A systematic review and meta-analysis of fusion rate enhancements and bone graft options for spine surgery.

Our study aimed to evaluate differences in outcomes of patients submitted to spinal fusion using different grafts measuring the effectiveness of spinal fusion rates, pseudarthrosis rates, and adverse events. Applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, this systematic review and meta-analysis identified 64 eligible articles. The main inclusion criteria were adult patients that were submitted to spinal fusion, autologous iliac crest (AIC), allograft (ALG), alloplastic (ALP; hydroxyapatite, rhBMP-2, rhBMP-7, or the association between them), and local bone (LB), whether in addition to metallic implants or not, was applied. We made a comparison among those groups to evaluate the presence of differences in outcomes, such as fusion rate, hospital stay, follow-up extension (6, 12, 24, and 48 months), pseudarthrosis rate, and adverse events. Sixty-four studies were identified. LB presented significantly higher proportions of fusion rates (95.3% CI 89.7-98.7) compared to the AIC (88.6% CI 84.8-91.9), ALG (87.8% CI 80.8-93.4), and ALP (85.8% CI 75.7-93.5) study groups. Pseudarthrosis presented at a significantly lower pooled proportion of ALG studies (4.8% CI 0.1-15.7) compared to AIC (8.6% CI 4.2-14.2), ALP (7.1% CI 0.9-18.2), and LB (10.3% CI 1.8-24.5). ALP and AIC studies described significantly more cases of adverse events (80 events/404 patients and 860 events/2001 patients, respectively) compared to LB (20 events/311 patients) and ALG (73 events/459 patients). Most studies presented high risk-of-bias scores. Based on fusion rates and adverse events proportions, LB showed a superior trend among the graft cases we analyzed. However, our review revealed highly heterogeneous data and a need for more rigorous studies to better address and assist surgeons' choices of the best spinal grafts.

Robotic and standard surgical intervention as adjunct therapies for retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma resection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ganglioneuroma (GN) is ranked by the International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification as a benign tumor. It can occur anywhere along the sympathetic nerve chain and surgical excision is the treatment of choice. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old female patient sought medical assistance after 6 months of constant dorsal and back pain radiating from the thoracic region to the right abdominal flank. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a solid nodular lesion with heterogeneous post-contrast enhancement and lobulated contours, centered on the right foramina of D12-L1, with a projection to the intracanal space, which compressed and laterally displaced the dural sac and had a right paravertebral extension between the vertebral bodies of D11 and superior aspect of L2. Ganglioneuroma was diagnosed using immunohistochemical analysis. It was decided to use a surgical approach in two stages: robot assisted for the anterior/retroperitoneal mass and a posterior hemilaminectomy/microsurgical approach to attempt total resection, avoiding the traditional anterior thoracoabdominal surgical incision and optimizing the patient's postoperative outcomes. No postoperative adverse events were noted, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 5. CONCLUSION: This retroperitoneal GN presentation was peculiar because it originated at the D12 nerve root, which extended to the retroperitoneal space and inside the spinal canal. We hope that our case report can assist future decisions in similar circumstances.

Early tracheostomy in stroke patients: A meta-analysis and comparison with late tracheostomy.

Tracheostomy (TQT) timing and its benefits is a current discussion in medical society. We aimed to compare the outcomes of early (ET) versus late tracheostomy (LT) in stroke patients with systematic review and meta-analysis, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Five hundred and nineteen studies were retrieved, whereas three were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis. There were 5636 patients in the ET group (3151 male, 2470 female, 15 not reported - NR) and 7637 patients in the LT group (4098 male, 3542 female, and 33 NR). ET was significantly associated with fewer days in the hospital (weighted mean difference: -7.73 [95 % CI -8.59-6.86], p < 0.001) and reduced cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) (risk difference: 0.71 [95 % CI 0.62-0.81], p < 0.001). There were no between-group statistical differences in intensive care unit stay duration, mechanical ventilation duration, or mortality. The findings from this meta-analysis cannot state that ET in severe stroke patients contributes to better outcomes when compared with LT. Scandalized assessments and randomized trials are encourage for better assessment.

Early Tracheostomy in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Meta-Analysis and Comparison With Late Tracheostomy.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the impact of early tracheostomy on hospitalization outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury. DATA SOURCES: Lilacs, PubMed, and Cochrane databases were searched. The close-out date was August 8, 2018. STUDY SELECTION: Studies written in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese with traumatic brain injury as the base trauma, clearly formulated question, patient's admission assessment, minimum follow-up during hospital stay, and minimum of two in-hospital outcomes were selected. Retrospective studies, prospective analyses, and case series were included. Studies without full reports or abstract, commentaries, editorials, and reviews were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: The study design, year, patient's demographics, mean time between admission and tracheostomy, neurologic assessment at admission, confirmed ventilator-assisted pneumonia, median ICU stay, median hospital stay, mortality rates, and ICU and hospital costs were extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 4,219 studies were retrieved and screened. Eight studies were selected for the systematic review; of these, seven were eligible for the meta-analysis. Comparative analyses were performed between the early tracheostomy and late tracheostomy groups. Mean time for early tracheostomy and late tracheostomy procedures was 5.59 days (SD, 0.34 d) and 11.8 days (SD, 0.81 d), respectively. Meta-analysis revealed that early tracheostomy was associated with shorter mechanical ventilation duration (-4.15 [95% CI, -6.30 to -1.99]) as well as ICU (-5.87 d [95% CI, -8.74 to -3.00 d]) and hospital (-6.68 d [95% CI, -8.03 to -5.32 d]) stay durations when compared with late tracheostomy. Early tracheostomy presented less risk difference for ventilator-associated pneumonia (risk difference, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.70-0.88). No statistical difference in mortality was found between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this meta-analysis suggest that early tracheostomy in severe traumatic brain injury patients contributes to a lower exposure to secondary insults and nosocomial adverse events, increasing the opportunity of patient's early rehabilitation and discharge.

Cranial autologous bone flap resorption after a cranioplasty: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Craniectomies and cranioplasty are common neurosurgical procedures performed after brain trauma, ischemia, tumor resection, or infection. Post-cranioplasty autologous bone flap resorption may occur in patients after delayed cranial reconstruction. The occurrence is usually low when bone flaps are stored in subcutaneous abdominal tissue. We report a unique case of post-cranioplasty cranial bone flap. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a total autologous bone flap resorption in a 28-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse. He was found unconscious in his bedroom with a head trauma of unknown mechanism. After an emergency room assessment, he was diagnosed with an acute subdural hematoma and underwent to emergency surgical drainage and a craniectomy. Three months later, a cranioplasty was performed and he exhibited exceptional outcomes. During a follow-up assessment, 7 months post-cranioplasty, total bone flap resorption was observed on computerized tomography image. CONCLUSION: This case described an abnormal accelerated resorption of an autologous bone flap cranioplasty inserted after 3 months. Thus, to avoid bone flap resorption, an as early as possibly strategy may prevent this. Still, the exact mechanisms underlying bone resorption are poorly understood.

Ectopic pineal chordoma.

BACKGROUND: Chordomas are rare tumors that arise from the remnants of embryonic notochord anywhere along the neuroaxis. Even though they may occur in an extraosseous intradural location, the most common sites include the sacrococcygeal and clivus regions. The authors report a unique presentation encompassing the pineal region with metastasis to the peritoneum after a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt procedure and review the current knowledge about their pathophysiology and management. The presentation and clinical history endorse the idea that intradural extraosseous chordomas may be distinct from ecchordosis physaliphora and probably do not derive from it. CASE DESCRIPTION: An 18-year-old male with previous history of VP shunt presented to the emergency room with pain and abdominal distension. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed a mass in the pineal region and in the abdominal cavity. Histopathologic exams showed chordoma in both abdominal and cranial samples. The patient died due to systemic complications. CONCLUSION: The authors hypothesized that notochord remnants may subsist within the brain and occasionally may generate a neoplastic lesion.

Classification and management of mild head trauma.

Mild head trauma had been defined in patients with direct impact or deceleration effect admitted with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13-15. It is one of the most frequent causes of morbidity in emergency medicine. Although common, several controversies persist about its clinical management. In this paper, we describe the Brazilian guidelines for mild head trauma, based on a critical review of the relevant literature.