize placement of electrodes and limit the potential for complications. Flat-detector computed tomography (FD-CT) has previously been used for perioperative vascular imaging to guide the treatment of vascular lesions. This imaging modality provides a detailed depiction of cerebrovascular and bony cranial anatomy, which can be used to guide intracranial electrode implantation. We have developed a novel method to improve preoperative planning for sEEG electrode implantation and limit the potential for postoperative complications by using FD-CT imaging merged with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: All patients underwent preoperative FD-CT with selective intra-arterial iodinated contrast dye injection through the late arterial and capillary phases for evaluation of cerebrovascular anatomy. These results were merged with thin-cut MRI for trajectory planning of intracranial sEEG electrodes. All patients underwent routine CT and MRI after electrode placement. RESULTS: 39 patients have undergone sEEG implantation according to this protocol, with a total of 541 electrodes placed. Additionally, 25 (64.1%) patients underwent implantation of 70 oblique insular electrodes. There were no clinically significant complications after the implantations. Thirty-six (92.3%) patients underwent operative intervention, including surgical resection in 27 (69.2%) patients. CONCLUSION: FD-CT imaging allows for a detailed depiction of cortical cerebrovascular anatomy through the capillary phase, in addition to bony cranial anatomy. This enables the safe planning of complex trajectories, including high-obliquity insular electrodes and transsulcal trajectories through "empty sulci" while also providing concurrent imaging of bony anatomy to allow for preoperative planning of drill depth and anchor placement.

Retrospective cost analysis of cervical laminectomy and fusion versus cervical laminoplasty in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

BACKGROUND: Cervical laminoplasty (CLP) and posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion (CLF) are well-established surgical procedures used in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). In situations of clinical equipoise, an influential factor in procedural decision making could be the economic effect of the chosen procedure. The object of this study is to compare and analyze the total hospital costs and charges pertaining to patients undergoing CLP or CLF for the treatment of CSM. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 81 consecutive patients from a single institution; 55 patients were treated with CLP and 26 with CLF. CLP was performed via the double-door allograft technique that does not require implants, whereas laminectomy fusion procedures included metallic instrumentation. We analyzed 10,682 individual costs (HC) and charges (HCh) for all patients, as obtained from hospital accounting data. The Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to estimate the physicians' fees as such fees are not accounted for via hospital billing records. Total cost (TC) therefore equaled the sum of the hospital cost and the estimated physicians' fees. RESULTS: The mean length of stay was 3.7 days for CLP and 5.9 days for CLF (P < .01). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to age, gender, previous surgical history, and medical insurance. The TC mean was $17,734 for CLP and $37,413 for CLF (P < .01). Mean HCh for CLP was 42% of that for CLF, and therefore the mean charge for CLF was 238% of that for CLP (P < .01). Mean HC was $15,426 for CLP and $32,125 for CLF (P < .01); the main contributor was implant cost (mean $2582). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that, in clinically similar populations, CLP results in reduced length of stay, TC, and hospital charges. In CSM cases requiring posterior decompression, we demonstrate CLP to be a less costly procedure. However, in the presence of neck pain, kyphotic deformity, or gross instability, this procedure may not be sufficient and posterior CLF may be required.