Comparative effectiveness of treatments for cerebral arteriovenous malformations: Trends in nationwide outcomes from 2000 to 2009

Object: The development of multimodality approaches for the treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), including microsurgery, endovascular therapy, and radiosurgery, has shifted modern treatment paradigms in the last 10 years. This study examines these changes in detail from a nationwide perspective. Methods: The authors examined data from 2001 to 2009 in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, and they assessed the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness, including the total number of discharges, discharge proportion, length of stay, and hospital charges. The authors also examined patient demographics (including age, sex, income level, and insurance), hemorrhage status at presentation, and trends in open surgical and endovascular treatment. Results: A total of 33,997 inpatient admissions for patients with a primary diagnosis of intracranial AVM were identified, with a mean of 4191 patients admitted annually. The mean hospital charges increased 2-fold over the study period without significant differences in outcomes. There were substantial differences between surgical, endovascular, radiosurgical, and multimodality treatments. The proportion of AVMs treated microsurgically remained stable over this period, while the proportion treated endovascularly dramatically increased in size, and the data demonstrate important patient-level distinctions among groups. Outcomes and complication profiles were significantly different between treatment modalities and were impacted by age and hemorrhage status. Conclusions: Charges associated with treatment of cerebral AVMs to the payer and society have increased dramatically over the first decade of the 21st century without clear improvements in quality parameters. However, analysis of the 3 primary treatment modalities has demonstrated differences and warrants further investigation to understand which patient population would benefit maximally from each. Unfortunately, with only imprecise measurements of quality in health care delivery, it remains imperative to develop national databases in which parameters, such as survival, functional outcomes, quality of life, and complication rates, can be assessed to examine the value of care delivered in a more meaningful way. Demonstrating an ever-increasing value of delivered health care will be imperative in our evolving health care system

Reversal of warfarin associated coagulopathy with 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate in traumatic brain injury and intracranial hemorrhage

Warfarin-associated intracranial hemorrhage is associated with a high mortality rate. Ongoing coagulopathy increases the likelihood of hematoma expansion and can result in catastrophic hemorrhage if surgery is performed without reversal. The current standard of care for emergency reversal of warfarin is with fresh frozen plasma (FFP). In April 2013, the USA Food and Drug Administration approved a new reversal agent, 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC), which has the potential to more rapidly correct coagulopathy. We sought to to determine the feasibility and outcomes of using PCC for neurosurgical patients. A prospective, observational study of all patients undergoing coagulopathy reversal for intracranial hemorrhage from April 2013 to December 2013 at a single, tertiary care center was undertaken. Thirty three patients underwent emergent reversal of coagulopathy using either FFP or PCC at the discretion of the treating physicians. Intracranial hemorrhage included subdural hematoma, intraparenchymal hematoma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. FFP was used in 28 patients and PCC was used in five patients. International normalized ratio at presentation was similar between groups (FFP 2.9, PCC 3.1, p = 0.89). The time to reversal was significantly shorter in the PCC group (FFP 256 minutes, PCC 65 minutes, p < 0.05). When operations were performed, the time delay to perform operations was also significantly shorter in the PCC group (FFP 307 minutes, PCC 159 minutes, p < 0.05). In this preliminary experience, PCC appears to provide a rapid reversal of coagulopathy. Normalization of coagulation parameters may prevent further intracranial hematoma expansion and facilitate rapid surgical evacuation, thereby improving neurological outcomes

Malignant transformation of a vestibular schwannoma after gamma knife radiosurgery.

OBJECTIVE: To report a single case of malignant transformation of a vestibular schwannoma after radiosurgery and review the growing body of literature describing patients with malignant transformation of primary benign tumors after radiosurgery, including vestibular schwannoma. METHODS: A 46-year-old woman presented with right facial paresthesias and imaging consistent with a right-sided vestibular schwannoma (volume approximately 18.5 cm(3)). RESULTS: The patient underwent subtotal resection followed by Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) 6 months after surgery. Initial histology showed a benign vestibular schwannoma with an MIB-1 labeling index of 5.7%. At 43 months after GKRS, the patient underwent repeat subtotal resection of a benign vestibular schwannoma (MIB-1 labeling index 7.4%). At 59 months after GKRS, she underwent a third resection, and histology showed frank malignant transformation (MIB-1 labeling index 33.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Malignant vestibular nerve tumors are extremely rare; only 18 cases have been reported in the literature. Our patient is the sixth pathologically confirmed case of malignant transformation after radiosurgery, supporting the contention that radiosurgery itself may play a causative role in transformation. In a histologically benign lesion, the presence of an elevated MIB-1 labeling index may predispose toward malignant transformation in the setting of adjuvant radiosurgery

Endovascular coiling of a ruptured basilar apex aneurysm with associated pseudoaneurysm

Acute intracranial pseudoaneurysms secondary to aneurysmal rupture are a rare entity with no clear evidence-based guidelines for treatment to our knowledge. There are numerous examples of successful treatment of pseudoaneurysms both surgically and endovascularly, the latter mainly within the anterior circulation. Risk of pseudoaneurysm rupture in the acute state during endovascular procedures with subsequent difficulty in controlling the bleeding without sacrificing the feeder artery has led to some reservation in using endovascular treatments more broadly. We report a rare case of a 52-year-old-woman who presented with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage and was found to have a ruptured 5 mm x 8 mm bi-lobulated basilar apex aneurysm on CT angiography. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated an associated anterior pseudoaneurysm that was formed secondary to the aneurysm rupture. The true aneurysm was successfully coiled with careful avoidance of the pseudoaneurysmal sac. Pseudoaneurysms are frequently identified for the first time during digital subtraction angiography. Recognizing their presence is essential for treatment planning. Acute pseudoaneurysms associated with true aneurysmal rupture can be safely and successfully treated by endovascular coiling of the true aneurysm. Care must be taken to avoid manipulation of the pseudoaneurysmal sac during the embolization

Managing Musculoskeletal Pain in Older Adults Through a Digital Care Solution: Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Clinical Study

BackgroundAging is closely associated with an increased prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions. Digital musculoskeletal care interventions emerged to deliver timely and proper rehabilitation; however, older adults frequently face specific barriers and concerns with digital care programs (DCPs). ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate whether known barriers and concerns of older adults impacted their participation in or engagement with a DCP or the observed clinical outcomes in comparison with younger individuals. MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of a single-arm investigation assessing the recovery of patients with musculoskeletal conditions following a DCP for up to 12 weeks. Patients were categorized according to age: ≤44 years old (young adults), 45-64 years old (middle-aged adults), and ≥65 years old (older adults). DCP access and engagement were evaluated by assessing starting proportions, completion rates, ability to perform exercises autonomously, assistance requests, communication with their physical therapist, and program satisfaction. Clinical outcomes included change between baseline and program end for pain (including response rate to a minimal clinically important difference of 30%), analgesic usage, mental health, work productivity, and non–work-related activity impairment. ResultsOf 16,229 patients, 12,082 started the program: 38.3% (n=4629) were young adults, 55.7% (n=6726) were middle-aged adults, and 6% (n=727) were older adults. Older patients were more likely to start the intervention and to complete the program compared to young adults (odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% CI 1.45-2.06; P<.001 and OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.97-2.92; P<.001, respectively) and middle-aged adults (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.45; P=.03 and OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.14-1.68; P=.001, respectively). Whereas older patients requested more technical assistance and exhibited a slower learning curve in exercise performance, their engagement was higher, as reflected by higher adherence to both exercise and education pieces. Older patients interacted more with the physical therapist (mean 12.6, SD 18.4 vs mean 10.7, SD 14.7 of young adults) and showed higher satisfaction scores (mean 8.7, SD 1.9). Significant improvements were observed in all clinical outcomes and were similar between groups, including pain response rates (young adults: 949/1516, 62.6%; middle-aged adults: 1848/2834, 65.2%; and older adults: 241/387, 62.3%; P=.17). ConclusionsOlder adults showed high adherence, engagement, and satisfaction with the DCP, which were greater than in their younger counterparts, together with significant clinical improvements in all studied outcomes. This suggests DCPs can successfully address and overcome some of the barriers surrounding the participation and adequacy of digital models in the older adult population

Novel Technique for C1–2 Interlaminar Arthrodesis Utilizing a Modified Sonntag Loop-Suture Graft With Posterior C1–2 Fixation

Objective Conventional techniques for atlantoaxial fixation and fusion typically pass cables or wires underneath C1 lamina to secure the bone graft between the posterior elements of C1–2, which leads to complications such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and neurological injury. With the evolution of fixation hardware, we propose a novel C1–2 fixation technique that avoids the morbidity and complications associated with sublaminar cables and wires. Methods This technique entails wedging and anchoring a structural iliac crest graft between C1 and C2 for interlaminar arthrodesis and securing it using a 0-Prolene suture at the time of C1 lateral mass and C2 pars interarticularis screw fixation. Results We identified 32 patients who underwent surgery for atlantoaxial with our technique. A 60% improvement in pain-related disability from preoperative baseline was demonstrated by Neck Disability Index (p<0.001). There were no neurologic deficits. Complications included 2 patients CSF leaks related to presenting trauma, 1 patient with surgical site infection, and 1 patient with transient dysphagia. The rate of radiographic atlantoaxial fusion was 96.8% at 6 months, with no evidence of instrumentation failure, graft dislodgement, or graft related complications. Conclusion We demonstrate a novel technique for C1–2 arthrodesis that is a safe and effective option for atlantoaxial fusion

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of a Remote Digital Musculoskeletal Program: An Ad Hoc Analysis from a Longitudinal Study with a Non-Participant Comparison Group

Digital solutions have emerged as an alternative to conventional physiotherapy, particularly for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) management; however, its long-term effects remain largely unexplored. This study focuses on patients reporting CMP, assessing 1-year clinical outcomes after a multimodal digital care program (DCP) versus non-participants, who enrolled in the program but never engaged in a single exercise session or partook of the educational content made available to them. In this longitudinal study ad-hoc analysis, pain and functionality outcomes at 1-year reassessment were studied, focusing on the odds of reaching minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and, overall average reduction in both outcomes. Healthcare utilization was additionally studied within the same period. From 867 individuals allocated to the study, 460 completed the 1-year reassessment (intervention group: 310; comparison group: 150). The intervention group presented sustained and greater pain reduction until 1-year reassessment than the comparison group, reflecting greater odds ratio of achieving the MCID both in pain and functionality (1.90 95% CI: 1.27–2.86, p = 0.002 and 2.02 95% CI: 1.31–3.12, p = 0.001, respectively). A lower healthcare utilization during the 1-year follow-up was observed in the intervention group than in the comparison group. This study suggests that a digital CMP program may have a lasting impact on improved pain and functionality in patients with CMP

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Outcomes of a 12-Week Digital Rehabilitation Program for Musculoskeletal Pain: Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study

BackgroundMusculoskeletal (MSK) pain disproportionately affects people from different ethnic backgrounds through higher burden and less access to care. Digital care programs (DCPs) can improve access and help reduce inequities. However, the outcomes of such programs based on race and ethnicity have yet to be studied. ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the impact of race and ethnicity on engagement and outcomes in a multimodal DCP for MSK pain. MethodsThis was an ad hoc analysis of an ongoing decentralized single-arm investigation into engagement and clinical-related outcomes after a multimodal DCP in patients with MSK conditions. Patients were stratified by self-reported racial and ethnic group, and their engagement and outcome changes between baseline and 12 weeks were compared using latent growth curve analysis. Outcomes included program engagement (number of sessions), self-reported pain scores, likelihood of surgery, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment. A minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of 30% was calculated for pain, and multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate race as an independent predictor of meeting the MCID. ResultsA total of 6949 patients completed the program: 65.5% (4554/6949) of them were non-Hispanic White, 10.8% (749/6949) were Black, 9.7% (673/6949) were Asian, 9.2% (636/6949) were Hispanic, and 4.8% (337/6949) were of other racial or ethnic backgrounds. The population studied was diverse and followed the proportions of the US population. All groups reported high engagement and satisfaction, with Hispanic and Black patients ranking first among satisfaction despite lower engagement. Black patients had a higher likelihood to drop out (odds ratio [OR] 1.19, 95% CI 1.01-1.40, P=.04) than non-Hispanic White patients. Hispanic and Black patients reported the highest level of pain, surgical intent, work productivity, and impairment in activities of daily living at baseline. All race groups showed a significant improvement in all outcomes, with Black and Hispanic patients reporting the greatest improvements in clinical outcomes. Hispanic patients also had the highest response rate for pain (75.8%) and a higher OR of meeting the pain MCID (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.24-2.45, P=.001), when compared with non-Hispanic White patients, independent of age, BMI, sex, therapy type, education level, and employment status. No differences in mental health outcomes were found between race and ethnic groups. ConclusionsThis study advocates for the utility of a DCP in improving access to MSK care and promoting health equity. Engagement and satisfaction rates were high in all the groups. Black and Hispanic patients had higher MSK burden at baseline and lower engagement but also reported higher improvements, with Hispanic patients presenting a higher likelihood of pain improvement

Effectiveness of biofeedback-assisted asynchronous telerehabilitation in musculoskeletal care: A systematic review

Background Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading cause of disability worldwide. Telerehabilitation may be a viable option in the management of these conditions, facilitating access and patient adherence. Nevertheless, the impact of biofeedback-assisted asynchronous telerehabilitation remains unknown. Objective To systematically review and assess the effectiveness of exercise-based asynchronous biofeedback-assisted telerehabilitation on pain and function in individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. Methods This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted using three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and PEDro. Study criteria included articles written in English and published from January 2017 to August 2022, reporting interventional trials evaluating exercise-based asynchronous telerehabilitation using biofeedback in adults with musculoskeletal disorders. The risks of bias and certainty of evidence were appraised using the Cochrane tool and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE), respectively. The results are narratively summarized, and the effect sizes of the main outcomes were calculated. Results Fourteen trials were included: 10 using motion tracker technology ( N  = 1284) and four with camera-based biofeedback ( N  = 467). Telerehabilitation with motion trackers yields at least similar improvements in pain and function in people with musculoskeletal conditions (effect sizes: 0.19–1.45; low certainty of evidence). Uncertain evidence exists for the effectiveness of camera-based telerehabilitation (effect sizes: 0.11–0.13; very low evidence). No study found superior results in a control group. Conclusions Asynchronous telerehabilitation may be an option in the management of musculoskeletal conditions. Considering its potential for scalability and access democratization, additional high-quality research is needed to address long-term outcomes, comparativeness, and cost-effectiveness and identify treatment responders