bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical phenotypes associated with outcomes following deep brain stimulation for childhood dystonia
Authors: Badhiwala Jetan H. , Karmur Brij , Elkaim Lior M. , Alotaibi Naif M. , Morgan Benjamin R. , Lipsman Nir , De Vloo Philippe , Kalia Suneil K. , Lozano Andres M. , Ibrahim George M. 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVEAlthough deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an accepted treatment for childhood dystonia, there is significant heterogeneity in treatment response and few data are available to identify ideal surgical candidates.METHODSData were derived from a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis of DBS for dystonia in children that was previously published. Outcomes were assessed using the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale for movement (BFMDRS-M) and for disability (BFMDRS-D). The authors used partial least squares, bootstrapping, and permutation statistics to extract patterns of contributions of specific preoperative characteristics to relationship with distinct outcomes, in all patients and in patients with primary and secondary dystonia separately.RESULTSOf 301 children undergoing DBS for dystonia, 167 had primary dystonia, 125 secondary dystonia, and 9 myoclonus dystonia. Three dissociable preoperative phenotypes (latent variables) were identified and associated with the following: 1) BFMDRS-M at last follow-up; 2) relative change in BFMDRS-M score; and 3) relative change in BFMDRS-D score. The phenotype of patients with secondary dystonia, with a high BFMDRS-M score and truncal involvement, undergoing DBS at a younger age, was associated with a worse postoperative BFMDRS-M score. Children with primary dystonia involving the trunk had greater improvement in BFMDRS-M and -D scores. Those with primary dystonia of shorter duration and proportion of life with disease, undergoing globus pallidus DBS, had greater improvements in BFMDRS-D scores at long-term follow-up.CONCLUSIONSIn a comprehensive, data-driven, multivariate analysis of DBS for childhood dystonia, the authors identified novel and dissociable patient phenotypes associated with distinct outcomes. The findings of this report may inform surgical candidacy for DBS.
Thirty-day medical and surgical readmission following prenatal versus postnatal myelomeningocele repair
Authors: Cools Michael , Northam Weston , Goodnight William , Mulvaney Graham , Elton Scott , Quinsey Carolyn 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVEHospital readmission is an important quality metric that has not been evaluated in prenatal versus postnatal myelomeningocele (MMC) repair. This study compares hospital readmission outcomes between these two groups as well as their etiologies.METHODSThe medical records of patients who had undergone MMC repair in the period from 2011 to 2017 at a single academic medical center were retrospectively reviewed. Collected clinical data included surgery and defect details, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay, and any readmissions or surgical procedures up to 1 year after surgery. Patient and defect characteristics, readmission outcomes at 30 and 60 days and 1 year after discharge from the NICU, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion surgery rates were analyzed with the two-tailed t-test and/or k-sample test on the equality of medians.RESULTSA total of 24 prenatal and 34 postnatal MMC repairs were completed during the study period. Prenatally repaired patients were born more prematurely (p < 0.001) and with lower birth weights (p < 0.001), although the NICU stay was similar between the two groups (p = 0.59). Fewer prenatally repaired patients were readmitted at 30 days (p = 0.005), 90 days (p = 0.004), and 1 year (p = 0.007) than the postnatal repair group. Hydrocephalus was the most common readmission etiology, and 29% of prenatal repair patients required CSF diversion at 1 year versus 81% of the postnatal repair group (p < 0.01). Prenatal patients who required CSF diversion had a higher body weight (p = 0.02) and an older age (p = 0.01) at the time of CSF diversion surgery than the postnatal group.CONCLUSIONSPatients with prenatal MMC repair had fewer hospital readmissions at 30 days, 60 days, and 1 year than the postnatal repair group, despite similar NICU lengths of stay. The prenatal repair group had lower requirements for CSF diversion at 1 year and was older with greater body weights at the time of CSF diversion surgery, compared to those of the postnatal repair group. Future study of hospital quality metrics such as readmissions should be performed to better understand outcomes of these two procedures.
Neurosurgeons’ opinions on the prenatal management of myelomeningocele
Authors: Gadjradj Pravesh S. , Spoor Jochem K. H. , Eggink Alex J. , Wijnen René , Miller Jena L. , Rosner Mara , Groves Mari L. , DeKoninck Philip L. J. , Harhangi Biswadjiet S. , Baschat Ahmet , van Veelen Marie-Lise , de Jong Tjeerd H. R. 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVEImprovements in imaging and surgical technological innovations have led to the increasing implementation of fetal surgical techniques. Open fetal surgery has demonstrated more favorable clinical outcomes in children born with open myelomeningocele (MMC) than those following postnatal repair. However, primarily because of maternal risks but also because of fetal risks, fetal surgery for MMC remains controversial. Here, the authors evaluated the contemporary management of MMC in the hope of identifying barriers and facilitators for neurosurgeons in providing fetal surgery for MMC.METHODSAn online survey was emailed to members of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ISPN) in March 2019. The survey focused on 1) characteristics of the respondents, 2) the practice of counseling on and managing prenatally diagnosed MMC, and 3) barriers, facilitators, and expectations of fetal surgery for MMC. Reminders were sent to improve the response rate.RESULTSA total of 446 respondents filled out the survey, most (59.2%) of whom specialized in pediatric neurosurgery. The respondents repaired an average of 9.6 MMC defects per year, regardless of technique. Regardless of the departments in which respondents were employed, 91.0% provided postnatal repair of MMC, 13.0% open fetal repair, and 4.9% fetoscopic repair. According to the surgeons, the most important objections to performing open fetal surgery were a lack of cases available to become proficient in the technique (33.8%), the risk of maternal complications (23.6%), and concern for fetal complications (15.2%). The most important facilitators according to advocates of prenatal closure are a decreased rate of shunt dependency (37.8%), a decreased rate of hindbrain herniation (27.0%), and an improved rate of motor function (18.9%). Of the respondents, only 16.9% agreed that open fetal surgery should be the standard of care.CONCLUSIONSThe survey results showed diversity in the management of patients with MMC. In addition, significant diversity remains regarding fetal surgery for MMC closure. Despite the apparent benefits of open fetal surgery in selected pregnancies, only a minority of centers and providers offer this technique. As a more technically demanding technique that requires multidisciplinary effort with less well-established long-term outcomes, fetoscopic surgery may face similar limited implementation, although the surgery may pose fewer maternal risks than open fetal surgery. Centralization of prenatal treatment to tertiary care referral centers, as well as the use of sophisticated training models, may help to augment the most commonly cited objection to the implementation of prenatal closure, which is the overall limited caseload.
Using the keystone design perforator island flap in large myelomeningocele closure
Authors: Formentin Cleiton , de Andrade Erion Junior , Matias Leo Gordiano , Joaquim Andrei F. , Tedeschi Helder , Raposo-Amaral Cássio Eduardo , Ghizoni Enrico 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVEMany repair techniques have been proposed to treat large myelomeningocele (MMC), and although effective in many cases, some of these techniques can be complex and time consuming, with complications such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, flap loss, tip necrosis, and wound dehiscence. The purpose of this study was to analyze cases of large skin defects and the methods applied and to report the outcomes of the keystone design perforator island flap (KDPIF) technique for large MMC closure.METHODSThe authors performed a retrospective review of all neonatal patients who had undergone KDPIF for MMC closure in the period from 2013 to 2018. All patients had a diagnosis of lumbosacral MMC based on obstetric ultrasound. The neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons had selected the cases after concluding that primary closure would be unlikely. The design of the flap is based on the randomly located vascular perforators, creating two identical opposing flaps to fashion a double keystone flap. During wound closure, V-Y advancement of each end of the double flap in the longitudinal axis creates redundancy in the central portion of the flap and reduces the horizontal tension. After discharge, both the neurosurgery and plastic surgery teams followed up all patients, tracking the results with photography.RESULTSNo skin flap dehiscence or necrosis, infection, or CSF leakage was detected, proving the reliability of the flap. One of the patients required further surgery for the large skin defects after insufficient intrauterine closure of the MMC and successfully underwent KDPIF treatment. Another patient (14.3%) had severe neonatal sepsis, which ultimately led to death. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was required after the skin defect repair in 5 (83.3%) of the 6 surviving patients. Exceptional aesthetic results were achieved for all patients during the follow-up.CONCLUSIONSThe KDPIF technique is based on well-known vascular perforators of the intercostal, lumbar, and gluteal regions. Wound tension is widely distributed by the flap and, as a consequence, relevant tissue bulk, reliable vascularity, and important geometrical versatility are provided. In addition, most of the muscles and fascia are preserved, which is another advantage in terms of minimizing secondary morbidity to local tissue rearrangement. The use of KDPIF closure was successfully shown to be a viable alternative for more complex MMCs that present with large skin defects.
The role of sacral laminoplasty in the management of spina bifida and sacral cystic lesions: case series
Authors: Chen Yu-Ning , Yang Shih-Hung , Chou Sheng-Che , Kuo Meng-Fai 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVEAlthough laminae are not viewed as essential structures for spinal integrity, in the sacrum the anatomical weakness and gravity makes it a vulnerable area for CSF accumulation and expansion. The congenital or postoperative defects of sacral laminae, such as in patients with spina bifida, make this area more susceptible to forming progressive dural ectasia, pseudomeningocele, or expansile arachnoid cyst (Tarlov cyst). In addition, adhesions between the dura and surrounding soft tissue after laminectomy can cause some local symptoms, which are difficult to relieve. The authors propose that sacral laminoplasty with titanium mesh can provide a rigid support and barrier to resolve these sacral lesions and local symptoms.METHODSFrom January 2016 to December 2017, patients with progressive CSF-containing lesions in the sacral area and defective sacral laminae were included in the study. After repair of the lesion, the authors performed sacral laminoplasty with titanium mesh in each patient. Subsequently, the soft tissue and skin were closed primarily.RESULTSA total of 6 patients were included. Four patients with repaired myelomeningocele had progressive dural ectasia. One patient with lipomyelomeningocele previously underwent detethering surgery and developed postoperative pseudomeningocele. One patient had a symptomatic Tarlov cyst. Four of these 6 cases presented with low-back pain and local tenderness. During follow-up, ranging from 13 to 37 months, all 6 patients experienced no recurrence of dural ectasia or pseudomeningocele and were free from local symptoms.CONCLUSIONSSacral laminoplasty with titanium mesh is a safe and effective procedure for treating progressive sacral dural ectasia and refractory pseudomeningocele, preventing CSF leakage as well as relieving local symptoms that may occur years after previous surgery for spina bifida.
Cost of prenatal versus postnatal myelomeningocele closure for both mother and child at 1 year of life
Authors: Kessler Brice A. , Catalino Michael P. , Quinsey Carolyn , Goodnight William , Elton Scott 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVEPrenatal myelomeningocele (MMC) closure has been performed in the United States for 2 decades. While prior work has focused on clinical outcomes of prenatal MMC closure, the cost of this procedure in comparison with that of postnatal MMC closure is unclear. The authors’ aim was to compare the cost of prenatal versus postnatal MMC closure for both the child and mother at 1 year.METHODSA prospective database of patients undergoing prenatal and postnatal MMC closure between 2011 and 2018 with 1-year follow-up was retrospectively reviewed. Charge data for relevant admissions were converted to a cost estimate using the authors’ institution’s Medicare hospital-specific cost-to-charge ratio. Children, mothers, and mother/child pairs were considered separately. The primary outcome was cost. Secondary outcomes included the need for hydrocephalus treatment, length of stay (LOS), and readmissions. Other covariates included gestational age at birth, MMC lesion level, and obstetric complications.RESULTSThe median cost of care for children in the prenatal group was greater, although not significantly so, at $58,406.71 (IQR $16,900.24–$88,951.01) compared with $49,889.95 (IQR $38,425.18–$115,163.86) for children in the postnatal group (p = 0.204). The median cost for mothers in the prenatal group was significantly greater at $24,548.29 (IQR $20,231.55–$36,862.31) compared with $5087.30 (IQR $4430.72–$5362.56) (p < 0.001). The median cost for mother/child pairs in the prenatal group was $102,377.75 (IQR $37,384.30–$118,527.74) compared with $55,667.82 (IQR $42,840.78–$120,058.06) (p = 0.45). Children in the prenatal group had a lower gestational age at birth (235.81 days vs 265.77 days, p < 0.001) and fewer readmissions (33.3% vs 72.7%, p < 0.001), and hydrocephalus treatment was less common (33.3% vs 90.9%, p < 0.001). Index LOS did not differ between children in the prenatal and postnatal groups (26.8 days vs 23.5 days, p = 0.63). Mothers in the prenatal group had longer LOS (15.92 days vs 4.68 days, p < 0.001) and more readmissions (18.5% vs 0.0%, p = 0.06).CONCLUSIONSThe median cost of prenatal versus postnatal MMC closure did not significantly differ from a hospital perspective at 1 year, although variability in cost was high for both groups. When considering the mother alone, prenatal MMC closure was costlier. Future work is needed to assess cost from a patient and societal perspective both at 1 year and beyond.
Development of an evidence-based individualized transition plan for spina bifida
Authors: Hopson Betsy , MSHA  , Alford Elizabeth N. , Zimmerman Kathrin , Blount Jeffrey P. , Rocque Brandon G. 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVEIn spina bifida (SB), transition of care from the pediatric to adult healthcare settings remains an opportunity for improvement. Transition of care is necessarily multidimensional and focuses on increasing independence, autonomy, and personal responsibility for health-related tasks. While prior research has demonstrated that effective transition can improve health outcomes and quality of life while reducing healthcare utilization, little is known about the most advantageous transition program components/design. The individualized transition plan (ITP) was developed to optimize the readiness of the adolescent with SB for adult healthcare. The ITP is a set of clearly articulated, mutually developed goals that arise from best available data on successful transition and are individualized to meet the individual challenges, needs, and attributes of each patient and family.METHODSProspectively completed ITPs were retrospectively reviewed from June 2018 to May 2019. Demographic and disease characteristics were collected, and specific goals were reviewed and categorized.RESULTSThirty-two patients with an ITP were included. The cohort was 50% male and had a mean age of 16.4 years. For goal 1 (maximize education), the most common goal was to complete a career interest survey (44%), followed by researching application/admission requirements for programs of interest (25%), shadowing in and/or visiting a workplace (16%), and improving high school performance (16%). For goal 2 (bowel management), most patients (59%) had a working bowel program with few or no bowel accidents. Eight patients (25%) were having more than the desired number of bowel accidents and received formal consultation with a gastroenterologist. Five patients (16%) needed only minor adjustments to their bowel management regimen. Goal 3 (SB program coordinator goal) focused on documenting medical and/or surgical history for the majority of patients (66%). Other goals aimed to increase patient communication in healthcare settings or utilize available community resources.CONCLUSIONSThe authors developed an evidence-based ITP that focuses around 5 goals: maximizing education, bowel continence, and goals set by the SB clinic coordinator, parent/caregiver, and patient. Although developed for the authors’ SB clinic, the ITP concept is applicable to transition of care in any chronic childhood illness.
Progressive hydrocephalus despite early complete reversal of hindbrain herniation after prenatal open myelomeningocele repair
Authors: Lu Victor M. , Snyder Kendall A. , Ibirogba Eniola R. , Ruano Rodrigo , Daniels David J. , Ahn Edward S. 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVEOpen prenatal myelomeningocele (MMC) repair is typically associated with reversal of in utero hindbrain herniation (HBH) and has been posited to be associated with a reduction in both postoperative prenatal and immediate postnatal hydrocephalus (HCP) risks. However, the long-term postnatal risk of HCP following HBH reversal in these cases has not been well defined. The authors describe the results of a long-term HCP surveillance in a cohort of patients who underwent prenatal MMC repair at their institution.METHODSA retrospective review of all prenatal MMC repair operations performed at the Mayo Clinic between 2012 and 2017 was conducted. Pertinent data regarding the clinical courses of these patients before and after MMC repair were summarized. Outcomes of interest were occurrences of HBH and HCP and the need for intervention.RESULTSA total of 9 prenatal MMC repair cases were identified. There were 7 cases in which MRI clearly demonstrated prenatal HBH, and of these 86% (6/7) had evidence of HBH reversal after repair and prior to delivery. After a mean postnatal follow-up of 20 months, there were 3 cases of postnatal HCP requiring intervention. One case that failed to show complete HBH reversal after MMC repair required early ventriculoperitoneal shunting. The other 2 cases were of progressive, gradual-onset HCP despite complete prenatal HBH reversal, requiring endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization at ages 5 and 7 months.CONCLUSIONSAlthough prenatal MMC repair can achieve HBH reversal in a majority of well-selected cases, the prevention of postnatal HCP requiring intervention appears not to be predicated on this outcome alone. In fact, it appears that in a subset of cases in which HBH reversal is achieved, patients can experience a progressive, gradual-onset HCP within the 1st year of life. These findings support continued rigorous postnatal surveillance of all prenatal MMC repair patients, irrespective of postoperative HBH outcome.
Reviewing the prognostic factors in myelomeningocele
Authors: Protzenko Tatiana , Bellas Antônio , Pousa Marcelo Sampaio , Protzenko Michelle , Fontes Juliana Marin , de Lima Silveira Anne Margareth , Sá Cynthia Amaral , Pereira José Paulo , Salomão Renato Manganelli , Salomão José Francisco M. , dos Santos Gomes Saint Clair 
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVEThe goal of this study was to analyze the factors that have an impact on morbidity and mortality in patients with myelomeningocele (MMC).METHODSA retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze factors associated with MMC that influence the morbidity and mortality of the disease. Data were collected from medical records of children who underwent the primary repair of MMC at the Fernandes Figueira Institute–Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IFF-Fiocruz) between January 1995 and January 2015, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. The following variables were analyzed: demographic characteristics (gestational age, sex, and birth weight); clinical features (head circumference at birth, anatomical and functional levels of MMC, hydrocephalus, symptomatic Chiari malformation type II, neurogenic bladder, and urinary tract infection [UTI]); and surgical details such as timing of repair of MMC, age at first shunt placement, shunt surgery modality (elective or emergency), concurrent surgery (correction of MMC and shunt insertion in the same surgical procedure), incidence and cause of shunt dysfunction, use of external ventricular drain, transfontanelle puncture, surgical wound complications prior to shunting, and endoscopic treatment of hydrocephalus.RESULTSA total of 231 patients with MMC were included in the analysis. Patients were followed for periods ranging from 1 to 20 years, with a mean of 6.9 years. The frequency of shunt placement was observed mainly among patients with MMC at the highest spinal levels (p < 0.01). The main causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with MMC were shunt failures, diagnosed in 91 of 193 cases (47.2%) of hydrocephalus, and repeated UTIs, in 129 of 231 cases (55.8%) of MMC; these were the main causes of hospitalization and death. Head circumference ≥ 38 cm at birth was found to be a significant risk factor for shunt revision (p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.092–1.354). Also, the lumbar functional level of MMC was associated with less revision than upper levels (p < 0.014; 95% CI 0.143–0.805). There was a significant association between recurrent UTI and thoracic functional level.CONCLUSIONSMacrocephaly at birth and higher levels of the defect have an impact on worse outcome and, therefore, are a challenge to the daily practice of pediatric neurosurgery.