Infantile traumatic pericallosal aneurysm: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic aneurysms are a rare sequela of nonaccidental head trauma in infants. The rate of nonaccidental trauma (NAT) in the pediatric population is increasing; therefore, traumatic aneurysms are an important consideration in the evaluation of pediatric patients with abusive head trauma. OBSERVATIONS: A 24-day-old infant with no significant past medical or birth history presented with twitching and poor oral intake for 1 day. The patient was found to have bilateral subdural hematomas, multifocal contusions, and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. NAT work-up was remarkable for a period of repeated and prolonged abuse. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed a right pericallosal traumatic aneurysm that was treated by means of coil and Onyx embolization. LESSONS: Traumatic intracranial aneurysms are a rare but serious sequela of pediatric abusive trauma. Traumatic intracranial aneurysms should be considered in the setting of intracranial pathology associated with high-energy trauma. Despite new methods for the management of traumatic aneurysms, this pathology remains challenging to identify and treat, and the prognosis remains poor because of the diffuse injury often involved in these patients.

Lateral versus prone robot-assisted percutaneous pedicle screw placement: a CT-based comparative assessment of accuracy.

OBJECTIVE: Single-position lateral lumbar interbody fusion (SP-LLIF) has recently gained significant popularity due to increased operative efficiency, but it remains technically challenging. Robot-assisted percutaneous pedicle screw (RA-PPS) placement can facilitate screw placement in the lateral position. The authors have reported their initial experience with SP-LLIF with RA-PPS placement in the lateral position, and they have compared this accuracy with that of RA-PPS placement in the prone position. METHODS: The authors reviewed prospectively collected data from their first 100 lateral-position RA-PPSs. The authors graded screw accuracy on CT and compared it to the accuracy of all prone-position RA-PPS procedures during the same time period. The authors analyzed the effect of several demographic and perioperative metrics, as a whole and specifically for lateral-position RA-PPS placement. RESULTS: The authors placed 99 lateral-position RA-PPSs by using the ExcelsiusGPS robotic platform in the first 18 consecutive patients who underwent SP-LLIF with postoperative CT imaging; these patients were compared with 346 prone-position RA-PPSs that were placed in the first consecutive 64 patients during the same time period. All screws were placed at L1 to S1. Overall, the lateral group had 14 breaches (14.1%) and the prone group had 25 breaches (7.2%) (p = 0.032). The lateral group had 5 breaches (5.1%) greater than 2 mm (grade C or worse), and the prone group had 4 (1.2%) (p = 0.015). The operative level had an effect on the breach rate, with breach rates (grade C or worse) of 7.1% at L3 and 2.8% at L4. Most breaches were grade B (< 2 mm) and lateral, and no breach had clinical sequelae or required revision. Within the lateral group, multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that BMI and number of levels affected accuracy, but the side that was positioned up or down did not. CONCLUSIONS: RA-PPSs can improve the feasibility of SP-LLIF. Spine surgeons should be cautious and selective with this technique owing to decreased accuracy in the lateral position, particularly in obese patients. Further studies should compare SP-LLIF techniques performed while the patient is in the prone and lateral positions.

Hemorrhage Rates After Implantation and Explantation of Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Reevaluating Patients' Risk.

OBJECTIVE: Stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG), despite its established usefulness, has not been thoroughly evaluated for its adverse events profile. In this study, hemorrhage rates were evaluated both per patient and per lead placed not only in the immediate postoperative period, but also over the course of admission and after explantation when available. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study of pediatric and adult patients undergoing sEEG lead placement at a large urban hospital. All available postoperative imaging was reviewed for the presence of hemorrhage, including any imaging occurring throughout admission as well as within 1 month of lead explantation. Age and number of leads placed per procedure were compared using an unpaired t test assuming unequal variance. RESULTS: A total of 1855 leads were placed in 147 cases. The mean age was 30.4 ±15.0 and the male/female ratio was 47:53. 9 leads (0.49%) in 9 cases (6.12%) were involved with postimplantation hemorrhage occurring on postoperative day 0.44 on average. Postexplantation imaging was available for 45 cases. Seven leads (1.40%) in 7 cases (15.56%) were involved with postexplantation hemorrhage occurring on average on postoperative day 1.42. There was a significant difference in mean age between patients with postexplantation hemorrhage versus control (45.0 vs. 32.2; P = 0.0277). No cases of hemorrhage required surgical intervention and no patients had permanent neurologic deficit. CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhage after sEEG lead implantation and explantation may be more common than previously reported. Consistent postexplantation imaging may be of clinical benefit in detecting hemorrhage that precludes patients from immediate discharge, particularly in older patients.

Increased Pulse Pressure Variability Within the First 24 Hours Leads to Poor Disposition in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality despite treatment advancements. Although high blood pressure (BP) remains a significant risk factor in aneurysmal SAH and rerupture, the role of BP parameters and fluctuation in prognostication remains unclear. We sought to define how BP parameters and variability within 24 hours of hospitalization in acute-onset SAH affects patient discharge outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively collected cohort of SAH patients. Hourly BP parameters, including systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP, pulse pressure (PP), and their corresponding variability (delineated by SD), were collected to investigate associations with the primary endpoint of discharge disposition. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-four SAH patients were included in the study. On bivariate analysis, Hunt-Hess (HH) score, Fisher grade, intraventricular hemorrhage, external ventricular drain placement, and SBP and PP variability were significantly associated with a poor disposition. Poor disposition was significantly associated with age, HH score, intraventricular hemorrhage, and PP variability on multivariate analysis. PP variability remained an independent predictor for poor disposition (odds ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.21, P = 0.02) when adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Increased BP and PP variability within the first 24 hours of admission portends a poor discharge disposition for aneurysmal SAH patients.

Relapsed granulomatosis with polyangiitis with panhypopituitarism.

A man in his early 60s with a medical history of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in remission for two decades without maintenance therapy presented with non-specific complaints of profound fatigue and 40-pound weight loss. He was seronegative for antinuclear antibodies and cytoplasmic antineutrophilic antibodies, but erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein levels were elevated. Endocrinological testing revealed adrenal insufficiency, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism and diabetes insipidus. An MRI of the head revealed extensive sinonasal inflammation eroding through the floor of the sella turcica and into the pituitary gland and stalk. Biopsy of the sinonasal tissues was inconclusive. On review of his case, a multidisciplinary team diagnosed him with panhypopituitarism secondary to a recurrence of GPA. He responded well to glucocorticoids and methotrexate with marked reduction of pituitary enhancement on imaging and resolution of diabetes insipidus. He will require lifelong testosterone, levothyroxine and glucocorticoids for hormone replacement therapy.

Embolic Agents and Microcatheters for Endovascular Treatment of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations.

Endovascular embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) originally entailed delivery of N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue to the nidus via a flow-directed microcatheter. Within the past decade, several new liquid embolic agents and novel microcatheter technologies have become available that have improved the ease of use and efficacy of endovascular therapies for AVMs. Nonadhesive copolymers, such as Onyx and Precipitating Hydrophobic Injectable Liquid, have largely replaced N-butyl cyanoacrylate given a lower risk of catheter entrapment. The emergence of balloon microcatheters has allowed for improved protection of the normal cerebral vasculature and has improved the penetration of liquid embolics into large AVMs, ultimately reducing procedure times and radiation exposure. Finally, several detachable tip microcatheters have been developed to facilitate removal of the catheter from hardened liquid embolic cast, preventing the morbidity associated with distal catheter entrapment. This article reviews the embolic agents and microcatheters currently available for the treatment of cerebral AVMs in the United States as well as the data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of these devices.

Crossing the Cervicothoracic Junction During Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion: Is It Necessary?

BACKGROUND: Posterior cervical fusion (PCF) is performed to treat cervical myelopathy, radiculopathy, and/or deformity. Constructs ending at the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) may lead to higher rates of adjacent segment disease, and much debate exists regarding crossing the CTJ due to paucity of data in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether extension of PCF constructs across the CTJ decreases incidence of adjacent segment disease and need for revision surgery. METHODS: A single-center retrospective case series of patients undergoing multilevel PCFs since 2011 with at least 6-mo follow-up was conducted. Outcomes were analyzed and compared based on caudal extent of instrumentation via multivariate regression. RESULTS: A total of 149 patients underwent PCF, with a mean follow-up of 18.9 mo. A total of 15 (10.1%) revisions were performed, 7 (4.7%) of which were related to the construct. Five (8.3%) revisions were performed for constructs ending at C6, 1 (5.3%) at C7, 1 (2.6%) at T1, and none (0%) at T2 (P = .035). Mean procedure duration was 215 min at C6, 214 min at C7, 239 min at T1, and 343 min at T2 (P = .001). Mean estimated blood loss was 224 mL at C6, 178 mL at C7, 308 mL at T1, and 575 mL at T2 (P = .001). There was no difference in length of stay, disposition, surgical site infection, or radiographic parameters. CONCLUSION: Extension of PCFs across the CTJ leads to lower early revision rates, but also to increased procedure duration and estimated blood loss. As such, decisions regarding caudal extent of instrumentation must weigh the risk of pseudarthrosis against that of longer procedures with higher blood loss.

Interstitial Lung Disease in the Elderly.

BACKGROUND: Despite the relationship between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and advancing age, little is known about the epidemiology of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in the elderly. We describe the diagnoses, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients who were elderly at the time of ILD diagnosis. METHODS: Among subjects from a prospective cohort study of ILD, elderly was defined as age ≥ 70 years. Diagnoses were derived from a multidisciplinary review. Differences between elderly and nonelderly groups were determined using the χ2 test and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Of the 327 subjects enrolled, 80 (24%) were elderly. The majority of elderly subjects were white men. The most common diagnoses were unclassifiable ILD (45%), IPF (34%), connective tissue disease (CTD)-ILD (11%), and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (8%). Most elderly subjects (74%) with unclassifiable ILD had an imaging pattern inconsistent with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). There were no significant differences in pulmonary function or 3-year mortality between nonelderly and elderly subjects combined or in a subgroup analysis of those with IPF. CONCLUSIONS: Although IPF was the single most common diagnosis, the majority of elderly subjects had non-IPF ILD. Our findings highlight the need for every patient with new-onset ILD, regardless of age, to be surveyed for exposures and findings of CTD. Unclassifiable ILD was common among the elderly, but for most, the radiographic pattern was inconsistent with UIP. Although the effect of ILD may be more pronounced in the elderly due to reduced global functionality, ILD was not more severe or aggressive in this group.