Topical vancomycin reduces surgical site infections in patients subjected to craniotomy for primary brain tumor resection: A comprehensive cancer center experience.

BACKGROUND: Craniotomies for resection of neoplastic lesions are at increased risk for surgical site infections (SSIs) as compared to non-neoplastic pathologies. SSIs can be detrimental due to delay in pivotal adjuvant therapies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of SSI in primary brain tumors, to analyze risk factors, and to evaluate effectiveness of topical vancomycin in reducing SSIs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Patients with primary brain tumors (n = 799) who were subjected to craniotomy from 2004 to 2014 were included. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, use of topical vancomycin and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Topical vancomycin was associated with a significantly lower rate of SSI (0.8%) compared to standard care (5%), ( p = 0.00071; OR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.02 - 0.5). Narcotic use ( p = 0.043; OR = 2.24; 95% CI = 0.96 - 4.81), previous brain radiation ( p = 0.043; OR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.02 - 4.29), length of hospitalization ( p = 0.01; OR= 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.08), and 30 day re-operation ( p = 1.58 ×10 -10; OR = 15.23; 95% CI = 7.06 - 32.71) were associated with increased risk for SSI. CONCLUSION: Topical vancomycin effectively reduced the rate of SSI in patients subjected to craniotomy for primary brain tumor resection. Furthermore, preoperative narcotic use, previous head/brain radiation, length of hospitalization, and 30-day reoperation were associated with increased risk of SSI.

C1-2 facet disarticulation for correction of iatrogenic cervical kyphosis following occipital-cervical fusion.

The patient is a 69-year-old woman with a history of atlantoaxial instability and cervical pain who underwent an occipital-cervical fusion at an outside hospital. Five days following the procedure she required a PEG tube due to progressive dysphagia. Compared with preoperative imaging, x-ray shows cervical spine hyperextension with a significant decrease in the occipital-C2 angle. A swallow test confirmed aspiration and pharyngeal phase functional impairment. Two-stage surgery consisted of hardware removal, drilling the fused right C1-2 facet, reinstrumentation, and halo placement. The swallowing test confirmed there is no aspiration. We proceeded with rod placement. The patient recovered completely. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/YzdJrOm46Y4.

Evaluation of Interspinous Spacer Outcomes in Degenerative Lumbar Canal Stenosis: Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common diagnosis in elderly individuals, and the rates of surgery have risen all over the world. The optimal approach to provide satisfactory decompression and minimize complications for lumbar spinal stenosis remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of interspinous spacers versus decompressive laminectomy in the management of degenerative lumbar canal stenosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our prospective, comparative study included 2 groups of patients who were operated on in Ain Shams University Hospitals between January 2010 and December 2014. In the first group, 28 patients underwent decompression and additional implantation of an interspinous spacer (ISP). In the second group, 25 patients underwent decompressive laminectomy (DL). RESULTS: Our statistical results revealed no significant difference in outcome between the 2 groups regarding visual analog scale score for leg pain and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index. However, the improvement (visual analog scale score) for back pain was better in the DL group. Complication and reoperation rates were higher in the ISP group. CONCLUSION: Although decompression and additional implantation of an ISP are safe procedures, they do not show better improvement in clinical outcome as compared with decompressive laminectomy.

Spinal intramedullary hamartoma with acute presentation in a 13-month old infant: case report.

True hamartomas of the spinal cord are very rare, and although several have been reported in the literature, there are few detailed radiological and pathological descriptions of the condition. There is also considerable overlap with other entities, the most common being spinal cord teratomas. The authors report the case of a 13-month-old child with a supragluteal sacral dimple who presented with acute neurological deterioration. MRI of the spine revealed a big intramedullary lesion with heterogeneous signal intensity. A near-total resection was performed, and histopathological examination demonstrated findings consistent with a spinal cord hamartoma. The authors believe that careful preoperative evaluation and rigorous pathological examination are mandatory to establish diagnosis and direct further management of cases in which such a lesion is suspected.