Transitional and spectrum-based care for idiopathic scoliosis.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to discuss the transitional nature of idiopathic scoliosis and the variation in treatment and management across the spectrum of age presentation. METHODS: This is a review article that discusses the evaluation, management, and classification of idiopathic scoliosis. The authors searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane database for articles published up to April 2024. Keywords and MeSH terms relevant to the topic were used, including adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), adult idiopathic scoliosis (AdIS), adult degenerative scoliosis, young adult idiopathic scoliosis, early-onset scoliosis (EOS), classification, management, follow-up, outcomes, natural history, Cobb angle, and transitional care. Reference lists of selected articles were also searched to identify further articles. Inclusion criteria included English language articles that summarized any type of study design, including randomized controlled trials, observational studies, case-control/series, or metaanalysis, with study populations ranging from infants to > 50-year-old patients. Inter-reviewer disagreement on inclusion of particular articles was resolved through discussion. Related information was analyzed, and relevant concepts related to the transitional period dilemma have been discussed. RESULTS: Each idiopathic scoliosis case needs independent assessment with regard to the age, degree of the curve, and patient-specific presentation. An accurate prediction of the curve progression by considering the patient's remaining growth potential is paramount to the treatment strategy. The classification system for EOS, AIS Lenke classification, AdIS classification, and the Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab classification are important for reliable communication between surgeons treating deformities. Untreated progressive idiopathic scoliosis warrants multidisciplinary management during the transition from EOS stage to AIS and then to AdIS. Also, surgical treatment of untreated AIS transitioning to AdIS is specific and nuanced. AdIS needs to be differentiated from adult degenerative scoliosis because the latter is associated with multiple comorbidities and anatomical differences. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic scoliosis presents across the age spectrum with specific age-related decisions that transition into adulthood. Integrated models of both surgical and nonsurgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis are warranted.

Delayed neurological deficit due to a medially misplaced thoracic pedicle screw during adolescent idiopathic scoliosis correction: a complication 6 years in the making.

PURPOSE: Neurological deficits developing years after pedicle screw misplacement is a rare phenomenon. Here, we report level IV evidence of a previously asymptomatic medial thoracic pedicle screw resulting in paraparesis after a motor vehicle accident. METHODS: A 21-year-old male presented with acute onset of paraparesis following a motor vehicle collision. Six years prior this incident, the patient underwent a thoracolumbar fusion T4-L4 for AIS performed by an outside orthopedic surgeon. CT scan and CT myelogram illustrated decreased spinal canal diameter and cord compression from a medial T8 pedicle screw. RESULTS: Surgical removal of the misplaced pedicle screw resulted in a gradual complete recovery sustained over a period of 2 years. This case is compared to those reported in the literature review between 1981 and 2019 concerning delayed neurological deterioration related to misplaced pedicle screw. CONCLUSION: This case reports a delayed neurological deficit implicating a misplaced pedicle screw. This phenomenon remains rare since 5 cases were reported in the literature over the last 4 decades. It calls into focus the need for confirmation of safe instrumentation during the intraoperative period. It also illustrates the potential difficult decision-making in regard to asymptomatic misplaced instrumentation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Three-Level Concavity Apical Pediculectomy During Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Loss: Following the Checklist Resulted in an Ambulatory Patient.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis, with severe cases leading to a decline in patients with worsening angulation of deformity. Technical nuances of spinal flexibility and cord type based on the extent of the deformity may impact operating safety and outcome, with risks including neurological loss during and after surgical intervention. Here we present a case of posterior osteotomy and correction of a patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a T2 - L3 fusion in which transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were lost intraoperatively, thus requiring application of operative consensus guidelines for the loss of neuromonitoring data. Particularly, the discussion focuses on the decision-making process that resulted in the complete recovery of TcMEPs and SSEPs post-operatively.

Evaluating academic productivity and match outcomes in neurosurgery residents from medical schools without a neurosurgery residency program: a 2016-2022 bibliometric analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Transition of the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 to a pass/fail structure has focused attention on medical student research in residency application. Previous studies have explored how various factors affect the neurosurgery match success, but none have focused on applicants from schools without a neurosurgery residency program. METHODS: The authors compiled a list of neurosurgery residents matched from 2016 to 2022 from schools lacking a neurosurgery program. They gathered demographic and bibliometric data, focusing on academic productivity before residency. The distinction between the top 40 and non-top 40 programs used the 5-year institutional h-index (ih[5]-index) of departments. RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2022, the gross number of students entering neurosurgery from schools without a home program rose from 15 to 26 in 2021, declining to 23 in 2022. The range of matched applicants per school was 0 to 10. The median number of publications per resident increased from 2 in 2016 to 5 in 2022 (p < 0.001). The lowest and highest numbers of publications by applicants were 0 and 40, respectively, with 22.5% reporting no publications. The lowest and highest h-indices by applicants were 0 and 11, respectively, with nearly one-third (31.2%) possessing an h-index of 0. Applicants from schools lacking a neurosurgery residency program who matched into top 40 programs had a publication range of 0-11, with a higher median of 3 compared with those who did not (median 2, range 0-8). While no significant differences were found in publication numbers (p = 0.084), a difference in h-index was observed (p = 0.024) between the two groups. Publications significantly correlated with the h-index, with each additional publication increasing the h-index by 0.19 (p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.3348). CONCLUSIONS: Median publication counts have increased in this cohort, but they do not distinguish top 40 program matches. Conversely, the h-index, correlating with publication quantity and journal impact factor, does.

Senior Mentorship and Scholarly Success: Assessing Influences on Successful Neurosurgery Residency Applicant's H-Index.

BACKGROUND: Research productivity is on the rise as neurosurgical residency positions become increasingly competitive. We explored the relationship between neurosurgical residency applicant's senior author's research productivity and matching into a neurosurgery residency program. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of bibliometric data for applicants who matched into neurosurgery in 2022-2023 and their senior authors was conducted using Scopus. RESULTS: Logistic regression revealed a significant association between h-index values and top 40 match outcomes (P = 0.038). The maximum h-index of senior authors significantly predicted matches at top 40 programs (P = 0.003). Affiliation with a top 40 medical school increased both applicant and senior author h-indices (P = 0.05, P < 0.001 respectively). Linear regression of the maximum h-index of senior authors in preresidency publications explained 42% of this variability (P < 0.001). A multiple linear regression model incorporating this with publication number elucidated 69% of the variance in interns' h-index. Authorship data categorized as first, second, and third author positions showed 1847 first author, 1417 second author, and 118 third author publications over 2-years. Applicants at top 40 residency programs had more first and second author publications compared to those from nontop 40 programs (P = 0.0158, P = 0.0275). CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong correlation between a neurosurgical applicant's academic output and that of their senior authors. The number of publications and the maximum h-index of senior authors significantly predict applicant h-indices. We also demonstrated that there is a significant difference in the academic productivity of applicants and senior authors of applicants who successfully match into a top 40 i(h)5 rated neurosurgical residency.

Endoscope-assisted supraorbital approach for excision of tuberculum sella meningioma: Technical nuances.

Background: Tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSMs) are benign dural-based lesions of the anterior cranial fossa, which mainly present with impaired visual acuity/field deficits secondary to compression of the optic apparatus. Surgical management is recommended as the optimal strategy for large compressive TSMs, with goals of safe maximal resection, optic nerve decompression, and potential vision restoration. The philosophy of adapting keyhole approaches for such resections is commonly highlighted; however, it comes with notable criticism of encountering major blind spots during surgical resection and limited anatomical exposure. Adding angled endoscopes enhances the expanded panoramic view of the skull base and provides a synergistic modality to microsurgery for maximizing total resection and navigating the blind spots. Case Description: This video case presentation aims to highlight the technical nuances of endoscope-assisted microscopic supraorbital craniotomy for TSM resection invading bilateral optic canals in a 66-year-old female presenting with progressive right eye vision loss (OD Hand motion). The video emphasizes traditional skull-base surgical principles of TSM resection through the optics of a keyhole approach augmented by endoscopic tumor removal. Gross total resection was achieved, the patient's vision improved to 20/25, and she was discharged home on postoperative day 2. Conclusion: The endoscope-assisted supraorbital craniotomy offers a safe surgical corridor for TSM, using a limited craniotomy with minimal brain retraction in appropriately selected individuals, particularly with larger tumors with greater lateral extension and above the planum.

A rare case of solid calcified intramedullary neurenteric cyst: Case report and technical note.

Neurenteric cysts are rare lesions of the spinal cord, constituting less than 1.3% of all spinal cord tumors. Approximately 90% of neurenteric cysts are located in the intradural extramedullary compartment, while the remaining 10% are divided between an intradural intramedullary or extradural location. They are usually extramedullary and found in the lower cervical and thoracic spine. We report a case of 8 year old child with totally solid calcified intramedullary cyst which has hitherto not been reported in literature. We discuss the challenges faced in the diagnosis and surgical management of such lesions and a brief review of pertinent literature.