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Objective: Traditional management of patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) consists of radiotherapy (RT) with or without surgical decompression. With extensive literature and the introduction of clinical frameworks, such as the neurologic, oncologic, mechanical, and systemic criteria and the epidural spinal cord compression scale, progress has been made in refining the appropriate treatment regimen. In this review, we analyze the existing literature to identify the consensus frameworks and the remaining gaps in clinical knowledge., Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov were queried in January 2023. Only articles comparing combination therapy (surgery plus RT) to RT alone and assessing neurological and/or survival outcomes in patients with MESCC were retained for full-text review., Results: Out of 2157 unique articles, 29 met inclusion criteria. The most common primary cancer locations included lung (n=1031, 20.0 %), breast (n=747, 14.5 %), and prostate (n=712, 13.8 %), and back pain was the most common symptom reported (n=1186/1622, 73.1 %). While baseline patient characteristics were not controlled between the different treatment regimens, the included studies demonstrated a median survival of 4.0 months (interquartile range [IQR] 3.0-6.1 months) in patients receiving RT alone compared to 7.7 months (IQR 6.3-11.1 months) in the cohort receiving combination therapy. Similarly, in patients undergoing RT alone, a median of 29.0 % (IQR 16.0-37.9 %) of patients experienced a neurologic improvement, compared to 38.0 % (IQR 31.5-64.4 %) of patients undergoing combination therapy., Conclusions: In patients with high-grade, symptomatic MESCC, combination therapy with direct circumferential decompression is superior to RT alone in patients with less radiosensitive tumors. In patients with high-grade asymptomatic MESCC, RT alone can be pursued for patients with the most radiosensitive tumors, such as myeloma and lymphoma; however, more research is needed on the treatment of less radiosensitive tumors. A major grey area exists in the treatment of patients with intermediate grade epidural involvement., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Purpose: Oligodendroglioma is an adult-type diffuse glioma defined by 1p/19q codeletion and IDH1/2 mutation. Treatment includes surgery followed by observation alone in select low-grade tumors, or combination radiation and chemotherapy with procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) or temozolomide (TMZ). While prospective studies investigating treatments for molecularly defined oligodendrogliomas are ongoing, this retrospective study analyzes the relationship between adjuvant regimens and progression-free survival (PFS)., Methods: Adults with IDH-mutant, 1p/19q codeleted oligodendroglioma (WHO grade 2 or 3) who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2021 were identified. Clinical data, disease characteristics, treatment, and outcomes were collected., Results: A total of 207 patients with grade 2 and 70 with grade 3 oligodendrogliomas were identified. Median (IQR) follow-up was 57 (87) months. Patients with grade 3 tumors who received adjuvant radiation and PCV had longer median PFS (> 110 months) than patients who received radiation and TMZ (52 months, p = 0.008) or no adjuvant chemoradiation (83 months, p = 0.03), which was not seen in grade 2 tumors (p = 0.8). In multivariate analysis, patients who received PCV chemotherapy (Relative Risk [95% CI] = 0.24[0.05-1.08] and radiotherapy (0.46[0.21-1.02]) trended towards longer PFS, independently of grade., Conclusion: Adjuvant radiation and PCV are associated with improved PFS over radiation with TMZ in patients with grade 3 molecularly defined oligodendrogliomas, and all-grade patients treated with PCV trended towards decreased risk of recurrence and progression. These results highlight the importance of ongoing clinical trials investigating these treatments., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the Johns Hopkins Institutional Review Board (IRB00282685). Informed consent was waived due to the retrospective, non-interventional design of this study. Competing interests: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states no conflicts of interest. KJR: Research support from Elekta AB, Accuray and Canon; Data Safety Monitoring Board for BioMimetix; Travel expenses from Brainlab, Elekta AB, Accuray and Icotec; Consulting fees Icotec. MH: Parexel - data safety monitoring board; Advarra - data safety monitoring board; Bayer, AnHeart Therapeutics Inc, and Servier -- advisory board. Reporting guidelines: We found no applicable reporting guidelines that would apply to this article. By following the EQUATOR reporting guidelines decision tree, ( http://www.equatornetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/20160226-RG-decision-tree-for-Wizard-CC-BY-26-February-2016.pdf ), we found that none of the most popular checklists are appropriate for our study design., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: There is a paucity of high-quality return-to-play (RTP) data following treatment of cervical spine injuries in contact sports. In this study, the authors gathered insights from National Football League (NFL) team spine surgeon consultants to highlight current practices in treating cervical spine injuries and report decision-making regarding RTP in professional American football players., Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey was distributed to all NFL consulting physicians specializing in the management of spine injuries. The survey covered the following five clinical vignettes of cervical spine injuries: 1) radiculopathy, 2) myelopathy, 3) unilateral facet fracture, 4) unilateral facet dislocation, and 5) neck pain with MRI showing a ligamentous STIR signal. Participants were asked about management options and criteria to clear players for RTP using a combination of multiple-choice and open-ended answers., Results: A total of 26 physicians from 21 of 32 (66%) teams responded. Anterior surgery was most commonly recommended for cervical disc herniation causing radiculopathy or myelopathy (73% and 88%, respectively). A rigid cervical orthosis was preferred by 68% of experts for initial management of nondisplaced unilateral facet fracture, but single-level anterior fusion was preferred by 56% for a unilateral facet dislocation. Common criteria to clear players for RTP with cervical disc herniation causing radiculopathy included a normal examination (85%), radiographic fusion postoperatively (58%), and pain-free range of motion (50%). Contraindications for RTP included persistent stenosis (35%), instability (31%), multilevel fusion (27%), and persistent cord signal change (23%). Additional criteria for RTP in players with facet fractures or dislocations included radiographic evidence of fracture healing (32% and 24%, respectively) and normal flexion/extension radiographs (24% and 32%, respectively). Finally, for players with isolated ligamentous STIR signal changes, resolution of MRI findings was required by 36% of responding physicians prior to RTP., Conclusions: Decision-making regarding RTP after cervical spine injuries in professional football players is complex and influenced by improvement of symptoms, pain-free range of motion, and radiographic evidence of fusion or fracture healing. Respondents preferred anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for disc herniations causing cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy, rigid orthosis for unilateral facet fractures, and surgery for unilateral facet dislocations. The results of this study provide insight into how surgeons serving as consultants to professional football teams may counsel players who sustain cervical spine injuries.

Objective: The authors investigated the predictors of cost of admission (CoA) for robot-assisted pedicle screw placement to assess the value of robotic systems in spine operations., Methods: Demographic, operative, and postoperative variables were retrospectively collected from 506 patients undergoing robot-assisted spine surgery utilizing the ExcelsiusGPS robot at two high-volume tertiary care centers from 2017 to 2023. Perioperative parameters were evaluated against total hospital admission cost utilizing the Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests followed by multivariable linear regression., Results: The majority of patients were female (53.6%), 50-80 years of age (77.7%), and White (73.9%); had at least 1 comorbidity (58.1%); and presented with an average functional preoperative Frankel grade (57.5%). The mean CoA was $69,458 ± $47,910. On univariable analysis, demographic data including sex, age, race, and Frankel grade were not associated with CoA. The presence of a comorbidity, however, was associated with increased CoA (p < 0.001). Intraoperatively, one-third of the operations (31.8%) were revisions from prior operations and were subsequently associated with increased CoA (p = 0.021). Thoracic-level operations constituted roughly one-quarter of the cohort (24.1%) and were also associated with increased CoA (p < 0.001). Intraoperative durotomies occurred in 7.7% of patients, leading to increased CoA (p = 0.003). Extended surgical durations also demonstrated elevated CoA (p < 0.001). Postoperatively, the median length of stay (LOS) was 3 days, and an LOS of greater than 3 days was one of the primary drivers of cost (p < 0.001). Postoperative complications occurred in just 6.3% of the cohort but were also associated with increased CoA (p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, LOS, number of screws placed, operative duration, and postoperative complications were the primary predictors of increased CoA., Conclusions: Understanding the drivers of cost in robot-assisted pedicle screw placement is crucial to elucidate the value associated with the use of robotic systems in spine surgery. These results indicate that patient and surgical complexity influence cost and that robotic systems may augment management in spine surgery. Further investigation is warranted to determine the long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness of new technologies compared with traditional techniques in spine surgery.

Sacroiliitis, or inflammation of one or both of the sacroiliac joints (SIJs), can be difficult to distinguish from other etiologies of lower back and buttock pain due to diverse patient presentations and a lack of highly sensitive and specific diagnostic modalities. Although physical examination, provocation tests, and an SIJ block test are informative, confirmatory imaging is often required to improve diagnostic accuracy. Radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the most popular imaging studies for this purpose, but other modalities such as computed tomography (CT), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT, positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, and ultrasonography are emerging as viable alternatives. This narrative review provides a comprehensive summary of the history, clinical use and limitations of each imaging modality in the diagnosis of sacroiliitis. Novel techniques in image acquisition and analysis, such as digital tomosynthesis (DT), volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) MRI and dual energy CT (DECT) are also discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Robotic platforms have increased in sophistication for pedicle screw placement. Here, we review our institutional experience using ExcelsiusGPS to assess the accuracy rate of pedicle screw placement throughout the spine and characterize predictors of placement inaccuracy., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Methods: Patients from 2017 to 2022 undergoing spinal fusion surgery with ExelsiusGPS-assisted screw implantation at a single tertiary center were retrospectively identified. Patient demographics, preoperative symptoms, and operative details were collected. Postoperative computed tomography was used to classify screw placement accuracy according to the Gertzbein and Robbins scale (GRS). A stepwise multivariable ordered logistic regression analysis determined independent risk factors for clinically inaccurate screws (GRS C/D/E)., Results: One hundred and seventeen patients were included. Mean age was 60.6 ± 13.2 years, with 57% men, 72% white, and mean body mass index of 29.9 ± 6.4 kg/m 2 . Seven hundred and twenty-eight screws were placed, predominantly in the thoracic (29.5%) and lumbar (52.6%) regions. Accuracy classification indicated 670 GRS A, 31 GRS B, 22 GRS C, 4 GRS D, and 1 GRS E screws. The clinically acceptable screw placement rate (GRS A/B) was 96%. Male gender (odds ratio [OR]: 2.12, P = 0.03), revision surgery (OR: 2.43, P = 0.02), and thoracic level screw insertion (OR: 2.33, P = 0.01) were independently associated with inaccurate screw placement and explained 8.7% of the variability seen. Of the 728 screws placed, 3 required revision after postoperative imaging revealed loosening or pedicle breach., Conclusion: ExcelsiusGPS-assisted screw insertion has high placement accuracy and low revision rates. Identification of predictors of inaccuracy illustrates that similar variables, such as placement in the thoracic spine and revision surgery status, apply to both freehand and robotic screw placement., Clinical Relevance: Robotic spine surgery is an accurate, reliable tool that can improve patient outcomes. Factors like male gender, thoracic screw placement, and revision surgery status are associated with lower screw placement accuracy, and these factors should inform surgical decision-making when using robotic assistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests : Nicholas Theodore receives royalties from and owns stock in Globus Medical. He is a consultant for Globus Medical and has served on scientific advisory board/other office for Globus Medical. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (This manuscript is generously published free of charge by ISASS, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. Copyright © 2024 ISASS. To see more or order reprints or permissions, see http://ijssurgery.com.)

Background: A 78-year-old male presented with progressive myelopathic symptoms. The clinical course and imaging findings raised a high suspicion for venous hypertensive myelopathy due to a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF)., Observations: Magnetic resonance angiography and four complete spinal angiograms did not reveal the presence of an SDAVF. Despite multiple negative angiograms, intraoperative ultrasound revealed abnormal cord edema and arterialized pulsatile vessels, confirming the presence of an SDAVF. The fistula was found and cauterized, which resulted in a decrease in the caliber of the dilated veins and an observed reduction of spinal cord stiffness posttreatment. The patient exhibited gradual improvement in neurological function. Retrospective analysis of the multiple complete spinal angiograms failed to reveal an anomaly at the treated level or any other level., Lessons: This case underscores the diagnostic utility of intraoperative Doppler ultrasound and the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for SDAVF in cases with consistent clinical characteristics and a lack of alternative diagnoses, even with negative spinal angiography. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24438.

Objective: In posterior vertebral column subtraction osteotomy (PVCSO), a section of a thoracic or lumbar vertebra and the adjacent disc are resected to shorten the spinal column, aiming to permanently alleviate tension on the spinal cord in patients with recurrent tethered cord syndrome (TCS). The effects of this procedure on the spinal cord are not well characterized. This study investigated morphometric changes in the cord following PVCSO and assessed associated clinical outcomes in patients with recurrent TCS., Methods: A retrospective review of patients with recurrent TCS undergoing PVCSO with robotic assistance at the authors' tertiary care institution between 2019 and 2023 was performed. Clinical data were recorded from electronic medical records, and morphometric measurements, including T12-L2 sagittal height, intradural diameter, and the diameters, area, eccentricity, and positioning of the spinal cord, were collected from MRI. Spinal cord dimensions including anteroposterior and lateral diameters, area, eccentricity, positioning, and intradural diameter were compared before and after surgery., Results: Six patients were included in this study. At 6-week follow-up, all patients had improvement on lower-extremity motor function examinations, 40% had improvement on lower-extremity sensory function examinations, and 83% had improved self-reported pain. Bladder and bowel incontinence were improved in 50% and 60%, respectively. PVCSO reduced the height of the spinal column by a mean of 18.1 ± 5.2 mm. PVCSO increased the mean spinal cord anteroposterior diameter by 0.8 ± 0.5 mm at T12 (p = 0.03) and the mean area by 0.4 ± 0.3 mm2 at T12 (p = 0.03). The mean eccentricity of the spinal cord decreased by 0.15 ± 0.15 at L1 (p = 0.05), indicating that the spinal cord became more circular after surgery. No major complications were reported, although 1 patient experienced atelectasis and pulmonary embolism postoperatively., Conclusions: This study provides novel insights into the morphometric changes induced by PVCSO and their correlation with clinical outcomes in patients with TCS. The procedure effectively increased spinal cord dimensions, alleviating tension and offering potential benefits in symptom relief. The study underscores the need for objective metrics to guide surgical decision-making and enhance the long-term success of PVCSO in the management of TCS.

Objective: Because there is not a link between COVID-19 and pediatric hydrocephalus, the COVID-19 pandemic should not have altered the incidence of pediatric hydrocephalus or the rate of CSF diversion procedures or shunt failure. Therefore, hydrocephalus-related surgical volume should have remained constant. The goal of this study was to evaluate the rates of hydrocephalus surgeries in the COVID-19 era compared with the baseline pre-COVID-19 era., Methods: Ten institutions collected information about all hydrocephalus-related surgeries performed between March 2018 and February 2022. The period after March 1, 2020, was considered the COVID-19 era; the period prior to this date was considered the baseline pre-COVID era. Four COVID surge periods were defined using the New York Times COVID-19 database. Total case volumes were compared between the COVID era and baseline, both overall and for each surge period. Sex, race, ethnicity, insurance status, Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and rural-urban commuter area were collected for each surgery. Proportions of patients were then compared overall and for each surge based on these variables., Results: Of 8056 procedures, 54% were in male patients (n = 4375), 65% in White patients (n = 5247), 18% in Hispanic patients (n = 1423), and 54% in patients with public insurance (n = 4371). There was no change in the number of surgeries per site per month in the COVID era compared with baseline (16.7 vs 17.9, p = 0.113). However, there was a significant decrease in the first surge period (April 2020; 11.5 vs 17.7, p = 0.034). Male sex (p < 0.0039) and Black race (p < 0.001) were found to be associated with a significantly higher proportion of hydrocephalus procedures during the COVID-19 era. Some surge periods showed different proportions of privately insured patient and ADI levels. However, these relationships were inconsistent between surges., Conclusions: Overall average monthly case numbers were not significantly different between the pre-COVID and COVID eras. There was a significant decrease in hydrocephalus surgery during the first COVID surge. More hydrocephalus surgeries were performed in children of male sex and Black race proportionally during the COVID period overall, but not during individual surges.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Objective: Chronic low-back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and traditional pharmacotherapy fails to provide relief for many individuals with this condition. An estimated 15% of chronic LBP cases can be attributed to the facet joint. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a recent technology that enables noninvasive thermal ablation of tissue and has shown efficacy in treating tumors, neuropathic pain, and painful bone metastases. In this systematic review, the authors summarize the literature on lumbar facet joint-mediated pain treated with HIFU and report the effectiveness of HIFU on pain outcomes., Methods: All full-text English-language articles describing the use of focused ultrasound for facet joint pain were screened using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Clinical studies were assessed for bias using the methodological index for nonrandomized studies., Results: Eleven studies (6 preclinical and 5 clinical) reporting on 50 patients were included. Eight of these studies (73%) used MR-guided focused ultrasound ablation and 3 used fluoroscopy. The medial branch nerve and posterior facet joint capsule were the most common targets for focused ablation. Although the energy used ranged from 300 to 2000 J, clinical studies predominantly operated in the range of 1000 to 1500 J. Pain reduction was seen in all clinical studies, with multiple-point reductions from average baseline pain scores in 6-12 months. No study reported any adverse events or complications., Conclusions: HIFU can be effective in treating chronic low-back pain arising from the facet joint. Further clinical studies should explore the long-term effects of HIFU and monitor changes in pain reduction over time.

Objective: Spinal metastases can significantly affect quality of life in patients with cancer and present complex neurosurgical challenges for surgeons. Surgery with instrumentation is often indicated to alleviate pain, preserve neurological function, and ensure mechanical stability. However, distortions in the bony anatomy due to oncological disease can decrease the accuracy of pedicle screw placement. Robotic-assisted surgery may offer an opportunity to increase screw accuracy and improve navigation of spinal lesions compared to conventional techniques. Therefore, we presented our institutional experience evaluating robotic-assisted surgical fixation for spinal metastases., Methods: Patients undergoing robotic-assisted surgery at a large tertiary care center between January 2019 - January 2023 for the treatment of spinal metastases were identified. Patient characteristics, including demographics, tumor pathology, surgical complications, and post-operative outcomes were extracted. The Gertzbein Robbins classification system (GRS) was used to assess pedicle screw placement accuracy in patients with post-operative computed tomography., Results: Twenty patients were identified, including 7 females (35 %), with an overall median age of 66 years (range: 39-80 years) and median BMI of 25 kg/m 2 (range: 17-34 kg/m 2 ). An average of four spinal levels were instrumented, with metastases located primarily in the thoracic (n=17, 85 %) spine. Common primary tumor types included prostate (n=4), lung (n=2), and plasma cell (n=2) cancers. Most pedicle screws (92 %) were classified as GRS A in patients with postoperative imaging. Post-operative complications were unrelated to the use of the robot, and included pulmonary embolism (n=1), deep vein thrombosis (n=2), and gastric symptoms (n=3). Three patients were readmitted at 30 days, with one reoperation due to tumor recurrence. Four patients were deceased within 6 months of surgery., Conclusions: Despite the inherent high-risk nature of these surgeries, this study underscores the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted surgery in the management of spinal metastases. Robots can be helpful in ensuring accuracy of pedicle screw placement in patients with metastatic disease., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Nicholas Theodore has received royalties from, holds stock ownership in, has consulted for, and has served on the scientific advisory board/other office for Globus Medical. Dr. Lubelski reported serving as a consultant for Icotec, Carbofix, and Mindset Medical. Dr. Lubelski receives research support from Dilon Technologies. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. No generative artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted technologies were utilized in the writing of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Oligodendrogliomas are defined by IDH1/2 mutation and codeletion of chromosome arms 1p/19q. Although previous studies identified CIC, FUBP1, and TERTp as frequently altered in oligodendrogliomas, the clinical relevance of these molecular signatures is unclear. Moreover, previous studies predominantly used research panels that are not readily available to providers and patients. Accordingly, we explore genomic alterations in molecularly defined oligodendrogliomas using clinically standardized next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels., Methods: A retrospective single-center study evaluated adults with pathologically confirmed IDH-mutant, 1p/19q-codeleted oligodendrogliomas diagnosed between 2005 and 2021. Genetic data from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens were analyzed with the NGS Solid Tumor Panel at the Johns Hopkins Medical Laboratories, which tests more than 400 cancer-related genes. Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank tests compared progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival by variant status. χ2 tests, t-tests, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare clinical characteristics between genomic variant status in the 10 most frequently altered genes., Results: Two hundred and seventy-seven patients with molecularly defined oligodendrogliomas were identified, of which 95 patients had available NGS reports. Ten genes had 9 or more patients with a genomic alteration, with CIC, FUBP1, and TERTp being the most frequently altered genes (n = 60, 23, and 22, respectively). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that most genes were not associated with differences in PFS or overall survival. At earlier time points (PFS <100 months), CIC alterations conferred a reduction in PFS in patients (P = .038)., Conclusion: Our study confirms the elevated frequency of CIC, FUBP1, and TERTp alterations in molecularly defined oligodendrogliomas and suggests a potential relationship of CIC alteration to PFS at earlier time points. Understanding these genomic variants may inform prognosis or therapeutic recommendations as NGS becomes routine., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2024. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Pedicle screw placement guidance is critical in spinal fusions, and spinal surgery robots aim to improve accuracy and reduce complications. Current literature has yet to compare the relative merits of available robotic systems. In this review, the authors aimed to 1) assess the current state of spinal robotics literature; 2) conduct a meta-analysis of robotic performance based on accuracy, speed, and safety; and 3) offer recommendations for robotic system selection., Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, the authors conducted a systematic literature review across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus as of April 28, 2022, for studies on approved robots for placing lumbar pedicle screws. Three reviewers screened and extracted data relating to the study characteristics, accuracy rate, intraoperative revisions, and reoperations. Secondary performance metrics included operative time, blood loss, and radiation exposure. The authors statistically compared the performance of the robots using a random-effects model to account for variation within and between the studies. Each robot was also compared with performance benchmarks of traditional techniques including freehand, fluoroscopic, and CT-navigated insertion. Finally, we performed a Duval and Tweedie trim-and-fill test to assess for the presence of publication bias., Results: The authors identified 46 studies, describing 4670 patients and 25,054 screws, that evaluated 4 different robotic systems: Mazor X, ROSA, ExcelsiusGPS, and Cirq. The weighted accuracy rates of Gertzbein-Robbins classification grade A or B screws were as follows: ExcelsiusGPS, 98.0%; ROSA, 98.0%; Mazor, 98.2%; and Cirq, 94.2%. No robot was significantly more accurate than the others. However, the accuracy of the ExcelsiusGPS was significantly higher than that of traditional methods, and the accuracies of the Mazor and ROSA were significantly higher than that of fluoroscopy. The intraoperative revision rates were Cirq, 0.55%; ROSA, 0.91%; Mazor, 0.98%; and ExcelsiusGPS, 1.08%. The reoperation rates were Cirq, 0.28%; ExcelsiusGPS, 0.32%; and Mazor, 0.76% (no reoperations were reported for ROSA). Operative times were similar for all robots. Both the ExcelsiusGPS and Mazor were associated with significantly less blood loss than the ROSA. The Cirq had the lowest radiation exposure. Robots tended to be more accurate and generally their use was associated with fewer reoperations and less blood loss than freehand, fluoroscopic, or CT-navigated techniques., Conclusions: Robotic platforms perform comparably based on key metrics, with high accuracy rates and low intraoperative revision and reoperation rates. The spinal robotics publication rate will continue to accelerate, and choosing a robot will depend on the context of the practice.

Objective: Few large studies have investigated the factors and outcomes related to concomitant injuries occurring alongside mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) after motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). Thus, the objective of this study was to assess whether MVC characteristics predict which patients with mTBI will have concomitant whiplash injury, and whether concomitant whiplash injury affects care utilization for these patients., Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 22,213 patients with mTBI after MVC identified from the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Programs dataset. A hierarchical logistic regression model was constructed to investigate patient and MVC factors associated with concomitant whiplash injury. Propensity score matching on whiplash status, in conjunction with a multivariable logistic regression model, assessed if concomitant whiplash affected odds of hospitalization. In the subgroup of patients who were hospitalized, associations with hospital length of stay (LOS) and discharge disposition were investigated., Results: The median (IQR) age was 34 (24-51) years, with a median Glasgow Coma Scale score at presentation of 15 (15-15). Patients with concomitant whiplash were older (median 36 years vs 34 years, p = 0.03) and had higher rates of hospitalization (75% vs 64%, p < 0.001). In the hierarchical model for associations with concomitant whiplash injury, patients with blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than the federal driving limit had lower odds of concomitant whiplash (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49-0.81) along with those who had airbag deployment (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.95), but seatbelt use was associated with greater odds (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.16-1.71). After matching, concomitant whiplash was independently associated with increased odds of hospitalization (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.40-1.99) while seatbelt use was associated with decreased odds (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81-0.95). Among hospitalized patients, concomitant whiplash was not associated with hospital LOS or discharge disposition., Conclusions: MVC characteristics such as alcohol consumption and airbag deployment were protective toward development of concomitant whiplash for mTBI patients, while seatbelt use was associated with higher risk. Concomitant whiplash increases the odds of hospitalization for mTBI patients but does not affect hospital LOS or discharge disposition, while seatbelt use is associated with lower rates of hospitalization and a more favorable hospital course. These findings provide context to injury patterns and care provision after a common mechanism of injury.

Objective: The PEDSPINE I and PEDSPINE II scores were developed to determine when patients require advanced imaging to rule out cervical spine injury (CSI) in children younger than 3 years of age with blunt trauma. This study aimed to evaluate these scores in an institutional cohort., Methods: The authors identified patients younger than 3 years with blunt trauma who received cervical spine MRI from their institution's prospective database from 2012 to 2015. Patient demographics, injury characteristics, and imaging were compared between patients with and without CSI using chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests., Results: Eighty-eight patients were identified, 8 (9%) of whom had CSI on MRI. The PEDSPINE I system had a higher sensitivity (50% vs 25%) and negative predictive value (93% vs 92%), whereas PEDSPINE II had a higher specificity (91% vs 65%) and positive predictive value (22% vs 13%). Patients with CSI missed by the scores had mild, radiologically significant ligamentous injuries detected on MRI. Both models would have recommended advanced imaging for the patient who required halo-vest fixation (risk profile: no CSI, 81.9%; ligamentous, 10.1%; osseous, 8.0%). PEDSPINE I would have prevented 52 (65%) of 80 uninjured patients from receiving advanced imaging, whereas PEDSPINE II would have prevented 73 (91%). Using PEDSPINE I, 10 uninjured patients (13%) could have avoided intubation for imaging. PEDSPINE II would not have spared any patients intubation., Conclusions: Current cervical spine clearance algorithms are not sensitive or specific enough to determine the need for advanced imaging in children. However, these scores can be used as a reference in conjunction with physicians' clinical impressions to reduce unnecessary imaging.

Objective: Chordomas are locally aggressive neoplasms of the spine or skull base that arise from embryonic remnants of the notochord. Intradural chordomas represent a rare subset of these neoplasms, and few studies have described intradural chordomas in the spine. This review evaluates the presentation, management, and outcomes of intradural spinal chordomas., Methods: A systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed. Studies describing at least 1 case of intradural chordomas anywhere in the spine were included. Extracted details included presenting symptoms, radiological findings, treatment course, follow-up, and disease progression., Results: Thirty-one studies, with a total of 41 patients, were included in this review. Seventy-six percent (31/41) of patients had primary intradural tumors, whereas 24% (10/41) presented with metastasis. The most common signs and symptoms were pain (n = 27, 66%); motor deficits (n = 20, 49%); sensory deficits (n = 17, 42%); and gait disturbance (n = 10, 24%). The most common treatment for intradural chordoma was resection and postoperative radiotherapy. Sixty-six percent (19/29) of patients reported improvement or complete resolution of symptoms after surgery. The recurrence rate was 37% (10/27), and the complication rate was 25% (6/24). The median progression-free survival was 24 months (range 4-72 months). Four patient deaths were reported. The median follow-up time was 12 months (range 13 days-84 months)., Conclusions: Treatment of intradural spinal chordomas primarily involves resection and radiotherapy. A significant challenge and complication in management is spinal tumor seeding after resection, with 9 studies proposing seeding as a mechanism of tumor metastasis in 11 cases. Factors such as tumor size, Ki-67 positivity, and distant metastasis may correlate with worse outcomes and demonstrate potential as prognostic indicators for intradural spinal chordomas. Further research is needed to improve understanding of this tumor and develop optimal treatment paradigms for these patients.

The mainstay of treatment for spinal cord injury includes decompressive laminectomy and elevation of mean arterial pressure. However, outcomes often remain poor. Extensive research and ongoing clinical trials seek to design new treatment options for spinal cord injury, including stem cell therapy, scaffolds, brain-spine interfaces, exoskeletons, epidural electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and cerebrospinal fluid drainage. Some of these treatments are targeted at the initial acute window of injury, during which secondary damage occurs; others are designed to help patients living with chronic injuries., Competing Interests: Disclosures N Theodore receives royalties from and owns stock in Globus Medical. He is a consultant for Globus Medical and has served on the scientific advisory board/other office for Globus Medical. The subject of this manuscript was deemed exempt from IRB approval., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Applications and workflows around spinal robotics have evolved since these systems were first introduced in 2004. Initially approved for lumbar pedicle screw placement, the scope of robotics has expanded to instrumentation across different regions. Additionally, precise navigation can aid in tumor resection or spinal lesion ablation. Robot-assisted surgery can improve accuracy while decreasing radiation exposure, length of hospital stay, complication, and revision rates. Disadvantages include increased operative time, dependence on preoperative imaging among others. The future of robotic spine surgery includes automated surgery, telerobotic surgery, and the inclusion of machine learning or artificial intelligence in preoperative planning., Competing Interests: Disclosures Nicholas Theodore receives royalties from and owns stock in Globus Medical. He is a consultant for Globus Medical and has served on the scientific advisory board/other office for Globus Medical. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Exoscopes were recently developed as an alternative to the operative microscope (OM) and endoscope for intraoperative visualization during neurosurgery. Prior reviews studying mixed cranial and spinal surgical cohorts reported advantages with exoscope use, including improved ergonomics and teaching. In recent years, there has been an increase in exoscope research, with no updated systematic review focused exclusively on the benefits and limitations of exoscope use in spine surgery. Thus, we sought to systematically synthesize the literature related to exoscope-assisted spine surgery., Methods: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies reported between 2010 and September 2023. Data, such as the exoscope model used, procedure types performed, and user observations, were then collected., Results: A total of 31 studies met our inclusion criteria, including 481 patients with spine pathologies who underwent a surgical procedure using 1 of 9 exoscope models. The lumbar region was the most frequently operated area (n = 234; 48.6%), and discectomies comprised the most overall procedures (n = 273; 56.8%). All patients benefited clinically. The reported advantages of exoscopes compared with OMs or endoscopes were improved focal distance, surgeon posture, trainee education, compactness, and assistant participation. Other aspects such as stereopsis, illumination, and cost had various observations., Conclusions: Exoscopes have advantages compared with OMs or endoscopes during spine surgery. The user learning curve is minimal, and no negative patient outcomes have been reported. However, some aspects of exoscope use necessitate longer term prospective research before exoscopes can be considered a standard tool in the armamentarium of intraoperative visualization strategies., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Spinal arachnoid webs (SAWs) are rare pathologies of the spinal meninges often associated with syringomyelia and the radiographic "scalpel sign." Patients can experience pain, numbness, gait disturbances, or no symptoms at all. They are typically diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging and treated with laminectomy and excision., Observations: A 61-year-old male presented after a mechanical fall and had an incidentally discovered SAW on imaging. He was initially asymptomatic and was therefore conservatively managed. Several years later, however, the patient experienced new-onset back pain, paresthesia, and balance problems, with interval imaging demonstrating worsening of the edema surrounding his SAW. The patient subsequently underwent resection of the SAW, which led to significant resolution of his symptoms., Lessons: An SAW can be asymptomatic or can manifest with a wide variety of symptoms. When this condition is incidentally discovered in asymptomatic patients, neurosurgeons should guide these patients to follow-up urgently if they develop any neurological symptoms. At that time, further imaging can be performed to determine if surgical treatment is indicated. Although SAW is rare, clinicians should be aware of the signs and symptoms, because prompt surgical intervention can significantly improve neurological symptoms.

Background Context: The optimal decompression time for patients presenting with acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS) has been debated, and a high level of evidence is lacking., Purpose: To compare early (<24 hours) versus late (≥24 hours) surgical decompression for ATCCS., Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis., Methods: Medline, PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched from inception to March 15th, 2023. The primary outcome was American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score. Secondary outcomes were venous thromboembolism (VTE), total complications, overall mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), and ICU LOS. The GRADE approach determined certainty in evidence., Results: The nine studies included reported on 5,619 patients, of whom 2,099 (37.35%) underwent early decompression and 3520 (62.65%) underwent late decompression. The mean age (53.3 vs 56.2 years, p=.505) and admission ASIA motor score (mean difference [MD]=-0.31 [-3.61, 2.98], p=.85) were similar between the early and late decompression groups. At 6-month follow-up, the two groups were similar in ASIA motor score (MD= -3.30 [-8.24, 1.65], p=.19). However, at 1-year follow-up, the early decompression group had a higher ASIA motor score than the late decompression group in total (MD=4.89 [2.89, 6.88], p<.001, evidence: moderate), upper extremities (MD=2.59 [0.82, 4.36], p=.004) and lower extremities (MD=1.08 [0.34, 1.83], p=.004). Early decompression was also associated with lower VTE (odds ratio [OR]=0.41 [0.26, 0.65], p=.001, evidence: moderate), total complications (OR=0.53 [0.42, 0.67], p<.001, evidence: moderate), and hospital LOS (MD=-2.94 days [-3.83, -2.04], p<.001, evidence: moderate). Finally, ICU LOS (MD=-0.69 days [-1.65, 0.28], p=.16, evidence: very low) and overall mortality (OR=1.35 [0.93, 1.94], p=.11, evidence: moderate) were similar between the two groups., Conclusions: The meta-analysis of these studies demonstrated that early decompression was beneficial in terms of ASIA motor score, VTE, complications, and hospital LOS. Furthermore, early decompression did not increase mortality odds. Although treatment decision-making has been individualized, early decompression should be considered for patients presenting with ATCCS, provided that the surgeon deems it appropriate., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Daniel Lubelski is a consultant for Carbofix, Icotec, and Mindset Medical, and receives research support from Dillon Technologies. Chetan Bettegowda is a consultant for Depuy-Synthes, Bionaut Labs, Galectin Therapeutics, Privo Technologies and Haystack Oncology. He is a co-founder of OrisDx and Belay Diagnostics and is on the board of directors for each. Louis Chang is an educator for and receives research support from Nuvasive. Timothy Witham owns stock in and is a consultant for Augmedics, Inc., is a consultant for Depuy-Synthes Spine, and is on the surgical advisory board of Augmedics, Inc. Nicholas Theodore receives royalties from and owns stock in Globus Medical. He is a consultant for Globus Medical and has served on the scientific advisory board/other office for Globus Medical. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The differential diagnosis for postoperative back pain is broad, and conventional imaging modalities are not always conclusive. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of the literature and present case studies describing the use of single-photon emission CT (SPECT)/CT or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in the diagnosis of back pain following spine surgery., Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines across 5 databases. Relevant keywords included PET/CT, bone SPECT/CT, and pseudarthrosis. The studies were assessed for diagnostic accuracy of the imaging technologies., Results: A total of 2,444 studies were screened, 91 were selected for full-text review, and 21 were ultimately included. Six retrospective studies investigated the use of SPECT/CT with a total sample size of 309 patients. Two of these studies used SPECT/CT to predict screw loosening in over 50% of patients. Eight studies examined the use of 18-fluoride sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) PET/CT. Among these studies, measures of diagnostic accuracy varied but overall demonstrated the ability of 18F-NaF PET/CT to detect screw loosening and pseudarthrosis. Seven studies examined 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT and supported its utility in the diagnosis of postoperative infections in the spine., Conclusions: PET/CT and SPECT/CT are useful in the evaluation of postoperative pain of the spine, especially in patients for whom conventional imaging modalities yield inconclusive results. More diagnostic accuracy studies with strong reference standards are needed to compare hybrid imaging to conventional imaging., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Over the past decade, advancements in computational modeling, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence (AI) have been driving innovations in spine surgery. Much of the research conducted in these fields is from the past 5 years. In 2021, the market value for augmented reality and virtual reality reached around $22.6 billion, highlighting the rise in demand for these technologies in the medical industry and beyond. Currently, these modalities have a wide variety of potential uses, from preoperative planning of pedicle screw placement and assessment of surgical instrumentation to predictions for postoperative outcomes and development of educational tools. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the applications of these technologies in spine surgery. Furthermore, we discuss several avenues for further development, including integrations between these modalities and areas of improvement for more immersive, informative surgical experiences., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Cell-based immunotherapy for glioblastoma (GBM) encounters major challenges due to the infiltration-resistant and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). γδ T cells, unconventional T cells expressing the characteristic γδ T cell receptor, have demonstrated promise in overcoming these challenges, suggesting great immunotherapeutic potential. This review presents the role of γδ T cells in GBM and proposes several research avenues for future studies. Using the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and JSTOR databases, we performed a review of the literature studying the biology of γδ T cells and their role in GBM treatment. We identified 15 studies focused on γδ T cells in human GBM. Infiltrative γδ T cells can incite antitumor immune responses in certain TMEs, though rapid tumor progression and TME hypoxia may impact the extent of tumor suppression. In the studies, available findings have shown both the potential for robust antitumor activity and the risk of protumor activity. While γδ T cells have potential as a therapeutic agent against GBM, the technical challenges of extracting, isolating, and expanding γδ T cells, and the activation of antitumoral versus protumoral cascades, remain barriers to their application. Overcoming these limitations may transform γδ T cells into a promising immunotherapy in GBM.

Background and Objectives: Robot-assisted pedicle screw placement is associated with greater accuracy, reduced radiation, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications than freehand screw placement. However, it can be associated with longer operative times and an extended training period. We report the initial experience of a surgeon using a robot system at an academic medical center., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing robot-assisted pedicle screw placement at a single tertiary care institution by 1 surgeon from 10/2017 to 05/2022. Linear regression, analysis of variance, and cumulative sum analysis were used to evaluate operative time learning curves. Operative time subanalyses for surgery indication, number of levels, and experience level were performed., Results: In total, 234 cases were analyzed. A significant 0.19-minute decrease in operative time per case was observed (r = 0.14, P = .03). After 234 operations, this translates to a reduction in 44.5 minutes from the first to last case. A linear relationship was observed between case number and operative time in patients with spondylolisthesis (-0.63 minutes/case, r = 0.41, P < .001), 2-level involvement (-0.35 minutes/case, r = 0.19, P = .05), and 4-or-more-level involvement (-1.29 minutes/case, r = 0.24, P = .05). This resulted in reductions in operative time ranging from 39 minutes to 1.5 hours. Continued reductions in operative time were observed across the learning, experienced, and expert phases, which had mean operative times of 214, 197, and 146 minutes, respectively ( P < .001). General proficiency in robot-assisted surgery was observed after the 20th case. However, 67 cases were required to reach mastery, defined as the inflection point of the cumulative sum curve., Conclusion: This study documents the long-term learning curve of a fellowship-trained spine neurosurgeon. Operative time significantly decreased with more experience. Although gaining comfort with robotic systems may be challenging or require additional training, it can benefit surgeons and patients alike with continued reductions in operative time., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2023. All rights reserved.)

Background: Synthetic computed tomography (sCT) can be created from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilizing newer software. sCT is yet to be explored as a possible alternative to routine CT (rCT). In this study, rCT scans and MRI-derived sCT scans were obtained on a cadaver. Morphometric analysis was performed comparing the 2 scans. The ExcelsiusGPS robot was used to place lumbosacral screws with both rCT and sCT images., Observations: In total, 14 screws were placed. All screws were grade A on the Gertzbein-Robbins scale. The mean surface distance difference between rCT and sCT on a reconstructed software model was -0.02 ± 0.05 mm, the mean absolute surface distance was 0.24 ± 0.05 mm, and the mean absolute error of radiodensity was 92.88 ± 10.53 HU. The overall mean tip distance for the sCT versus rCT was 1.74 ± 1.1 versus 2.36 ± 1.6 mm (p = 0.24); mean tail distance for the sCT versus rCT was 1.93 ± 0.88 versus 2.81 ± 1.03 mm (p = 0.07); and mean angular deviation for the sCT versus rCT was 3.2° ± 2.05° versus 4.04°± 2.71° (p = 0.53)., Lessons: MRI-based sCT yielded results comparable to those of rCT in both morphometric analysis and robot-assisted lumbosacral screw placement in a cadaver study.

Objective: Here we investigate the ability of low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS) applied to the spinal cord to modulate the transmission of motor signals., Methods: Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10, 250-300 g, 15 weeks old) were used in this study. Anesthesia was initially induced with 2% isoflurane carried by oxygen at 4 L/min via a nose cone. Cranial, upper extremity, and lower extremity electrodes were placed. A thoracic laminectomy was performed to expose the spinal cord at the T11 and T12 vertebral levels. A LIUS transducer was coupled to the exposed spinal cord, and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were acquired each minute for either 5- or 10-minutes of sonication. Following the sonication period, the ultrasound was turned off and post-sonication MEPs were acquired for an additional 5 minutes., Results: Hindlimb MEP amplitude significantly decreased during sonication in both the 5- (p < 0.001) and 10-min (p = 0.004) cohorts with a corresponding gradual recovery to baseline. Forelimb MEP amplitude did not demonstrate any statistically significant changes during sonication in either the 5- (p = 0.46) or 10-min (p = 0.80) trials., Conclusion: LIUS applied to the spinal cord suppresses MEP signals caudal to the site of sonication, with recovery of MEPs to baseline after sonication., Significance: LIUS can suppress motor signals in the spinal cord and may be useful in treating movement disorders driven by excessive excitation of spinal neurons.

Background: Hemangiomas are common benign vascular lesions that rarely present with pain and neurological deficits. Symptomatic lesions are often treated with endovascular embolization. However, transarterial embolization can be technically challenging depending on the size and caliber of the vessels. Moreover, embolization can result in osteonecrosis and vertebral collapse., Observations: Here the authors report the first case of a T10 vertebral hemangioma treated with transpedicular Onyx embolization aided by a robotic platform that guided pedicle cannulation and Craig needle placement. An intravenous catheter was attached to the needle and dimethylsulfoxide was infused, followed by Onyx under real-time fluoroscopy. Repeat angiography demonstrated significantly reduced contrast opacification of the vertebral body without compromise of the segmental artery. A T9-11 pedicle screw fixation was performed to optimize long-term stability. The patient's symptoms improved and was stable at the 6-month follow-up., Lessons: Transpedicular embolization of vertebral hemangiomas can be performed successfully under robotic navigation guidance, avoiding complications seen with the intra-arterial approach and allowing for simultaneous pedicle screw fixation to prevent collapse and delayed kyphotic deformity. During the same procedure, a biopsy specimen can be collected for pathology. This technique can help to alleviate patient symptoms while avoiding complications associated with transarterial embolization or open resection.

Objective: The two main objectives of this study were to explore the rate of spinal dysraphism within bladder and cloacal exstrophy and to analyze the relationship between spinal dysraphism surgery, including timing of spinal dysraphism surgery, with urological and neurological outcomes., Methods: A prospectively maintained IRB-approved database of pediatric exstrophy patients treated from 1982 to 2021 was retrospectively reviewed for patients with spinal dysraphism. Spinal dysraphism was categorized into the following 7 subtypes: lipoma-based closed defect, myelomeningocele, meningocele, diastematomyelia, myelocystocele, low-lying conus with tethered cord/fatty filum, and sacral bony defect. Other factors assessed included patient demographic characteristics, type of spinal dysraphism procedure, reoperation, complication, presence of other neurological problems (e.g., hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation), neurological status, and urological function., Results: Analysis revealed that 114/1401 patients had coexisting spinal dysraphism. Of these 114, sufficient records including type of dysraphism were available for 54. Spinal dysraphism was most common within cloacal exstrophy (83.3% [45/54 patients]), followed by cloacal exstrophy variants (9.3% [5/54]), classic bladder exstrophy (3.7% [2/54]), and classic bladder exstrophy variants (3.7% [2/54]). Within spinal dysraphism, lipoma-based closed defects (63.0% [34/54]) and low-lying conus with tethered cord/fatty filum (11.1% [6/54]) were most common. Hydrocephalus and Chiari malformation occurred in 24.1% (13/54) and 11.1% (6/54) of patients. All 13 patients with hydrocephalus underwent shunt placement. Among those who underwent neurosurgical intervention, the complication rate for spinal dysraphism was 14.6% (7/48). Motor function data were available for 41 patients and revealed that motor function declined for 2/41 (4.8%) patients and improved for 6/41 (14.6%) after neurosurgery. There was no statistical difference in lower-extremity motor outcome related to timing of neurosurgery and exstrophy closure., Conclusions: The authors have reported the surgical management and outcomes of patients with exstrophy and coexisting spinal dysraphism (n = 54). In 54 patients, spinal dysraphism was most common in the subset of patients with cloacal exstrophy (83.3%). Lipoma-based closed defects (63.0%) and low-lying conus with tethered cord/fatty filum (11.1%) were the most common, and the rates of hydrocephalus and Chiari malformation were 24.1% and 11.1%, respectively. There was no difference in lower-extremity motor outcome related to timing of neurosurgery and exstrophy closure.

Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) uses ultrasonic pulsations at lower intensities than ultrasound and is being tested as a reversible and precise neuromodulatory technology. Although LIFU-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening has been explored in detail, no standardized technique for blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) opening has been established to date. Therefore, this protocol presents a method for successful BSCB disruption using LIFU sonication in a rat model, including descriptions of animal preparation, microbubble administration, target selection and localization, as well as BSCB disruption visualization and confirmation. The approach reported here is particularly useful for researchers who need a fast and cost-effective method to test and confirm target localization and precise BSCB disruption in a small animal model with a focused ultrasound transducer, evaluate the BSCB efficacy of sonication parameters, or explore applications for LIFU at the spinal cord, such as drug delivery, immunomodulation, and neuromodulation. Optimizing this protocol for individual use is recommended, especially for advancing future preclinical, clinical, and translational work.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a rare hereditary condition that can result in ligamentous laxity and hypermobility of the cervical spine. A subset of patients can develop clinical instability of the craniocervical junction associated with pain and neurological dysfunction, potentially warranting treatment with occipitocervical fixation (OCF). Surgical decision-making in patients with EDS can be complicated by difficulty distinguishing from hypermobility inherent in the disease and true pathological instability necessitating intervention. Here we comprehensively review the available medical literature to critically appraise the evidence behind various proposed definitions of instability in the EDS population, and summarize the available outcomes data after OCF. Several radiographic parameters have been used, including the clivo-axial angle, basion-axial interval, and pB-C2 measurement. Despite increasing recognition of EDS by spine surgeons, there remains a paucity of data supporting proposed radiographic parameters for spinal instability among EDS patients. Furthermore, there is a lack of high-quality evidence concerning the efficacy of surgical treatments for chronic debilitating pain prevalent in this population. More standardized clinical measures and rigorous study methodologies are needed to elucidate the role of surgical intervention in this complex patient population., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary astrocytoma associated with short overall survival. Treatment for GBM primarily consists of maximal safe surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy using temozolomide. Nonetheless, recurrence and tumor progression is the norm, driven by tumor stem cell activity and a high mutational burden. Focused ultrasound (FUS) has shown promising results in preclinical and clinical trials for treatment of GBM and has received regulatory approval for the treatment of other neoplasms. Here, we review the range of applications for FUS in the treatment of GBM, which depend on parameters, including frequency, power, pulse duration, and duty cycle. Low-intensity FUS can be used to transiently open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which restricts diffusion of most macromolecules and therapeutic agents into the brain. Under guidance from magnetic resonance imaging, the BBB can be targeted in a precise location to permit diffusion of molecules only at the vicinity of the tumor, preventing side effects to healthy tissue. BBB opening can also be used to improve detection of cell-free tumor DNA with liquid biopsies, allowing non-invasive diagnosis and identification of molecular mutations. High-intensity FUS can cause tumor ablation via a hyperthermic effect. Additionally, FUS can stimulate immunological attack of tumor cells, can activate sonosensitizers to exert cytotoxic effects on tumor tissue, and can sensitize tumors to radiation therapy. Finally, another mechanism under investigation, known as histotripsy, produces tumor ablation via acoustic cavitation rather than thermal effects.

Elastography is an imaging technology capable of measuring tissue stiffness and consistency. The technology has achieved widespread use in the workup and management of diseases of the liver, breast, thyroid, and prostate. Although elastography is increasingly being applied in neurosurgery, it has not yet achieved widespread adoption and many clinicians remain unfamiliar with the technology. Therefore, we sought to summarize the range of applications and elastography modalities available for neurosurgery, report its effectiveness in comparison with conventional imaging methods, and offer recommendations. All full-text English-language manuscripts on the use of elastography for neurosurgical procedures were screened using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Thirty-two studies were included with 990 patients, including 21 studies on intracranial tumors, 5 on hydrocephalus, 4 on epilepsy, 1 on spinal cord compression, and 1 on adolescent scoliosis. Twenty studies used ultrasound elastography (USE) whereas 12 used magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). MRE studies were mostly used in the preoperative setting for assessment of lesion stiffness, tumor-brain adherence, diagnostic workup, and operative planning. USE studies were performed intraoperatively to guide resection of lesions, determine residual microscopic abnormalities, assess the tumor-brain interface, and study mechanical properties of tumors. Elastography can assist with resection of brain tissue, detection of microscopic lesions, and workup of hydrocephalus, among other applications under investigation. Its sensitivity often exceeds that of conventional MRI and ultrasound for identifying abnormal tissue and lesion margins., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Nicholas Theodore receives royalties from and owns stock in Globus Medical. He is a consultant for Globus Medical and has served on scientific advisory board/other office for Globus Medical. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Significant advancements in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) were developed in the setting of military conflicts, partly due to the large numbers of injuries sustained by service members. No effective SCI treatment options existed into the early 20th century, and soldiers who sustained these injuries were usually considered untreatable. Extensive progress was made in SCI treatment during and after World War II, as physical therapy was increasingly encouraged for patients with SCI, multidisciplinary teams oversaw care, pathophysiology was better understood, and strategies were devised to prevent wound infection and pressure sores. Recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have caused a substantial rise in the proportion of SCIs among causes of casualties and wounds, largely due to new forms of war and weapons, such as improvised explosive devices. Modern military SCIs resulting from blast mechanisms are substantively different from traumatic SCIs sustained by civilians. The treatment paradigms developed over the past 100 years have increased survival rates and outcomes of soldiers with SCI. In this paper, the authors review the role of military conflicts in the development of therapeutic interventions for SCI and discuss how these interventions have improved outcomes for soldiers and civilians alike.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disease with limited effective treatment options. Animal paradigms are vital for understanding the pathogenesis of SCI and testing potential therapeutics. The porcine model of SCI is increasingly favored because of its greater similarity to humans. However, its adoption is limited by the complexities of care and range of testing parameters. Researchers need to consider swine selection, injury method, post-operative care, rehabilitation, behavioral outcomes, and histology metrics. Therefore, we systematically reviewed full-text English-language articles to evaluate study characteristics used in developing a porcine model and summarize the interventions that have been tested using this paradigm. A total of 63 studies were included, with 33 examining SCI pathogenesis and 30 testing interventions. Studies had an average sample size of 15 pigs with an average weight of 26 kg, and most used female swine with injury to the thoracic cord. Injury was most commonly induced by weight drop with compression. The porcine model is amenable to testing various interventions, including mean arterial pressure augmentation ( n  = 7), electrical stimulation ( n  = 6), stem cell therapy ( n  = 5), hypothermia ( n  = 2), biomaterials ( n  = 2), gene therapy ( n  = 2), steroids ( n  = 1), and nanoparticles ( n  = 1). It is also notable for its clinical translatability and is emerging as a valuable pre-clinical study tool. This systematic review can serve as a guideline for researchers implementing and testing the porcine SCI model., Competing Interests: Nicholas Theodore has received royalties from, holds stock ownership in, has consulted for, and has served on the scientific advisory board/other office for Globus Medical., (© Carly Weber-Levine et al., 2022; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Background: Growing evidence suggests that piriform cortex resection during anterior temporal lobectomy is important for achieving good seizure outcome in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE). However, the relationship between seizure outcome and piriform cortex ablation during MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) remains unclear., Objective: To determine whether ablation of piriform cortex was associated with seizure outcome in patients with mTLE undergoing MRgLITT., Methods: We performed preablation and postablation volumetric analyses of hippocampus, amygdala, piriform cortex, and ablation volumes in patients with mTLE who underwent MRgLITT at our institution from 2014 to 2019., Results: Thirty nine patients with mTLE were analyzed. In univariate logistic regression, percent piriform cortex ablation was associated with International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) class 1 at 6 months (odds ratio [OR] 1.051, 95% CI [1.001-1.117], P = .045), whereas ablation volume, percent amygdala ablation, and percent hippocampus ablation were not ( P > .05). At 1 year, ablation volume was associated with ILAE class 1 (OR 1.608, 95% CI [1.071-2.571], P = .021) while percent piriform cortex ablation became a trend (OR 1.050, 95% CI [0.994-1.109], P = .054), and both percent hippocampus ablation and percent amygdala ablation were not significantly associated with ILAE class 1 ( P > .05). In multivariable logistic regression, only percent piriform cortex ablation was a significant predictor of seizure freedom at 6 months (OR 1.085, 95% CI [1.012-1.193], P = .019) and at 1 year (OR 1.074, 95% CI [1.003-1.178], P = .041)., Conclusion: Piriform cortex ablation volume is associated with seizure outcome in patients with mTLE undergoing MRgLITT. The piriform cortex should be considered a high yield ablation target to achieve good seizure outcome., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2022. All rights reserved.)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that affects about 17,000 individuals every year in the United States, with approximately 294,000 people living with the ramifications of the initial injury. After the initial primary injury, SCI has a secondary phase during which the spinal cord sustains further injury due to ischemia, excitotoxicity, immune-mediated damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. The multifaceted injury progression process requires a sophisticated injury-monitoring technique for an accurate assessment of SCI patients. In this narrative review, we discuss SCI monitoring modalities, including pressure probes and catheters, micro dialysis, electrophysiologic measures, biomarkers, and imaging studies. The optimal next-generation injury monitoring setup should include multiple modalities and should integrate the data to produce a final simplified assessment of the injury and determine markers of intervention to improve patient outcomes., Competing Interests: Declarations of Competing Interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Importance: Although catheter-related complications in intrathecal drug delivery systems are relatively common, vascular myelopathy secondary to occlusion of the artery of Adamkiewicz (AoA) from an abutting intrathecal catheter has not yet been reported. In this study, we present a case of this extremely rare presentation, which resolved after decompression of the artery., Clinical Presentation: A 39-year-old woman presented with lower extremity weakness and paresthesia. She had a 20-year history of severe chronic back pain and stable sensory disturbances below T8 as sequelae of multiple injuries after a motor vehicle accident. Three years before presentation in our clinic, she underwent baclofen pump placement because of neuropathic pain refractory to oral medication. After pump placement, she gradually developed myelopathic symptoms and dysautonomia. All medications through the pump were discontinued, but her symptoms continued to progress. Workup included a spinal angiogram that showed that her intrathecal catheter was abutting the left side of the AoA at the T12 level. After interdisciplinary evaluation, it was believed that her clinical presentation was attributable to vascular compression, and she underwent surgical removal of the catheter. Three years later, her symptoms have improved and her neurological examination returned to baseline before the catheter placement., Conclusion: Meticulous, multidisciplinary neurological and radiological evaluations were essential to diagnose the compression of the AoA as the cause of this patient's myelopathy. Although exceedingly rare, direct compression of the AoA by an intrathecal catheter should be on the differential diagnosis when evaluating for causes of vascular myelopathy., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2022. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The authors systematically reviewed current evidence for the utility of mean arterial pressure (MAP), intraspinal pressure (ISP), and spinal cord perfusion pressure (SCPP) as predictors of outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI)., Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Reviews Library, EMBASE, and Scopus databases were queried in December 2020. Two independent reviewers screened articles using Covidence software. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. The inclusion criteria for articles were 1) available in English; 2) full text; 3) clinical studies on traumatic SCI interventions; 4) involved only human participants; and 5) focused on MAP, ISP, or SCPP. Exclusion criteria were 1) only available in non-English languages; 2) focused only on the brain; 3) described spinal diseases other than SCI; 4) interventions altering parameters other than MAP, ISP, or SCPP; and 5) animal studies. Studies were analyzed qualitatively and grouped into two categories: interventions increasing MAP or interventions decreasing ISP. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network level of evidence was used to assess bias and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach was used to rate confidence in the anticipated effects of each outcome., Results: A total of 2540 unique articles were identified, of which 72 proceeded to full-text review and 24 were included in analysis. One additional study was included retrospectively. Articles that went through full-text review were excluded if they were a review paper (n = 12), not a full article (n = 12), a duplicate paper (n = 9), not a human study (n = 3), not in English (n = 3), not pertaining to traumatic SCI (n = 3), an improper intervention (n = 3), without intervention (n = 2), and without analysis of intervention (n = 1). Although maintaining optimal MAP levels is the current recommendation for SCI management, the published literature supports maintenance of SCPP as a stronger indicator of favorable outcomes. Studies also suggest that laminectomy and durotomy may provide better outcomes than laminectomy alone, although higher-level studies are needed. Current evidence is inconclusive on the effectiveness of CSF drainage for reducing ISP., Conclusions: This review demonstrates the importance of assessing how different interventions may vary in their ability to optimize SCPP.

Objective: Damage to the thoracolumbar spine can confer significant morbidity and mortality. The Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Score (TLICS) is used to categorize injuries and determine patients at risk of spinal instability for whom surgical intervention is warranted. However, calculating this score can constitute a bottleneck in triaging and treating patients, as it relies on multiple imaging studies and a neurological examination. Therefore, the authors sought to develop and validate a deep learning model that can automatically categorize vertebral morphology and determine posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) integrity, two critical features of TLICS, using only CT scans., Methods: All patients who underwent neurosurgical consultation for traumatic spine injury or degenerative pathology resulting in spine injury at a single tertiary center from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively evaluated for inclusion. The morphology of injury and integrity of the PLC were categorized on CT scans. A state-of-the-art object detection region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN), Faster R-CNN, was leveraged to predict both vertebral locations and the corresponding TLICS. The network was trained with patient CT scans, manually labeled vertebral bounding boxes, TLICS morphology, and PLC annotations, thus allowing the model to output the location of vertebrae, categorize their morphology, and determine the status of PLC integrity., Results: A total of 111 patients were included (mean ± SD age 62 ± 20 years) with a total of 129 separate injury classifications. Vertebral localization and PLC integrity classification achieved Dice scores of 0.92 and 0.88, respectively. Binary classification between noninjured and injured morphological scores demonstrated 95.1% accuracy. TLICS morphology accuracy, the true positive rate, and positive injury mismatch classification rate were 86.3%, 76.2%, and 22.7%, respectively. Classification accuracy between no injury and suspected PLC injury was 86.8%, while true positive, false negative, and false positive rates were 90.0%, 10.0%, and 21.8%, respectively., Conclusions: In this study, the authors demonstrate a novel deep learning method to automatically predict injury morphology and PLC disruption with high accuracy. This model may streamline and improve diagnostic decision support for patients with thoracolumbar spinal trauma.

Augmented reality (AR) navigation refers to novel technologies that superimpose images, such as radiographs and navigation pathways, onto a view of the operative field. The development of AR navigation has focused on improving the safety and efficacy of neurosurgical and orthopedic procedures. In this review, the authors focus on 3 types of AR technology used in spine surgery: AR surgical navigation, microscope-mediated heads-up display, and AR head-mounted displays. Microscope AR and head-mounted displays offer the advantage of reducing attention shift and line-of-sight interruptions inherent in traditional navigation systems. With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent clearance of the XVision AR system (Augmedics, Arlington Heights, IL), the adoption and refinement of AR technology by spine surgeons will only accelerate., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Timothy F. Witham, MD, is a medical advisory board member, owns stock or stock options, and receives consultancy fees from Augmedics, the manufacturer of a device discussed in this article. Nicholas Theodore, MD, reports relationships with Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Globus Medical, Depuy Synthes, and Stryker; and holds patents and receives personal fees for legal case reviews. The other authors declared no potential conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s) 2021.)