Sven Oliver Eicker

A Multimodal Concept in Patients after Severe Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Results of a Controlled Single Centre Prospective Randomized Multimodal Phase I/II Trial on Cerebral Vasospasm

OBJECTIVEnRecent publications suggest that a combination of head-shaking and cisternal irrigation might reduce symptomatic cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The present clinical prospective randomized phase I/II study was initiated in order to analyze the prophylactic effect of intracisternal lysis in combination with kinetic treatment followed by intrathecal nimodipine lavage.nnnMETHODSnTwenty patients with aneurysmal SAH, WFNS grade 2 to 5 (GCS 13-3) and Fisher grade 3 or 4 were included in this prospective randomized study which had been approved by the local Ethics Research Committee. Following insertion of a ventricular drain, securing of the aneurysm by a microsurgical or endovascular route and the insertion of two lumbar catheters, intracisternal lysis with urokinase 120 000 IU/d was performed for 48 h in the patients of the study group. Intrathecal pressure was monitored by the second lumbar catheter. After intracisternal lysis, intrathecal nimodipine lavage was applied for 7 d. For comatose patients kinetic head-rotation was also performed. Vasospasm was clinically identified with a focus on delayed neurological deficits (DINDs) by daily transcranial Doppler (TCD), computerized tomography (CT), perfusion CT (pCT) and cerebral angiography (DSA).nnnRESULTSnThere was no DIND in the study group among the patients who were awake, while two DINDs occurred in the control group. The pooled TCD flow velocities over an average period of 14 d revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups. Vasospasm-related infarction on CT was seen in two patients of the control group. Evident vasospasm on DSA appeared in three patients of the study group compared with 7 patients in the control group. Moreover there was a neurological improvement in the study population as measured by mRS at 3-month follow-up (P=0.266). In two consecutive patients randomized to the study group a paresis of the lower extremities of unknown origin occurred. As a result of these complications the study was stopped in accordance with the local Ethics Research Committee guidelines.nnnCONCLUSIONnA multimodal approach with translumbar lysis in combination with kinetic therapy followed by intrathecal nimodipine lavage proved to be effective against cerebral vasospasm and for clinical outcome. However, due to the observed complications with the occurrence of paraparesis in two patients of the study group the trial was stopped. Nevertheless, the promising preliminary results suggest a further development of the clinical protocol using a modified multimodal concept to prevent and treat cerebral vasospasm after severe SAH.

Surgery for adult spondylolisthesis: a systematic review of the evidence.

Surgery for isthmic and degenerative spondylolisthesis (SL) in adults is carried out very frequently in everyday practice. However, it is still unclear whether the results of surgery are better than those of conservative treatment and whether decompression alone or instrumented fusion with decompression should be recommended. In addition, the role of reduction is unclear. Four clinically relevant key questions were addressed in this study: (1) Is surgery more successful than conservative treatment in relation to pain and function in adult patients with isthmic SL? (2) Is surgery more successful than conservative treatment in relation to pain and function in adult patients with degenerative SL? (3) Is instrumented fusion with decompression more successful in relation to pain and function than decompression alone in adult patients with degenerative SL and spinal canal stenosis? (4) Is instrumented fusion with reduction more successful in relation to pain and function than instrumented fusion without reduction in adult patients with isthmic or degenerative SL? A systematic PubMed search was carried out to identify randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials on these topics. Papers were analyzed systematically in a search for the best evidence. A total of 18 studies was identified and analyzed: two for question 1, eight for question 2, four for question 3, and four for question 4. Surgery appears to be better than conservative treatment in adults with isthmic SL (poor evidence) and also in adults with degenerative SL (good evidence). Instrumented fusion with decompression appears to be more successful than decompression alone in adults with degenerative SL and spinal stenosis (poor evidence). Reduction and instrumented fusion does not appear to be more successful than instrumented fusion without reduction in adults with isthmic or degenerative SL (moderate evidence).

Secretory Meningiomas: Increased Prevalence of Seizures Secondary to Edema Formation in a Rare Histologic Subtype

OBJECTIVEnSecretory meningioma (SM) is a rare histologic subtype known to cause disproportional peritumoral brain edema. Although meningiomas are defined by slow growth and mostly manifest with benign clinical symptoms, SMs can cause life-threatening deterioration. The aim of this study was to characterize the potential pitfalls in treatment of SMs by illustrating their characteristic clinical features.nnnMETHODSnWe analyzed 69 patients with SM who underwent surgery at our institution and compared them with a matched nonsecretory meningioma cohort. Retrospective data were analyzed for frequency of seizures as the first presenting symptom, maximum corticosteroid use, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay. In addition, histologic and radiographic data were evaluated for the extent of peritumoral brain edema formation, tumor location, and tumor size and correlated to clinical presentation.nnnRESULTSnSeizures were observed at a significantly higher rate as the first presenting symptom leading to clinical admission in patients with SM (33.3%) compared with the matched nonsecretory meningioma cohort (13%, Pxa0= 0.008). In patients with SM, seizures were associated with increased edema formation, whereas seizures in patients with nonsecretory meningioma correlated with tumor size (Pxa0= 0.007). The clinically more complicated course in patients with SM was reflected by increased demand for corticosteroids and a prolonged intensive care unit stay (P < 0.001). SM further showed a higher recurrence rate of 35.9% compared with a cohort of 320 World Health Organization grade I meningiomas resected at our institution (P < 0.001).nnnCONCLUSIONSnOur results illustrate the complicated clinical course of this rare histologic meningioma subtype. The increased frequency of seizures may enable raised awareness of clinicians for potential complications and treatment adjustments perioperatively early at clinical admission.

Impact of the surgical strategy on the incidence of C5 nerve root palsy in decompressive cervical surgery

Objective Our aim was to identify the impact of different surgical strategies on the incidence of C5 palsy. Background Degenerative cervical spinal stenosis is a steadily increasing morbidity in the ageing population. Postoperative C5 nerve root palsy is a common complication with severe impact on the patients´ quality of life. Methods We identified 1708 consecutive patients who underwent cervical decompression surgery due to degenerative changes. The incidence of C5 palsy and surgical parameters including type and level of surgery were recorded to identify predictors for C5 nerve palsy. Results The overall C5 palsy rate was 4.8%, with 18.3% of cases being bilateral. For ACDF alone the palsy rate was low (1.13%), compared to 14.0% of C5 palsy rate after corpectomy. The risk increased with extension of the procedures. Hybrid constructs with corpectomy plus ACDF at C3-6 showed significantly lower rates of C5 palsy (10.7%) than corpectomy of two vertebrae (p = 0.005). Multiple regression analysis identified corpectomy of C4 or C5 as a significant predictor. We observed a lower overall incidence for ventral (4.3%) compared to dorsal (10.9%) approaches (p<0.001). When imaging detected a postoperative shift of the spinal cord at index segment C4/5, palsy rate increased significantly (33.3% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.034). Conclusions Extended surgical strategies, such as dorsal laminectomies, multilevel corpectomies and procedures with extensive spinal cord shift were shown to display a high risk of C5 palsy. The use of extended procedures should therefore be employed cautiously. Switching to combined surgical methods like ACDF plus corpectomy can reduce the rate of C5 palsy.

Open microsurgical tumor excavation and vertebroplasty for metastatic destruction of the second cervical vertebra-outcome in seven cases.

BACKGROUND CONTEXTnMetastatic osteolytic involvement of the second cervical vertebra (C2) is rare, but usually very painful. Percutaneous vertebroplasty has shown to be effective regarding pain control, but carries the risk of cement leakage.nnnPURPOSEnTo describe an alternative microsurgical procedure suitable for patients suffering from C2 osteolysis who are considered to be high risk with respect to cement leakage.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnA technical report.nnnPATIENT SAMPLEnIt included seven patients.nnnOUTCOME MEASURESnThey include the assessment of clinical safety regarding approach- and procedure-related morbidity and radiologic safety regarding extravertebral cement leakage and the assessment of clinical efficacy by monitoring the pain activity using the visual analog scale (VAS).nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnSeven patients (five men, two women; mean age 70 years) presented with an acute onset of excruciating neck pain (VAS>6) due to osteolytic destruction of the axis vertebra. There was no neurologic deficit and no compression of the spinal cord preoperatively requiring surgical decompression or stabilization in any of the cases. An open treatment strategy via an anterolateral microsurgical approach was performed. Under biplanar fluoroscopic control, the soft tumor tissue was resected out of the vertebral body through a drilled entry in the anterior wall. After the excavation procedure, the resection cavity was filled with minimal pressure with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement.nnnRESULTSnAll patients suffered from severe spontaneous neck pain (mean VAS 8.1, range 6-9), with head motion-dependent pain exacerbation despite high dose of opiates and fixation of the head with a brace.Mean duration of the operative procedure was 51 minutes. Histologic analysis revealed a diagnosis of cancer metastasis in all cases. On average, 1.9 mL cement was placed within the vertebral body, and no cement leakage was observed in postoperative computed tomography and X-ray controls. All patients experienced immediate pain relief at Day 1 after the procedure (mean VAS 4.0, range 2-6), and a further decrease of pain levels was observed at Week 6 after the completion of radiation therapy (mean VAS 2.0, range 0-5).nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn cases of metastatic C2 destruction, tumor excavation via an anterolateral approach and subsequent filling of the resection cavity with bone cement offers a safe and effective alternative to percutaneous approaches.

Treatment of large thoracic and lumbar paraspinal schwannoma

BackgroundParaspinal neurogenic tumors usually expand into the mediastinum and retroperitoneum and can reach a considerable size before they become symptomatic. Such large tumors are rare. We describe 14 cases of large schwannomas (>2.5xa0cm ø) with mild and late onset of symptoms, which were treated with total surgical resection through a single-approach surgery.MethodsIn 2013 14 patients with paraspinal large schwannomas were treated in our institutions. Data were analyzed retrospectively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed lesions suspicious for a paraspinal schwannoma with partial intraforaminal growth. In case of ambiguity regarding tumor dignity, a needle biopsy was performed before final treatment. Three different approaches and their indications were discussed.ResultsFourteen patients (7 female and 7 male, ages 18–58xa0years, mean: 39.8xa0years) requiring surgical exploration because of a thoracic (6) or lumbar/lumbosacral (8) lesion were treated in our institutions. Two patients received CT-guided needle biopsy preoperatively. Complete resection of the schwannoma was possible through a mini-thoracotomy in 1 case (7xa0%), a retroperitoneal approach in 2 cases (14xa0%), and dorsal interlaminar and intercostal fenestration in 11 cases (79xa0%). Histological examination revealed the diagnosis of schwannoma (WHO grade I) in all cases except one with neurofibroma (WHO grade I). There were no major complications in any case.ConclusionLarge benign schwannomas are rare. They need a tailored treatment, which in most cases works through one surgical approach. Usually it is possible to perform a complete resection with a good postoperative prognosis.

Cage deviation in the subaxial cervical spine in relation to implant position in the sagittal plane

Subsidence of interbody cages is a frequently observed and relevant complication in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Only a handful of studies concentrated on the modality of subsidence and its clinical impact. We performed a retrospective analysis of ACDF patients from 2004 to 2010. Numeric analog scale (NAS) score pre-op and post-op, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) on x-rays, endplate (EP) and cage dimensions, implant position, lordotic/kyphotic subsidence patterns (>5°), and cervical alignment were recorded. Subsidence was defined as height loss >40%. Patients were grouped into single segment (SS), double segment (DS), and plated procedures. We included 214 patients. Prevalence of subsidence was 44.9% overall, 40.9% for SS, and 54.8% for DS. Subsidence presented mostly for dorsal (40.7%) and mid-endplate position (46.3%, pxa0<xa00.01); dorsal placement resulted in kyphotic (73.7%) and central placement in balanced implant migration (53.3%, pxa0<xa00.01). Larger cages (>65% EP) showed less subsidence (64.6 vs. 35.4%, pxa0<xa00.01). There was no impact of subsidence on ODI or alignment. NAS was better for subsided implants in SS (pxa0=xa00.06). Cages should be placed at the anterior endplate rim in order to reduce the risk of subsidence. Spacers should be adequately sized for the respective segment measuring at least 65% of the segment dimensions. The cage frame should not rest on the vulnerable central endplate. For multilevel surgery, ventral plating may be beneficial regarding construct stability. The reduction of micro-instability or over-distraction may explain lower NAS for subsided implants.

Spinal ependymoma in adults: a multicenter investigation of surgical outcome and progression-free survival

OBJECTIVE Spinal ependymomas are rare glial neoplasms. Because their incidence is low, only a few larger studies have investigated this condition. There are no clear data concerning prognosis and therapy. The aim of the study was to describe the natural history, perioperative clinical course, and local tumor control of adult patients with spinal ependymomas who were surgically treated under modern treatment standards. METHODS The authors performed a multicenter retrospective study. They identified 158 adult patients with spinal ependymomas who had received surgical treatment between January 2006 and June 2013. The authors analyzed the clinical and histological aspects of these cases to identify the predictive factors for postoperative morbidity, tumor resectability, and recurrence. RESULTS Gross-total resection (GTR) was achieved in 80% of cases. At discharge, 37% of the patients showed a neurological decline. During follow-up the majority recovered, whereas 76% showed at least preoperative status. Permanent functional deterioration remained in 2% of the patients. Transient deficits were more frequent in patients with cervically located ependymomas (p = 0.004) and in older patients (p = 0.002). Permanent deficits were independently predicted only by older age (p = 0.026). Tumor progression was observed in 15 cases. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 80%, and GTR (p = 0.037), WHO grade II (p = 0.009), and low Ki-67 index (p = 0.005) were independent prognostic factors for PFS. Adjuvant radiation therapy was performed in 15 cases. No statistically relevant effects of radiation therapy were observed among patients with incompletely resected ependymomas (p = 0.079). CONCLUSIONS Due to its beneficial value for PFS, GTR is important in the treatment of spinal ependymoma. Gross-total resection is feasible in the majority of cases, with acceptable rates of permanent deficits. Also, Ki-67 appears to be an important prognostic factor and should be included in a grading scheme for spinal ependymomas.

Impact of spinal cord compression from intradural and epidural spinal tumors on perioperative symptoms—implications for surgical decision making

Spinal cord or cauda equina compression (SCC) is an increasing challenge in clinical oncology due to a higher prevalence of long-term cancer survivors. Our aim was to determine the clinical relevance of SCC regarding patient outcome depending on different tumor entities and their anatomical localization (extradural/intradural/intramedullary). We retrospectively analyzed 230 patients surgically treated for SCC. Preoperative status for pain and neurological impairment were correlated to the degree of compression, tumor location, and early as well as short-term follow-up outcome parameters. Interestingly, we did not observe any differences between intradural-extramedullary compared to extradural tumors. Unilaterally localized tumors were likely to present with pain (72.9xa0%, pxa0<xa00.01), whereas concentric growth was associated with motor deficits (41.0xa0%, pxa0<xa00.01, as primary symptom, 49.3xa0% on admission, pxa0<xa00.05). In concentric tumors, the pain pattern was diffuse (40.5xa0% vs. 17.5 in unilateral disease, pxa0<xa00.01), whereas unilateral tumors resulted in localized pain (61.4xa0% local axial or radicular, pxa0<xa00.01). Diffuse pain, patients without a sensory or motor deficit, progressive disease, cervical localization, and a higher degree of stenosis were identified as beneficial for an early improvement in pain (pxa0<xa00.05). Notably, 29xa0% of patients with unchanged pain and 30.8xa0% with unchanged neurologic function at day 7 postoperative improved during follow-up (pxa0<xa00.001). Our data demonstrate that the preoperative tumor anatomy in patients with SCC was closely related to their presenting symptoms and early clinical outcome. The detailed analysis elucidates the biology of SCC and might thereby aid in determining which patients will benefit from surgery.

A Transtubular Microsurgical Approach to Treat Lateral Cervical Disc Herniation

OBJECTIVEnDifferent surgical options are available to treat radicular pain syndromes of the cervical spine. Use of the posterior approach for foraminotomy and sequestrectomy (Frykholm) fusion can be avoided, but neck pain affects the postoperative course. This retrospective study compares the classical Frykholm approach and the transtubular microsurgical approach for foraminotomy.nnnMETHODSnFrom 2004 to 2012, 40 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were enrolled into this retrospective study. The classical Frykholm approach was performed on 25 affected levels. The transtubular microsurgical approach was used on 19 affected levels. Endpoints were neck pain, radicular pain, surgery time, duration of hospital stay, and long-term outcomes.nnnRESULTSnFor the transtubular microsurgical approach and the classical Frykholm approach, the mean surgery time was 77.65 ± 23 minutes and 104 ± 27.59 minutes (Pxa0= 0.003), respectively. Radicular pain improved in all patients regardless of the technical approach. Significant differences were observed in neck pain on the first postoperative day (Pxa0= 0.003) and at discharge (Pxa0= 0.006), resulting in a shorter hospital stay of 4.82 days ± 2.1 for the transtubular microsurgical approach in comparison with 7.43 days ± 3.2 for the Frykholm approach (Pxa0= 0.005). According to the criteria of Odom, the rate of an excellent or good outcome was 97.5% (67.5% excellent and 30% good), without any differences between the compared approaches.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe transtubular microsurgical approach shows advantages regarding postoperative neck pain, surgery time, and hospital stay with a trend towards an earlier return to work.