Preoperative Duration Of Symptoms Research Articles

Doctor shopping trend of patients before undergoing rotator cuff repair in Korea: a multicenter study

Background: To investigate the doctor shopping trend of patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) before undergoing surgery and the relevance of the results to the public.Methods: A survey was conducted of 326 patients from 10 hospitals (male, 176; female, 150) who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) for symptomatic RCT between September 2019 and February 2020. A questionnaire was used to obtain data regarding the type of medical care service, medical institutions visited before surgery, number of treatments received, and cost of treatment.Results: A total of 326 patients (87%) received treatment at least once at another medical institution before visiting the hospital where the surgery was performed. Patients visited an average of 9.4 health providers or physicians for shoulder pain before visiting the hospital where surgery was performed. Among the 326 patients, 148 (45%) visited more than two medical institutions and spent an average of 641,983 Korean won (KRW; $466, 50,000–5,000,000 KRW) before surgery. Medical expenses before surgery were proportional to the number of medical institutions visited (P=0.002), symptom duration (P=0.002), and initial visual analog scale (VAS) pain score (P=0.007) but were not associated with gender, age, VAS pain score immediately before surgery, or RCT size.Conclusions: Medical expense before ARCR was associated with the severity of preoperative pain and duration of symptoms. After onset of shoulder symptoms, patients should visit as soon as possible a hospital that has surgeons who specialize in shoulder repair to prevent unnecessary medical expense and proper treatment.

Feasibility of laparoscopic modified Frey procedure for chronic pancreatitis: a prospective 6 case series.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by longstanding inflammation of the pancreas. Several authors have reported minimally invasive treatment of this CP (pancreaticoduodenectomy, lateral pancreaticojejunostomy, Frey procedure) with promising short-term outcomes. This is a case series of 6 patients diagnosed with CP and treated using the laparoscopic modified Frey procedure at Hue Central Hospital, Vietnam. Six patients (5 males and 1 female) with CP and operated on using modified Frey's procedure. The median age was 45 years old. The mean of Body Mass Index was 16.3 kg/m2. The median preoperative duration of symptoms was 3.3 years. All patients were presented with a dilated main pancreatic duct (mean diameter of 7.8 mm). The median time to first bowel movement was 1.5 (1-2) days. The median postoperative hospital stay was 7 (5-11) days. No reoperation or mortality was recorded. The laparoscopic modified Frey procedure is feasible and safe with good short-term and mid-term outcomes for chronic pancreatitis.

Intra-operative hypertension as a predictor of surgical outcomes in microvascular decompression surgery for trigeminal neuralgia

PurposeThe trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) has traditionally been characterized by a sudden decrease in heart rate, asystole, or hypotension during the manipulation of the trigeminal nerve (MTN) or its branches. While this classical TCR is well-documented, there is limited literature on alternative forms of TCR, such as the development of intraoperative hypertension (HTN) or tachycardia, and the underlying pathogenesis. Furthermore, a gap exists in understanding the correlation between intraoperative blood pressure readings and postoperative outcomes, particularly regarding pain relief in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Our study aims to examine intraoperative blood pressure trends during microvascular decompression (MVD) for TN and assess their impact on postoperative outcomes.MethodsWe selected 90 patients who underwent MVD for TN treatment. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded both preoperatively and during the procedure, specifically during the MTN period, using an arterial line. The Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) Pain Scale was calculated for all patients both pre- and post-operatively to evaluate pain relief after surgery.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 61.0 ± 12.35 years, with 64.4% being females. Classical TCR (hypotension) was observed in only 2.2% of patients, whereas 80% of patients developed hypertension (≥ 140/90) during MTN. The mean preoperative systolic blood pressure was 128 ± 22.25, and the mean intraoperative systolic blood pressure during MTN was 153.1 ± 20.2. An analysis of covariance, utilizing either preoperative BNI or duration of symptoms as covariate variables, revealed a statistically significant association between intraoperative HTN and postoperative BNI. A linear regression model demonstrated that intraoperative HTN following MTN significantly predicted a lower postoperative BNI score (p = 0.006).ConclusionsIntraoperative HTN during MTN, an observed yet underexplored phenomenon, demonstrated a correlation with improved postoperative outcomes. Furthermore, it is recommended to conduct additional investigations into potential neurovascular conflicts in patients not manifesting intraoperative HTN following MTN. A comprehensive understanding of TCR, encompassing its various forms, is vital for optimizing surgical management. This study underscores the imperative for further research to unravel the mechanisms linking intraoperative HTN to surgical outcomes in TN patients.

Does preoperative symptom duration affect outcomes following per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)?

Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a safe therapy for the treatment of achalasia. Long-term effects of untreated achalasia include worsening dysmotility and disruptions in esophageal anatomy, i.e., tortuosity and dilation. We hypothesize that long-standing achalasia prior to intervention will have worse outcomes following POEM than in patients with symptoms for shorter duration. We retrospectively analyzed achalasia patients who underwent POEM at our institution from 2011 to 2023, categorizing them into symptom duration cohorts (< 1year, 1-3years, 4-10years, > 10years). Inclusion criteria comprised patients with documented achalasia diagnosis who received POEM treatment at our facility. Exclusion criteria encompassed individuals lacking data pertaining to achalasia diagnosis, the time frame before intervention, or those missing pre and postoperative Eckardt scores. POEM failure was defined as symptom recurrence, necessity for repeat intervention, or high postoperative Eckardt score. We compared demographic, preoperative, and postoperative outcomes across these cohorts, and employed multivariable logistic regression to explore the link between symptom duration and POEM response. During the study period, in our increased cohort 234 patients met inclusion criteria. 75 patients had symptoms for < 1year, 78 patients had symptoms from 1 to 3years, 47 patients had symptoms from 4 to 10years, and 34 patients had symptoms > 10years. Patient demographics such as age, sex, BMI, Charleson-Deyo-Comorbidity-Index, and diabetes did not differ amongst cohorts. High-resolution manometry data, including achalasia type, Median IRP, LES residual pressure, and Basal LES pressure did not differ between groups. Preoperative Eckardt scores ranged from 4 to 5 across groups (p 0.24). Patients endorsed an average of three total preoperative symptoms across groups (p 0.13). Patients with symptoms greater than 4years had significantly more endoscopic interventions prior to POEM (37% vs, 68% p .001). There was no significant difference in post-procedure mean Eckardt scores between cohorts. All cohorts experienced the same number of post-POEM symptoms. Post-POEM manometric measurements remained consistent across cohorts. Similarly, there were no significant differences in terms of symptom recurrence, requirement for repeat interventions, or repeat POEM among the cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression analysis determined achalasia symptoms greater than a decade did not result in increased odds of having a higher postoperative Eckardt score, worse dysphagia, regurgitation, or weight loss. In this increased cohort, this data once again suggests that longer symptom duration is not associated with increased rates of POEM failure.

Decompression Surgery in Elderly Patients with Hemifacial Spasm Refractory to Botulinum Toxin.

Botulinum toxin is an effective treatment for hemifacial spasm in elderly patients. However, some patients do not tolerate the side effects and frequency of botulinum toxin treatments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of a cohort of elderly patients referred by neurologists for surgical decompression of the facial nerve following botulinum toxin treatment. In a prospective cohort study, logistic regression was used to detect potential predictors of spasm-freedom after surgical decompression of the facial nerve in elderly patients that received ≤8 and >8 botulinum toxin treatments for hemifacial spasm before surgery. Age, sex, side, preoperative symptom duration, and preoperative botulinum toxin treatment were assessed as potential predictors of spasm-freedom at last follow-up. Of 76 elderly patients with hemifacial spasm treated with botulinum toxin and microvascular decompression, with at least 2-years of follow-up (median, 44.5 months), 84.2% were spasm-free at last follow-up. Age (P = 0.38), sex (P = 0.59), side (P = 0.15), preoperative symptom duration (P = 0.7), and number of preoperative botulinum toxin treatments (P = 0.3) were not predictors of long-term spasm-freedom. Permanent ipsilateral hearing loss was the most frequent complication (3.9%). This study provides evidence that elderly patients can undergo botulinum toxin treatment for hemifacial spasm without compromising their likelihood of achieving spasm-freedom with future surgical decompression. Therefore, surgical decompression of the facial nerve is an effective therapy for elderly patients with hemifacial spasm refractory to botulinum toxin.

A Biomimetic Osteochondral Scaffold Augmented With Filtered Bone Marrow Aspirate for the Treatment of Joint Surface Lesions in the Knee

Background: Multilayered osteochondral scaffolds are becoming increasingly utilized for the repair of knee joint surface lesions (KJSLs). However, the literature on predictive factors is rather limited. Purpose: To (1) evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety of a combined single-step approach using a biomimetic collagen-hydroxyapatite scaffold (CHAS) and filtered bone marrow aspirate (fBMA) for the treatment of KJSLs and (2) identify significant predictors of the treatment outcomes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All patients who underwent surgery because of a KJSL (size ≥1.5 cm2; International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society grades 3-4) using the combination above were selected from a hospital registry database (100 patients; minimum 2-year follow-up). Patient characteristics, medical history, knee joint and lesion status, intraoperative details, and cellular parameters of the injected fBMA were collected. The arthroscopic evaluation of chondral and meniscal tissue quality in all knee compartments was performed using the Chondropenia Severity Score. Treatment outcomes were determined clinically using patient-reported outcome measures (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, EuroQol–5 Dimensions–3 Levels, EuroQol–Visual Analog Scale, and Tegner Activity Scale) and by assessing the occurrence of serious adverse events and graft failure. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify significant predictors of the treatment outcomes. Results: At a mean follow-up of 54.2 ± 19.4 months, 78 (87%) patients completed the questionnaires with significant improvements toward the baseline (P < .00625): KOOS Pain subscale from 62 ± 17 to 79 ± 18, KOOS Total score from 57 ± 16 to 70 ± 20, EuroQol–Visual Analog Scale from 61 ± 21 to 76 ± 16, EuroQol–5 Dimensions–3 Levels from 0.57 ± 0.20 to 0.80 ± 0.21, and Tegner Activity Scale from 2.8 ± 1.5 to 3.9 ± 1.9. The graft failure rate was 4%. A longer duration of preoperative symptoms, previous surgery, larger lesions, older age, and female sex were the main negative predictors for the treatment outcomes. The Chondropenia Severity Score and the number of fibroblast colony-forming units in fBMA positively influenced some of the clinical results and safety. Conclusion: A CHAS augmented with fBMA proved to be an adequate and safe approach for the treatment of KJSLs up to midterm follow-up. Based on the subanalysis of predictive factors, the surgical intervention should be performed in a timely and precise manner to prevent lesion enlargement, deterioration of the general knee cartilage status, and recurrent surgical procedures, especially in older and female patients. When a CHAS is used, the quantity of MSCs seems to play a role in augmentation. Registration: NCT06078072 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Management and Outcomes of Facial Nerve Hemangiomas: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract Objectives To conduct a systematic review of facial nerve hemangiomas (FNH), focusing on patient characteristics, management options, and treatment outcomes. Design A systematic review was performed following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, utilizing PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from inception to December 31, 2022. Setting Literature sourced from various databases providing information on FNH cases. Participants A total of 176 patients with FNH were included in the study, identified from 40 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Main Outcome Measures Patient demographics, lesion characteristics, preoperative symptoms, surgical approaches, and postoperative outcomes, including House-Brackmann (HB) grades. Results Among the 1,682 initially identified articles, 40 were included in the final review. From these, a total of 176 patients (mean age = 42.7 ± 12.8, 51.1% male) were included for analysis. Bivariate analysis showed that patients with longer preoperative symptom duration and facial nerve sacrifice had significantly greater postoperative HB Grades (p &lt; 0.001). Additionally, a strong positive correlation was observed between pre- and postoperative HB Grades (Spearman's rho = 0.649). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that both facial nerve sacrifice (β = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38–1.34; p &lt; 0.001) and greater preoperative HB Grades (β = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.20–0.53; p &lt; 0.001) were associated with significantly greater postoperative HB Grades, but preoperative symptom duration did not persist as a significant predictor of postoperative HB Grades. Conclusions FNHs are rare lesions of the skull base affecting the temporal bone. Our findings highlight the role of preoperative facial nerve function and intraoperative preservation of the facial nerve in predicting postoperative outcomes. Timely resection of lesions that prioritizes facial nerve preservation is critical to achieving optimal patient outcomes.

Cervical Disk Replacement Versus Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion: Effect of Procedural Variant on Patients With a Prolonged Preoperative Duration of Symptoms From Disk Herniation.

Patients with a prolonged preoperative symptom duration (PSD) in the setting of cervical disk herniation (DH) may suffer inferior outcomes after surgical intervention. Comparison between anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) versus cervical disk arthroplasty (CDA) in this at-risk population has not yet been conducted. Patients undergoing ACDF or CDA for DH with a PSD > 180 days were selected. Six-week (6W) and final follow-up (FF) patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) as well as magnitude of postoperative improvements (∆PROM) were compared between cohorts using multivariable linear regression. Intercohort achievement rates of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in each PROM were compared. Seventy-seven of 190 patients were in the CDA cohort. 6W Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF) was superior in the CDA cohort. The ACDF cohort demonstrated notable improvements in the 6W Neck Disability Index (NDI), visual analog scale-neck pain (VAS-N), visual analog scale-arm pain (VAS-A), and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The CDA cohort demonstrated notable improvements in 6W PROMIS-PF, NDI, VAS-N, and VAS-A. FF VAS-A was better in the CDA cohort. The ACDF cohort demonstrated notable improvements in FF PROMIS-PF, NDI, VAS-N, and VAS-A. The CDA cohort demonstrated notable improvements in all FF PROMs. ∆PROM-6W in PROMIS-PF was greater in the CDA cohort. Patients with prolonged PSD due to cervical DH demonstrated notable improvements in physical function, disability, pain, and mental health regardless of fusion versus arthroplasty techniques. Accounting for demographic variations, patients undergoing CDA demonstrated a greater magnitude of improvement and superior scores in physical function at the first postoperative follow-up. Rates of clinically tangible improvements in PROMs did not markedly vary by surgical procedure. Patients undergoing CDA may perceive greater early improvements to physical function compared with patients undergoing ACDF for prolonged PSD due to DH.

Impact of Preoperative Symptom Duration on Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Cervical Disc Replacement for Cervical Radiculopathy.

Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. To determine the impact of preoperative symptom duration on postoperative functional outcomes following cervical disc replacement (CDR) for radiculopathy. CDR has emerged as a reliable and efficacious treatment option for degenerative cervical spine pathologies. The relationship between preoperative symptom duration and outcomes following CDR is not well established. Patients with radiculopathy without myelopathy who underwent primary 1- or 2-level CDRs were included and divided into shorter (<6mo) and prolonged (≥6mo) cohorts based on preoperative symptom duration. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) included Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Neck and Arm. Change in PROM scores and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) rates were calculated. Analyses were conducted on the early (within 3mo) and late (6mo-2y) postoperative periods. A total of 201 patients (43.6±8.7y, 33.3% female) were included. In both early and late postoperative periods, the shorter preoperative symptom duration cohort experienced significantly greater change from preoperative PROM scores compared to the prolonged symptom duration cohort for NDI, VAS-Neck, and VAS-Arm. The shorter symptom duration cohort achieved MCID in the early postoperative period at a significantly higher rate for NDI (78.9% vs. 54.9%, P=0.001), VAS-Neck (87.0% vs. 56.0%, P<0.001), and VAS-Arm (90.5% vs. 70.7%, P=0.002). Prolonged preoperative symptom duration (≥6mo) was identified as an independent risk factor for failure to achieve MCID at the latest timepoint for NDI (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.2-6.9, P=0.016), VAS-Neck (OR: 9.8, 95% CI: 3.7-26.0, P<0.001), and VAS-Arm (OR: 7.5, 95% CI: 2.5-22.5, P<0.001). Our study demonstrates improved patient-reported outcomes for those with shorter preoperative symptom duration undergoing CDR for radiculopathy, suggesting delayed surgical intervention may result in poorer outcomes and greater postoperative disability. III.

1077 Operative Management and Outcomes in Spinal Hemangioblastoma: A Multi-institutional Case Series of 59 Patients

INTRODUCTION: Hemangioblastoma is a rare benign neoplasm that accounts for 2-5% of all spinal cord tumors and is associated with von-Hippel Landau (VHL) disease in about 25-30% of patients. Symptomatic spinal hemangioblastomas are typically managed with en bloc microsurgical resection, but the infrequent nature of these lesions has limited the detailed characterization of reported management and surgical outcomes in the literature. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with pathology-proven spinal hemangioblastoma. We collected information about demographics, preoperative symptoms and imaging, intraoperative characteristics, and postoperative course. We analyzed what variables influence postoperative changes in motor scores and McCormick scores. RESULTS: We included 59 patients (35 sporadic, 24 VHL). The average age of diagnosis was 48.7 (± 16.1) for sporadic tumors and 35.1 (± 12.6) for those associated with VHL (p = 0.001). Most tumors were cervical (46.6%) or thoracic (34.5%) and both intradural (93.2%) and intramedullary (71.2%). Most patients (69.5%) had multiple spinal tumors. The average lesion volume was 0.98 (± 1.1) cm3. The average symptom duration before surgery was 24.7 (± 73.2) months. Adjuvant therapies included radiation (6.8%) and chemotherapy (1.7%). At 1 month postoperatively, 4.4% had motor loss in any muscle group and 31.1% had motor gain, while 18.6% had a decreased McCormick score and 28.8% had an improved score at 1 month. While 72.9% of patients had numbness/paresthesia preoperatively, only 59.3% did at 1 month. Duration of pre-operative symptoms and time from diagnosis to surgery were not found to influence outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, surgical planning should be guided by symptom management. In this population, duration of preoperative symptoms and timing of surgery did not influence post-operative functional outcomes.

Outcomes of Trigeminal Ganglion Sparing Surgical Resection of Nonacoustic Cerebellopontine Angle Tumors Causing Trigeminal Neuralgia

ObjectiveTumors may be responsible for up to 5% of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) cases. Predictors of long-term pain relief after surgical resection of various cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor types are not well understood. Previous studies found that size and extent of resection predict long-term pain status, although resection of tumor involving the trigeminal ganglion (TG) may be associated with high morbidity. This study evaluated predictors of TN pain freedom after resection of a non-acoustic CPA tumor, with avoidance of any portion involving the TG. MethodsIn a retrospective cohort study, we evaluated clinical outcomes and complications after surgical resection of non-acoustic CPA tumors with purposeful avoidance of the TG causing trigeminal neuralgia. The primary outcome was pain-freedom. We performed logistic regression analyses to examine the relationship between pain-freedom at last follow-up and age, side of symptoms, pre-operative symptom duration, tumor diameter, tumor type, and concurrent neurovascular compression (NVC). ResultsOf 18 patients with non-acoustic CPA tumors causing TN treated with surgical resection, 83.3% were pain-free at last follow-up (mean 44.6 months). Age(p=0.12), side (p=0.41), pre-operative symptom duration(p=0.85), tumor diameter(p=0.29), tumor type(p=0.37), and NVC presence (p=0.075) were not associated with long-term pain freedom. ConclusionsThis study provides additional evidence that various tumor types causing trigeminal neuralgia may safely undergo surgical resection and decompression of the trigeminal nerve to treat TN. This study presents a cohort of patients that underwent resection of a non-acoustic CPA tumor, with purposeful avoidance of the TG to minimize complications, demonstrating high rates of long-term pain freedom.

Surgical Intervention is Associated with Improvement in Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Patients with Symptomatic Sacral Tarlov Cysts: Results from a Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study

The treatment of symptomatic Tarlov cysts remains a controversial topic within neurosurgery. We describe our experience with patients who underwent surgical intervention for sacral Tarlov cysts at a single institution. General and disease-specific outcome measures were used to assess health-related quality of life. Patients who underwent surgical treatment for one or more sacral Tarlov cysts between 2018 and 2021 were included. The Tarlov Cyst Quality of Life (TCQoL), a validated disease-specific measure, was the primary outcome of the study. Secondary outcomes included general outcome measures: 36-Item Short Form Survey, the Oswestry Disability Index, and Visual Analog Scale. Patients were followed at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperative. Repeated measures analyses were used to assess change from preoperative to 12 months postoperative. Data were obtained from 144 patients who underwent surgery for sacral Tarlov cysts, average age 52.3 ± 11.3 years, 90.3% female. Patients reported significant mean improvement on the TCQoL over time (preoperative 3.2±0.1; 3-months postoperative 2.1±0.1; 6-months 1.9±0.1; 12-months 1.9±0.1; P< 0.001). Patient age and duration of symptoms were not associated with outcome. 82.3% of patients reported improvement on TCQoL. There was not a significant difference in the proportion of patients reporting improvement on TCQoL by cyst size (small 90.9% vs. large 77.9%; P = 0.066). Our longitudinal series demonstrated patient-reported improvement following surgery for symptomatic sacral Tarlov cysts using a validated disease-specific health-related quality of life scale through 12 months following surgery. Patient age and preoperative duration of symptoms were not correlated with outcome.

Factors influencing postoperative visual improvement in 208 patients with tuberculum sellae meningiomas.

Tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSMs) usually compress the optic nerve and optic chiasma, thus affecting vision. Surgery is an effective means to remove tumors and improve visual outcomes. On a larger scale, this study attempted to further explore and confirm the factors related to postoperative visual outcomes to guide the treatment of TSMs. Data were obtained from 208 patients with TSMs who underwent surgery at our institution between January 2010 and August 2022. Demographics, ophthalmologic examination results, imaging data, extent of resection, radiotherapy status, and surgical approaches were included in the analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the factors that could lead to favorable visual outcomes. The median follow-up duration was 63months, and gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 174 (83.7%) patients. According to our multivariate logistic regression analysis, age < 60years (odds ratio [OR] = 0.310; P = 0.007), duration of preoperative visual symptoms (DPVS) < 10months (OR = 0.495; P = 0.039), tumor size ≤ 27mm (OR = 0.337; P = 0.002), GTR (OR = 3.834; P = 0.006), and a tumor vertical-to-horizontal dimensional ratio < 1 (OR = 2.593; P = 0.006) were found to be significant independent predictors of favorable visual outcomes. Age, DPVS, tumor size, GTR, and the tumor vertical-to-horizontal dimensional ratio were found to be powerful predictors of favorable visual outcomes. This study may help guide decisions regarding the treatment of TSMs.

Prevalence and predictors of postcholecystectomy syndrome in Nepalese patients after 1 week of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a cross-sectional study

Postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) is persistent distressing symptoms which develops following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC); in cases when the condition is severe, readmission may be necessary. However, research on the prevalence of PCS and potential factors associated with PCS in Nepalese patients is still limited. An observational point-prevalence, correlational predictive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of PCS and examine what predicting factors including preoperative anxiety, preoperative dyspepsia, smoking, alcohol consumption, and duration of preoperative symptoms are associated with PCS. A total of 127 eligible Nepalese patients who came for follow-up after 1 week of LC at outpatient department of surgery in one single university hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal, were recruited. A set of questionnaires consisting participants' information record form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaires (LDQ), Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) was administered for data collection. The associations between influential factors and PCS were analyzed using Binary logistic regression. 43.3% of participants reported PCS after 1 week of surgery. The findings from logistic regression analysis affirmed that the patients with preoperative anxiety (OR = 6.38, 95%CI = 2.07–19.67, p < 0.01) and moderate to severe dyspepsia (OR = 4.01, 95%CI = 1.34–12.02, p < 0.05) held the likelihood to report PCS 6.38 and 4.01 times, respectively, greater than others. The implications from study results are that screening of anxiety and patients’ tailored interventions to reduce anxiety should be implemented preoperatively. An appropriate health education about persistence of PCS and self-management should be provided to those postoperative patients.

Influence of preoperative symptom duration on effectiveness of cervical disc arthroplasty in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy patients

To investigate the influence of preoperative symptom duration on effectiveness of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) patients. The clinical data of 90 CSR patients who underwent single-segment CDA between January 2008 and March 2020 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. Based on preoperative symptom duration, patients were divided into an early intervention group (preoperative symptom duration <24 months) and a late intervention group (preoperative symptom duration ≥24 months). There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups ( P>0.05), including age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, surgical segment, preoperative neck disability index (NDI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, cervical lordosis (CL), C 2-C 7 range of motion (ROM), disc angle (DA), disc ROM (DROM), and disc intervertebral height (DIH). The early intervention group had a slightly higher preoperative Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA) score than the late intervention group ( P<0.05). Perioperative indicators such as operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay were recorded. The changes of JOA score, NDI, and VAS score at last follow-up compared with those before operation were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy, and the imaging evaluation of CL, C 2-C 7 ROM, DA, DROM, and DIH was performed before operation, immediately after operation, and at last follow-up. The incidence of prosthesis-related complications, including heterotopic ossification (HO), anterior bone loss (ABL), and prosthesis subsidence, was also assessed at last follow-up. Patients in both groups were followed up 24-120 months, with an average of 53.4 months. There was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, or follow-up duration between the groups ( P>0.05). However, the late intervention group had significantly longer postoperative hospital stay compared to the early intervention group ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in the changes of JOA score, NDI, and VAS score between the two groups before and after operation ( P>0.05). During the follow-up, there was no surgical revision in the two groups, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of HO, ABL, and prosthesis subsidence between the two groups at last follow-up ( P>0.05). Imaging evaluation showed that there was no significant difference in CL, C 2-C 7 ROM, DA, DROM, and DIH between the two groups at each time point before and after operation ( P>0.05). The intra-group comparison showed that the early intervention group could maintain the immediate postoperative CL at last follow-up, while the late intervention group had recovered to the preoperative level. Additionally, the C 2-C 7 ROM, DROM, and DA had all recovered to preoperative levels at last follow-up in both groups; meanwhile, the DIH significantly increased immediately after operation and sustained until the last follow-up. Preoperative symptom duration significantly affects the effectiveness of CDA in CSR patients. Patients with preoperative symptom duration ≥24 months have longer postoperative hospital stays and potentially poorer ability to maintain CL compared with patients with preoperative symptom duration <24 months.

Impact of Preoperative Symptom Duration on Patient-reported Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

Retrospective cohort study. To assess the impact of preoperative symptom duration (PSD) on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after minimally invasive (MIS) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DSpond). A prolonged duration of preoperative symptoms may implicate inferior long-term outcomes postsurgery. Prior studies of lumbar fusion recipients are limited by the inclusion of heterogeneous populations. A single-surgeon registry was retrospectively queried for privately insured patients who had undergone primary, elective, single-level MIS-TLIF for DSpond with a recorded symptom start date. Cohorts were formed by PSD: shorter duration (PSD <1 y) or greater duration (GD; PSD ≥1 y). PROMs evaluated included Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function, Oswestry Disability Index, Visual Analog Scale-Back, Visual Analog Scale-Leg, and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. The magnitude of PROM (∆PROM) improvement from preoperative baseline to 6 weeks and final follow-up (∆PROM-FF) were compared between cohorts. Intercohort achievement rates of a minimum clinically important difference in each PROM were compared. A total of 133 patients included 85 patients with GD cohort. There were no significant differences in pre hoc demographics and perioperative characteristics between cohorts, as well as preoperative, 6-week, or final follow-up PROMs between cohorts. Both cohorts demonstrated significant improvement in all PROMs at 6 weeks and final follow-up ( P ≤ 0.049, all). There were no significant intercohort differences demonstrated in minimum clinically important difference achievement rates, ∆PROM-6W, or ∆PROM-FF in any PROM. Regardless of the symptom duration before MIS-TLIF for DSpond, patients demonstrate significant improvement in physical function, pain, disability, and mental health. Patients with a GD of preoperative symptoms did not report inferior scores in any PROM domain. Patients with a GD of preoperative symptoms did not suffer inferior rates of clinically meaningful improvement after surgical intervention. These findings should be considered when counseling patients before surgical intervention for DSpond.

Predicting long-term outcomes after microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm according to lateral spread response and immediate postoperative outcomes: a cohort study.

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a well-established and highly effective treatment option for hemifacial spasm (HFS). Lateral spread response (LSR) has been used as an intraoperative indicator of HFS resolution, with controversial reliability. The purpose of this study was to determine long-term outcomes of MVD for HFS and the role of LSR and other preoperative predictors. The authors conducted a cohort study of all patients treated with MVD for HFS at a single institution from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2019. In addition to a retrospective chart review, all patients were contacted at the time of the study to provide informed consent and responded to a telephone survey to ascertain their current disease and medication status. Patients with at least 12 months of postoperative follow-up were included. Statistical testing included a Student t-test, Fisher's exact test, logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazards analysis. One hundred nineteen patients met study criteria; 41 (34%) had at least 10 years of clinical follow-up. HFS fully resolved in 93 (78%), symptoms subjectively improved in 11 (9%) and were unchanged in 15 (13%). Immediate postoperative HFS status did not correlate with long-term outcome (p = 0.13). Changes in LSR were not associated with outcome. Patients receiving neuromodulating agents had significantly longer preoperative duration of symptoms and were more likely to show persistent LSR intraoperatively. HFS recurrence was associated with younger age at the time of surgery but not with intraoperative LSR resolution. This study demonstrated that MVD for HFS is highly effective for most patients. Neither intraoperative LSR change nor immediate postoperative status was predictive of long-term outcomes.

Epidemiology and Comparative Analysis of Outcomes of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor Between Pediatric and Adult Patients.

Clinical retrospective study. We sought to evaluate the characteristics of Pediatric intramedullary spinal cord tumors (PISCTs) and to identify differences between pediatric and adult intramedullary spinal cord tumors. Pediatric intramedullary spinal cord tumors (PISCTs) represent a rare clinical entity with limited evidence-base in the literature. This study is a subanalysis of the retrospective multicenter observational study authorized by the Neurospinal Society of Japan, including consecutive patients with spinal intramedullary tumor treated surgically at 58 institutions between 2009 and 2020. Data on 1080 intramedullary spinal cord tumors were obtained, consisting of 91 pediatric and 939 adult patients. Survival was compared using Cox hazard regression while clinical differences were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression that controlled for confounders. Pediatric patients had a shorter overall, and progression-free, survival than adults. Pediatric patients with ISCTs were likely to have scoliosis (odds ratio [OR] = 6.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.26-18.7), short preoperative symptom duration (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98-0.99), lower incidence of paresthesia (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.22-0.77), higher incidence of paresis (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.01-4.35), histopathology of astrocytoma (OR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.19-7.43), and postoperative functional deterioration upon discharge (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.43-5.58). Age was not a statistically significant prognostic factor of overall survival among the pediatric cohort. We found that the clinical characteristics of PISCTs differed between pediatric and adult patients. In terms of histopathological types, astrocytoma was most common in pediatric patients. ISCT occurring at an early age may not be an indicator for poor prognosis.

Five-Year Outcomes of Primary Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome Among Female Patients: Higher Body Mass Index Is Associated With Reduced Clinically Significant Outcomes

To evaluate the impact of age, body mass index (BMI), and symptom duration on 5-year clinical outcomes among females following primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of hip arthroscopy patients with a minimum 5-year follow-up. Patients were stratified by age (<30, 30-45, ≥45 years), BMI (<25.0, 25.0-29.9, ≥30.0), and preoperative symptom duration (<1 vs ≥1 year). Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS). Pre- to postoperative improvement in mHHS and NAHS was compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis test. Hip survivorship rates and minimum clinically important difference (MCID) achievement rates were compared with Fisher exact test. Predictors of outcomes were identified using multivariable linear and logistic regression. P values <.05 were considered significant. In total, 103 patients were included in the analysis with a mean age of 42.0 ± 12.6 years (range, 16-75) and mean BMI of 24.9 ± 4.8 (range, 17.2-38.9). Most patients had symptoms of duration ≥1 year (60.2%). Six patients (5.8%) had arthroscopic revisions, and 2 patients (1.9%) converted to total hip arthroplasty by 5-year follow-up. Patients with BMI ≥30.0 had significantly lower postoperative mHHS (P= .03) and NAHS (P= .04) than those with BMI <25.0. Higher BMI was associated with reduced improvement in mHHS (β= -1.14, P= .02) and NAHS (β= -1.34, P < .001) and lower odds of achieving the mHHS MCID (odds ratio [OR]= 0.82, P= .02) and NAHS MCID (OR= 0.88, P= .04). Older age was predictive of reduced improvement in NAHS (β= -0.31, P= .046). Symptom duration ≥1 year was predictive of higher odds of achieving the NAHS MCID (OR= 3.98, P= .02). Female patients across a wide range of ages, BMIs, and symptom durations experience satisfactory 5-year outcomes following primary hip arthroscopy, but higher BMI is associated with reduced improvement in patient-reported outcomes. Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.

Preoperative Symptom Duration Influences Neurological Recovery and Patient Reported Outcome Measures After Surgical Treatment of Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.

A prospective multicenter study. To investigate the effect of preoperative symptom duration on neurological recovery for the treatment of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). The optimal timing to perform surgery in the setting of cervical OPLL remains unknown. It is important to know the influence of symptom duration on postoperative outcomes to facilitate discussions regarding the timing of surgery. The study included 395 patients (291 men and 104 women, mean age 63.7±11.4y): 204 treated with laminoplasty, 90 with posterior decompression and fusion, 85 with anterior decompression and fusion, and 16 with other procedures. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and patient reported outcomes of JOA Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ) were used to assess clinical outcomes preoperatively and two years following surgery. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with achievement of MCID following surgery. The recovery rate was significantly lower in the group with symptom duration of ≥5 years compared to the groups with durations of <0.5 years, 0.5-1 year, and 1-2 years. Improvement of JOACMEQ in the upper extremity function score (P<0.001), lower extremity function (P=0.039), quality of life (P=0.053) and bladder function (P=0.034) were all decreased when the symptom duration exceeded 2 years. Duration of symptoms (P=0.001), age (P<0.001), and BMI (P<0.001) were significantly associated with the achievement of MCID. The cutoff value we established for symptom duration was 23 months (AUC 0.616, sensitivity 67.4%; specificity 53.5%). Symptom duration had a significant impact on neurological recovery and patient reported outcome measures in this series of patients undergoing surgery for cervical OPLL. Patients with symptom duration exceeding 23 months may be at greater risk of failing to achieve MCID after surgery. 3.