Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-06-05DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003416
Isabelle M Germano, Sheryl Green, Eric J Lehrer, Mateo Ziu, Jeffrey J Olson
Background: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an established modality for treatment of adult patients with vestibular schwannomas (VS). The aim of this work was to provide an updated literature review on this topic.
Objective: To review the literature published since the last guideline on this topic.
Methods: OVID MEDLINE and Embase were searched for the period January 1, 2015, to May 20, 2022, using search terms and search strategies to identify pertinent abstracts. These were then screened using published exclusion/inclusion criteria to identify full-text review articles. Evidence tables were constructed using data derived from full-text reviews and recommendations made from the evidence derived.
Results: From the total 1035 abstracts identified, 26 full-text articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in this update. Four new level III recommendations stemmed from this work. In adult patients with sporadic intracanalicular or <2 cm VS, SRS should not be recommended as superior to observation alone for hearing preservation. In adult patients with sporadic VS treated with SRS, cochlear dose constraint should be considered because it provides better hearing preservation than no constraint. In the same population, single fraction SRS should be recommended rather than hypofractionated SRS (>1 and ≤5 fractions) because it results in decreased cranial nerve dysfunction. Finally, adult patients with sporadic VS undergoing SRS should be informed that SRS does not result in an increased number of secondary malignancies compared with the rate expected in the overall population.
Conclusion: Recent published literature provides new recommendations for the treatment of adult patients with VS with SRS. The full guideline can be seen online athttps://www.cns.org/guidelines/treatment-adults-vestibular-schwannoma/6-role-of-radiosurgery-srs-radiation-therapy-in-ma.
{"title":"Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Role of Radiosurgery (Stereotactic Radiosurgery) and Radiation Therapy in the Management of Patients With Vestibular Schwannomas: Updates.","authors":"Isabelle M Germano, Sheryl Green, Eric J Lehrer, Mateo Ziu, Jeffrey J Olson","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003416","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an established modality for treatment of adult patients with vestibular schwannomas (VS). The aim of this work was to provide an updated literature review on this topic.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To review the literature published since the last guideline on this topic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>OVID MEDLINE and Embase were searched for the period January 1, 2015, to May 20, 2022, using search terms and search strategies to identify pertinent abstracts. These were then screened using published exclusion/inclusion criteria to identify full-text review articles. Evidence tables were constructed using data derived from full-text reviews and recommendations made from the evidence derived.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From the total 1035 abstracts identified, 26 full-text articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in this update. Four new level III recommendations stemmed from this work. In adult patients with sporadic intracanalicular or <2 cm VS, SRS should not be recommended as superior to observation alone for hearing preservation. In adult patients with sporadic VS treated with SRS, cochlear dose constraint should be considered because it provides better hearing preservation than no constraint. In the same population, single fraction SRS should be recommended rather than hypofractionated SRS (>1 and ≤5 fractions) because it results in decreased cranial nerve dysfunction. Finally, adult patients with sporadic VS undergoing SRS should be informed that SRS does not result in an increased number of secondary malignancies compared with the rate expected in the overall population.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Recent published literature provides new recommendations for the treatment of adult patients with VS with SRS. The full guideline can be seen online athttps://www.cns.org/guidelines/treatment-adults-vestibular-schwannoma/6-role-of-radiosurgery-srs-radiation-therapy-in-ma.</p>","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":" ","pages":"293-297"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-07-18DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003644
Emily Xu, Ritesh Karsalia, John Arena, Aidan Gor, Rainer D Malhotra, Jason Kost, Scott D McClintock, Jang Yoon, Ali Ozturk, Brendan Judy, Paul J Marcotte, James Schuster, Neil R Malhotra
Background and objectives: Major depressive disorder affects approximately 10% of all adults in the United States, but the condition remains underdiagnosed for patients with degenerative spine disease and radicular pain. The impact of comorbid undiagnosed depression on postoperative outcomes after lumbar fusion is not well characterized and may contribute to excessive health care utilization. This study isolates the relationship between undiagnosed depression, assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ-2) screening tool, and short-term postoperative outcomes after single-level posterior lumbar fusion.
Methods: PHQ-2 data were prospectively collected, and retrospectively reviewed, among consecutive patients (n = 3225) undergoing single-level posterior-only lumbar spinal fusion surgery over 10 years at a multihospital academic medical center. Coarsened exact matching analysis was performed to match patients on factors known to affect outcome, isolating the impact of PHQ-2 scores. Matched characteristics included sex, race, body mass index, smoking status, median household income, and medical comorbidities determined by the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Primary outcomes were emergency department visits, readmission, and discharge disposition after surgery. Secondary outcomes included reoperation, intraoperative complications, and length of postoperative stay.
Results: Amongst all patients undergoing surgery, 306 (9.5%) patients showed risk for depression (PHQ-2 scores of 3-6). High-risk patients had significantly more 90-day postoperative emergency department visits ( P = .0348, odds ratio = 1.93 [1.04, 3.61]) when compared with otherwise matched patients with no risk factors for depression (PHQ-2 score 0). There were no differences in intraoperative complications, length of stay, discharge disposition, readmissions, or reoperations.
Conclusion: Elevated preoperative PHQ-2 depression screening scores are associated with increased postoperative resource utilization after lumbar spinal fusion. The PHQ-2, as a predictor of undiagnosed depression, may identify high-risk populations before surgery. Prospective studies to assess mitigation strategies to improve outcomes, and reduce resource utilization, are warranted.
{"title":"Positive Preprocedure Depression Screening Is Associated With Worse Outcomes After Single-Level Posterior-Only Lumbar Fusion: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.","authors":"Emily Xu, Ritesh Karsalia, John Arena, Aidan Gor, Rainer D Malhotra, Jason Kost, Scott D McClintock, Jang Yoon, Ali Ozturk, Brendan Judy, Paul J Marcotte, James Schuster, Neil R Malhotra","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003644","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003644","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Major depressive disorder affects approximately 10% of all adults in the United States, but the condition remains underdiagnosed for patients with degenerative spine disease and radicular pain. The impact of comorbid undiagnosed depression on postoperative outcomes after lumbar fusion is not well characterized and may contribute to excessive health care utilization. This study isolates the relationship between undiagnosed depression, assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ-2) screening tool, and short-term postoperative outcomes after single-level posterior lumbar fusion.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PHQ-2 data were prospectively collected, and retrospectively reviewed, among consecutive patients (n = 3225) undergoing single-level posterior-only lumbar spinal fusion surgery over 10 years at a multihospital academic medical center. Coarsened exact matching analysis was performed to match patients on factors known to affect outcome, isolating the impact of PHQ-2 scores. Matched characteristics included sex, race, body mass index, smoking status, median household income, and medical comorbidities determined by the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Primary outcomes were emergency department visits, readmission, and discharge disposition after surgery. Secondary outcomes included reoperation, intraoperative complications, and length of postoperative stay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Amongst all patients undergoing surgery, 306 (9.5%) patients showed risk for depression (PHQ-2 scores of 3-6). High-risk patients had significantly more 90-day postoperative emergency department visits ( P = .0348, odds ratio = 1.93 [1.04, 3.61]) when compared with otherwise matched patients with no risk factors for depression (PHQ-2 score 0). There were no differences in intraoperative complications, length of stay, discharge disposition, readmissions, or reoperations.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Elevated preoperative PHQ-2 depression screening scores are associated with increased postoperative resource utilization after lumbar spinal fusion. The PHQ-2, as a predictor of undiagnosed depression, may identify high-risk populations before surgery. Prospective studies to assess mitigation strategies to improve outcomes, and reduce resource utilization, are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":" ","pages":"442-449"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144993169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-06-05DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003551
Ghazal S Daher, John P Marinelli, Jamie J Van Gompel, Neil S Patel, Jeffrey J Olson, Matthew L Carlson
Background: Given the increasing prevalence and shifting disease demographic of vestibular schwannoma toward smaller tumors in people with less advanced symptoms, increasing emphasis has been placed on functional hearing preservation.
Objective: To provide an update to the 2018 CNS Guideline on hearing preservation outcomes in patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma.
Methods: Systematic review and clinical practice guideline summarizing data pertaining to hearing preservation outcomes within the first 10 years after contemporary stereotactic radiation, microsurgery, or observation with serial imaging. The analysis incorporates studies included in the 2018 guideline and additional literature published up to May 20, 2022, providing a comprehensive up-to-date review of published clinical outcome data over time.
Results: Pooled estimated rates of serviceable hearing preservation are presented for observation, radiosurgery, and microsurgery for adults with sporadic vestibular schwannoma who have documented serviceable hearing in the ipsilateral ear at the time of diagnosis. Overall estimated rates of maintaining serviceable hearing are 78% at 2 years, 59% at 5 years, and 47% at 10 years during observation; 71% at 2 years, 59% at 5 years, and 38% at 10 years after radiosurgery; and 48% at 2 years, 40% at 5 years, and 32% at 10 years after microsurgery. In addition, features portending hearing outcome among management modalities are reported to guide accurate patient counseling.
Conclusion: Regardless of treatment modality, fewer than half of patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma who present with serviceable hearing will maintain useful hearing by 10 years. Across all studies, microsurgery and radiosurgery seem to accelerate this decline over the natural history, although further research is needed given limitations of available evidence. The full guideline can be seen online athttps://www.cns.org/guidelines/treatment-adults-vestibular-schwannoma/4-hearing-preservation-outcomes-in-patients-with-s.
{"title":"Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on Hearing Preservation Outcomes in Patients With Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma: Update.","authors":"Ghazal S Daher, John P Marinelli, Jamie J Van Gompel, Neil S Patel, Jeffrey J Olson, Matthew L Carlson","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003551","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003551","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Given the increasing prevalence and shifting disease demographic of vestibular schwannoma toward smaller tumors in people with less advanced symptoms, increasing emphasis has been placed on functional hearing preservation.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To provide an update to the 2018 CNS Guideline on hearing preservation outcomes in patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Systematic review and clinical practice guideline summarizing data pertaining to hearing preservation outcomes within the first 10 years after contemporary stereotactic radiation, microsurgery, or observation with serial imaging. The analysis incorporates studies included in the 2018 guideline and additional literature published up to May 20, 2022, providing a comprehensive up-to-date review of published clinical outcome data over time.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pooled estimated rates of serviceable hearing preservation are presented for observation, radiosurgery, and microsurgery for adults with sporadic vestibular schwannoma who have documented serviceable hearing in the ipsilateral ear at the time of diagnosis. Overall estimated rates of maintaining serviceable hearing are 78% at 2 years, 59% at 5 years, and 47% at 10 years during observation; 71% at 2 years, 59% at 5 years, and 38% at 10 years after radiosurgery; and 48% at 2 years, 40% at 5 years, and 32% at 10 years after microsurgery. In addition, features portending hearing outcome among management modalities are reported to guide accurate patient counseling.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Regardless of treatment modality, fewer than half of patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma who present with serviceable hearing will maintain useful hearing by 10 years. Across all studies, microsurgery and radiosurgery seem to accelerate this decline over the natural history, although further research is needed given limitations of available evidence. The full guideline can be seen online athttps://www.cns.org/guidelines/treatment-adults-vestibular-schwannoma/4-hearing-preservation-outcomes-in-patients-with-s.</p>","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":" ","pages":"298-302"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003641
Andréanne Hamel, Jean-Nicolas Tourigny, Christian Iorio-Morin, Selcuk Peker, Yavuz Samanci, Nuria Martínez Moreno, Roberto Martínez Álvarez, Sabrina L Begley, Michael Schulder, Ajay Niranjan, L Dade Lunsford, Zhishuo Wei, Priyanka N Srinivasan, Gregory N Bowden, David Mathieu
Background and objectives: Papillary tumors of the pineal region (PTPR) are rare neuroepithelial tumors that are at high risk of local recurrence even after gross total resection. Their optimal management, including the potential role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), remains a matter of debate. Only a few retrospective outcome studies have been reported. This study was designed to provide multi-institutional data to strengthen the evidence related to the use of SRS for PTPR.
Methods: Centers participating in the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation were asked to provide data for patients who had SRS and at least 6 months of follow-up for a histology-confirmed PTPR.
Results: In total, 19 patients (12 male and 7 female) underwent SRS for PTPR in 6 institutions: 7 patients had primary SRS after biopsy, 9 had adjuvant SRS, and 3 had SRS for recurrent tumor. The median margin dose used was 16 Gy, and median treatment volume was 1.73 cc. Initial local control was achieved in all patients after SRS, with a median progression-free survival of 5 years. A total of 6 patients had local recurrence, managed by repeat SRS in 4 patients, surgical resection in 1, and both interventions in the other. The cumulative actuarial local control at 20 years, considering additional SRS procedures as needed, was 69%. One patient had ventricular and leptomeningeal dissemination which led to death. The mean survival duration was 15.8 years, with an estimated survival rate of 83% at 10 years and 69% after 20 years. Adverse radiation effects were observed in 5 cases, 4 of which were symptomatic, but eventually resolved in all patients.
Conclusion: SRS for PTPR is safe and enables local tumor control in most cases. SRS can be considered as primary management after diagnosis of PTPR.
{"title":"Long-Term Outcomes of Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Papillary Tumors of the Pineal Region: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.","authors":"Andréanne Hamel, Jean-Nicolas Tourigny, Christian Iorio-Morin, Selcuk Peker, Yavuz Samanci, Nuria Martínez Moreno, Roberto Martínez Álvarez, Sabrina L Begley, Michael Schulder, Ajay Niranjan, L Dade Lunsford, Zhishuo Wei, Priyanka N Srinivasan, Gregory N Bowden, David Mathieu","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003641","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003641","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Papillary tumors of the pineal region (PTPR) are rare neuroepithelial tumors that are at high risk of local recurrence even after gross total resection. Their optimal management, including the potential role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), remains a matter of debate. Only a few retrospective outcome studies have been reported. This study was designed to provide multi-institutional data to strengthen the evidence related to the use of SRS for PTPR.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Centers participating in the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation were asked to provide data for patients who had SRS and at least 6 months of follow-up for a histology-confirmed PTPR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 19 patients (12 male and 7 female) underwent SRS for PTPR in 6 institutions: 7 patients had primary SRS after biopsy, 9 had adjuvant SRS, and 3 had SRS for recurrent tumor. The median margin dose used was 16 Gy, and median treatment volume was 1.73 cc. Initial local control was achieved in all patients after SRS, with a median progression-free survival of 5 years. A total of 6 patients had local recurrence, managed by repeat SRS in 4 patients, surgical resection in 1, and both interventions in the other. The cumulative actuarial local control at 20 years, considering additional SRS procedures as needed, was 69%. One patient had ventricular and leptomeningeal dissemination which led to death. The mean survival duration was 15.8 years, with an estimated survival rate of 83% at 10 years and 69% after 20 years. Adverse radiation effects were observed in 5 cases, 4 of which were symptomatic, but eventually resolved in all patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>SRS for PTPR is safe and enables local tumor control in most cases. SRS can be considered as primary management after diagnosis of PTPR.</p>","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":" ","pages":"423-431"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144699131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-07-07DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003617
Andrew Kobets, Joseph Fullerton, Robert M Lober, Christopher Gordon, Helio Rubens Machado, Seon-Kyu Lee, Alan Cohen, Marion L Walker
Background and importance: Craniopagus deformity is a rare congenital anomaly occurring in 1 of 1 700 000 live births and represents 2%-6% of all conjoined twins. Staged surgical separation, with a focus on disconnecting shared venous anatomy, has become the mainstay of treatment for most patients in the modern era. The aim of this report was to classify the shared venous anatomy of these twins and determine implications on surgical separation.
Clinical presentation: Cases from Dr James Goodrich's library were classified and rendered according to their venous anatomy into virtual models. Data from 16 sets of twins were studied. Two were O'Connell type I, 4 were type II, and 10 were type III twins. Two patterns of venous anatomical communication and sharing emerged with twins showing a more acute angle of rotation demonstrated a common circumferential sinus pattern, and twins with a greater rotational angle (type II) demonstrated a helical sinus orientation of their sagittal sinuses.
Conclusion: This is the largest anatomical study of craniopagus twins, focused on shared venous anatomy. A better understanding of the anatomical patterns of these patients may result in safer surgical disconnection in the future. We observed that as axial rotation approaches 90°, the organization around a circumferential sinus slowly transitions into a continuous helical sinus, connecting the anterior superior sagittal sinus of each twin. In the future, as our understanding of the vascular anatomy matures, a vessel-specific plan for separation within these two patterns, taking into account blood flow and perfusion, will be possible before ever stepping foot into the operating room.
{"title":"Characterizing the Venous Anatomy of Craniopagus Twins.","authors":"Andrew Kobets, Joseph Fullerton, Robert M Lober, Christopher Gordon, Helio Rubens Machado, Seon-Kyu Lee, Alan Cohen, Marion L Walker","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003617","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003617","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and importance: </strong>Craniopagus deformity is a rare congenital anomaly occurring in 1 of 1 700 000 live births and represents 2%-6% of all conjoined twins. Staged surgical separation, with a focus on disconnecting shared venous anatomy, has become the mainstay of treatment for most patients in the modern era. The aim of this report was to classify the shared venous anatomy of these twins and determine implications on surgical separation.</p><p><strong>Clinical presentation: </strong>Cases from Dr James Goodrich's library were classified and rendered according to their venous anatomy into virtual models. Data from 16 sets of twins were studied. Two were O'Connell type I, 4 were type II, and 10 were type III twins. Two patterns of venous anatomical communication and sharing emerged with twins showing a more acute angle of rotation demonstrated a common circumferential sinus pattern, and twins with a greater rotational angle (type II) demonstrated a helical sinus orientation of their sagittal sinuses.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This is the largest anatomical study of craniopagus twins, focused on shared venous anatomy. A better understanding of the anatomical patterns of these patients may result in safer surgical disconnection in the future. We observed that as axial rotation approaches 90°, the organization around a circumferential sinus slowly transitions into a continuous helical sinus, connecting the anterior superior sagittal sinus of each twin. In the future, as our understanding of the vascular anatomy matures, a vessel-specific plan for separation within these two patterns, taking into account blood flow and perfusion, will be possible before ever stepping foot into the operating room.</p>","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":" ","pages":"474-478"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144575941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003865
Caleigh S Roach, Jacob J Shawwa, Connor S Nee, Victor M Lu
{"title":"Letter: Augmenting Large Language Models With Automated, Bibliometrics-Powered Literature Search for Knowledge Distillation: A Pilot Study for Common Spinal Pathologies.","authors":"Caleigh S Roach, Jacob J Shawwa, Connor S Nee, Victor M Lu","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003865","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003865","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":" ","pages":"e27-e28"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145669325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-07-10DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003596
Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Anita M Klukowska, Victor E Staartjes, Elias Atallah, Darius Babaei, Mohamad Bydon, Paul Gerdhem, Erik Edström, Adrian Elmi-Terander
Background and objectives: Healthcare policies have seen significant reforms, with a marked transition toward a patient-centered approach. This shift emphasizes the use of subjective patient-reported outcome measures as key metrics. However, these measures often face limitations, particularly in identifying clinically meaningful changes over time. To address this challenge, the concept of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was introduced. This study aims to evaluate the predictive effectiveness of relative change and its associated threshold, the minimal clinically important relative change (MCIRC), as a potential alternative to absolute differences and the MCID.
Methods: Data prospectively collected between 2006 and 2021 from the Swedish Spine Registry (Swespine) were analyzed. Patient-reported outcome measures included the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for neck and arm pain, the EQ5D index, EQ VAS, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Anchor-based methods were used to calculate the MCID and MCIRC. The predictive performance of absolute differences and relative changes was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.
Results: 1756 patients were included. The selected MCID values were -3 for NRS neck pain intensity, -2 for arm pain intensity, 0.09 for the EQ5D index, 7 for EQ VAS, and -12 for NDI scores. For MCIRC, the chosen values were -47% for NRS neck pain intensity, -40% for arm pain intensity, 386% for the EQ5D index, 52% for EQ VAS, and -32% for NDI scores. On area under the ROC curve, relative change was superior for NRS neck and arm pain scores and NDI, while absolute difference was superior for EQ5D and EQ VAS scores.
Conclusion: Relative change, along with its associated minimal clinically important value (MCIRC), proved to be a more suitable indicator of subjective satisfaction for NRS and NDI scores. By contrast, absolute differences and the MCID were better suited for evaluating the EQ5D index and EQ VAS scores.
{"title":"Minimal Clinically Important Difference and Relative Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes After Surgery for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Nationwide Study of 1,700 Patients.","authors":"Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Anita M Klukowska, Victor E Staartjes, Elias Atallah, Darius Babaei, Mohamad Bydon, Paul Gerdhem, Erik Edström, Adrian Elmi-Terander","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003596","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003596","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Healthcare policies have seen significant reforms, with a marked transition toward a patient-centered approach. This shift emphasizes the use of subjective patient-reported outcome measures as key metrics. However, these measures often face limitations, particularly in identifying clinically meaningful changes over time. To address this challenge, the concept of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was introduced. This study aims to evaluate the predictive effectiveness of relative change and its associated threshold, the minimal clinically important relative change (MCIRC), as a potential alternative to absolute differences and the MCID.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data prospectively collected between 2006 and 2021 from the Swedish Spine Registry (Swespine) were analyzed. Patient-reported outcome measures included the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for neck and arm pain, the EQ5D index, EQ VAS, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Anchor-based methods were used to calculate the MCID and MCIRC. The predictive performance of absolute differences and relative changes was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>1756 patients were included. The selected MCID values were -3 for NRS neck pain intensity, -2 for arm pain intensity, 0.09 for the EQ5D index, 7 for EQ VAS, and -12 for NDI scores. For MCIRC, the chosen values were -47% for NRS neck pain intensity, -40% for arm pain intensity, 386% for the EQ5D index, 52% for EQ VAS, and -32% for NDI scores. On area under the ROC curve, relative change was superior for NRS neck and arm pain scores and NDI, while absolute difference was superior for EQ5D and EQ VAS scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Relative change, along with its associated minimal clinically important value (MCIRC), proved to be a more suitable indicator of subjective satisfaction for NRS and NDI scores. By contrast, absolute differences and the MCID were better suited for evaluating the EQ5D index and EQ VAS scores.</p>","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":" ","pages":"358-364"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144601105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003604
Xin Su, Yongjie Ma, Zihao Song, Huiwei Liu, Chao Zhang, Huishen Pang, Yiguang Chen, Mingyue Huang, Jiaxing Yu, Liyong Sun, Guilin Li, Tao Hong, Ming Ye, Peng Hu, Peng Zhang, Hongqi Zhang
Background and objectives: The prevalence of pial arterial supply (PAS) to intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) and its implications for the management of these fistulas have been limited to relatively small cohort studies and remain somewhat controversial. We conducted a retrospective study to characterize PAS in DAVFs and explore its implications for treatment.
Methods: Consecutive patients evaluated over a 21-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Angiograms were examined to characterize the angioarchitecture of DAVFs and identify the presence of PAS. PAS was classified into 2 types: dilated preexisting dural branches and pure pial supply. Baseline characteristics, treatment approaches, and treatment and follow-up outcomes were compared between the DAVF cohorts with and without PAS. To minimize patient selection bias, the 2 cohorts were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching.
Results: In this cohort, 259 out of 1101 patients (23.5%) exhibited an additional PAS. Multivariate analysis identified 7 independent predictors of PAS: younger age ( P < .001), longer disease duration ( P = .021), multiple DAVFs ( P < .001), tentorial DAVFs ( P < .001), transverse-sigmoid sinus DAVFs ( P < .001), and the presence of venous ectasia ( P = .019) and congestion ( P < .001). Complication rates were higher in the PAS group, particularly for postoperative hemorrhage ( P < .001) and ischemia-related complications ( P < .001), which remained significant even after propensity score matching ( P = .013 and P = .001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that embolization of PAS before DAVF closure may significantly increase the risk of both intracranial hemorrhagic and ischemic complications. Therefore, routine embolization of PAS before DAVF closure is not supported by these results, particularly given the exceptionally low incidence of presumed hemorrhagic complications arising from an unobliterated "pure" pial supply before DAVF obliteration.
{"title":"Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas With and Without Pial Artery Supply: Analysis of Treatment Outcomes.","authors":"Xin Su, Yongjie Ma, Zihao Song, Huiwei Liu, Chao Zhang, Huishen Pang, Yiguang Chen, Mingyue Huang, Jiaxing Yu, Liyong Sun, Guilin Li, Tao Hong, Ming Ye, Peng Hu, Peng Zhang, Hongqi Zhang","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003604","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003604","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>The prevalence of pial arterial supply (PAS) to intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) and its implications for the management of these fistulas have been limited to relatively small cohort studies and remain somewhat controversial. We conducted a retrospective study to characterize PAS in DAVFs and explore its implications for treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Consecutive patients evaluated over a 21-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Angiograms were examined to characterize the angioarchitecture of DAVFs and identify the presence of PAS. PAS was classified into 2 types: dilated preexisting dural branches and pure pial supply. Baseline characteristics, treatment approaches, and treatment and follow-up outcomes were compared between the DAVF cohorts with and without PAS. To minimize patient selection bias, the 2 cohorts were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this cohort, 259 out of 1101 patients (23.5%) exhibited an additional PAS. Multivariate analysis identified 7 independent predictors of PAS: younger age ( P < .001), longer disease duration ( P = .021), multiple DAVFs ( P < .001), tentorial DAVFs ( P < .001), transverse-sigmoid sinus DAVFs ( P < .001), and the presence of venous ectasia ( P = .019) and congestion ( P < .001). Complication rates were higher in the PAS group, particularly for postoperative hemorrhage ( P < .001) and ischemia-related complications ( P < .001), which remained significant even after propensity score matching ( P = .013 and P = .001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that embolization of PAS before DAVF closure may significantly increase the risk of both intracranial hemorrhagic and ischemic complications. Therefore, routine embolization of PAS before DAVF closure is not supported by these results, particularly given the exceptionally low incidence of presumed hemorrhagic complications arising from an unobliterated \"pure\" pial supply before DAVF obliteration.</p>","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":" ","pages":"450-463"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144541599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003775
Shawn R Eagle, David O Okonkwo
{"title":"A New Path Forward: Examining Traumatic Brain Injury Randomized Trials With Clinical, Biomarkers, Imaging and Modifiers.","authors":"Shawn R Eagle, David O Okonkwo","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003775","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003775","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":"98 2","pages":"270-271"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145990096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-07-28DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003660
George W Koutsouras, Patricia Rehring, David F Bauer
In 2019, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons published clinical practice guidelines for the management of myelomeningocele (MMC), which were informed by Level I evidence from the Management of Myelomeningocele Study trial and aimed to optimize clinical outcomes, particularly regarding prenatal vs postnatal repair. This study evaluates the perceived impact of these guidelines on the pediatric neurosurgical community. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 700 members of the pediatric neurosurgery community, with 98 responses analyzed. The survey addressed practice patterns, familiarity with the guidelines, and barriers to guideline adherence. Among centers with higher volumes of MMC repairs, there was a reported increase in referrals for prenatal repair, with 25% of domestic and 5% of international respondents offering prenatal repair postguidelines. However, prenatal repair remains limited, particularly in lower-volume and international centers. Barriers such as insufficient training, lack of fetal surgery programs, and limited institutional resources were frequently cited. Regional differences in perceptions regarding ventriculomegaly and tethered cord syndrome further highlight the variability in guideline interpretation. Notably, 71% of international respondents believed persistent ventriculomegaly negatively affects neurocognition, compared with only 30% of domestic respondents. While the guidelines have influenced clinical practices, their implementation remains uneven. The findings underscore the influence of institutional capacity, volume of practice, and regional differences on guideline adoption. Although the 2019 Congress of Neurological Surgeons guidelines have made strides in improving MMC care, continued efforts are necessary to address these barriers, especially in resource-limited settings. Collaboration among academic institutions, policymakers, and healthcare providers is critical to enhancing global implementation of evidence-based practices for myelomeningocele management. Further research is needed to refine practices and standardize outcome measures.
{"title":"Pediatric Neurosurgeons Perspective on 2019 Congress of Neurological Surgeons Guidelines on Myelomeningocele.","authors":"George W Koutsouras, Patricia Rehring, David F Bauer","doi":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003660","DOIUrl":"10.1227/neu.0000000000003660","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2019, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons published clinical practice guidelines for the management of myelomeningocele (MMC), which were informed by Level I evidence from the Management of Myelomeningocele Study trial and aimed to optimize clinical outcomes, particularly regarding prenatal vs postnatal repair. This study evaluates the perceived impact of these guidelines on the pediatric neurosurgical community. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 700 members of the pediatric neurosurgery community, with 98 responses analyzed. The survey addressed practice patterns, familiarity with the guidelines, and barriers to guideline adherence. Among centers with higher volumes of MMC repairs, there was a reported increase in referrals for prenatal repair, with 25% of domestic and 5% of international respondents offering prenatal repair postguidelines. However, prenatal repair remains limited, particularly in lower-volume and international centers. Barriers such as insufficient training, lack of fetal surgery programs, and limited institutional resources were frequently cited. Regional differences in perceptions regarding ventriculomegaly and tethered cord syndrome further highlight the variability in guideline interpretation. Notably, 71% of international respondents believed persistent ventriculomegaly negatively affects neurocognition, compared with only 30% of domestic respondents. While the guidelines have influenced clinical practices, their implementation remains uneven. The findings underscore the influence of institutional capacity, volume of practice, and regional differences on guideline adoption. Although the 2019 Congress of Neurological Surgeons guidelines have made strides in improving MMC care, continued efforts are necessary to address these barriers, especially in resource-limited settings. Collaboration among academic institutions, policymakers, and healthcare providers is critical to enhancing global implementation of evidence-based practices for myelomeningocele management. Further research is needed to refine practices and standardize outcome measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":19276,"journal":{"name":"Neurosurgery","volume":" ","pages":"339-344"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144732378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}