Objective Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is well-established for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) from large vessel occlusion (LVO), with growing data supporting the expansion to distal and medium vessel occlusions (DMVO). Despite successful recanalization in DMVO, certain patients still experience poor long-term clinical outcomes, prompting our study to comprehensively explore pre-MT factors influencing outcome despite excellent recanalization (final modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [mTICI] score ≥2c). Methods We retrospectively examined data from patients who consecutively underwent MT for a primary middle cerebral artery (MCA) DMVO across 37 centers in North America, Asia, and Europe. We identified baseline clinical and imaging factors associated with poor clinical outcome (defined as a modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score of 3–6) at 3 months, despite excellent recanalization using a multivariable model. Results Between September 2017 and July 2021, 623 patients achieved mTICI > 2b and they were included in our study. Among them, 198 (32%) experienced a poor clinical outcome (mRS 3–6). Predictors of poor clinical outcome included higher age (OR 1.05 [1.03–1.07], p < 0.001), higher NIHSS at admission (OR 1.12 [1.08–1.15], p < 0.001), higher baseline mRS (OR 1.77 [0.96–3.26], p = 0.067), and diabetes (OR 1.59 [1.01–2.48], p = 0.044). Higher ASPECTS was associated with a decreased risk of poor clinical outcome (OR 0.82 [0.71–0.94], p = 0.006). Conclusion Older age, diabetes, higher baseline mRS, and NIHSS were associated with poor clinical outcome in MCA DMVO despite excellent recanalization. Conversely, a higher ASPECTS decreased the probability of such an outcome.
Concussion in soccer: a comprehensive review of the literature
Sports-related concussion has been examined extensively in collision sports such as football and hockey. However, historically, lower-risk contact sports such as soccer have only more recently garnered increased attention. Here, we review articles examining the epidemiology, injury mechanisms, sex differences, as well as the neurochemical, neurostructural and neurocognitive changes associated with soccer-related concussion. From 436 titles and abstracts, 121 full texts were reviewed with a total of 64 articles identified for inclusion. Concussion rates are higher during competitions and in female athletes with purposeful heading rarely resulting in concussion. Given a lack of high-level studies examining sports-related concussion in soccer, clinicians and scientists must focus research efforts on large-scale data gathering and development of improved technologies to better detect and understand concussion.