Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2025.105924
Tim Lampmann , Harun Asoglu , Haitham Alenezi , Mohammed Jaber , Bettina Otto , Mohammed Banat , Erdem Güresir , Hartmut Vatter , Motaz Hamed
Objective
Many patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) develop epileptic seizures. The recent guidelines do not recommend routine administration of antiepileptic drugs (AED).
Research question
We performed a retrospective single-center study to analyze the effect of AEDs on the outcome in patients suffering from epilepsy after SAH.
Methods
752 patients with SAH treated between 01/2006 and 12/2020 were analyzed. Patients were divided into good-grade (WFNS grades I-II) versus poor-grade (WFNS grades III-V) on admission. Data of patients’ history as well as clinical course were collected. Outcome according to the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score was assessed at 6 months after ictus. Outcome was dichotomized into favorable (mRS 0–2) and unfavorable (mRS 3–6). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.
Results
346 (46.0 %) patients suffered from poor-grade SAH and 366 (48.7 %) patients achieved unfavorable outcome. 202 (26.9 %) patients suffered from seizures after SAH and 136 (18.1 %) had to be treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for more than a week. Epilepsy and AED intake after 3 months was more often in patients with unfavorable outcome (18.9 % vs. 8.3 %; p < 0.001 and 21.9 % vs. 11.9 %; p < 0.001, respectively).
In multivariate analysis, ‘poor-grade SAH’ (p < 0.001, OR 10.5, 95 % CI 6.0–18.2), ‘age >50 years’ (p = 0.001, OR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.5–4.8, ‘aneurysm size >10 mm’ (p = 0.018, OR 2.2, 95 % CI 1.1–4.1), ‘hydrocephalus’ (p = 0.002, OR 2.6, 95 % CI 1.4–4.7), ‘delayed cerebral ischemia’ (p = 0.002, OR 5.0, 95 % CI 2.3–10.9) and ‘epilepsy within 3 months’ (p = 0.002, OR 5.9, 95 % CI 1.9–18.3) were predictors for unfavorable outcome, whereas ‘AED intake after 6 months’ (p = 0.037, OR 0.35, 95 % CI 0.13–0.94) was predictor for favorable outcome.
Conclusions
Manifestation of epilepsy in patients suffering from SAH deteriorates outcome. Continued AED intake in SAH patients who developed epileptic seizures should be advised.
{"title":"Influence of epilepsy and antiepileptic drug intake in patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage on outcome","authors":"Tim Lampmann , Harun Asoglu , Haitham Alenezi , Mohammed Jaber , Bettina Otto , Mohammed Banat , Erdem Güresir , Hartmut Vatter , Motaz Hamed","doi":"10.1016/j.bas.2025.105924","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bas.2025.105924","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Many patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) develop epileptic seizures. The recent guidelines do not recommend routine administration of antiepileptic drugs (AED).</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>We performed a retrospective single-center study to analyze the effect of AEDs on the outcome in patients suffering from epilepsy after SAH.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>752 patients with SAH treated between 01/2006 and 12/2020 were analyzed. Patients were divided into good-grade (WFNS grades I-II) versus poor-grade (WFNS grades III-V) on admission. Data of patients’ history as well as clinical course were collected. Outcome according to the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score was assessed at 6 months after ictus. Outcome was dichotomized into favorable (mRS 0–2) and unfavorable (mRS 3–6). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>346 (46.0 %) patients suffered from poor-grade SAH and 366 (48.7 %) patients achieved unfavorable outcome. 202 (26.9 %) patients suffered from seizures after SAH and 136 (18.1 %) had to be treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for more than a week. Epilepsy and AED intake after 3 months was more often in patients with unfavorable outcome (18.9 % vs. 8.3 %; p < 0.001 and 21.9 % vs. 11.9 %; p < 0.001, respectively).</div><div>In multivariate analysis, ‘poor-grade SAH’ (p < 0.001, OR 10.5, 95 % CI 6.0–18.2), ‘age >50 years’ (p = 0.001, OR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.5–4.8, ‘aneurysm size >10 mm’ (p = 0.018, OR 2.2, 95 % CI 1.1–4.1), ‘hydrocephalus’ (p = 0.002, OR 2.6, 95 % CI 1.4–4.7), ‘delayed cerebral ischemia’ (p = 0.002, OR 5.0, 95 % CI 2.3–10.9) and ‘epilepsy within 3 months’ (p = 0.002, OR 5.9, 95 % CI 1.9–18.3) were predictors for unfavorable outcome, whereas ‘AED intake after 6 months’ (p = 0.037, OR 0.35, 95 % CI 0.13–0.94) was predictor for favorable outcome.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Manifestation of epilepsy in patients suffering from SAH deteriorates outcome. Continued AED intake in SAH patients who developed epileptic seizures should be advised.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72443,"journal":{"name":"Brain & spine","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 105924"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2026.105926
Enrico Aimar , Lucrezia Di Stefano , Federico Longhitano , Alberto Bona , Marco Meloni , Tommaso Alfiero , Federica Valente , Roberta Bonomo , Giulio Bonomo , Flavio Tancioni , Guglielmo Iess
Introduction
As the population ages, L4–L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis is increasingly common. Posterolateral fusion was long standard; interbody cages are widely used for perceived higher fusion rates.
Research question
Does adding an interbody cage to posterolateral fusion improve outcomes or reduce complications in elderly patients with grade I spondylolisthesis and severe stenosis?
Materials and methods
We retrospectively studied 319 adults aged 60–85 who underwent single-level L4–L5 fusion (2011–2018) after failed conservative care. Patients received posterior lumbar fusion (PLIF, n = 155) or posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF, n = 164). Primary outcomes were Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) change and complications over a median five-year follow-up; secondary outcomes were operative time, hospital stay, and transfusions. Multivariable analyses adjusted for age, sex, BMI, year of surgery, and sagittal alignment.
Results
Functional improvement was similar (median ODI reduction ≈22 points; p = 0.97), and implant-related revision and revision-free survival did not differ. Cage use increased overall complications (24.5 % vs 7.9 %), prolonged surgery (125 vs 95 min) and hospital stay (4 vs 3 days), and raised transfusions (9.7 % vs 1.8 %), dural tears (11.6 % vs 2.4 %), and radicular deficits (6.5 % vs 1.2 %). The association between cage use and complications persisted after adjustment.
Conclusion
In this elderly, low-grade L4–L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis cohort, adding a posterior interbody cage to instrumented posterolateral fusion did not improve 5-year disability but was associated with higher peri-operative morbidity and greater resource use.
随着人口老龄化,L4-L5退行性椎体滑脱越来越常见。后外侧融合长标准;椎体间固定器被广泛用于更高的融合率。研究问题:对于患有I级椎体滑脱和严重椎管狭窄的老年患者,在后外侧融合中加入椎间笼是否能改善预后或减少并发症?材料和方法我们回顾性研究了319例年龄在60-85岁之间的成年人,他们在保守治疗失败后接受了单节段L4-L5融合(2011-2018)。患者接受后路腰椎融合术(PLIF, n = 155)或后外侧腰椎融合术(PLF, n = 164)。主要结局是Oswestry残疾指数(ODI)变化和中位5年随访期间的并发症;次要结局为手术时间、住院时间和输血量。多变量分析调整了年龄、性别、BMI、手术年份和矢状排列。结果功能改善相似(ODI中位数降低≈22点;p = 0.97),种植体相关翻修和无翻修生存期无差异。笼的使用增加了总并发症(24.5% vs 7.9%),延长了手术时间(125 vs 95分钟)和住院时间(4 vs 3天),增加了输血量(9.7% vs 1.8%),硬脑膜撕裂(11.6% vs 2.4%)和神经根缺损(6.5% vs 1.2%)。调整后,笼的使用与并发症之间的关系仍然存在。结论:在老年低级别L4-L5退行性椎体滑脱队列中,在固定后外侧融合中加入后路椎体间固定器并不能改善5年残疾,但会导致更高的围手术期发病率和更多的资源使用。
{"title":"Does adding an interbody cage in L4–L5 posterolateral fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis and stenosis improve clinical outcome?","authors":"Enrico Aimar , Lucrezia Di Stefano , Federico Longhitano , Alberto Bona , Marco Meloni , Tommaso Alfiero , Federica Valente , Roberta Bonomo , Giulio Bonomo , Flavio Tancioni , Guglielmo Iess","doi":"10.1016/j.bas.2026.105926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bas.2026.105926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>As the population ages, L4–L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis is increasingly common. Posterolateral fusion was long standard; interbody cages are widely used for perceived higher fusion rates.</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>Does adding an interbody cage to posterolateral fusion improve outcomes or reduce complications in elderly patients with grade I spondylolisthesis and severe stenosis?</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>We retrospectively studied 319 adults aged 60–85 who underwent single-level L4–L5 fusion (2011–2018) after failed conservative care. Patients received posterior lumbar fusion (PLIF, n = 155) or posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF, n = 164). Primary outcomes were Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) change and complications over a median five-year follow-up; secondary outcomes were operative time, hospital stay, and transfusions. Multivariable analyses adjusted for age, sex, BMI, year of surgery, and sagittal alignment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Functional improvement was similar (median ODI reduction ≈22 points; p = 0.97), and implant-related revision and revision-free survival did not differ. Cage use increased overall complications (24.5 % vs 7.9 %), prolonged surgery (125 vs 95 min) and hospital stay (4 vs 3 days), and raised transfusions (9.7 % vs 1.8 %), dural tears (11.6 % vs 2.4 %), and radicular deficits (6.5 % vs 1.2 %). The association between cage use and complications persisted after adjustment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In this elderly, low-grade L4–L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis cohort, adding a posterior interbody cage to instrumented posterolateral fusion did not improve 5-year disability but was associated with higher peri-operative morbidity and greater resource use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72443,"journal":{"name":"Brain & spine","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 105926"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2026.105931
Elle Vermeulen , Ramon Torné , Ebba Katsler , Nuri Alioski , Mihail Petrov , Teodora Sakelarova , Leire Pedrosa , Torstein Ragnar Meling , Nikolay Velinov , Hieronymus Damianus Boogaarts
Background
Angiography is a diagnostic and interventional technique in (endo)vascular neurosurgery that demands a high level of precision and technical expertise. Traditionally, mastery of angiographic techniques has relied on hands-on training, often limited by patient availability and procedural complexity. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of simulator-based training for angiography, determining its role in enhancing procedural proficiency and its potential integration into a neuroendovascular training curriculum.
Research question
Is a simulator-based training for neuroangiography effective ?
Materials and methods
Participants (22 trainees and 10 experts) were recruited in neurosurgical departments from four international university hospitals. After a familiarization session, each participant performed 6 attempts of diagnostic angiography and 3 attempts of coiling on an Angio mentor endovascular simulator. Data gathered were procedure time, fluoroscopy time, amount of contrast injected, number of roadmap sequences and number of errors. The learning curve was studied and contrasting group assessment was performed.
Results
There was a clear steep improvement for all parameters in the learning curve which flattens out as the trainees master angiography and coiling. Trainees had a notable reduction in procedure time, approaching the experts' levels after sixth and seventh attempt of diagnostic angiography. The contrasting group assessment demonstrated discriminating results of experts compared to trainees and a distinctly increasing overlap between trainees and experts with increasing number of attempts.
Discussion and conclusions
Endovascular simulators enable skill acquisition in a controlled environment, enhancing technical proficiency in neuroendovascular coiling and angiography, and should play a role in neuroendovascular training.
{"title":"Validation of simulator-based neuroangiographical training","authors":"Elle Vermeulen , Ramon Torné , Ebba Katsler , Nuri Alioski , Mihail Petrov , Teodora Sakelarova , Leire Pedrosa , Torstein Ragnar Meling , Nikolay Velinov , Hieronymus Damianus Boogaarts","doi":"10.1016/j.bas.2026.105931","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bas.2026.105931","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Angiography is a diagnostic and interventional technique in (endo)vascular neurosurgery that demands a high level of precision and technical expertise. Traditionally, mastery of angiographic techniques has relied on hands-on training, often limited by patient availability and procedural complexity. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of simulator-based training for angiography, determining its role in enhancing procedural proficiency and its potential integration into a neuroendovascular training curriculum.</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>Is a simulator-based training for neuroangiography effective ?</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Participants (22 trainees and 10 experts) were recruited in neurosurgical departments from four international university hospitals. After a familiarization session, each participant performed 6 attempts of diagnostic angiography and 3 attempts of coiling on an Angio mentor endovascular simulator. Data gathered were procedure time, fluoroscopy time, amount of contrast injected, number of roadmap sequences and number of errors. The learning curve was studied and contrasting group assessment was performed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There was a clear steep improvement for all parameters in the learning curve which flattens out as the trainees master angiography and coiling. Trainees had a notable reduction in procedure time, approaching the experts' levels after sixth and seventh attempt of diagnostic angiography. The contrasting group assessment demonstrated discriminating results of experts compared to trainees and a distinctly increasing overlap between trainees and experts with increasing number of attempts.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion and conclusions</h3><div>Endovascular simulators enable skill acquisition in a controlled environment, enhancing technical proficiency in neuroendovascular coiling and angiography, and should play a role in neuroendovascular training.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72443,"journal":{"name":"Brain & spine","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 105931"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}