Pumford, Andrew

Study Design: Retrospective observational study of consecutive patients Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate VBQ as a predictor of interbody subsidence and to determine threshold values that portend increased risk of subsidence. Summary of Background Data: Many risk factors have been reported for the subsidence of interbody cages in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). MRI Vertebral Bone Quality (VQB) is a relatively new radiographic parameter that can be easily obtained from preoperative MRI and has been shown to correlate with measurements of bone density such as DXA and CT Hounsfield Units. Methods: All patients who underwent 1- to 3-level ACDF using titanium interbodies with anterior plating between the years 2018 and 2020 at our tertiary referral center were included. Subsidence measurements were performed by 2 independent reviewers on CT scans obtained 6 months postoperatively. VBQ was measured on pre-operative sagittal T1 MRI by 2 independent reviewers, and values were averaged. Results: Eight-five fusion levels in 44 patients were included in the study. There were 32 levels (38%) with moderate subsidence and 12 levels with severe subsidence (14%). The average VBQ score in those patients with severe subsidence was significantly higher than those without subsidence (3.80 vs. 2.40, P<0.01). A threshold value of 3.2 was determined to be optimal for predicting subsidence (AUC=0.99) and had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94.1% in predicting subsidence. Conclusions: VBQ strongly correlates with the subsidence of interbody grafts after ACDF. A threshold VBQ score value of 3.2 has excellent sensitivity and specificity for predicting subsidence. Spine surgeons can use VBQ as a readily available screening tool to identify patients at higher risk for subsidence. Level of Evidence: Level—IV

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis. Objective: To determine whether the C2 exposure technique was a predictor of change in cervical alignment and patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) after posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF) for degenerative indications. Background: In PCDF handling of the C2 posterior paraspinal musculature during the operative approach varies by surgeon technique. To date, no studies have investigated whether maintenance of the upper cervical semispinalis cervicis attachments as compared with complete reflection of upper cervical paraspinal musculature from the posterior bony elements is associated with superior radiographic and clinical outcomes after PCDF. Patients and Methods: All adult patients who underwent C2–T2 PCDF for myelopathy or myeloradiculopathy at multi-institutional academic centers between 2013 and 2020 were retrospectively identified. Patients were dichotomized by the C2 exposure technique into semispinalis preservation or midline muscular reflection groups. Preoperative and short and long-term postoperative radiographic outcomes (upper cervical alignment, global alignment, and fusion status) and PROMs (Visual Analog Scale–Neck, Neck Disability Index, and Short Form-12) were collected. Univariate analysis compared patient factors, radiographic measures, and PROMs across C2 exposure groups. Results: A total of 129 patients met the inclusion/exclusion criteria (73 muscle preservation and 56 muscle reflection). Patients in the muscular preservation group were on average younger (P = 0.005) and more likely to have bone morphogenic protein (P < 0.001) and C2 pars screws (P = 0.006) used during surgery. Preoperative to postoperative changes in C2 slope, C2 tilt, C2–C3 segmental lordosis, C2–C3 listhesis, C0–C2 Cobb angle, proximal junctional kyphosis, ADI, C1 lamina-occiput distance, C2 sagittal vertical axis, C2–C7 lordosis, and PROMs at all follow-up intervals did not vary significantly by C2 exposure technique. Likewise, there were no significant differences in fusion status, C2–C3 pseudoarthrosis, C2 screw loosening, and complication and revision rates between C2 exposure groups. Conclusions: Preservation of C2 semispinalis attachments versus muscular reflection did not significantly impact cervical alignment, clinical outcomes, or proximal junction complications in long-segment PCDF. Level of Evidence: Level III.

Abstract OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze the hemorrhagic risk of melanoma brain metastases following SRS. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted using a prospective institutional database between 1990 and 2021. Lesional hemorrhage was categorized as definite or possible, and hemorrhage severity was graded using CTCAE. RESULTS The study identified 291 patients with 1083 lesions. The mean age of patients was 60 ± 15 years, with 61% being male. Median follow-up was 11 months, corresponding to 581 patient-years. Among the patients, 82 (28%) experienced 135 lesional hemorrhages (13%). Of these, 88 lesions in 61 patients were grade 1-2 hemorrhages, 42 lesions in 25 patients were grade 3, and five lesions in five patients progressed from grade 1 to 3. Surgical intervention was required for 17 lesions (2%) in 16 patients (5%). Lesional hemorrhage was associated with radiosurgery performed between 2015 and 2021 (OR, 0.373; 95% CI, 0.231-0.60; p &lt; 0.001), increasing marginal dose (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.98; p = 0.017), antiplatelet use (OR, 0.192; 95% CI, 0.082-0.45; p &lt; 0.001), and WBRT (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.330-0.77; p = 0.0017). The cumulative lesional hemorrhage risk reached 17–20% at 36 months following radiosurgery, with 95-96% of hemorrhages occurring within the initial year. Median OS was 11 months (95% CI, 9-13 months). Patients who received radiosurgery between 2015 and 2021 exhibited a median OS of 17 months (95% CI, 10-24 months; p &lt; 0.001), while those without hemorrhage had a median OS of 12 months (95% CI, 10-14 months; p = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS Definitive hemorrhage risk was 17% for melanoma brain metastases after SRS within the first three years, with 95% of lesional hemorrhages occurring within the initial year. Surgical intervention was necessary in 5% of patients. Hemorrhage risk and overall survival improved after 2015.