Search

OBJECTIVE Interhospital transfer (IHT) to obtain a higher level of care for pediatric patients requiring neurosurgical interventions is common. Pediatric patients with malignant brain tumors often require subspecialty care commonly provided at specialized centers. The authors aimed to assess the impact of IHT in pediatric neurosurgical patients with malignant brain tumors to identify areas of improvement in treatment of this patient population. METHODS Pediatric patients (age < 19 years) with malignant primary brain tumors undergoing craniotomy for resection between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively identified in the Nationwide Readmissions Database. Patient and hospital data for each index admission provided by the Nationwide Readmissions Database was analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Further analysis evaluated association of IHT on specific patient- or hospital-related characteristics. RESULTS In a total of 2279 nonelective admissions for malignant brain tumors in pediatric patients, the authors found only 132 patients (5.8%) who underwent IHT for a higher level of care. There is an increased likelihood of transfer when a patient is younger (< 7 years old, p = 0.006) or the disease process is more severe, as characterized by higher pediatric complex chronic conditions (p = 0.0004) and increased all patient refined diagnosis-related group mortality index (p = 0.02). Patients who are transferred (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.04–3.35; p = 0.04) and patients who are treated at pediatric centers (OR 6.89, 95% CI 4.23–11.22; p < 0.0001) are more likely to have a routine discharge home. On multivariate analysis, transfer status was not associated with a longer length of stay (incident rate ratio 1.04, 95% CI 0.94–1.16; p = 0.5) or greater overall costs per patient ($20,947.58, 95% CI −$35,078.80 to $76,974.00; p = 0.50). Additionally, IHT is not associated with increased likelihood of death or major complication. CONCLUSIONS IHT has a significant role in the outcome of pediatric patients with malignant brain tumors. Transfer of this patient population to hospitals providing subspecialized care results in a higher level of care without a significant burden on overall costs, risks, or mortality.

OBJECTIVE Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an option for treatment of hydrocephalus, including for patients who have a history of previous treatment with CSF shunt insertion. The purpose of this study was to report the success of postshunt ETV by using data from a multicenter prospective registry. METHODS Prospectively collected data in the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) Core Data Project (i.e., HCRN Registry) were reviewed. Children who underwent ETV between 2008 and 2019 and had a history of previous treatment with a CSF shunt were included. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was created for the primary outcome: time from postshunt ETV to subsequent CSF shunt placement or revision. Univariable Cox proportional hazards models were created to evaluate for an association between clinical and demographic variables and subsequent shunt surgery. Postshunt ETV complications were also identified and categorized. RESULTS A total of 203 children were included: 57% male and 43% female; 74% White, 23% Black, and 4% other race. The most common hydrocephalus etiologies were postintraventricular hemorrhage secondary to prematurity (56, 28%) and aqueductal stenosis (42, 21%). The ETV Success Score ranged from 10 to 80. The median patient age was 4.1 years. The overall success of postshunt ETV at 6 months was 41%. Only the surgeon’s report of a clear view of the basilar artery was associated with a lower likelihood of postshunt ETV failure (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23–0.82, p = 0.009). None of the following variables were associated with postshunt ETV success: age at the time of postshunt ETV, etiology of hydrocephalus, sex, race, ventricle size, number of previous shunt operations, ETV performed at time of shunt infection, and use of external ventricular drainage. Overall, complications were reported in 22% of patients, with CSF leak (8.6%) being the most common complication. CONCLUSIONS Postshunt ETV was successful in treating hydrocephalus, without subsequent need for a CSF shunt, in 41% of patients, with a clear view of the basilar artery being the only variable significantly associated with success. Complications occurred in 22% of patients. ETV is an option for treatment of hydrocephalus in children who have previously undergone shunt placement, but with a lower than expected likelihood of success.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine differences in complications and outcomes between posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty (PFDD) and without duraplasty (PFD) for the treatment of pediatric Chiari malformation type I (CM1) and syringomyelia (SM). METHODS The authors used retrospective and prospective components of the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium database to identify pediatric patients with CM1-SM who received PFD or PFDD and had at least 1 year of follow-up data. Preoperative, treatment, and postoperative characteristics were recorded and compared between groups. RESULTS A total of 692 patients met the inclusion criteria for this database study. PFD was performed in 117 (16.9%) and PFDD in 575 (83.1%) patients. The mean age at surgery was 9.86 years, and the mean follow-up time was 2.73 years. There were no significant differences in presenting signs or symptoms between groups, although the preoperative syrinx size was smaller in the PFD group. The PFD group had a shorter mean operating room time (p < 0.0001), fewer patients with > 50 mL of blood loss (p = 0.04), and shorter hospital stays (p = 0.0001). There were 4 intraoperative complications, all within the PFDD group (0.7%, p > 0.99). Patients undergoing PFDD had a 6-month complication rate of 24.3%, compared with 13.7% in the PFD group (p = 0.01). There were no differences between groups for postoperative complications beyond 6 months (p = 0.33). PFD patients were more likely to require revision surgery (17.9% vs 8.3%, p = 0.002). PFDD was associated with greater improvements in headaches (89.6% vs 80.8%, p = 0.04) and back pain (86.5% vs 59.1%, p = 0.01). There were no differences between groups for improvement in neurological examination findings. PFDD was associated with greater reduction in anteroposterior syrinx size (43.7% vs 26.9%, p = 0.0001) and syrinx length (18.9% vs 5.6%, p = 0.04) compared with PFD. CONCLUSIONS PFD was associated with reduced operative time and blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and fewer postoperative complications within 6 months. However, PFDD was associated with better symptom improvement and reduction in syrinx size and lower rates of revision decompression. The two surgeries have low intraoperative complication rates and comparable complication rates beyond 6 months.

OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this trial was to determine if shunt entry site affects the risk of shunt failure. METHODS The authors performed a parallel-design randomized controlled trial with an equal allocation of patients who received shunt placement via the anterior entry site and patients who received shunt placement via the posterior entry site. All patients were children with symptoms or signs of hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly. Patients were ineligible if they had a prior history of shunt insertion. Patients received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt after randomization; randomization was stratified by surgeon. The primary outcome was shunt failure. The planned minimum follow-up was 18 months. The trial was designed to achieve high power to detect a 10% or greater absolute difference in the shunt failure rate at 1 year. An independent, blinded adjudication committee determined eligibility and the primary outcome. The study was conducted by the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network. RESULTS The study randomized 467 pediatric patients at 14 tertiary care pediatric hospitals in North America from April 2015 to January 2019. The adjudication committee, blinded to intervention, excluded 7 patients in each group for not meeting the study inclusion criteria. For the primary analysis, there were 229 patients in the posterior group and 224 patients in the anterior group. The median patient age was 1.3 months, and the most common etiologies of hydrocephalus were postintraventricular hemorrhage secondary to prematurity (32.7%), myelomeningocele (16.8%), and aqueductal stenosis (10.8%). There was no significant difference in the time to shunt failure between the entry sites (log-rank test, stratified by age < 6 months and ≥ 6 months; p = 0.061). The hazard ratio (HR) of a posterior shunt relative to an anterior shunt was calculated using a univariable Cox regression model and was nonsignificant (HR 1.35, 95% CI, 0.98–1.85; p = 0.062). No significant difference was found between entry sites for the surgery duration, number of ventricular catheter passes, ventricular catheter location, and hospital length of stay. There were no significant differences between entry sites for intraoperative complications, postoperative CSF leaks, pseudomeningoceles, shunt infections, skull fractures, postoperative seizures, new-onset epilepsy, or intracranial hemorrhages. CONCLUSIONS This randomized controlled trial comparing the anterior and posterior shunt entry sites has demonstrated no significant difference in the time to shunt failure. Anterior and posterior entry site surgeries were found to have similar outcomes and similar complication rates.

OBJECTIVE Facial palsy can be caused by masses within the posterior fossa and is a known risk of surgery for tumor resection. Although well documented in the adult literature, postoperative facial weakness after posterior fossa tumor resection in pediatric patients has not been well studied. The objective of this work was to determine the incidence of postoperative facial palsy after tumor surgery, and to investigate clinical and radiographic risk factors. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted at a single large pediatric hospital. Clinical, radiographic, and histological data were examined in children who were surgically treated for posterior fossa tumors between May 1, 1994, and June 1, 2011. The incidence of postoperative facial weakness was documented. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the predictive ability of clinicoradiological variables for facial weakness. RESULTS A total of 163 patients were included in this study. The average age at surgery was 7.4 ± 4.7 years, and tumor pathologies included astrocytoma (44%), medulloblastoma (36%), and ependymoma (20%). The lesions of 27 patients (17%) were considered high grade in nature. Thirteen patients (8%) exhibited preoperative symptoms of facial palsy. The overall incidence of postoperative facial palsy was 26% (43 patients), and the incidence of new postoperative facial palsy in patients without preoperative facial weakness was 20% (30 patients). The presence of a preoperative facial palsy had a large and significant effect in univariate analysis (OR 11.82, 95% CI 3.07–45.44, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression identified recurrent operation (OR 4.45, 95% CI 1.49–13.30, p = 0.01) and other preoperative cranial nerve palsy (CNP; OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.24–7.29, p = 0.02) as significant risk factors for postoperative facial weakness. CONCLUSIONS Facial palsy is a risk during surgical resection of posterior fossa brain tumors in the pediatric population. The study results suggest that the incidence of new postoperative facial palsy can be as high as 20%. The presence of preoperative facial palsy, an operation for recurrent tumor, and the presence of other preoperative CNPs were found to be significant risk factors for postoperative facial weakness.

OBJECTIVE Posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty (PFDD) is commonly performed for Chiari I malformation (CM-I) with syringomyelia (SM). However, complication rates associated with various dural graft types are not well established. The objective of this study was to elucidate complication rates within 6 months of surgery among autograft and commonly used nonautologous grafts for pediatric patients who underwent PFDD for CM-I/SM. METHODS The Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium database was queried for pediatric patients who had undergone PFDD for CM-I with SM. All patients had tonsillar ectopia ≥ 5 mm, syrinx diameter ≥ 3 mm, and ≥ 6 months of postoperative follow-up after PFDD. Complications (e.g., pseudomeningocele, CSF leak, meningitis, and hydrocephalus) and postoperative changes in syrinx size, headaches, and neck pain were compared for autograft versus nonautologous graft. RESULTS A total of 781 PFDD cases were analyzed (359 autograft, 422 nonautologous graft). Nonautologous grafts included bovine pericardium (n = 63), bovine collagen (n = 225), synthetic (n = 99), and human cadaveric allograft (n = 35). Autograft (103/359, 28.7%) had a similar overall complication rate compared to nonautologous graft (143/422, 33.9%) (p = 0.12). However, nonautologous graft was associated with significantly higher rates of pseudomeningocele (p = 0.04) and meningitis (p < 0.001). The higher rate of meningitis was influenced particularly by the higher rate of chemical meningitis (p = 0.002) versus infectious meningitis (p = 0.132). Among 4 types of nonautologous grafts, there were differences in complication rates (p = 0.02), including chemical meningitis (p = 0.01) and postoperative nausea/vomiting (p = 0.03). Allograft demonstrated the lowest complication rates overall (14.3%) and yielded significantly fewer complications compared to bovine collagen (p = 0.02) and synthetic (p = 0.003) grafts. Synthetic graft yielded higher complication rates than autograft (p = 0.01). Autograft and nonautologous graft resulted in equal improvements in syrinx size (p < 0.0001). No differences were found for postoperative changes in headaches or neck pain. CONCLUSIONS In the largest multicenter cohort to date, complication rates for dural autograft and nonautologous graft are similar after PFDD for CM-I/SM, although nonautologous graft results in higher rates of pseudomeningocele and meningitis. Rates of meningitis differ among nonautologous graft types. Autograft and nonautologous graft are equivalent for reducing syrinx size, headaches, and neck pain.

OBJECTIVEThe primary objective of this study was to use the prospective Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) registry to determine clinical predictors of fast time to shunt failure (≤ 30 days from last revision) and ultrafast time to failure (≤ 7 days from last revision).METHODSRevisions (including those due to infection) to permanent shunt placements that occurred between April 2008 and November 2017 for patients whose entire shunt experience was recorded in the registry were analyzed. All registry data provided at the time of initial shunt placement and subsequent revision were reviewed. Key variables analyzed included etiology of hydrocephalus, age at time of initial shunt placement, presence of slit ventricles on imaging at revision, whether the ventricles were enlarged at the time of revision, and presence of prior fast failure events. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to find key predictors of fast and ultrafast failure events.RESULTSA cohort of 1030 patients with initial shunt insertions experienced a total of 1995 revisions. Of the 1978 revision events with complete records, 1216 (61.5%) shunts remained functional for more than 1 year, and 762 (38.5%) failed within 1 year of the procedure date. Of those that failed within 1 year, 423 (55.5%) failed slowly (31–365 days) and 339 (44.5%) failed fast (≤ 30 days). Of the fast failures, 131 (38.6%) were ultrafast (≤ 7 days). In the multivariable analysis specified a priori, etiology of hydrocephalus (p = 0.005) and previous failure history (p = 0.011) were independently associated with fast failure. Age at time of procedure (p = 0.042) and etiology of hydrocephalus (p = 0.004) were independently associated with ultrafast failure. These relationships in both a priori models were supported by the data-driven multivariable models as well.CONCLUSIONSNeither the presence of slit ventricle syndrome nor ventricular enlargement at the time of shunt failure appears to be a significant predictor of repeated, rapid shunt revisions. Age at the time of procedure, etiology of hydrocephalus, and the history of previous failure events seem to be important predictors of fast and ultrafast shunt failure. Further work is required to understand the mechanisms of these risk factors as well as mitigation strategies.

OBJECTIVEFew studies have addressed surgical resource utilization—surgical revisions and associated hospital admission days—following shunt insertion or endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) with or without choroid plexus cauterization (CPC) for CSF diversion in hydrocephalus. Study members of the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) investigated differences in surgical resource utilization between CSF diversion strategies in hydrocephalus in infants.METHODSPatients up to corrected age 24 months undergoing initial definitive treatment of hydrocephalus were reviewed from the prospectively maintained HCRN Core Data Project (Hydrocephalus Registry). Postoperative courses (at 1, 3, and 5 years) were studied for hydrocephalus-related surgeries (primary outcome) and hospital admission days related to surgical revision (secondary outcome). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and compared using negative binomial regression, controlling for age, hydrocephalus etiology, and HCRN center. The study population was organized into 3 groups (ETV alone, ETV with CPC, and CSF shunt insertion) during the 1st postoperative year and 2 groups (ETV alone and CSF shunt insertion) during subsequent years due to limited long-term follow-up data.RESULTSAmong 1090 patients, the majority underwent CSF shunt insertion (CSF shunt, 83.5%; ETV with CPC, 10.0%; and ETV alone, 6.5%). Patients undergoing ETV with CPC had a higher mean number of revision surgeries (1.2 ± 1.6) than those undergoing ETV alone (0.6 ± 0.8) or CSF shunt insertion (0.7 ± 1.3) over the 1st year after surgery (p = 0.005). At long-term follow-up, patients undergoing ETV alone experienced a nonsignificant lower mean number of revision surgeries (0.7 ± 0.9 at 3 years and 0.8 ± 1.3 at 5 years) than those undergoing CSF shunt insertion (1.1 ± 1.9 at 3 years and 1.4 ± 2.6 at 5 years) and exhibited a lower mean number of hospital admission days related to revision surgery (3.8 ± 10.3 vs 9.9 ± 27.0, p = 0.042).CONCLUSIONSAmong initial treatment strategies for hydrocephalus, ETV with CPC yielded a higher surgical revision rate within 1 year after surgery. Patients undergoing ETV alone exhibited a nonsignificant lower mean number of surgical revisions than CSF shunt insertion at 3 and 5 years postoperatively. Additionally, the ETV-alone cohort demonstrated significantly fewer hospital admission days related to surgical management of hydrocephalus within 3 years after surgery. These findings suggest a time-dependent benefit of ETV over CSF shunt insertion regarding surgical resource utilization.

Preterm infants commonly present with a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA). The authors describe the case of a preterm infant with posthemorrhagic ventricular dilation, which resolved in a temporally coincident fashion to repair of hsPDA. The presence of a PDA with left-to-right shunting was confirmed at birth on echocardiogram and was unresponsive to repeated medical intervention. Initial cranial ultrasound revealed periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage. Follow-up serial ultrasound showed resolving intraventricular hemorrhage and progressive bilateral hydrocephalus. At 5 weeks, the ductus was ligated with the goal of improving hemodynamic stability prior to CSF diversion. However, neurosurgical intervention was not required due to improvement of ventriculomegaly occurring immediately after PDA ligation. No further ventricular dilation was observed at the 6-month follow-up.Systemic venous flow disruption and abnormal patterns of cerebral blood circulation have been previously associated with hsPDA. Systemic hemodynamic change has been reported to follow hsPDA ligation, although association with ventricular normalization has not. This case suggests that the unstable hemodynamic environment due to left-to-right shunting may also impede CSF outflow and contribute to ventriculomegaly. The authors review the literature surrounding pressure transmission between a PDA and the cerebral vessels and present a mechanism by which PDA may contribute to posthemorrhagic ventricular dilation.

OBJECTIVEPediatric neurosurgery is a core component of neurosurgical residency training. Pediatric case minimums are established by the Neurosurgery Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Case minimums, by themselves, allow for great variability in training between programs. There are no prior data on how the residency programs meet these requirements. The authors’ objective was to gather information on pediatric neurosurgical education among the ACGME-accredited neurosurgery training programs in order to shape further pediatric neurosurgical educational efforts.METHODSA 25-question survey about pediatric neurosurgical education was created by the Education Committee of the Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons and distributed to program directors of all 111 ACGME-accredited neurosurgery training programs.RESULTSThe response rate was 77% (86/111). In 55% of programs the residents are rotated to a responder-designated “freestanding” children’s hospital, and 39% of programs rotate residents to a children’s hospital within a larger adult hospital or a general hospital. There are 4 or fewer pediatric neurosurgical faculty in 91% of programs. In 12% of programs less than 100 cases are performed per year, and in 45% more than 500 are performed. In 31% of responding neurosurgery residency programs there is also a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship program supported by the same sponsoring institution. Seventy-seven percent of programs have at least one specific pediatric neurosurgery rotation, with 71% of those rotations occurring during postgraduate year 3 and 50% occurring during postgraduate year 4. The duration of pediatric rotation varies from no specific rotation to more than 1 year, with 48% of residents spending 4–6 months on a pediatric rotation and 12% spending 7–11 months. Last, 17% of programs send their residents to external sites sponsoring other residency programs for their pediatric rotation.CONCLUSIONSThere is great variety between neurosurgery training programs with regard to resident education in pediatric neurosurgery. This study’s data will serve as a baseline for future studies, and the authors hope the findings will guide further efforts in pediatric neurosurgical education in residency training programs.

OBJECTIVEAlthough current pediatric neurosurgery guidelines encourage the treatment of pediatric malignant brain tumors at specialized centers such as pediatric hospitals, there are limited data in support of this recommendation. Previous studies suggest that children treated by higher-volume surgeons and higher-volume hospitals may have better outcomes, but the effect of treatment at dedicated children’s hospitals has not been investigated.METHODSThe authors analyzed the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) from 2000–2009 and included all patients undergoing a craniotomy for malignant pediatric brain tumors based on ICD-9-CM codes. They investigated the effects of patient demographics, tumor location, admission type, and hospital factors on rates of routine discharge and mortality.RESULTSFrom 2000 through 2009, 83.6% of patients had routine discharges, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 1.3%. In multivariate analysis, compared with children treated at an institution designated as a pediatric hospital by NACHRI (National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions), children receiving treatment at a pediatric unit within an adult hospital (OR 0.5, p < 0.01) or a general hospital without a designated pediatric unit (OR 0.4, p < 0.01) were less likely to have routine discharges. Treatment at a large hospital (> 400 beds; OR 1.8, p = 0.02) and treatment at a teaching hospital (OR 1.7, p = 0.02) were independently associated with greater likelihood of routine discharge. However, patients transferred between facilities had a significantly decreased likelihood of routine discharge (OR 0.5, p < 0.01) and an increased likelihood of mortality (OR 5.0, p < 0.01). Procedural volume was not associated with rate of routine discharge or mortality.CONCLUSIONSThese findings may have implications for planning systems of care for pediatric patients with malignant brain tumors. The authors hope to motivate future research into the specific factors that may lead to improved outcomes at designated pediatric hospitals.

OBJECT Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) in the preterm infant remains a major neurological complication of prematurity. The authors first described insertion of a specially designed low-profile subcutaneous ventricular catheter reservoir for temporary management of hydrocephalus in 1983. This report presents the follow-up experience with the surgical management of PHH in this population and describes outcomes both in infants who were stable for permanent shunt insertion and those initially temporized with a ventricular reservoir (VR) prior to permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP)/ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt placement. METHODS A retrospective review was undertaken of the medical records of all premature infants surgically treated for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) between 1997 and 2012 at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. RESULTS Over 14 years, 91 preterm infants with PHH were identified. Fifty neonates received temporizing measures via a VR that was serially tapped for varying time periods. For the remaining 41 premature infants, VP/VA shunt placement was the first procedure. Patients with a temporizing measure as their initial procedure had undergone CSF diversion significantly earlier in life than those who had permanent shunting as the initial procedure (29 vs 56 days after birth, p < 0.01). Of the infants with a VR as their initial procedure, 5/50 (10%) did not undergo subsequent VP/VA shunt placement. The number of shunt revisions and the rates of loculated hydrocephalus and shunt infection did not statistically differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS Patients with initial VR insertion as a temporizing measure received a CSF diversion procedure significantly earlier than those who received a permanent shunt as their initial procedure. Otherwise, the outcomes with regard to shunt revisions, loculated hydrocephalus, and shunt infection were not different for the 2 groups.

OBJECT Racial and socioeconomic disparities within the US health care system are a growing concern. Despite extensive research and efforts to narrow such disparities, minorities and economically disadvantaged patients continue to exhibit inferior health care outcomes. Disparities in the delivery of pediatric neurosurgical care are understudied. Authors of this study examine the impact of race and socioeconomic status on outcomes following pediatric CSF shunting procedures. METHODS Discharge information from the 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 Kids' Inpatient Database for individuals (age < 21 years) with a diagnosis of hydrocephalus who had undergone CSF shunting procedures was abstracted for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusting for patient and hospital factors and annual CSF shunt procedure volume, were performed to evaluate the effects of race and payer status on the likelihood of inpatient mortality and nonroutine hospital discharge (that is, not to home). RESULTS African American patients (p < 0.05) had an increased likelihood of inpatient death and nonroutine discharge compared with white patients. Furthermore, Medicaid patients had a significantly higher likelihood of nonroutine discharge (p < 0.05) as compared with privately insured patients. CONCLUSIONS Findings in this study, which utilized US population-level data, suggest the presence of racial and socioeconomic status outcome disparities following pediatric CSF shunting procedures. Further studies on health disparities in this population are warranted.

Object Cerebrospinal fluid–diverting shunts are often complicated by bacterial infections. Dental procedures are known to cause transient bacteremia that could potentially spread hematogenously to these implanted devices. No literature currently exists to inform practitioners as to the need for prophylactic antibiotics for patients who possess these implants. The authors performed a retrospective study to assess whether dental procedures and poor oral health were associated with a higher likelihood of developing CSF-diverting shunt infections. Methods Neurosurgical and pediatric dental records from January 2007 to December 2012 were reviewed for shunt surgeries and dental encounters. Indications for shunt surgery and infection rates were recorded. Dental records were reviewed for several markers of overall dental health, such as a DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) score and a gingival health/oral hygiene score. The association between these scores and the incidence of shunt infections were studied. Moreover, the relationship between the incidence of shunt infections and the timing and invasiveness of preceding dental encounters were analyzed. Results A total of 100 pediatric patients were included in our study, for a total of 204 shunt surgeries. Twenty-one shunt infections were noted during the 6-year study period. Five of these shunts infections occurred within 3 months of a dental procedure. The odds ratio (OR) of developing a shunt infection within 3 months of a dental procedure was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27–3.01), and was not statistically significant. The OR of developing a shunt infection after a high-risk dental procedure compared with a low-risk dental procedure was 1.32 (95% CI 0.02–16.29), and was not statistically significant. There was no significant association between measures of dental health, such as DMFT and gingival health score, and the likelihood of developing a shunt infection. The ORs for these 2 scores were 0.51 (95% CI 0.04–4.96) and 1.58 (95% CI 0.03–20.06), respectively. The study was limited by sample size. Conclusions Dental health status and the number and type of dental procedures performed do not appear to confer a higher risk of developing a CSF-diverting shunt infection in this pediatric population.

Object Most CSF-diverting shunt systems have an access port that can be percutaneously tapped. Tapping the shunt can yield valuable information as to its function and whether an infection is present. The fear of causing a shunt infection by tapping may limit the physician's willingness to do so. The authors of this study investigate the risk of infecting a shunt secondary to percutaneous tapping. Methods Following institutional review board approval, CSF specimens obtained from tapping an indwelling CSF-diverting shunt during the 2011 and 2012 calendar years were identified and matched with clinical information. A culture-positive CSF sample was defined as an infection. If results were equivocal, such as a broth-only–positive culture, a repeat CSF specimen was examined. The CSF was obtained by tapping the shunt access port with a 25-gauge butterfly needle after prepping the unshaven skin with chlorhexidine. Results During the study period, 266 children underwent 542 shunt taps. With 541 taps, no clinical evidence of a subsequent shunt infection was found. One child's CSF went from sterile to infected 11 days later; however, this patient had redness along the shunt tract at the time of the initial sterile tap. Conclusions The risk of infection from tapping a shunt is remote if the procedure is done correctly.

Object The goal of this study was to review all cases of pediatric spinal arachnoid cysts (SACs) surgically treated at the authors' institution between 1992 and 2008 and to compare these cases to the published literature for the general population. Methods The charts of all pediatric patients with SACs were reviewed for demographics, medical history, presenting symptoms, imaging findings, operative procedure(s), complications, and outcomes. Following a complete literature review, the pediatric data were compared with data from the general population and unique findings associated with pediatric patients were identified. Results Thirty-one pediatric patients (median age 6.9 years) underwent operative intervention for SACs between 1992 and 2008 (median duration of follow-up 4.2 years). There were 17 female patients (55%) and 14 male patients (45%). Twenty-one patients (68%) presented with symptoms of radiculopathy or myelopathy. The most common presenting symptoms were pain (42%), lower-extremity weakness (39%), gait instability (32%), spasticity (19%), sensory loss (10%), and bladder dysfunction (7%). In 3 patients (10%) SACs were incidental findings. Intradural SACs were more common (18 patients, 58%) than extradural SACs (11 patients, 36%). One patient (3%) had extradural and intradural components. One patient (3%) had a purely intramedullary cyst, and 1 patient (3%) had both an intradural and intramedullary component. Of the 18 intradural SACs, 9 (50%) were located ventral to the spinal cord and 9 (50%) were dorsally situated. One dorsal intradural SAC had an intramedullary component. All extradural SACs were located dorsal to the spinal cord. Intradural SACs were primarily concentrated in the cervical and thoracic regions (67%), whereas extradural cysts were more evenly distributed between the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. Of the 18 patients with intradural SACs, 13 (72%) had significant previous CNS abnormalities, compared with 3 (27%) of 11 patients with extradural SACs. There were 2 operative complications. One patient had a CSF leak treated with a lumbar drain, and the second patient had a pseudomeningocele. No patients had neurological deterioration as a result of surgical intervention. Twenty-one patients (68%) had complete remission of symptoms, 6 (19%) had improvement, 3 (10%) were stable, and 1 (3%) has worsening of symptoms with recurrence that ultimately required cystoperitoneal shunting, despite multiple failed attempts at fenestration. Conclusions Spinal arachnoid cysts are rare lesions in the pediatric population. Affected patients present with back pain, weakness, and/or gait instability. In children, SACs predominantly develop in the thoracic region and are more likely to occur intradurally, compared with SACs in the general population. Overall outcomes following surgical fenestration or excision of SACs are excellent, with complete remission or improvement of symptoms achieved in 87% of cases.

Object The purpose of this study was to evaluate the posterior interhemispheric retrocallosal approach (PIRA) for its safety and efficacy in the resection of pineal region and posterior fossa lesions in children. Methods Twenty-nine PIRAs were performed in 26 children between March 1997 and March 2009, and these cases were retrospectively reviewed. There were 15 girls and 11 boys in the series. The median age at the time of surgery was 7 years (range 7 months–17 years). Twenty-seven cases were treated for tumor, 1 for loculated hydrocephalus, and 1 for an aneurysm. Results Of the 27 cases treated for tumor, there were 20 (74%) gross-total resections, 5 (19%) subtotal resections, and 2 (7%) biopsies. One bridging vein was sacrificed in 6 cases and 2 bridging veins were divided in 1 case, whereas in 3 cases there was sacrifice of a single deep cerebral vein. No patient developed radiographic evidence of venous infarction. Approach-related complications were low, and included 2 cases of transient homonymous hemianopia. There were no surgery-related deaths. Conclusions This approach allows for ample access to pineal region and posterior fossa lesions, with low postoperative morbidity.

Object The interhemispheric transcallosal approach offers an excellent surgical corridor for the treatment of deep-seated midline lesions. The approach typically requires the sacrifice of one or more middle-third superior sagittal sinus (SSS) cortical bridging veins, which introduces the risk of venous infarction and associated neurological injury. The authors studied the incidence of venous infarcts following this operative approach in a pediatric population. Methods The authors performed a retrospective review of surgical cases involving pediatric patients treated at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles between 1990 and 2007, in which an interhemispheric transcallosal operative procedure was performed and one or more middle-third SSS cortical bridging veins were occluded. Postoperative MR imaging studies done 1–3 days following the procedure were analyzed and compared with preoperative studies. Results Sixty-three patients met the inclusion criteria. No patient developed MR imaging evidence of venous infarction. Conclusions The occlusion of one or more middle-third SSS cortical bridging veins related to the interhemispheric transcallosal approach resulted in no incidence of cerebral venous infarction in this pediatric population.

Object The identification of Chiari malformations Type I (CM-Is) has increased in recent years, commonly during MR imaging for evaluation of a possible cause of scoliosis. The treatment of this abnormality remains controversial, and the expected success of treatment is unclear. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the effects of a craniotomy for CM-I decompression on scoliosis in children and adolescents. Methods The authors conducted a 10-year retrospective review of pediatric patients who were found to have a CM-I during evaluation for scoliosis. Seventy-nine patients were identified, ranging in age from 6 months to 18 years (median 12 years). There were 42 girls (54%) and 37 boys (46%). All were noted on MR imaging to have hydrosyringomyelia of the spinal cord. Forty-nine patients had curvatures less than 20° prior to treatment. The other 30 patients had curves ranging from 25° to 80° and underwent orthopedic follow-up and treatment. None of these patients were referred for specific neurological complaints, but 12 (16%) had neurological signs on physical examination. All were treated with a craniocervical decompression in a standard fashion. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 93 months with a median of 35 months. Magnetic resonance images obtained at 6 months postoperatively and serial standing anteroposterior spine radiographs were used to evaluate outcomes. Results On the MR images obtained 6 months postoperatively, 70 patients (89%) had a significant reduction in the syrinx with an associated ascent of the cerebellar tonsils. Persistent large syringes were treated with reoperation in 6 patients, and shunts were inserted for hydrocephalus in 2 patients. None of the 49 patients with curves less than 20° had progression of their curvature postoperatively. Of the 30 patients with curves greater than 25°, 9 had no change in the scoliosis or had a reduction in curve magnitude after Chiari decompression. This group required no further therapy and was effectively treated by Chiari decompression alone. Twenty-one patients required further scoliosis treatment after Chiari decompression; 12 required orthotic treatment, 11 received spinal instrumentation and fusion surgery, and 2 received orthoses followed by fusion and instrumentation. The severity of the curvature beyond 20° did not predict the need for spinal surgery. Conclusions This large series reports on the efficacy of treatment for scoliosis associated with a CM-I and syrinx in children. A CM-I decompression alone was adequate treatment for mild scoliosis of less than 20°. Patients with scoliosis greater than 20° required bracing and/or spinal fusion surgery 70% of the time in addition to the CM-I decompression.

The successful treatment of children with a primary CNS germ cell tumor can be greatly influenced by the neurosurgeon involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic care of these children. Variability in surgical philosophies no doubt exists due to the relatively infrequent incidence of these tumors, a lack of consensus regarding diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, and the advent of recent surgical innovations. Many of these issues were discussed at the Second International Symposium on Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors through presented abstracts and invited presentations. The neurosurgical aspects of these proceedings are summarized here in an effort to present the agreed-upon and debated issues that may confront the pediatric neurosurgeon.

Object The goal of this study was to review a large series of patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) who had craniospinal lesions to assess the long-term course, outcome, and efficacy of treatment of the disease. Methods Forty-four patients with LCH who presented to a single pediatric neurosurgical department between 1976 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Results This series included 29 boys and 15 girls, ranging in age from 2 months to 13 years, with a mean follow-up duration of 4.5 years. Twenty-seven patients (61%) had unifocal bone lesions, 12 (27%) had multifocal bone disease, 2 (5%) had solitary hypothalamic–pituitary axis lesions, and 3 (7%) had multiple organ involvement at presentation. Five (19%) of the 27 patients with unifocal bone disease and 4 (33%) of the 12 patients with multifocal bone disease had delayed development of new bone lesions during the follow-up period. The time to development of new bone lesions ranged from 1 month to 1 year. Two of the 3 patients with multiple-organ LCH died. Patient age ≤ 2 years at the time of initial presentation was a risk factor for both initial multifocality and eventual dissemination. In all patients with initial multifocal bone involvement or later dissemination of unifocal bone disease, LCH was controlled by chemotherapy, except for 2 who were treated by surgery alone. Three patients had histological evidence of spontaneous resolution of their lesions. Conclusions Patients with unifocal LCH can be effectively treated with surgery alone. Very young patients are more likely to have multifocal disease and disseminations, and will usually require chemotherapy to control their disease. Spontaneously regressing lesions need not be resected; however, a biopsy procedure can be performed for diagnostic purposes.

The authors analyzed the chemical composition of intracranial arachnoid cyst fluid to gain greater understanding of potential causes of cyst growth.The authors studied 54 pediatric patients who underwent craniotomies for arachnoid cyst fenestration. Cyst fluid was analyzed and results were compared with expected values (EVs) for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The arachnoid cyst fluid values were as follows: protein (median 37 mg/dl, mean 178.2 mg/dl, and EV 25.6 mg/dl), osmolality (median 284 mOsm/kg, mean 285.5 mOsm/kg, and EV 287.2 mOsm/kg), potassium (median 2.6 mEq/L, mean 2.68 mEq/L, and EV 2.88 mEq/L), sodium (median 140 mEq/L, mean 142.2 mEq/L, and EV 143.3 mEq/L), and chloride (median 122 mEq/L, mean 120.77 mEq/L, and EV 120.3 mEq/L). Median glucose was 51 mg/dl (range 26-98 mg/dl). The median white blood cell count in cyst fluid was 1/mm3, and the median red blood cell (RBC) count was 1.5/mm3. All Gram stains and cultures were negative. No statistically significant correlations were found between arachnoid cyst fluid protein level and elevated RBC count, patient age, or the subsequent need for a shunt. Elevated RBC count in cyst fluid was also not associated with the subsequent need for a shunt.Fluid from arachnoid cysts has a chemical composition similar to that of CSF, but some of them have significantly elevated protein levels. The authors hypothesize that elevated protein content may contribute to arachnoid cyst expansion in some patients.