Retrospective data analysis of anterior cervical discectomies and fusion without plate and screws

Funding Information: We thank engineer K?rlis B?ti??, Orto Clinic, Technical Department, for his kind assistance with uploading SPSS Statistics (Chicago, IL, Ver. 22) and with electronical assistance of collecting data from patient records. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Sciendo. All rights reserved. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Surgical intervention in cervical disease can relieve neurological symptoms and improve life quality. This study aimed to analyse retrospective data of microscope-assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgeries. The retrospective study was carried out at the ORTO clinic, Rīga, Latvia, from 2013 to 2017. Data from 198 patients were extracted retrospectively. Data on patient gender, age, diagnosis, extent of operation, type of cage and the overall height of the implants were used. Comparative analysis was carried out with the SPSS 22 software. P < 0.05 represented statistical significance. During the study period, 198 elective ACDF were carried out with increasing number of surgeries: 25 cases in 2013, 43 in 2014, 38 in 2015, 44 in 2016, and 48 in 2017. ACDF were significantly more often performed for females (n = 117, 59%) compared to males (n = 81, 41%; p < 0.003). Women were older with an average age of 50 ± 1 years than men (age 46 ±1; p = 0.007). The mean surgery time was 1.5 ± 1 hours and the mean hospitalisation time was 3 ± 1 days. Four types of cages were used in similar number of operation: Cervios Peek Chronos C (24%), Syncage C (21%), EIT 3D print (29%), Cervios C Peek (26%); p = 0.2, regardless of patient age or gender. Most often, in 98 cases, the overall height of implants was 6-10 mm. The maximal height was 22 mm, where two patients underwent three-level, and one had a four-level discectomy. The most prevalent disc lesion levels were C5/6 and C6/7, followed by C4/5 and C3/4. One- and two-level discectomies were performed in similar numbers: 95 and 81 cases. However, only 20 patients underwent three level and two patients had four level discectomies in 2016 and 2017. Two level discectomy at C5/6, C6/7 was carried out significantly more often for women (55 vs. 26; p = 0.01), and for men 1-level lesion was more common in C6/7; p = 0.04. The overall incidence of cage subsidence was 5.5%, and the highest incidence was 24% when a Syncage C was used. The ACDF appears to be performed increasingly more often, particularly, in females. The most frequent operation was in one or two cervical levels; in¬ cluding level C6/7 in both genders. In the last years, three- and four-level cervical discectomies have become one of the surgical opportunities. Choice of cage was not influenced by patient gen¬ der and age, while cage biophysical and biochemical properties may influence the choice.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Benign external hydrocephalus: a review, with emphasis on management

Benign external hydrocephalus in infants, characterized by macrocephaly and typical neuroimaging findings, is considered as a self-limiting condition and is therefore rarely treated. This review concerns all aspects of this condition: etiology, neuroimaging, symptoms and clinical findings, treatment, and outcome, with emphasis on management. The review is based on a systematic search in the Pubmed and Web of Science databases. The search covered various forms of hydrocephalus, extracerebral fluid, and macrocephaly. Studies reporting small children with idiopathic external hydrocephalus were included, mostly focusing on the studies reporting a long-term outcome. A total of 147 studies are included, the majority however with a limited methodological quality. Several theories regarding pathophysiology and various symptoms, signs, and clinical findings underscore the heterogeneity of the condition. Neuroimaging is important in the differentiation between external hydrocephalus and similar conditions. A transient delay of psychomotor development is commonly seen during childhood. A long-term outcome is scarcely reported, and the results are varying. Although most children with external hydrocephalus seem to do well both initially and in the long term, a substantial number of patients show temporary or permanent psychomotor delay. To verify that this truly is a benign condition, we suggest that future research on external hydrocephalus should focus on the long-term effects of surgical treatment as opposed to conservative management

Feasibility of comparing medical management and surgery (with neurosurgery or stereotactic radiosurgery) with medical management alone in people with symptomatic brain cavernoma - protocol for the Cavernomas: A Randomised Effectiveness (CARE) pilot trial.

INTRODUCTION: The top research priority for cavernoma, identified by a James Lind Alliance Priority setting partnership was 'Does treatment (with neurosurgery or stereotactic radiosurgery) or no treatment improve outcome for people diagnosed with a cavernoma?' This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to determine the feasibility of answering this question in a main phase RCT. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will perform a pilot phase, parallel group, pragmatic RCT involving approximately 60 children or adults with mental capacity, resident in the UK or Ireland, with an unresected symptomatic brain cavernoma. Participants will be randomised by web-based randomisation 1:1 to treatment with medical management and with surgery (neurosurgery or stereotactic radiosurgery) versus medical management alone, stratified by prerandomisation preference for type of surgery. In addition to 13 feasibility outcomes, the primary clinical outcome is symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage or new persistent/progressive focal neurological deficit measured at 6 monthly intervals. An integrated QuinteT Recruitment Intervention (QRI) evaluates screening logs, audio recordings of recruitment discussions, and interviews with recruiters and patients/parents/carers to identify and address barriers to participation. A Patient Advisory Group has codesigned the study and will oversee its progress. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Yorkshire and The Humber-Leeds East Research Ethics Committee (21/YH/0046). We will submit manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals, describing the findings of the QRI and the Cavernomas: A Randomised Evaluation (CARE) pilot trial. We will present at national specialty meetings. We will disseminate a plain English summary of the findings of the CARE pilot trial to participants and public audiences with input from, and acknowledgement of, the Patient Advisory Group. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN41647111