Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination administered early after neurotrauma or neurosurgery

Long-Term Outcomes of Adult Temporal Bone Fractures With Hearing Loss: Results of a Multinational Database Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Temporal bone fractures (TBFs) can result in long-term adverse outcomes including meningitis, facial nerve disorders (FNDs), and hearing loss (HL) that may require surgical intervention. This epidemiologic study aims to examine the sequelae of adult TBF with HL, including the utilization of cochlear implantation (CI), using data from a large, multinational database.

METHODS

Using the TriNetX database, a retrospective cohort study was performed of adults (≥ 18 years) using ICD10 codes for other fractures of the base of the skull and hearing loss, an approximation of TBF with hearing loss. A control group of adults without TBF was used. Measured outcomes included meningitis, CI, FND, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, and labyrinthitis. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used for cohorts smaller than 33,333,333. Ninety-five percent of patient data used was from 2006 to 2023.

RESULTS

Adults with TBF and HL (n = 34,878) had a greater risk of meningitis any time after TBF than those without TBF (n = 105,035,185) (RR: 6.65, 95% CI: 5.74-7.70). Labyrinthitis (RR: 3.56, 95% CI: 2.86-4.41), CSF leak (RR: 40.71, 95% CI: 37.91-43.71), and FND (RR: 12.08, 95% CI: 11.62-12.55) were more common after TBF. CI was more common after TBF (RR: 26.22, 95% CI: 22.12-31.07). Meningitis after TBF was associated with an increased risk of CSF leak (RR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.52-5.93) compared to those without meningitis.

CONCLUSION

Adults who sustain TBFs resulting in HL have an increased risk of developing meningitis, labyrinthitis, CSF leak, and FND and are more likely to undergo CI for aural rehabilitation compared to a control cohort.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Long-term outcomes of pediatric temporal bone fractures with hearing loss: Results of a multinational database analysis

INTRODUCTION

Pediatric temporal bone fractures (TBFs) can result in adverse outcomes including meningitis, significant sensorineural hearing loss requiring cochlear implantation (CI), facial nerve weakness, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, and labyrinthitis. The objective of this study is to determine the risks of these outcomes for TBFs with hearing loss.

METHODS

Using the multinational TriNetX database, a retrospective cohort study was performed of patients less than 18 years old with diagnostic codes for other fracture of base of skull and hearing loss to serve as an approximation of TBF. This classification excluded all TBFs without hearing loss. An age- and sex-matched control cohort was selected without the above-mentioned diagnostic codes. More than 95 % of patient data used is from 2006-present, with an average of 12-14 years of data per health care organization. Measured outcomes included meningitis, CI, facial nerve disorders (including facial nerve weakness, lagophthalmos, and eyelid weight placement for lagophthalmos), CSF leak and labyrinthitis after TBF. Risk ratios were calculated after 1:1 propensity-score matching (PSM) for age and sex.

RESULTS

TriNetX identified 2739 pediatric patients (mean age of 7.61 ± 4.39 years) with TBF and an age- and sex-matched cohort of 2739 pediatric patients without TBF (mean age of 7.58 ± 4.37 years). Those with TBF had a greater risk of developing meningitis (RR: 2.90, 95 % CI: 1.42-5.94) and facial nerve disorders (RR: 13.44, 95 % CI: 8.83-20.45) at any time than those without TBF. Matched results were not available for labyrinthitis, CI or CSF leak, as there were multiple instances in the Pediatric TBF cohort versus zero instances in the Control cohort. Results prior to PSM demonstrated an increased risk for labyrinthitis (RR: 43.12, 95 % CI: 23.17-80.27), CI (RR: 21.61, 95 % CI: 13.03-35.84) and CSF leak (89.08, 95 % CI: 67.71-117.20) in the pediatric TBF cohort compared with the cohort without TBF.

DISCUSSION

Pediatric patients who sustain TBF with hearing loss are at increased risk of subsequent meningitis and facial nerve disorders and may also be at increased risk of labyrinthitis, CSF leak, and undergoing CI.

Severe orbital blow-out fracture: complete displacement of the globe into the maxillary sinus

Displacement of the globe of the eye into the maxillary sinus is very rare in cases of facial trauma. Herein, we report a case of complete dislocation of the left globe into the maxillary sinus following a road traffic collision. The patient had prompt surgery to replace the globe after CT imaging confirmed the diagnosis. Subsequently, ongoing follow-up has focused on cosmesis in the affected, non-seeing eye. A multidisciplinary approach has been key throughout the patient's journey.

Relationship between T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent vaccines after neurotrauma; is the B-cell response preserved?

Background

After trauma and central nervous system (CNS) injury, trauma-induced immune deficiency syndrome (TIDS) and CNS injury-induced immune deficiency syndrome (CIDS) may negatively affect responses to T-cell-dependent vaccines, such as pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) recommended after basilar fracture. This study (NCT02806284) aimed to investigate whether there after neurotrauma is a correlation between T-cell-dependent and independent vaccine responses and, thus, if B-cell activity is similarly depressed and whether the T-cell-dependent response is possible to predict.

Methods

Adult patients with basilar fracture (n = 33) and those undergoing pituitary gland surgery (n = 23) were within 10 days vaccinated with a T-cell-dependent vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and a T-cell-independent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV). Samples reflecting the systemic inflammatory response and pre- and post-vaccination antibody levels after 3–6 weeks against Hib and PPSV were collected and determined by enzyme immunoassays.

Results

High and significant correlations were detected in the responses to different pneumococcal serotypes, but none between the Hib and PPSV responses. No differences in trauma scores, C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-10, pentraxin 3, fractalkine or calprotectin plasma concentrations or in ex vivo TNF-α, IL-6 or IL-10 responses to endotoxin were found between Hib vaccination responders and non-responders.

Conclusions

There was no correlation between the pneumococcal responses and that to Hib, indicating that B-cell function is not similarly depressed as T-cell function. Grading of the trauma or parameters reflecting the innate immune response could not predict the T-cell-dependent vaccine response. There is a need of further studies evaluating the vaccine response after neurotrauma.

Rapidly fatal pneumococcal meningitis following non-penetrating traumatic brain injury

A previously healthy young man presented to hospital with severe traumatic brain injury following a motor vehicle collision. Within 24 hours of admission, and despite antibiotic coverage, he developed a fever. On the second day, the source of infection was discovered to be purulent pneumococcal meningitis. At 48 hours post-accident, he developed brain-stem death without evidence of raised intracranial pressure or trans-tentorial herniation. Initial CT scans of the head were essentially normal, but early repeat scans revealed evidence of pneumocephalus and possible frontal bone fracture. Current recommendations do not make room for targeted antibiotic prophylaxis in traumatic brain injury patients with traumatic skull fracture. We argue that our case demonstrates the need for aggressive targeted antibiotic prophylaxis in the presence of certain features such as frontal or sphenoid bone fracture and pneumocephalus.