Neurosurgery
-
The complexity and heterogeneity of adult spinal deformity (ASD) creates significant difficulties in performing high-quality, complete economic analyses. For the same reasons, however, such studies are immensely valuable to clinicians and health policy experts. There has been a paradigm shift towards value-based healthcare provision and as such, there is an increasing focus on demonstrating not just the value ASD surgery, but the provision of care at large. ⋯ Fundamentally, an effective treatment method may be associated with a high upfront cost, however, if durable, will be cost-effective over time. The emphasis on carotid endarterectomy and CUA in the field of adult spine deformity is relatively recent; therefore, there is a limited amount of data on cost-effectiveness analyses. Continued efforts with emphasis on value-based outcomes are needed with long-term follow-up studies.
-
The optimal therapeutic approach for adult craniopharyngioma remains controversial. Some advocate for gross total resection (GTR), while others advocate for subtotal resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (STR + XRT). ⋯ This is the first and largest systematic review focusing on the rate of recurrence in adult craniopharyngioma. Although the rates of recurrence are favoring GTR, difference in risk of recurrence did not reach significance. This study provides guidance to clinicians and directions for future research with the need to stratify outcomes per treatment modalities.
-
The understanding of the physiology of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) continues to expand. Knowledge of the hemodynamics of blood flow associated with AVMs is also progressing as imaging and treatment modalities advance. The authors present a comprehensive literature review that reveals the physical hemodynamics of AVMs, and the effect that various treatment modalities have on AVM hemodynamics and the surrounding cortex and vasculature. ⋯ The hemodynamics associated with intracranial AVMs is complex and likely changes over time with changes in the physical morphology and angioarchitecture of the lesions. Hemodynamic change may be even more of a factor as it pertains to the vast array of single and multimodal treatment options available. An understanding of AVM hemodynamics associated with differing treatment modalities can affect treatment strategies and should be considered for optimal clinical outcomes.
-
Multicenter Study
Recovery Kinetics of Radiographic and Implant-Related Revision Patients Following Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.
Prior studies have observed similar health-related quality of life (HRQL) in revisions and nonrevision (NR) patients following adult spinal deformity (ASD) correction. However, a novel comparison approach may allow better comparisons in spine outcomes groups. ⋯ ASD patients indicated for revisions for radiographic and implant-related complications differ significantly in their overall 2-yr recovery compared to NR, using a normalized integrated health state method. Traditional methods for analyzing revision patients' recovery kinetics may overlook delayed improvements.
-
Multicenter Study
Post-Traumatic Hydrocephalus in Children: A Retrospective Study in 42 Pediatric Hospitals Using the Pediatric Health Information System.
Post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is a potentially treatable cause of poor recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) that remains poorly understood, particularly among children. ⋯ PTH was seen in 0.9% of children who sustained a TBI and was more common in those <1 yr. Severe injury, abuse, and craniectomy with delayed cranioplasty were associated with greatly increased likelihood of PTH. Early cranioplasty in children who require craniectomy may reduce the risk for PTH.