Surgery Commons^™

How Accurate Is The Neurosurgery Literature? A Review Of References., Thiago S Montenegro, Kevin Hines, Glenn A Gonzalez, Umma Fatema, Paul P Partyka, Sara Thalheimer, James Harrop

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The reference list is an important part of academic manuscripts. The goal of this study is to evaluate the reference accuracy in the field of neurosurgery.

METHODS: This study examines four major peer-reviewed neurosurgery journals, chosen based on their clinical impact factor: Neurosurgery, J Neurosurg, World Neurosurg, and Acta Neurochir. For each of the four journals, five articles from each of the journal's 12 issues published in 2019 were randomly selected using an online generator. This resulted in a total of 240 articles, 60 from each journal. Additionally, from each article's list of references, one reference was again randomly …

Sphenopalatine Ganglion Stimulation Upregulates Transport Of Temozolomide Across The Blood-Brain Barrier, Thana N. Theofanis, Ankit K. Rochani, Richard F. Schmidt, Michael J. Lang, Geoffrey P. Stricsek, Robert H. Rosenwasswer, Ashwini D. Sharan, Gagan Kaushal, Lorraine Iacovitti

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) stimulation has been shown to reversibly alter blood-brainbarrier (BBB) permeability. It is widely used for the treatment of cluster headaches in Europe and iswell tolerated in humans. The therapeutic potential for SPG stimulation in other central nervoussystem (CNS) diseases has yet to be explored. Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) remains one of themost difficult primary CNS neoplasms to treat, with an average survival of approximately 18 months atthe time of diagnosis. Since 2004, the gold standard of treatment for GBM in the United States includessurgery followed by treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation. We sought to determine ifSPG stimulation …

Access-Site Complications In Transfemoral Neuroendovascular Procedures: A Systematic Review Of Incidence Rates And Management Strategies, Mazen Oneissi, Ahmad Sweid, Md, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, David Hasan, Michael R. Gooch, Md, Robert H. Rosenwasswer Md, Pascal Jabbour

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The femoral artery is the most common access route for cerebral angiography and neurointerventional procedures. Complications of the transfemoral approach include groin hemorrhages and hematomas, retroperitoneal hematomas, pseudoaneurysms, arteriovenous fistulas, peripheral artery occlusions, femoral nerve injuries, and access-site infections. Incidence rates vary among different randomized and nonrandomized trials, and the literature lacks a comprehensive review of this subject.

OBJECTIVE: To gather data from 16 randomized clinical trials (RCT) and 17 nonrandomized cohort studies regarding femoral access-site complications for a review paper. We also briefly discuss management strategies for these complications based on the most recent literature.

METHODS: A PubMed …

Factors Affecting The Decision To Initiate Anticoagulation After Spine Surgery: Findings From The Aospine Anticoagulation Global Initiative, Sapan D Gandhi, Krishn Khanna, Garrett Harada, Philip Louie, James Harrop, Thomas Mroz, Khalid Al-Saleh, Giovanni Barbanti Brodano, Jens Chapman, Michael G Fehlings, Serena S Hu, Yoshiharu Kawaguchi, Michael Mayer, Venugopal Menon, Jong-Beom Park, Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran, Marcelo Valacco, Luiz Vialle, Jeffrey C Wang, Karsten Wiechert, K Daniel Riew, Dino Samartzis

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, international survey.

OBJECTIVES: To identify factors influencing pharmacologic anticoagulation initiation after spine surgery based on the AOSpine Anticoagulation Global Survey.

METHODS: This survey was distributed to the international membership of AOSpine (n = 3805). A Likert-type scale described grade practice-specific factors on a scale from low (1) to high (5) importance, and patient-specific factors a scale from low (0) to high (3) importance. Analysis was performed to determine which factors were significant in the decision making surrounding the initiation of pharmacologic anticoagulation.

RESULTS: A total of 316 spine surgeons from 64 countries completed the survey. In terms …

Letter: Thrombotic Neurovascular Disease In Covid-19 Patients., Ahmad Sweid, Batoul Hammoud, Joshua H. Weinberg, Mazen Oneissi, Eytan Raz, Maksim Shapiro, Maureen Deprince, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Michael R. Gooch, Nabeel A. Herial, Hekmat Zarzour, Victor Romo, Robert Rosenwasswer, Pascal Jabbour

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Although the respiratory system is the primary target of the coronavirus, studies have demonstrated a strong tropism to the central nervous system (CNS).^1,2 The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects cells by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. This receptor is also found in the CNS and plays a crucial role in autoregulating cerebral perfusion pressure.^3,4 Additionally, epidemiological data demonstrated increased mortality due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases during flu pandemics due to a hypercoagulable state.^5,6 The triad of neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2, induction of hypercoagulable state,^{5-9 …}

In Reply: May Cooler Heads Prevail During A Pandemic: Stroke In Covid-19 Patients Or Covid-19 In Stroke Patients?, Pascal Jabbour, Ahmad Sweid, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Michel Piotin, Waleed Brinjikji, Kimon Bekelis, Eytan Raz, Nader Sourour, Shahid M. Nimjee, Demetrius K. Lopes, Ameer E. Hassan, Aditya S. Pandey, L. Fernando Gonzalez, Ricardo A. Hanel, Adnan H. Siddiqui, David Hasan, Sean D. Lavine, Bernard R. Bendok

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Perioperative Anticoagulation Management In Spine Surgery: Initial Findings From The Ao Spine Anticoagulation Global Survey., Philip Louie, Garrett Harada, James Harrop, Thomas Mroz, Khalid Al-Saleh, Giovanni Barbanti Brodano, Jens Chapman, Michael Fehlings, Serena Hu, Yoshiharu Kawaguchi, Michael Mayer, Venugopal Menon, Jong-Beom Park, Sheeraz Qureshi, Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran, Marcelo Valacco, Luiz Vialle, Jeffrey C Wang, Karsten Wiechert, K Daniel Riew, Dino Samartzis

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, international survey.

OBJECTIVES: This study addressed the global perspectives concerning perioperative use of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis during spine surgery along with its risks and benefits.

METHODS: A questionnaire was designed and implemented by expert members in the AO Spine community. The survey was distributed to AO Spine's spine surgeon members (N = 3805). Data included surgeon demographic information, type and region of practice, anticoagulation principles, different patient scenarios, and comorbidities.

Results: A total of 316 (8.3% response rate) spine surgeons completed the survey, representing 64 different countries. Completed surveys were primarily from Europe (31.7%), South/Latin America (19.9%), and …

The Implications Of Paraspinal Muscle Atrophy In Low Back Pain, Thoracolumbar Pathology, And Clinical Outcomes After Spine Surgery: A Review Of The Literature., Kevin He, Jeffery Head, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, Kevin Hines, Phelan Shea, Richard Schmidt, Christian Hoelscher, Geoffrey Stricsek, James Harrop, Ashwini Sharan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Literature review.

OBJECTIVES: Paraspinal muscle integrity is believed to play a critical role in low back pain (LBP) and numerous spinal deformity diseases and other pain pathologies. The influence of paraspinal muscle atrophy (PMA) on the clinical and radiographic success of spinal surgery has not been established. We aim to survey the literature in order to evaluate the impact of paraspinal muscle atrophy on low back pain, spine pathologies, and postoperative outcomes of spinal surgery.

METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted using a total of 267 articles identified from a search of the PubMed database and …

Regional And Experiential Differences In Surgeon Preference For The Treatment Of Cervical Facet Injuries: A Case Study Survey With The Ao Spine Cervical Classification Validation Group, Jose A Canseco, Gregory D Schroeder, Parthik D Patel, Giovanni Grasso, Michael Chang, Frank Kandziora, Emiliano N Vialle, F Cumhur Oner, Klaus J Schnake, Marcel F Dvorak, Jens R Chapman, Lorin M Benneker, Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran, Christopher K Kepler, Alexander R Vaccaro

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: The management of cervical facet dislocation injuries remains controversial. The main purpose of this investigation was to identify whether a surgeon's geographic location or years in practice influences their preferred management of traumatic cervical facet dislocation injuries.

METHODS: A survey was sent to 272 AO Spine members across all geographic regions and with a variety of practice experience. The survey included clinical case scenarios of cervical facet dislocation injuries and asked responders to select preferences among various diagnostic and management options.

RESULTS: A total of 189 complete responses were received. Over 50% of responding surgeons in each region elected …

Telemedicine For The Spine Surgeon In The Age Of Covid-19: Multicenter Experiences Of Feasibility And Implementation Strategies., Daniel Franco, Thiago Montenegro, Glenn A Gonzalez, Kevin Hines, Aria Mahtabfar, Melvin D Helgeson, Rakesh Patel, James Harrop

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has obligated physicians to recur to additional resources and make drastic changes regarding the standard physician-patient encounter. In the last century, there has been a substantial improvement in technology, which over the years has opened the door to a new form of medical practicing known as telemedicine.

METHODS: Healthcare workers from three hospitals involved in the care for COVID-19 patients in the united states were invited to share their experience using telemedicine to deliver clinical care to their patients.

RESULTS: Since the appearance of this worldwide outbreak, social distancing has been a …

A Fatal Case Of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis From Recreational Waters., Edward Hamaty, Saif Faiek, Minesh Nandi, David Stidd, Manish Trivedi, Hari Kandukuri

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Background: Naegleria Fowleri is a single-cell, thermophilic amphizoid amoeba, and a rare known causative agent for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis with >97% mortality rate. The amoeba resides in freshwater lakes and ponds but can also survive in inadequately chlorinated pools and recreational waters. The mode of infection includes activities such as diving or jumping into freshwater or submerging the head under the water. Although most commonly seen in the southern United States, it is essential to keep this clinical suspicion in mind regardless of geography, as presenting symptoms can be very similar to classic bacterial meningitis.

Conclusion: As per the CDC, …

Functionally Distinct High And Low Theta Oscillations In The Human Hippocampus., Abhinav Goyal, Jonathan Miller, Salman E Qasim, Andrew J Watrous, Honghui Zhang, Joel M Stein, Cory S Inman, Robert E Gross, Jon T Willie, Bradley Lega, Jui-Jui Lin, Ashwini Sharan, Chengyuan Wu, Michael R Sperling, Sameer A Sheth, Guy M Mckhann, Elliot H Smith, Catherine Schevon, Joshua Jacobs

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Based on rodent models, researchers have theorized that the hippocampus supports episodic memory and navigation via the theta oscillation, a ~4-10 Hz rhythm that coordinates brain-wide neural activity. However, recordings from humans have indicated that hippocampal theta oscillations are lower in frequency and less prevalent than in rodents, suggesting interspecies differences in theta's function. To characterize human hippocampal theta, we examine the properties of theta oscillations throughout the anterior-posterior length of the hippocampus as neurosurgical subjects performed a virtual spatial navigation task. During virtual movement, we observe hippocampal oscillations at multiple frequencies from 2 to 14 Hz. The posterior hippocampus …

Management Of Patients With Isolated Acute Cervical Carotid Artery Occlusion And Normal Neurological Exam: Technical Note And Case Series, Joshua H. Weinberg, Nohra Chalouhi, Ahmad Sweid, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Michael Reid Gooch, Robert H. Rosenwasswer, Pascal Jabbour, Hekmat Zarzour

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Objectives

Limited data exists on the management and outcome of patients with isolated acute cervical internal carotid artery (cICA) occlusion presenting with normal neurologic exam after experiencing a period of neurological deficits. These patients are at risk for progressive neurologic deterioration but have not yet progressed to stroke. Current management is no intervention due to intervention risk of embolization. We aim to determine the optimal management of patients with isolated acute cICA occlusion presenting with a normal neurological exam after experiencing neurological deficits.

Patients and methods

Data was collected on 3 patients with acute cICA occlusion that presented with a …

The Bull Or The Horn - What Are Outcomes Data?, James Harrop

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Computer-Assisted Planning For Minimally Invasive Anterior Two-Thirds Laser Corpus Callosotomy: A Feasibility Study With Probabilistic Tractography Validation., Vejay N. Vakharia, Rachel E. Sparks, Sjoerd B. Vos, Yarema Bezchlibnyk, Ashesh D. Mehta, Jon T. Willie, Chengyuan Wu, Ashwini Sharan, Sebastien Ourselin, John S Duncan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Anterior two-thirds corpus callosotomy is an effective palliative neurosurgical procedure for drug-refractory epilepsy that is most commonly used to treat drop-attacks. Laser interstitial thermal therapy is a novel stereotactic ablative technique that has been utilised as a minimally invasive alternative to resective and disconnective open neurosurgery. Case series have reported success in performing laser anterior two-thirds corpus callosotomy. Computer-assisted planning algorithms may help to automate and optimise multi-trajectory planning for this procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To undertake a simulation-based feasibility study of computer-assisted corpus callostomy planning in comparison with expert manual plans in the same patients.

METHODS: Ten patients were selected …

Recanalization Of The Chronically Occluded Internal Carotid Artery: Review Of The Literature., Mario Zanaty, Jorge A. Roa, Pascal Jabbour, Edgar A. Samaniego, David M. Hasan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Introduction: We reviewed the literature on interventions for patients with medically refractory chronically occluded internal carotid artery (COICA) to assess the risks and/or benefits after recanalization via an endovascular technique (ET) or hybrid surgery (HS, i.e., ET plus carotid endarterectomy).

Methods: A systematic search of the electronic databases was performed. Patients with COICA were classified into 4 different categories according to Hasan et al classification.

Results: Eighteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Only 6 studies involved an HS procedure. We identified 389 patients with COICA who underwent ET or HS; 91% were males. The overall perioperative complication rate was 10.1% …

Comparison Of Outcomes In Level I Vs Level Ii Trauma Centers In Patients Undergoing Craniotomy Or Craniectomy For Severe Traumatic Brain Injury., Nohra Chalouhi, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, Fadi Al Saiegh, Robert M Starke, Thana Theofanis, Somnath Das, Jack Jallo

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) carries a devastatingly high rate of morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether patients undergoing craniotomy/craniectomy for severe TBI fare better at level I than level II trauma centers in a mature trauma system.

METHODS: The data were extracted from the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study database. Inclusion criteria were patients > 18 yr with severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score less than 9) undergoing craniotomy or craniectomy in the state of Pennsylvania from January 1, 2002 through September 30, 2017.

RESULTS: Of 3980 patients, 2568 (64.5%) were treated at level I trauma centers and 1412 …

A Brief History Of Quality Improvement In Health Care And Spinal Surgery., Kevin Hines, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, John J Knightly, James Harrop

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

While medical and technological advances continue to shape and advance health care, there has been growing emphasis on translating these advances into improvement in overall health care quality outcomes in the United States. Innovators such as Abraham Flexner and Ernest Codman engaged in rigorous reviews of systems and patient outcomes igniting wider spread interest in quality improvement in health care. Codman's efforts even contributed to the founding of the American College of Surgeons. This society catalyzed a quality improvement initiative across the United States and the formation of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. Since that time, those such …

Implementation Of A Spine-Centered Care Pathway At A Regional Academic Spine Center., George M Ghobrial, Jefferson Wilson, Daniel Franco, Kristen Vogl, Alexander R Vaccaro, James S Harrop

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: To describe the early implementation of an inpatient spinal surgery unit and measure the impact on cost and length of stay (LOS).

Methods: A retrospective case review was performed for frequent spine-related diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) cared for by a dedicated multidisciplinary team: combined anterior/posterior (AP) spinal fusion with major complicating or comorbid condition (MCC), combined (AP) spinal fusion with CC, combined (AP) spinal fusion without complicating or comorbid (CC)/MCC, cervical spinal fusion with MCC, cervical spinal fusion with CC, and cervical spinal fusion without CC/MCC. Four time periods were compared: historical control, initial pathway …

Early Surgery For Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Where Are We Now?, Jefferson R. Wilson, Christopher D. Witiw, Jetan Badhiwala, Brian K. Kwon, Michael G. Fehlings, James Harrop

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Study Design: Narrative review.

Objective: There is a strong biological rationale to perform early decompression after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). With an enlarging clinical evidence base, most spine surgeons internationally now favor early decompression for the majority of SCI patients; however, a number of pertinent questions remain surrounding this therapy.

Methods: A narrative review evaluating the status of early surgery for SCI. In particular, we addressed the following questions: (1) Which patients stand to benefit most from early surgery? 2) What is the most appropriate time threshold defining early surgery?

Results: Although heterogeneity exists, the evidence generally seems to …

Minimizing Blood Loss In Spine Surgery., Christopher Mikhail, Zach Pennington, Paul M Arnold, Darrel S Brodke, Jens R Chapman, Norman Chutkan, Michael D Daubs, John G Devine, Michael G Fehlings, Daniel E Gelb, George M Ghobrial, James S Harrop, Christian Hoelscher, Fan Jiang, John J Knightly, Brian K Kwon, Thomas E Mroz, Ahmad Nassr, K Daniel Riew, Lali H Sekhon, Justin S Smith, Vincent C Traynelis, Jeffrey C Wang, Michael H Weber, Jefferson R Wilson, Christopher D Witiw, Daniel M Sciubba, Samuel K Cho

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Study Design: Broad narrative review.

Objective: To review and summarize the current literature on guidelines, outcomes, techniques and indications surrounding multiple modalities of minimizing blood loss in spine surgery.

Methods: A thorough review of peer-reviewed literature was performed on the guidelines, outcomes, techniques, and indications for multiple modalities of minimizing blood loss in spine surgery.

Results: There is a large body of literature that provides a consensus on guidelines regarding the appropriate timing of discontinuation of anticoagulation, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and herbal supplements prior to surgery. Additionally, there is a more heterogenous discussion the utility of preoperative autologous …

Quality Improvement And Spine Surgery., James Harrop

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

AO Spine North American (AOSNA) is honored to have the ability to present this focused issue on improving quality health care for spine patients. This issue is dedicated to improvements in quality for patient benefits.

Feasibility Of Diffusion And Probabilistic White Matter Analysis In Patients Implanted With A Deep Brain Stimulator., J. Muller, M. Alizadeh, L. Li, S. Thalheimer, C. Matias, M. Tantawi, J. Miao, M. D. Silverman, V. Zhang, G. Yun, V. Romo, F. B. Mohamed, C. Wu

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease (PD) is an established advanced therapy that produces therapeutic effects through high frequency stimulation. Although this therapeutic option leads to improved clinical outcomes, the mechanisms of the underlying efficacy of this treatment are not well understood. Therefore, investigation of DBS and its postoperative effects on brain architecture is of great interest. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is an advanced imaging technique, which has the ability to estimate the structure of white matter fibers; however, clinical application of DWI after DBS implantation is challenging due to the strong susceptibility artifacts caused by implanted devices. This …

Brief History Of Spinal Neurosurgical Societies In The United States: Part 1., Sasha Vaziri, Daniel K. Resnick, Christopher P. Ames, James S. Harrop, Christopher I. Shaffrey, Kern Singh, Justin S. Smith, Daniel J. Hoh

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Progression-Free But No Overall Survival Benefit For Adult Patients With Bevacizumab Therapy For The Treatment Of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis., Nagham Kaka, Karim Hafazalla, Haider Samawi, Andrew Simpkin, James Perry, Arjun Sahgal, Sunit Das

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common high-grade primary brain tumor in adults. Standard multi-modality treatment of glioblastoma with surgery, temozolomide chemotherapy, and radiation results in transient tumor control but inevitably gives way to disease progression. The need for additional therapeutic avenues for patients with GBM led to interest in anti-angiogenic therapies, and in particular, bevacizumab. We sought to determine the efficacy of bevacizumab as a treatment for newly diagnosed GBM. We conducted a literature search using the PubMed database and Google Scholar to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) since 2014 investigating the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab in the treatment …

Pediatric Moyamoya Presenting As A Subarachnoid Hemorrhage From A Ruptured Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm., Mohammad Hassan A. Noureldine, Ibrahim Saikali, Anis Nassif, Rita Chahinian, Ahmad Sweid, Raghid Kikano, Michel Mawad

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Moyamoya disease (MMD)-associated intracranial aneurysms ranges from 3% to 14% in adult patients, whereas this complication has rarely been reported in children.

CASE DESCRIPTION: We herein report the first case, to our knowledge, of an extremely rare subarachnoid hemorrhage presentation of a child with a ruptured anterior cerebral artery dissecting aneurysm secondary to a newly discovered, unilateral Moyamoya-like pathology.

CONCLUSIONS: MMD-associated aneurysms are extremely rare in children, and hemorrhage may be the initial presentation of the disease. Prompt intervention is essential to exclude the ruptured aneurysm that is at risk of rebleeding because of persistent hemodynamic …

Recovery Priorities In Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of An International, Online Community Of Patients., Benjamin Davies, Oliver Mowforth, Iwan Sadler, Bizhan Aarabi, Brian Kwon, Shekar Kurpad, James S Harrop, Jefferson R Wilson, Robert Grossman, Michael G Fehlings, Mark Kotter

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: To establish the recovery priorities of individuals suffering with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

DESIGN: A cross-sectional, observational study.

SETTING: Patients from across the world with a diagnosis of DCM accessed the survey over an 18-month period on Myelopathy.org, an international myelopathy charity.

PARTICIPANTS: 481 individuals suffering from DCM completed the online survey fully.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional recovery domains were established through qualitative interviews and a consensus process. Individuals were asked about their disease characteristics, including limb pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and functional disability (patient-derived version of the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score). Individuals ranked recovery domains (arm and …

Commentary: The History Of Neurosurgery At Albany Medical College And Albany Medical Center Hospital, Albany, New York., Pouya Entezami, Michael R. Gooch, Adedamola Adepoju, Julie Pilitsis, Tyler J. Kenning, Alan Boulos, David L. Semenoff

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

The origins of the Department of Neurosurgery at Albany Medical College closely parallel the development of early America and the establishment of modern health care.The tales of Washington Irving, the works of the Hudson River School of painters, and summers in the Catskill Mountains or Adirondacks are the stories that color the history of Upstate New York (Figure1). As a social, industrial, and political hub of the American colonies, New England’s need for centers providing structured medicine led to the creation of Albany Medical College in1839, one of the earliest such institutions in the young nation.1 Rapid progress in nearly …

Automated Fiber Tract Reconstruction For Surgery Planning: Extensive Validation In Language-Related White Matter Tracts., Matteo Mancini, Sjoerd B. Vos, Vejay N. Vakharia, Aidan G. O'Keeffe, Karin Trimmel, Frederik Barkhof, Christian Dorfer, Salil Soman, Gavin P. Winston, Chengyuan Wu, John S. Duncan, Rachel Sparks, Sebastien Ourselin

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Diffusion MRI and tractography hold great potential for surgery planning, especially to preserve eloquent white matter during resections. However, fiber tract reconstruction requires an expert with detailed understanding of neuroanatomy. Several automated approaches have been proposed, using different strategies to reconstruct the white matter tracts in a supervised fashion. However, validation is often limited to comparison with manual delineation by overlap-based measures, which is limited in characterizing morphological and topological differences. In this work, we set up a fully automated pipeline based on anatomical criteria that does not require manual intervention, taking advantage of atlas-based criteria and advanced acquisition protocols …

Cervical Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Ossification : Microscopy-Assisted Anterior Corpectomy And Fusion., Wanyi Wang, Tao Ding, James Harrop, Huilin Yang, Xiaofeng Gu, Dehong Feng, Yafeng Zhang, Hao Liu, Fenglin Tang, Yuntao Xue, Miao Lu, Chao Wu

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of microscopy-assisted anterior corpectomy and fusion for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

METHODS: A retrospective review of 32 cervical OPLL patients who underwent microscopy-assisted anterior corpectomy and fusion from June 2012 to March 2017 was carried out. Patients were evaluated with outcome metrics: Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores (17 points method), visual analog scale (VAS), and radiographic parameters of the lordotic angle. The complications during treatment and follow-up were recorded.

RESULTS: This study included 32 patients (15 males and 17 females) with a mean age of 58.3 ± 2.9 …