Risk Factors, Indications, and Effectiveness of Cerebrospinal Fluid Diversion in Patients With High-Grade Glioma-Associated Hydrocephalus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objectives: The role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion in patients with high-grade glioma (HGG)-associated hydrocephalus is debated. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the risk factors, indications, and effectiveness of CSF diversion in patients with HGG-associated hydrocephalus, with the goal of evaluating patient survival, functional improvement, and symptomatic improvement after CSF diversion.

Methods: PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Embase databases were queried according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify studies describing adult HGG patients with hydrocephalus who underwent CSF diversion.

Surgical Approaches to Resection of Olfactory Groove Meningiomas: Comparative Meta-analysis of the Endoscopic Endonasal versus Transcranial and Unilateral versus Bilateral Approaches.

 Here we systematically review the extant literature to highlight the advantages of bilateral versus unilateral approaches and endoscopic endonasal (midline) approaches versus transcranial approaches for olfactory groove meningiomas, focusing on complications, extent of resection, and local recurrence rates.  Three databases were queried to identify all primary prospective trials and retrospective series comparing outcomes following endoscopic endonasal versus transcranial approaches and unilateral versus bilateral craniotomy for surgical resection of olfactory groove meningiomas. All articles were screened by two independent authors and selected for formal analysis according to predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Association of Alcohol Use Disorder and Perioperative Complications and Adverse Events After Spinal Fusion Surgery During the In-Hospital Period: An Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample Database.

Objective: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) carries major effects shown to limit social support, increase recovery times, and lead to a higher incidence of surgical complications. This retrospective cohort study investigated the influence of AUD on perioperative outcomes and adverse events after spinal fusions in the largest sample size to date and spanning 11 years.

Methods: Data for adult (>18 years old) patients who underwent a spinal fusion as their primary surgery were identified from the National Inpatient Sample database for the years 2009-2020.

Definition of cage subsidence in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) approach and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) approach - A systematic review.

Background: Although cage subsidence is one of the most common phenomenona associated with interbody fusions and was characterized more than 70 years ago, a standardized method for its measurement, detection, and reporting among different lumbar fusion procedures does not exist. Here, we review previously published literature on cage subsidence to present the most common methods for defining subsidence in the posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) techniques.

Methods: A search was completed in PubMed and Embase with inclusion criteria focused on identifying any study that provided descriptions of the method, imaging modality, and subsidence threshold used to define the presence of cage subsidence in study articles published between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2022.

Association between interhospital transfer status and outcomes following nontraumatic subdural hemorrhage.

Background: Patients with nontraumatic subdural hemorrhage often require immediate surgical intervention that may not be available at community hospitals and are therefore transferred to tertiary care centers. This study aims to evaluate the effects of interhospital transfer (IHT) on postoperative complications and outcomes following ntSDH.

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for patients treated for ntSDH from January 2014 to January 2020.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Intracranial Breast Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background/objectives: To determine the impact of stereotactic radiosurgery on outcomes of metastatic breast cancer with intracranial metastases.

Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases for studies published between 1 January 1990 and 1 August 2024. Primary research articles evaluating the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery on intracranial metastases from breast cancer were included.

Diagnosis and Management of Thoracolumbar Spinal Disorders Presenting as Cardiac, Gastrointestinal, and Other False Pain Syndromes.

Summary Of Background Data: Although pseudoangina is most commonly caused by cervical disc herniation, several cases have been described where thoracic herniation produced symptoms of pseudoangina. If thoracic herniation can produce angina-like pain, then it is important to consider whether pathology of the thoracolumbar spine, in general, can trigger false pain syndromes distinct from pseudoangina.

Objective: We seek to provide the most comprehensive study regarding the diagnosis and treatment of spinal conditions causing false pain syndromes.

Association Between Median Household Income and Perioperative Outcomes of Lumbar Spinal Fusion: An Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (2009-2020).

Background: Relationships between low socioeconomic status and surgical outcomes are well established for certain procedures. However, scant literature has focused on relationships between median household income and lumbar fusion outcomes.

Methods: Patients who underwent fusion procedures between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2020 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample database.

Hospital frailty risk score predicts high-value care outcomes following brain metastasis resection.

Objective: Brain metastases (BM) are the most common adult intracranial tumors, representing a significant source of morbidity in patients with systemic malignancy. Frailty indices, including 11- and 5-factor modified frailty indices (mFI-11 and mFI-5), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), have recently demonstrated an important role in predicting high-value care outcomes in neurosurgery. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of the newly developed Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) on postoperative outcomes in BM patients.

Defining cage subsidence in anterior, oblique, and lateral lumbar spine fusion approaches: a systematic review of the literature.

One of the most common complications of lumbar fusions is cage subsidence, which leads to collapse of disc height and reappearance of the presenting symptomology. However, definitions of cage subsidence are inconsistent, leading to a variety of subsidence calculation methodologies and thresholds. To review previously published literature on cage subsidence in order to present the most common methods for calculating and defining subsidence in the anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF), and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) approaches.

Clinical Predictors of Overall Survival in Very Elderly Patients With Glioblastoma: A National Cancer Database Multivariable Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Surgery for the very elderly is a progressively important paradigm as life expectancy continues to rise. Patients with glioblastoma multiforme often undergo surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy (CT) to prolong overall survival (OS). However, the efficacy of these treatment modalities in patients aged 80 years and older has yet to be fully assessed in the literature.

American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Surgical Risk Calculator as a Predictor of Postoperative Outcomes After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Background And Objectives: In recent years, there has been an outpouring of scoring systems that were built to predict outcomes after various surgical procedures; however, research validating these studies in spinal surgery is quite limited. In this study, we evaluated the predictability of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Surgical Risk Calculator (ACS NSQIP SRC) for various postoperative outcomes after spinal deformity surgery.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify patients who underwent spinal deformity surgery at our hospital between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2022.

Comparative analysis of patient demographics, perioperative outcomes, and adverse events after lumbar spinal fusion between urban and rural hospitals: an analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

Objective: Rural location of a patient's primary residence has been associated with worse clinical and surgical outcomes due to limited resource availability in these parts of the US. However, there is a paucity of literature investigating the effect that a rural hospital location may have on these outcomes specific to lumbar spine fusions.

Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, we identified all patients who underwent primary lumbar spinal fusion in the years between 2009 and 2020.

Fractionated radiotherapy after gross-total resection of spinal chordoma: a systematic review of survival outcomes using individualized patient data.

Objective: Spinal chordoma treatment guidelines recommend resection. However, in patients in whom gross-total resection (GTR) is achieved, the benefits of radiation therapy (RT) are unclear. Therefore, the authors performed a systematic review to determine if RT is associated with postoperative progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) after achieving GTR of spinal chordoma.

Global Disparities in the Presentation and Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Review and Analysis.

Objective: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with high mortality rates. There is a significant gap in the literature describing global disparities in demographics, management, and outcomes among patients with aSAH. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess global disparities in aSAH presentation and management.

Quality of life in chordoma survivors: results from the Chordoma Foundation Survivorship Survey.

Objective: Chordomas are rare malignant bone tumors whose location in the skull base or spine, invasive surgical treatment, and accompanying adjuvant radiotherapy may all lead patients to experience poor quality of life (QOL). Limited research has been conducted on specific demographic and clinical factors associated with decreased QOL in chordoma survivors. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate several potential variables and their impact on specific QOL domains in these patients as well the frequencies of specific QOL challenges within these domains.

The Socioeconomic Distressed Communities Index Predicts 90-Day Mortality Among Intracranial Tumor Patients.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a major determinant of quality of life and outcomes. However, SES remains difficult to measure comprehensively. Distress communities index (DCI), a composite of 7 socioeconomic factors, has been increasingly recognized for its correlation with poor outcomes.

Exploring disparities in surgical recommendations for patients with primary intramedullary spinal cord tumors: an analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 2000 to 2019.

Objective: Factors that may drive recommendations for operative intervention for patients with intramedullary spinal cord tumors (ISCTs) have yet to be extensively studied. The authors investigated racial and socioeconomic disparities in the management of patients with primary spinal cord ependymomas and nonependymal gliomas, with the aim of determining the associations between socioeconomic patient characteristics, survival, and recommendations for the resection of primary ISCTs.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was queried to identify all patients > 18 years of age with ISCTs diagnosed between 2000 and 2019.

The Effect of Diabetes on Complications after Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Spinal fusion procedures are used to treat a wide variety of spinal pathologies. Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been shown to be a significant risk factor for several complications following these procedures in previous studies. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first systematic review and meta-analysis elucidating the relationship between DM and complications occurring after spinal fusion procedures.

Staged Resection of Difficult-to-Treat Intracranial Meningiomas: A Systematic Review of the Indications, Surgical Approaches, and Postoperative Outcomes.

 Meningiomas-the most common extra-axial tumors-are benign, slow-growing dural-based lesions that can involve multiple cranial fossae and can progress insidiously for years until coming to clinical attention secondary to compression of adjacent neurovascular structures. For complex, multicompartmental lesions, multistaged surgeries have been increasingly shown to enhance maximal safe resection while minimizing adverse sequela. Here, we systematically review the extant literature to highlight the merits of staged resection.