Neurosurgery
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Multicenter Study
"July Effect" in Spinal Fusions: A Coarsened Exact-Matched Analysis.
Few neurosurgical studies examine the July Effect within elective spinal procedures, and none uses an exact-matched protocol to rigorously account for confounders. ⋯ There was no evidence suggestive of a July Effect after single-level, posterior approach spinal fusions in our cohort. These findings align with the previous literature to imply that teaching hospitals provide adequate patient care throughout the academic year, regardless of how long individual resident physician assistants have been in their particular role.
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Currently, little is known about the prognostic value of tumor growth rate (TGR) in spinal giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB). ⋯ These data support the use of TGR as a reliable predictive tool for clinically relevant outcomes and response to denosumab therapy of spinal GCTB, which may be helpful in guiding prognostic risk stratification and therapeutic optimization of patients.
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Intraventricular metastases (IVMs) are uncommon, and their optimal management remains debatable. ⋯ SRS is an effective treatment option for IVMs, with a local IVM control rate comparable with SRS for parenchymal brain metastases. Leptomeningeal spread and hydrocephalus in patients with IVM occur in a minority of patients, but these patients warrant careful follow-up to detect these changes.
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Multicenter Study
Neurosurgical Outcomes for Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors in the United States.
Limited data exist on pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and the results from the National Cancer Database, the largest multicenter national cancer registry, have not previously been comprehensively reported. ⋯ There is substantial variability in surgical morbidity and mortality of pediatric CNS tumors. Additional investigation is warranted to reduce outcome differences that may be based on socioeconomic factors.