Search

Background: Thoracolumbar (TL) fractures are uncommon injuries in the pediatric population. Surgery is recommended for TL fractures with significant deformity, posterior ligamentous complex disruption, or neurological compromise. The Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Scale (TLICS) has been validated in pediatric populations and serves as a valuable tool for guiding treatment decisions. However, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the appropriate treatment for patients with a TLICS of 4. While conservative and surgical techniques have been described, most studies focused on adult populations, and there is no consensus on the appropriate management in the pediatric population. We reviewed our institutional experience of TL fractures in young children with TLICS of 4, managed both non-operatively and operatively. Methods: A retrospective review of a single institution’s experience managing pediatric patients (

Pressure control cam dislocation is a rare finding in patients with a programmable shunt valve that should be considered when evaluating patients with signs and symptoms of shunt malfunction. The objective of this paper is to review the mechanism, clinical presentation, and radiographic findings associated with pressure control cam (PCC) dislocation, in addition to presenting a novel case to add to the scarce literature on this topic. A systematic review of the literature were performed using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane from database inception. PCC dislocation is exceedingly rare and can present with no symptoms, positional headache, neck pain, nausea, or vomiting. Skull x-ray findings demonstrate a clear black “X” at the distal end of the valve, due to the PCC disarticulation from atop the base plate of the plastic valve housing. Intraoperatively, a “Y”-shaped crack atop the plastic valve housing may be present and the PCC may be fully separated from the shunt or found at the distal end of the plastic valve housing. Prior reports of dislocation of the PCC have occurred 7-9 years after implantation, with inciting events including direct trauma, programmable valve adjustment, and utilization 3-Tesla magnetic resonance image scan.

Objective: Ischemic strokes cause significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is an important step to achieve reperfusion and minimize neuronal loss for those patients that qualify. Multiple studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between the timeliness of tPA administration after infarction has begun and improved health outcomes. Hospital process related barriers to tPA administration increase the time from the onset of stroke to treatment, leading to worse outcomes. Patients and methods: This retrospective review from a single stroke center looked at stroke patients across three years (July 2014–May 2017) and examined the temporal delay to treatment that potentially stemmed from the fact that tPA was given after transfer from the radiology suite (post-CT scan) back to the emergency department. This order of events is commonplace in stroke centers across the US. Results: Our results indicate there is a significant 26 minute delay with the commonly used protocol where tPA is given, not in the CT scanner, but rather after the scan when patients return to the emergency room. Conclusion: Our results imply that a change in the protocol (direct administration of tPA in the radiology suite) could improve health outcomes by decreasing the delay in tPA administration. Keywords: Stroke, tPA, Barriers to treatment, Vascular neurology, Quality improvement, Vascular neurosurgery