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Study design Observational study. Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and evaluate the effects of decompressive surgery on erectile dysfunction in cervical spinal stenosis and lumbar canal stenosis patients. Methods This observational, prospective analysis enrolled patients aged 18-80 with cervical spinal stenosis and/or lumbar canal stenosis that underwent respective decompressive surgery. The IIEF-5 questionnaire was administered preoperatively, and at 6- and 12-months postoperatively to assess erectile dysfunction severity. The EPIC database was queried to determine any postoperative complications and document prominent erectile dysfunction risk factors. Results Of 79 patients included in the analysis, 42 (53.2%) completed the IIEF-5 at 6 months, and 62 (78.5%) completed it at 12 months. Eighteen had cervical stenosis only, 54 had lumbar stenosis only, and 7 had both. 72% (18/25) of cervical stenosis patients and 83.6% (51/61) of lumbar stenosis patients had erectile dysfunction preoperatively according to IIEF-5 responses. The average preoperative IIEF-5 score indicated significant presence of erectile dysfunction for both the cervical and lumbar stenosis groups. No significant differences were identified in IIEF-5 score deltas from pre- to both postoperative periods. The presence of erectile dysfunction in both the cervical and lumbar stenosis groups was not significantly associated with the presence of any documented risk factors. Conclusions Our results suggest no significant improvement in overall erectile function postoperatively for patients with preoperative erectile dysfunction. This is important to address during patient counseling for decompression surgery candidates with cervical spinal stenosis and/or lumbar canal stenosis to manage expectations.

PURPOSE To evaluate association of the baseline macular hole (MH) geometric features and longitudinal ellipsoid zone integrity with the visual acuity outcome after surgical repair. METHODS This was a post-hoc analysis of eyes in the DISCOVER study undergoing vitrectomy repair for MH. Anatomical and functional data were collected through one year postoperatively. An automated retinal layer segmentation platform was used for the assessment of outer retinal metrics and volumetric reconstruction of MH. Association of longitudinal ellipsoid zone features and baseline MH height, width, and volume with VA outcomes were investigated. RESULTS Eighty-four eyes with MH were included. The mean baseline VA was 20 of 114 and increased to 20 of 45 (P < 0.001) at postoperative Month 12 (N = 45). Successful MH closure was achieved in 98.8% of cases. Ellipsoid zone integrity metrics significantly improved from baseline (P = 0.002) and postoperative Month 1 (P < 0.001) to post-operative Month 12. Ellipsoid zone metrics independently correlated with VA at all follow-up visits (P < 0.05). Increased baseline MH width and volume negatively correlated with the VA at postoperative Month 12 (P < 0.001). Preoperative VA and EZ integrity on optical coherence tomography were predictors for postoperative VA. CONCLUSION Baseline MH volumetric parameters and EZ parameters were associated with VA outcomes after repair.

Background/aimsThis study aimed to characterise the clinical outcomes and utility of intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT)-assisted macular hole (MH) repair.MethodsThis was a post hoc analysis of eyes in the Determination of feasibility of Intraoperative Spectral domain microscope Combined/integrated OCT Visualization during En face Retinal and ophthalmic surgery (DISCOVER) study undergoing surgical MH repair with use of iOCT. Functional and surgical outcome data were collected through 12 months postoperatively. MH closure rate, postoperative visual acuity (VA), percentage of cases in which iOCT provided valuable feedback and altered surgical decision making were measured.ResultsEighty-four eyes were included in this study. The mean preoperative VA measured 20/114. The mean postoperative VA improved to 20/68 (pConclusionThis study suggests that iOCT may have important utility in MH surgery, including impacting surgical decision making. iOCT-assisted MH surgery resulted in significant improvement in VA and high single-surgery success rate.

OBJECTIVEUnder the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative, Medicare reimburses for lumbar fusion without adjusting for underlying pathology. However, lumbar fusion is a widely used technique that can treat both degenerative and traumatic pathologies. In other surgical cohorts, significant heterogeneity exists in resource use when comparing procedures for traumatic versus degenerative pathologies. If the same were true for lumbar fusion, BPCI would create a financial disincentive to treat specific patient populations. The goal of this study was to compare hospital resource use for lumbar fusion between 2 patient populations: patients with spondylolisthesis and patients with lumbar vertebral fracture.METHODSThe authors compared the hospital resource use of two lumbar fusion cohorts that BPCI groups into the same payment bundle for lumbar fusion: patients with spondylolisthesis and patients with lumbar vertebral fracture. National Inpatient Sample data from 2013 were queried for patients who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar vertebral fracture or spondylolisthesis. Hospital resource use was measured using length of stay (LOS), direct hospital costs, and odds of discharge to a post-acute care facility and compared using multivariable linear and logistic regression. All models adjusted for patient demographics, 29 comorbidities, and hospital characteristics.RESULTSAfter adjusting for patient demographics, insurance status, hospital characteristics, and 29 comorbidities, spondylolisthesis patients had a mean LOS that was 36% shorter (95% CI 26%–44%, p < 0.0001), a mean cost that was 13% less (95% CI 3.7%–21%, p < 0.0001), and 3.2 times greater odds of being discharged home (95% CI 2.5–5.4, p < 0.0001) than lumbar vertebral fracture patients.CONCLUSIONSUnder the proposed DRG (diagnosis-related group)–based BPCI, hospitals would be reimbursed the same amount for lumbar fusion regardless of the diagnosis. However, compared with fusion for spondylolisthesis, fusion for lumbar vertebral fracture was associated with longer LOS, greater direct hospital costs, and increased likelihood of being discharged to a post-acute care facility. These findings suggest that the BPCI episode of care for lumbar fusion dis-incentivizes treatment of trauma patients.