Return-to-Sport Recommendations in Athletes Requiring Cervical Spine Surgery: A Modified Delphi Consensus Survey of Expert Opinion.

Study Design: Modified Delphi consensus survey.

Objective: To survey expert opinion on postoperative return-to-sport (RTS) decisions in athletes requiring cervical spine surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Postoperative sport participation recommendations for athletes requiring cervical spine surgery are lacking, and management of these athletes remains challenging.

Sex-Related Differences in Functional and Neurological Outcomes of Spinal Cord Injury.

Background And Objectives: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) tends to occur in different demographics and with differing etiology between males and females. Sex-related differences may influence recovery, but there remains a lack of evidence on this subject. Our objective was to quantify the influence of sex on functional and neurological outcomes of SCI.

Return-to-Sport Recommendations for Athletes With Cervical Spine Trauma: A Modified Delphi Consensus Survey of Expert Opinion.

Background And Objectives: Recommendations regarding return to sport (RTS) for athletes who have experienced cervical spine trauma are lacking, and management of these athletes remains challenging. The objective of this article was to perform a modified Delphi consensus survey of expert opinion on RTS in athletes who have suffered a traumatic injury to the cervical spine.

Methods: A cross-sectional, modified Delphi consensus survey examining RTS decisions in athletes with a history of a traumatic injury to the cervical spine was undertaken.

Return-to-Sport Recommendations for Athletes With Congenital Cervical Spine Pathology: A Modified Delphi Consensus Survey of Expert Opinion.

Background And Objectives: Recommendations guiding participation in sports for athletes with congenital cervical spine pathology are lacking, and management of these athletes remains challenging. Thus, the objective was to perform a modified Delphi consensus survey of expert opinion on return-to-sport (RTS) decisions in athletes with congenital cervical spine pathologies.

Methods: A cross-sectional, modified Delphi consensus survey investigating RTS decisions in athletes with various types of congenital cervical spine pathology was undertaken.

A meta-analysis and systematic review: association of timing and muscle strength after nerve transfer in upper trunk palsy.

A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted to address the PICO question: Does early (< 6 months) nerve transfer improve muscle strength outcomes when compared to late (≥ 6 months) nerve transfer for upper trunk palsy, as measured by the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale? The association between age and successful muscle function recovery was assessed as a secondary outcome. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool. A total of 349 studies were screened, with 27 studies meeting criteria for systematic review, and 16 included in the meta-analysis.

Neurosurgical management of a giant anterior sacral meningocele in a patient with combined Currarino syndrome and caudal duplication anomaly: illustrative case.

Background: Anterior sacral meningoceles (ASMs) are rare spinal lesions that may be associated with Currarino syndrome, a condition defined by the triad of anorectal malformations, sacral anomalies, and a presacral mass. While Currarino syndrome and caudal duplication syndrome are distinct entities, their coexistence is exceptionally rare, with only 2 reported cases-none involving an ASM. The authors present a unique case of an ASM in a patient with Currarino syndrome and features of caudal duplication anomaly.

Resection of a rare lumbar epithelioid schwannoma.

Background: Schwannomas, along with meningiomas, constitute the most common type of intradural extramedullary tumors. They are rare, typically benign tumors that originate from Schwann cells. Symptoms and signs attributed to these tumors may include back/radicular pain, focal motor and/or sensory deficits, and bowel/bladder dysfunction.

The Role of MRA as a Preliminary Diagnostic Tool in Diagnosing and Localizing Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula (SDAVF).

Background And Purpose: Despite advances in imaging techniques, spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas may be misdiagnosed, leading to delays in treatment and in some cases irreversible neurological damage. Spinal DSA has been considered the gold standard in diagnosing spinal dural arteriovenous fistula; however, it is operator dependent and often technically difficult, which can result in false negative studies. MRI/MRA has been established as a sensitive and specific imaging technique in diagnosing spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) and in identifying the correct level of the fistula.

Cervical disc replacement in athletes: a modified Delphi Consensus Survey of expert opinion.

Background Context: The safety and efficacy of cervical disc replacement (CDR) for spinal disorders in contact sport athletes is unclear. Current research is limited and highlights mixed results regarding return-to-sport (RTS) among athletes with CDR.

Purpose: We sought to perform a modified Delphi consensus survey of expert opinion on CDR in athletes.

Brachial Plexus Lipoma Causing Neurological Impairment: A Case Series and Systematic Review.

Background And Objectives: Lipomas are benign adipocyte tumors that typically present as painless, firm nodules. In rare cases, lipomas may grow near the brachial plexus (BP) and compress various peripheral nerves. This can manifest as upper extremity motor and/or sensory deficits, numbness, tingling, or burning sensations.

Human Schwann Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Isolation, Bioactivity Assessment, and Omics Characterization.

Purpose: Schwann cell-derived extracellular vesicles (SCEVs) have demonstrated favorable effects in spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and brain injuries. Herein, a scalable, standardized, and efficient isolation methodology of SCEVs obtaining a high yield with a consistent composition as measured by proteomic, lipidomic, and miRNA analysis of their content is described for future clinical use.

Methods: Human Schwann cells were obtained ethically from nine donors and cultured in a defined growth medium optimized for proliferation.

Pre-residency neurosurgical fellowship programs impact on a successful re-application: a departmental experience.

Matching into neurosurgery residency within the United States is one of the most competitive endeavors for medical students. Pursuing a neurosurgery pre-residency fellowship program is becoming a popular option among domestic applicants, as well as international medical graduates (IMGs), who are unsuccessful in their neurosurgery match or wish to create a more competitive application prior to applying. The aim of this study was to review the University of Miami's pre-residency fellowship program experience to date.

Comparison of cellular-based therapies following a long-segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is characterized by a loss of cellular and axonal integrity, often leading to limited functional recovery and pain. Many PNIs are not amenable to repair with traditional techniques; however, cell therapies, particularly Schwann cells (SCs), offer the promise of neural tissue replacement and functional improvement. Exosomes, which carry cellular signaling molecules, can be secreted by SCs and have shown promise in PNI.

Cervical spinal decompression and fusion in the setting of Wolcott-Rallison Syndrome: a rare pediatric indication and its surgical considerations.

Wolcott-Rallison Syndrome is an extremely rare syndrome characterized by infantile non-autoimmune diabetes, extensive skeletal dysplasia, and multi-organ failure requiring transplant. Prognosis is very poor, and as such, surgical intervention for symptomatic cervical spine compromise in pediatric patients has not been widely reported in part due to their high fragility. We report a complex case of Wolcott-Rallison Syndrome that presented with cervical myelopathy due to cervicomedullary compression and the exceptional surgical considerations required for successful intervention.

Challenges in advancing Schwann cell transplantation for spinal cord injury repair.

Background Aims: In this article we aimed to provide an expert synthesis of the current status of Schwann cell (SC)therapeutics and potential steps to increase their clinical utility.

Methods: We provide an expert synthesis based on preclinical, clinical and manufacturing experience.

Results: Schwann cells (SCs) are essential for peripheral nerve regeneration and are of interest in supporting axonal repair after spinal cord injury (SCI).

The use of ultrasound-guided imaging to localize peripheral nerve injury in pediatric patients: A case report.

Background: The use of ultrasonography to diagnose and manage peripheral nerve injury is not routinely performed, but is an advantageous alternative to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the pediatric population.

Case Description: The authors report a case of a toddler-aged female who sustained a supracondylar fracture and subsequent median and ulnar nerve injuries. All preoperative and postoperative imaging was performed through high-resolution ultrasound as opposed to MRI.

A novel leucine zipper-like transcriptional regulator 1 variant identified in a pair of siblings with familial schwannomatosis.

Background: Schwannomatosis is a rare genetic disorder marked by the emergence or predisposition to developing multiple schwannomas. Patients typically present with chronic pain or a mass in the second or third decade of life. Schwannomatosis is characterized by its associated gene, or if the specific gene is not known, then a descriptor is used.

Assessing Survival, Distribution, and Optimal Loading Technique of Schwann Cell-Derived Exosomes Into Second-generation Axon Guidance Channels.

Introduction: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) occurs in approximately 3% of all trauma patients and can be challenging to treat, particularly when injury is severe such as with a long-segmental gap. Although peripheral nerves can regenerate after injury, functional recovery is often insufficient, leading to deficits in the quality of life of patients with PNI. Although nerve autografts are the gold standard of care, there are several disadvantages to their use, namely a lack of autologous nerve material for repair.

The role of emboli detection studies in acute inpatient vertebral artery dissection.

Background: Prompt diagnosis and treatment of vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is critical for preventing stroke. The use of emboli detection studies (EDS) using Doppler ultrasonography is an emerging method that has been proposed to predict stroke risk and guide subsequent treatment. Limited data exists on the predictive value of this emerging modality in the posterior circulation.

Treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with allogeneic Schwann cell-derived exosomal vesicles: a case report.

Schwann cells are essential for the maintenance and function of motor neurons, axonal networks, and the neuromuscular junction. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, where motor neuron function is progressively lost, Schwann cell function may also be impaired. Recently, important signaling and potential trophic activities of Schwann cell-derived exosomal vesicles have been reported.