Decline in subarachnoid haemorrhage volumes associated with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased volumes of stroke admissions and mechanical thrombectomy were reported. The study\u27s objective was to examine whether subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm coiling interventions demonstrated similar declines. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study across 6 continents, 37 countries and 140 comprehensive stroke centres. Patients with the diagnosis of SAH, aneurysmal SAH, ruptured aneurysm coiling interventions and COVID-19 were identified by prospective aneurysm databases or by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, codes. The 3-month cumulative volume, monthly volumes for SAH hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm coiling procedures were compared for the period before (1 year and immediately before) and during the pandemic, defined as 1 March-31 May 2020. The prior 1-year control period (1 March-31 May 2019) was obtained to account for seasonal variation. FINDINGS: There was a significant decline in SAH hospitalisations, with 2044 admissions in the 3 months immediately before and 1585 admissions during the pandemic, representing a relative decline of 22.5% (95% CI -24.3% to -20.7%, p\u3c0.0001). Embolisation of ruptured aneurysms declined with 1170-1035 procedures, respectively, representing an 11.5% (95%CI -13.5% to -9.8%, p=0.002) relative drop. Subgroup analysis was noted for aneurysmal SAH hospitalisation decline from 834 to 626 hospitalisations, a 24.9% relative decline (95% CI -28.0% to -22.1%, p\u3c0.0001). A relative increase in ruptured aneurysm coiling was noted in low coiling volume hospitals of 41.1% (95% CI 32.3% to 50.6%, p=0.008) despite a decrease in SAH admissions in this tertile. INTERPRETATION: There was a relative decrease in the volume of SAH hospitalisations, aneurysmal SAH hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm embolisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings in SAH are consistent with a decrease in other emergencies, such as stroke and myocardial infarction

Open-door expansile cervical laminoplasty

Open-door expansile laminoplasty is a practical surgical technique for the treatment of cervical myelopathy secondary to cervical spinal stenosis. Laminoplasty procedures were first described in the late 1970s and have undergone numerous modifications. The current article reviews the indications, techniques, and outcome data for cervical laminoplasty. Complications of laminoplasty and comparison to laminectomy outcomes are also discussed

Transplantation of human bone marrow–derived stromal cells into the contused spinal cord of nude rats Laboratory investigation

Object Human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) constitute a potential source of pluripotent stem cells. In the present study, hMSCs were transplanted into an area of spinal cord contusion in nude rats to determine their survival, differentiation, potential for neuroprotection, and influence on axonal growth and functional recovery. Methods Twenty-nine animals received 6 × 105 hMSCs in 6 μl medium 1 week after a contusion, while 14 control animals received an injection of 6 μl medium alone. Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) tests were performed weekly. The spinal cords were collected at 6 weeks posttransplantation for histological analysis and assessment of tissue injury. Results Immunostaining with anti–human mitochondria antibody and pretransplantation labeling with green fluorescent protein demonstrated that the grafted hMSCs survived and were capable of achieving a flattened appearance in the grafted area; however, none of the transplanted cells stained positively for human-specific neuronal, anti–neurofilament H or glial fibrillary acidic protein within the sites of engraftment. While neuronal or astrocytic differentiation was not seen, cells lining blood vessels in the vicinity of the transplant stained positively for anti–human endothelium CD105 antibody. Staining for anti–neurofilament H antibody demonstrated abundant axonlike structures around the transplanted area in the hMSC group. Tissue sparing analysis showed that animals with grafted hMSCs had a smaller area of contusion cyst compared with controls, but there was no significant difference between the two groups in BBB scores. Conclusions The grafted hMSCs survived for ≥ 6 weeks posttransplantation, although they did not differentiate into neural or glial cells. Cells with human endothelial characteristics were observed. Spinal cord–injured rats grafted with hMSCs had smaller contusion cavities, which did not have a significant influence on functional recovery

Modification of Wright's technique for placement of bilateral crossing C2 translaminar screws: technical note

Several relatively new screw techniques have been described that rigidly capture the posterior elements of C2. The previously described procedures of axis fixation are technically demanding and place the vertebral artery at some risk. A novel and less technically demanding technique of obtaining C-2 translaminar screws has been recently described. Although the risk of vertebral artery injury has been essentially eliminated, the authors recognize that neurologic injury from breakthrough of the inner cortex of the lamina by the drill or screw is still a possibility. Describe and illustrate a modified C2 translaminar technique and review the results of patients who have undergone the surgery. The current modification of the C2 translaminar screw technique was designed to reduce the risk of inadvertent screw placement within the spinal canal. A techniques paper combined with a retrospective clinical review of patients undergoing the surgery. Patients undergoing posterior instrumented fusion surgery of the cervical spine, which incorporates C2 posterior elements using the translaminar technique. Radiographic analysis of the fusion construct incorporating the C2 translaminar screws. We have modified the previously described technique of C-2 translaminar screw placement with the addition of “exit” cortical windows to assure bicortical, intralaminar screw placement. The results of the first six patients with an average follow-up of 12 months demonstrated this method to be safe and effective in fixating the axis. We have made a simple modification of Wright's elegant technique with the addition of “exit” windows at the facet-laminar junctions. This gives us the assurance that the C2 screw has not entered the spinal canal by directly visualizing the tip of the screw exiting the outer cortices of the lamina before leaving the operating room

Surgical Management of Giant Aneurysms of the Middle Cerebral Artery

The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is the most common location for giant aneurysms of the anterior circulation. The contemporary management of giant aneurysms of the MCA lies largely in the surgical domain. Clipping is the first surgical option for these aneurysms. In about half the cases, the aneurysm neck is amenable to clipping, usually in conjunction with aneurysmorraphy. However, clipping is unsuitable for aneurysms without a well-defined neck or for fusiform giant aneurysms. For these cases, indirect treatment options include aneurysm trapping or proximal occlusion. Although frequently an M4 and occasionally an M3 branch can be sacrificed without the need for a distal bypass, we always recommend distal bypass whenever M1 or M2 must be sacrificed. There are several choices for distal bypass, but we prefer a high-flow bypass with a saphenous vein or radial artery graft whenever M1 is sacrificed and usually when M2 is occluded. With M3 or M4 occlusion, a low-flow superficial temporal artery distal bypass usually suffices. Recurring themes in the surgical treatment of these lesions are preservation of lenticulostriate perforators and keeping vessel reconstructions as simple as possible to reduce the length of temporary occlusion

Diffusion-weighted imaging or computerized tomography perfusion assessment with clinical mismatch in the triage of wake up and late presenting strokes undergoing neurointervention with Trevo (DAWN) trial methods.

Rationale Efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy for acute stroke due to large vessel occlusion initiated beyond 6 h of time last seen well has not been demonstrated in randomized trials. Aim To establish whether subjects considered to have substantial areas of salvageable brain based on age-adjusted clinical core mismatch who can undergo endovascular treatment within 6-24 h from time last seen well (TLSW) have better outcomes at three months compared to subjects treated with standard medical therapy alone. Age-adjusted clinical core mismatch is defined by age (≤80 or \u3e80 years), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (10-20 or ≥21), and core size (0-20 c