Outcomes Following 2-Level Cervical Interventions with Cage-and-Plate, Zero-Profile, or Arthroplasty Constructs

BACKGROUND

Though cage-and-plate constructs are widely used for disk height restoration in surgery for cervical disc disease, concerns over range of motion limitations and adjacent disc space violations have fueled the development of artificial disc and zero-profile constructs. This study investigated the outcomes of patients undergoing two-level cervical interventions via arthroplasty, cage-and-plate, or zero-profile constructs.

METHODS

Patients undergoing two-level anterior cervical procedures between 2010 and 2020 were identified using an all-payer claims database. Logistic regression models were utilized to develop criteria for a 1:1:1-exact match procedure. The primary outcome was the need for additional surgery within 30 months, and the secondary outcomes included medical and surgical complications observed within 30 days of index intervention. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

133,831 patients were identified as undergoing two-level anterior cervical interventions. Seven thousand three hundred seventy-one records were analyzed through a 1:1:1 match. Patients who received zero-profile versus cage-and-plate constructs had significantly decreased odds of requiring additional surgery within 30 months (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.64; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.51-0.81). However, postoperative medical complications were increased among patients who received zero-profile constructs compared to cage-and-plate (OR 1.59; 95%CI 1.07-2.37). Patients who underwent arthroplasty also had decreased odds for additional surgery versus cage-and-plate (OR 0.75; 95%CI 0.60-0.93). There was no significant difference between arthroplasty and cage-and-plate constructs in developing postoperative surgical or medical complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients undergoing two-level interventions, cage-and-plate constructs were associated with increased odds of additional surgery within 30 months following index procedures when compared to zero-profile constructs or arthroplasty.

Frailty and postoperative outcomes in brain tumor patients: a systematic review subdivided by tumor etiology

PURPOSE

Frailty has gained prominence in neurosurgical oncology, with more studies exploring its relationship to postoperative outcomes in brain tumor patients. As this body of literature continues to grow, concisely reviewing recent developments in the field is necessary. Here we provide a systematic review of frailty in brain tumor patients subdivided by tumor type, incorporating both modern frailty indices and traditional Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) metrics.

METHODS

Systematic literature review was performed using PRISMA guidelines. PubMed and Google Scholar were queried for articles related to frailty, KPS, and brain tumor outcomes. Only articles describing novel associations between frailty or KPS and primary intracranial tumors were included.

RESULTS

After exclusion criteria, systematic review yielded 52 publications. Amongst malignant lesions, 16 studies focused on glioblastoma. Amongst benign tumors, 13 focused on meningiomas, and 6 focused on vestibular schwannomas. Seventeen studies grouped all brain tumor patients together. Seven studies incorporated both frailty indices and KPS into their analyses. Studies correlated frailty with various postoperative outcomes, including complications and mortality.

CONCLUSION

Our review identified several patterns of overall postsurgical outcomes reporting for patients with brain tumors and frailty. To date, reviews of frailty in patients with brain tumors have been largely limited to certain frailty indices, analyzing all patients together regardless of lesion etiology. Although this technique is beneficial in providing a general overview of frailty's use for brain tumor patients, given each tumor pathology has its own unique etiology, this combined approach potentially neglects key nuances governing frailty's use and prognostic value.

Abstract WP154: Low-field Portable Mri For Routine Post-thrombectomy Assessment Of Ongoing Brain Injury

Introduction: Conventional MRI (cMRI) is not routinely available post-mechanical thrombectomy (MT), which can preclude accurate infarction assessment. Our objective was to evaluate the use of low-field portable MRI (pMRI) for bedside evaluation post-MT, including its use as a post-procedural baseline monitor.

Methods: Low-field pMRI was used to obtain bedside imaging in post-MT patients between December 2021 to August 2022 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. All pMRI exams were conducted in the standard ferromagnetic environment of the IR suite. Volumetric analyses were performed by a neuroradiologist using 3D Slicer software. If cMRI was not available for comparison, a CT was used. Patients’ charts were reviewed for pre-revascularization MAP and occurrences of MAP dropping by 10% and 20% from individual baselines between the time of pMRI and delayed imaging.

Results: A total of 25 patients (64% females, median age 77 years-old [IQR 69.5-84.5]) underwent bedside pMRIs in the IR suite post-MT. The median time from last known normal to access was 6 hours [IQR 4-17]. The median pMRI examination time was 30 minutes [IQR 17-32]. Of the 24 patients with available delayed imaging, 7 (29.2%) had infarct progression compared to immediate post-MT pMRI, while 15 patients (62.5%) had stable/decreased stroke volume. Two patients (8.3%) had parenchymal hemorrhage type 2 and were excluded from further analysis. There was no statistically significant difference between the proportions of favorable TICI scores (85.7% in the infarct progression group vs. 92.3% in the stable/decreased infarct group, p=1.00). Patients with infarct progression had comparable pre-revascularization MAP compared to those with stable/decreased delayed infarct volume (mean of 100.3±4.6 vs. 101.9±15.9 respectively, p=0.727) but had more occurrences of MAP dropping by 10% and 20% of their baseline between the time of pMRI and delayed imaging (mean of 35.0±23.3 vs. 14.7±11.3 occurrences, p=0.011; and mean of 21.7±16.5 vs. 8.5±9.5 occurrences, p=0.026, respectively).

Conclusions: The use of low-field MRI in the post-MT setting can facilitate benchmark brain monitoring and serial examinations to evaluate the impact of potential physiological perturbations that may impact ongoing brain injury.

DISP-09. THE GENOMIC PROFILES AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF MENINGIOMAS VARY AMONGST DIFFERENT RACES

BACKGROUND

While socioeconomic factors for racial disparities amongst sporadic meningioma patients have been explored, other potential influences are poorly understood. We sought to identify whether the genomic make-up is different amongst meningioma patients of different races and how they correlate with clinical variables.

METHODS

All patients who underwent surgery for sporadic meningioma and consented for whole exome sequencing were eligible. Genomic and clinical data were reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTS

537 intracranial meningiomas from 483 patients with the following racial profile were included: 75% White, 14% Black, 8% Latinx, 3% Asian. Compared with others, Whites were older at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.038) and surgery (p = 0.015). Black and Latinx patients were more likely to present with vision abnormalities (p = 0.006). Whites were more likely to have convexity meningiomas (p = 0.003), while Blacks were more likely to have tumors along the anterior fossa (p = 0.002) with associated somatic Hedgehog (HH) driver mutations (p = 0.008). Both Black and Latinx patients were more likely to have TRAF7 mutated meningiomas (p = 0.006). The highest number of copy number variations was seen in Blacks (p = 0.011) and this correlated with Blacks being more likely to have high-grade tumors, followed by Whites, Asians, and then Latinx (p = 0.020). Black patients trended toward decreased progression-free survival than others (median survival: 57 vs. 130 months; p = 0.06) despite similar extent of resection.

CONCLUSION

Overall, when mutational subgroup and location are considered, Black patients are more likely to have anterior skull base meningiomas with associated visual issues and corresponding somatic HH and TRAF7 mutations. With regards to tumor grade, Blacks harbor more aggressive sporadic meningiomas with a larger prevalence of high-grade meningiomas and associated underlying chromosomal instability compared to others. These findings have implications for meningioma care especially in minority populations, who may harbor more aggressive tumors.

Withdrawal of Life-supporting Treatment in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Importance

There are limited data on which factors affect the critical and complex decision to withdraw life-supporting treatment (LST) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).

Objective

To determine demographic and clinical factors associated with the decision to withdraw LST in patients with sTBI.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective analysis of inpatient data from more than 825 trauma centers across the US in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program database from January 2013 to December 2015 included adult patients with sTBI and documentation of a decision regarding withdrawal of LST (WLST). Data analysis was conducted in September 2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Factors associated with WLST in sTBI.

Results

A total of 37931 patients (9817 women [25.9%]) were included in the multivariable analysis; 7864 (20.7%) had WLST. Black patients (4806 [13.2%]; odds ratio [OR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.59-0.72; P < .001) and patients of other race (4798 [13.2%]; OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76-0.91; P < .001) were less likely than white patients (26 864 [73.7%]) to have WLST. Patients from hospitals in the Midwest (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04-1.20; P = .002) or Northeast (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.13-1.34; P < .001) were more likely to have WLST than patients from hospitals in the South. Patients with Medicare (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.43-1.69; P < .001) and self-pay patients (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.25-1.47; P < .001) were more likely to have WLST than patients with private insurance. Older patients and those with lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores, higher Injury Severity Scores, or craniotomy were generally more likely to have WLST. Withdrawal of LST was more likely for patients with functionally dependent health status (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.08-1.58; P = .01), hematoma (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.12-1.27; P < .001), dementia (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.08-1.53; P = .004), and disseminated cancer (OR, 2.82; 95% CI, 2.07-3.82; P < .001) than for patients without these conditions.

Conclusions and Relevance

Withdrawal of LST is common in sTBI and socioeconomic factors are associated with the decision to withdraw LST. These results highlight the many factors that contribute to decision-making in sTBI and demonstrate that in a complex and variable disease process, variation based on race, payment, and region presents as a potential challenge.

Flow Cytometric Identification of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes from Glioblastoma

We describe an isolation method of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from glioblastoma tumors for the purpose of analysis by flow cytometry. This protocol is unique from many others in that the use of a selective lymphocyte isolation procedure, such as a Ficoll or Percoll gradient, is not used. We find that staining of TILs and analysis by flow cytometry is not affected by the presence of heterogeneous populations, while other selective isolation procedures can significantly decrease lymphocyte yield from already rare populations.

Comparison of surgical outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: does the intra-operative use of a microscope improve surgical outcomes

BACKGROUND

The primary aim of this study was to assess and compare the complications profile as well as long-term clinical outcomes between patients undergoing an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) procedure with and without the use of an intra-operative microscope.

METHODS

One hundred and forty adult patients (non-microscope cohort: 81; microscope cohort: 59) undergoing ACDF at a major academic medical center were included in this study. Enrollment criteria included available demographic, surgical and clinical outcome data. All patients had prospectively collected patient-reported outcomes measures and a minimum 2-year follow-up. Patients completed the neck disability index (NDI), short-form 12 (SF-12) and visual analog pain scale (VAS) before surgery, then at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Clinical outcomes and complication rates were compared between both patient cohorts.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were similar between both cohorts. The mean ± standard deviation duration of surgery was longer in the microscope cohort (microscope: 169±34 minutes vs. non-microscope: 98±42 minutes, P<0.001). There was no significant difference between cohorts in the incidence of nerve root injury (P=0.99) or incidental durotomy (P=0.32). At 3 months post-operatively, both cohorts demonstrated similar improvement in VAS-neck pain (P=0.69), NDI (P=0.86), SF-12 PCS (P=0.84) and SF-12 MCS (P=0.75). At 2-year post-operatively, both the microscope and non-microscope cohorts demonstrated similar improvement from base line in NDI (microscope: 13.52±25.77 vs. non-microscope: 19.51±27.47, P<0.18), SF-12 PCS (microscope: 4.15±26.39 vs. non-microscope: 11.98±22.96, P<0.07), SF-12 MCS (microscope: 9.47±32.38 vs. non-microscope: 16.19±30.44, P<0.21). Interestingly at 2 years, the change in VAS neck pain score was significantly different between cohorts (microscope: 2.22±4.00 vs. non-microscope: 3.69±3.61, P<0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that the intra-operative use of a microscope does not improve overall surgery-related outcomes, nor does it lead to superior long-term outcomes in pain and functional disability, 2 years after index surgery.

Do obese patients have worse outcomes after direct lateral interbody fusion compared to non-obese patients?

Obese patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery are a challenge to the operating surgeon. Direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF) has been performed for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine with good outcomes; nevertheless, how obese patients fare compared to non-obese patients after DLIF remains unknown. The primary aim of this study is to compare rates of postoperative complications and long-term outcomes between obese and non-obese patients undergoing DLIF. Sixty-three patients (obese: 29, non-obese: 34) undergoing index DLIF for degenerative disease of the spine between 2010 and 2012 at our institution were retrospectively enrolled. We analyzed data on demographics, postoperative complications, back and leg pain, and functional disability over 2 years. Patients completed the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) back and leg pain numerical rating scores before surgery, then at 12 and 24 months after surgery. Outcomes and complication rates were compared between the cohorts. The cohorts were similar at baseline. Postoperative complications rates were similar between obese and non-obese patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of durotomy (p=0.91), anterior thigh numbness (p=0.60), cerebrospinal fluid leak (p=0.91), postoperative infection (p=0.37), or bleeding requiring transfusion (p=0.16). No patient experienced a nerve injury or psoas hematoma. Both cohorts had similar 2 year improvement in VAS for back pain, leg pain, and ODI. Our study demonstrates that obese and non-obese patients undergoing DLIF have similar complication profiles; hence, a patient's weight should not be a contraindication to DLIF.