Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Apr 2017
A 2D threshold of the condylar-C1 interval to maximize identification of patients at high risk for atlantooccipital dislocation using computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE Measurement of the occipital condyle-C1 interval (CCI) is important in the evaluation of atlantooccipital dislocation (AOD) in pediatric trauma patients. The authors studied a large cohort of children with and without AOD to identify a 2D measurement threshold that maximizes the diagnostic yield of the CCI on cervical spine CT scans obtained in trauma patients. METHODS This retrospective, single-center study included all children who underwent CT of the cervical spine at Primary Children's Hospital from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2014, for trauma evaluation. ⋯ The accuracy of this 2D threshold was 84%. CONCLUSIONS In the present study population, age-dependent differences in the CCI were found on CT scans of the cervical spine in a large cohort of patients with and without AOD. A 2D CCI threshold as a screening method maximizes identification of patients at high risk for AOD while minimizing unnecessary imaging studies in children being evaluated for trauma.
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Apr 2017
ReviewDoes higher screw density improve radiographic and clinical outcomes in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? A systematic review and pooled analysis.
OBJECTIVE The radiographic and clinical outcomes of low-density (LD) versus high-density (HD) screw constructs in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) treated with all-pedicle screw constructs are still controversial. A systematic review and pooled analysis were performed to compare radiographic, perioperative, and quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes and complications in patients with moderate AIS treated with LD or HD screw constructs. METHODS The MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for English-language articles addressing LD versus HD screw constructs in AIS patients treated with all-pedicle screw constructs. ⋯ Reduced operative time (mean difference -48.56 minutes, 95% CI -82.69 to -14.43 minutes, p = 0.005, I2 = 87%), blood loss (mean difference -77.85 ml, 95% CI -153.10 to -2.60 ml, p = 0.04, I2 = 0%), and hospital charges (mean difference -$5.92K, 95% CI -$6.59K to -$5.26K, p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%) were found in the LD group, compared with the HD group. CONCLUSIONS LD and HD screw constructs are both associated with satisfactory radiographic and QOL outcomes with few complications. This study supports the use of LD screw constructs for the treatment of moderate AIS, because they resulted in reduced operative time, blood loss, and hospital charges while maintaining radiographic and QOL outcomes and complication rates similar to those achieved with HD screw constructs.
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Apr 2017
Risk factors for surgical site infection following nonshunt pediatric neurosurgery: a review of 9296 procedures from a national database and comparison with a single-center experience.
OBJECTIVE Surgical site infection (SSI) following CSF shunt operations has been well studied, yet risk factors for nonshunt pediatric neurosurgery are less well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine SSI rates and risk factors following nonshunt pediatric neurosurgery using a nationwide patient cohort and an institutional data set specifically for better understanding SSI. METHODS The authors reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (ACS NSQIP-P) database for the years 2012-2014, including all neurosurgical procedures performed on pediatric patients except CSF shunts and hematoma evacuations. ⋯ The only COA factor independently associated with SSI in the COA database included clean-contaminated wound classification (OR 3.887, 95% CI 1.354-11.153, p = 0.012), with public insurance (OR 1.966, 95% CI 0.957-4.041, p = 0.066) and spine procedures (OR 1.982, 95% CI 0.955-4.114, p = 0.066) approaching significance. Both NSQIP-P and COA multivariate model C-statistics were > 0.7. CONCLUSIONS The NSQIP-P SSI rates, but not risk factors, were similar to data from a single center.
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J Neurosurg Pediatr · Apr 2017
Morbidity associated with 30-day surgical site infection following nonshunt pediatric neurosurgery.
OBJECTIVE Morbidity associated with surgical site infection (SSI) following nonshunt pediatric neurosurgical procedures is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to analyze acute morbidity and mortality associated with SSI after nonshunt pediatric neurosurgery using a nationwide cohort. METHODS The authors reviewed data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) 2012-2014 database, including all neurosurgical procedures performed on pediatric patients. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Thirty-day SSI is associated with significant 30-day morbidity in pediatric patients undergoing nonshunt neurosurgery. Rates of SSI-associated complications are significantly lower in patients with superficial infection than in those with deep infection. There were no cases of SSI-related mortality within 30 days of the index procedure.