Browsing by Author "Srinivasan, Ethan S"

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    Dr. Ruth Jackson: the legacy of the first female spine surgeon.
    (Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 2022-05) Srinivasan, Ethan S; Erickson, Melissa M; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Than, Khoi D
    Dr. Ruth Jackson, born in 1902, was the first female spine surgeon on record. Her story of remarkable resilience and sacrifice is even more relevant given the stark gender disparities in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery that remain today. Dr. Jackson entered the field during the Great Depression and overcame significant barriers at each step along the process. In 1937, she became the first woman to pass the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery examination and join the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons as a full member. Her work in the cervical spine led to a notable lecture record and the publication of several articles, as well as a book, The Cervical Syndrome, in which she discussed the anatomy, etiology, and treatment of cervical pathologies. Additionally, Dr. Jackson developed the Jackson CerviPillo, a neck support that is still in use today. She left a legacy that continues to resonate through the work of the Ruth Jackson Orthopedic Society, which supports women at all levels of practice and training. From the story of Dr. Jackson's life, we can appreciate her single-minded determination that blazed a path for women in spine surgery, as well as consider the progress that remains to be made.
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    Front-Back Cervical Deformity Correction by Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion With Posterior Instrumentation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.
    (Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.), 2021-08) Srinivasan, Ethan S; Karikari, Isaac O; Williamson, Theresa; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Than, Khoi D
    Front-back procedures for cervical deformity permit the correction of cervical kyphosis in the setting of unfused facets. Here, we highlight the operative treatment of a 65-yr-old female entailing a 4-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, and C6-C7 with hyperlordotic interbody implants, supplemented by a posterior C2-T2 instrumented fusion. The patient initially presented with symptoms of treatment-refractory neck pain while neurologically intact on examination. Her imaging demonstrated significant cervical kyphosis measuring 46° as the Cobb angle between C2 and C7 without neural compression. The patient consented to the procedure and publication of their image. After 2 d of traction, the operation proceeded with the patient initially in a supine position with dissection medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle down to the vertebral bodies. Discectomies were performed at each level followed by installation of the interbody implants. After closure of this access wound, the patient was turned to a prone position for the posterior element of the operation. The posterior bony elements were exposed and a C2-T2 instrumented fusion performed. Postoperative imaging demonstrated improvement of her sagittal cervical curvature and the patient described improvement in her neck pain.
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    Gold Nanostars Obviate Limitations to Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) for the Treatment of Intracranial Tumors.
    (Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 2023-08) Srinivasan, Ethan S; Liu, Yang; Odion, Ren A; Chongsathidkiet, Pakawat; Wachsmuth, Lucas P; Haskell-Mendoza, Aden P; Edwards, Ryan M; Canning, Aidan J; Willoughby, Gavin; Hinton, Joseph; Norton, Stephen J; Lascola, Christopher D; Maccarini, Paolo F; Mariani, Christopher L; Vo-Dinh, Tuan; Fecci, Peter E

    Purpose

    Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is an effective minimally invasive treatment option for intracranial tumors. Our group produced plasmonics-active gold nanostars (GNS) designed to preferentially accumulate within intracranial tumors and amplify the ablative capacity of LITT.

    Experimental design

    The impact of GNS on LITT coverage capacity was tested in ex vivo models using clinical LITT equipment and agarose gel-based phantoms of control and GNS-infused central "tumors." In vivo accumulation of GNS and amplification of ablation were tested in murine intracranial and extracranial tumor models followed by intravenous GNS injection, PET/CT, two-photon photoluminescence, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), histopathology, and laser ablation.

    Results

    Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated the potential of GNS to accelerate and specify thermal distributions. In ex vivo cuboid tumor phantoms, the GNS-infused phantom heated 5.5× faster than the control. In a split-cylinder tumor phantom, the GNS-infused border heated 2× faster and the surrounding area was exposed to 30% lower temperatures, with margin conformation observed in a model of irregular GNS distribution. In vivo, GNS preferentially accumulated within intracranial tumors on PET/CT, two-photon photoluminescence, and ICP-MS at 24 and 72 hours and significantly expedited and increased the maximal temperature achieved in laser ablation compared with control.

    Conclusions

    Our results provide evidence for use of GNS to improve the efficiency and potentially safety of LITT. The in vivo data support selective accumulation within intracranial tumors and amplification of laser ablation, and the GNS-infused phantom experiments demonstrate increased rates of heating, heat contouring to tumor borders, and decreased heating of surrounding regions representing normal structures.
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    Instrument Tracking for Prone Lateral Surgery.
    (World neurosurgery, 2023-01) Srinivasan, Ethan S; Hamouda, Farrah; Gnaedinger, Anika G; Wang, Timothy Y; Chan, Andrew K; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Erickson, Melissa M; Than, Khoi D; Abd-El-Barr, Muhammad M
    The prone lateral transpsoas approach for lumbar interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation enables a large surface area implant without disruption of the posterior spine musculature from a single position.1,2 The addition of virtual live fluoroscopy instrument tracking navigation to surgery provides multiple benefits, including a reduction in patient and surgeon radiation exposure, highly accurate and dynamic spatial tool localization, and flexible equipment and patient positioning.3,4 Here, we highlight the use of virtual live fluoroscopy in prone lateral spine surgery. A 75-year-old man presented with prior L3-L5 fusion and progressive lower extremity pain and weakness. Using the described techniques, the patient underwent a lateral retroperitoneal interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation at L2-L3. The operation proceeded without complication, and the patient reported improved ambulation at 6-week follow-up. The prone lateral transpsoas approach and minimally invasive posterior instrumentation for lumbar interbody fusion permits effective fusion without significant posterior muscle disruption from a single position. The integration of virtual live fluoroscopy enables real-time instrument tracking throughout the minimally invasive case, with reductions in patient and surgeon radiation exposure. Video 1 depicts the use and benefits of this technology in lateral spine surgery. Compared with computed tomography-guided navigation, virtual live fluoroscopy technology enables rapid remapping to iatrogenic anatomic changes for more fluid progression through the operation.5 Virtual live fluoroscopy instrument tracking is a valuable tool that increases the safety and efficiency of single-position lateral spine surgery.
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    Minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach for lumbar corpectomy and fusion with posterior instrumentation.
    (Neurosurgical focus: Video, 2022-07) Srinivasan, Ethan S; Wang, Timothy Y; Rapoport, Anna; Erickson, Melissa M; Abd-El-Barr, Muhammad M; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Than, Khoi D
    In this video, the authors highlight the operative treatment of a 55-year-old man with chronic osteomyelitis discitis. The operation entailed a minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach for L3 and L4 corpectomies, L2-5 interbody fusion, and L2-5 minimally invasive posterior instrumentation. The operation proceeded in two stages, beginning in the lateral position with corpectomy of the L3 and L4 vertebral bodies and placement of a corpectomy cage. After closure of this access wound, the patient was turned to a prone position for the posterior element of the operation. Posterior instrumentation was placed with pedicle screws at L2 and L5. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2022.3.FOCVID2210.
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    Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion With Exoscope: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.
    (Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.), 2022-02) Srinivasan, Ethan S; Crutcher, Clifford L; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Gottfried, Oren N; Than, Khoi D
    Posterior cervical decompression and fusion is an effective strategy for correction of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Here, we highlight the operative treatment of a 63-yr-old man entailing a 4-level posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion, with the use of an exoscope throughout. The patient initially presented with symptoms of gait dysfunction and loss of fine motor control in the upper extremities, without neck pain or radiculopathy. His imaging demonstrated a congenitally narrowed spinal canal with cervical stenosis at C3-C4, C5-C6, and C6-C7. The patient consented to the procedure and publication of his image, along with other participants and any identifiable individuals. The operation proceeded with the patient in a prone position with midline dissection to the posterior elements of C3-C6. Pilot holes were drilled in the lateral masses and C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, and C6-C7 laminectomies performed using a high-speed drill, with removal of the laminae en bloc. Lateral mass screws were inserted and precontoured rods secured, with morselized autograft and allograft bone chips placed for arthrodesis. Postoperatively, the patient reported noted improvement in his symptoms.