Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Spinal Surgery.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has demonstrated promise in the management of surgical site infections as well as assisting in surgical wound healing. In this manuscript, we describe the mechanisms and applications of NPWT for surgical wounds and existing evidence for NPWT in cardiac, plastic, and general surgery, followed by a discussion of the emerging evidence base for NPWT in spinal surgery. We also discuss the different applications of NPWT for open wounds and closed incisions, and the promise of newer closed-incision NPWT (ciNPWT) devices. There is nominal but promising prospective evidence on NPWT's efficacy in select at-risk populations for post-operative wound complications after spinal surgery. As there is currently a paucity of robust clinical evidence on its efficacy, rigorous randomized prospective clinical trials are needed.

An Anatomy-Informed, Novel Technique for S1 Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation Lead Placement.

OBJECTIVE: A heightened and organized understanding of sacral anatomy could potentially lead to a more effective and safe method of dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S) lead placement. The aim of this technical note is to describe a standardized access method for S1 DRG-S lead placement. DESIGN: Technical note. METHODS: The described approach utilizes alignment of the lumbosacral prominence and is measurement-based, allowing for standardized sacral access, even when visualization is suboptimal. The medial-to-lateral needle trajectory is designed to limit interaction with the sensitive neural structures and allows for a more parallel orientation of the lead to the DRG and nerve root. CONCLUSIONS: The described technique potentially improves the safety of S1 DRG-S lead placement. The parallel lead orientation to the DRG may also increase efficacy while lowering energy requirements.

Secondary encephalocele in an adult leading to subdural empyema.

Brain abscesses are an uncommon but potentially fatal infection. They can spread directly from an adjacent source or hematogenously from a distant source. Encephaloceles represent a rare form of neural tube defects that can potentially be complicated by the development of meningitis or brain abscess. We report a case of a 63-year-old female who presented with bilateral lower extremity weakness and was ultimately found to have a Streptococcus pneumoniae subdural empyema and an associated frontal lobe encephalocele extending through the left frontal sinus. She was treated with surgical drainage, intravenous antimicrobials, and ultimately surgical repair of the encephalocele. This report highlights a unique presentation of brain abscess. Clinicians should be aware of this potential infectious complication of a neural tube defect.

Fatal intraoperative cardiac arrest after application of surgifoam into a bleeding iliac screw defect.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To describe the presentation, management, and autopsy findings in a case of a fatal intraoperative cardiac arrest after application of an absorbable hemostatic agent into a bleeding iliac bone screw defect. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: To the authors' knowledge, this represents the first reported complication of intraoperative death associated with Surgifoam (Ethicon) thromboembolization to the heart and lung microcirculation after its application into a bleeding bone defect. METHODS: A 56-year-old male was undergoing revision fusion surgery for pseudarthrosis after multilevel thoracolumbosacral fusion with pelvic fixation for degenerative scoliosis. Intraoperatively, upon removal of the right iliac screw, heavy venous bleeding was encountered, which was stopped after application of 10 mL of Surgifoam into the screw defect. Approximately 5 minutes later, the patient's end tidal CO2 dropped, and his pulse was lost. Epinephrine was administered and the patient was immediately turned to supine position and cardiopulmonary resuscitation initiated. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed unsuccessfully for 30 minutes at the end of which the patient was pronounced dead. RESULTS: Autopsy findings revealed angulated particles of hemostatic agent with entrapped red blood cells partially to completely occluding small-to-medium-sized vessels of the heart and lungs. The cause of death was pulmonary and cardiac embolization of foreign material from the surgical screw defect to the vessels of the heart and lungs, significantly compromising respiration and blood flow causing sudden death. CONCLUSION: Although Surgifoam is an excellent hemostatic agent for use in spinal surgery, it must be used with extreme caution in the setting of heavily bleeding bone defects after pedicle cannulation or removal of instrumentation. In cases when brisk venous bleeding is encountered, signifying potential compromise of an emissary vein, use of other hemostatic agents such as bone wax may be a safer option. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

Pituitary disorders during pregnancy.

The pituitary gland undergoes much anatomic and physiologic variation during pregnancy. Pituitary disease may have a significant impact on a patient prior to conception as well as throughout her pregnancy. It is imperative to provide care to patients affected by pituitary disease with a multidisciplinary approach involving endocrinologists, obstetricians and, when appropriate, neurosurgical care, as this group of disorders can represent a substantial level of morbidity and mortality for both mother and fetus.