Neurosurg Focus
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OBJECTIVE Acute subdural hematoma (aSDH) is a common disease increasing in prevalence given the demographic growth of the aging population. Yet, the benefit of surgical treatment for aSDH and the subsequent functional outcome in elderly patients (age ≥ 80 years) remain unclear. Therefore, the aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of aSDH in patients 80 years or older, determine overall functional outcome, identify predictors of an unfavorable or favorable outcome, and establish specific risk factors for seizures. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS The number of octo- and nonagenarians with aSDH significantly increased over the last decade. These patients can achieve a favorable outcome, especially those with a noncomatose status and fewer than 5 comorbidities. Surgical and nonsurgical treatment of octo- and nonagenarians during and after discharge should be optimized to increase clinical improvement.
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Multicenter Study
Improved restoration of thoracic kyphosis using a rod construct with differentiated rigidity in the surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare postoperative sagittal alignment among 3 rod constructs with different rigidity profiles. METHODS This was a dual-center retrospective cohort study involving 2 consecutive cohorts in which patients were surgically treated for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Lenke Type 5 curves were excluded. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS In the 3 rod constructs with different rigidity profiles, significantly better restoration of kyphosis was achieved with the use of bilateral modified rods compared with bilateral standard rods. In the MC and HC groups, the rate of severe postoperative hypokyphosis was significantly lower than in the SC group. This is the first study to describe the clinical use of a rod with a reduced proximal diameter and show marked radiographic improvement in sagittal alignment.
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OBJECTIVE Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of scoliosis. Limited literature exists defining risk factors associated with outcomes during initial hospitalization in these patients. In this study, the authors investigated patient demographics, clinical and hospital characteristics impacting short-term outcomes, and costs in adolescent patients undergoing surgical deformity correction for idiopathic scoliosis. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS This study provides insight into the clinical characteristics of AIS patients and their postoperative outcomes following deformity correction as they relate to hospital volume. It provides information regarding independent risk factors for unfavorable discharge and neurological complications following surgery for AIS. The proposed estimates could be used as an adjunct to clinical judgment in presurgical planning, risk stratification, and cost containment.
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OBJECTIVE Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) involves the use of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and transcranial electric motor evoked potentials (TceMEPs). In this retrospective study the authors examined the sensitivity and specificity of both SSEPs and TceMEPs during pediatric spinal deformity surgeries. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective quantitative analysis of data obtained in 806 patients (197 males and 609 females) treated from December 2011 until October 2015. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS The authors hypothesize that the results of this study will support the necessity, as a standard of care, of multimodality neuromonitoring during high-risk pediatric spinal deformity surgery because of the decrease in postoperative deficits. Their data suggest that the TceMEPs are more sensitive than SSEPs, but when used in combination, they offer the patient a level of safety that would otherwise not exist. Last, these findings support the notion that better outcomes are achieved with high-level IONM professionals.
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Meningiomas represent the most common primary intracranial neoplasm treated by neurosurgeons. Although multimodal treatment of meningiomas includes surgery, radiation-based treatments, and occasionally medical therapy, surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for most symptomatic meningiomas. Because of the intricate relationship of the dura mater and arachnoid mater with the central nervous system and cranial nerves, meningiomas can arise anywhere along the skull base or convexities, and occasionally even within the ventricular system, thereby mandating a catalog of surgical approaches that neurosurgeons may employ to individualize treatment for patients. ⋯ In addition, two cases of extended endoscopic endonasal approaches for tuberculum sellae and dorsum sellae meningiomas are presented, representing the latest evolution in accessing the skull base for selected tumors. Along with key pearls for safe tumor resection, an equally important component of open and endoscopic skull base operations for meningiomas addressed by the contributing authors is the reconstruction aspect, which must be performed meticulously to prevent delayed cerebrospinal fluid leakage and/or infections. This curated assortment of instructional videos represents the authors' optimal treatment paradigms pertaining to the selection of approach, setup, exposure, and principles to guide tumor resection for a wide spectrum of complex meningiomas.