Ann-Kathrin Jörger

• Medical Doctor at Technical University of Munich

Introduction The role of low-pathogenic bacteria cultured from removed spinal implants is unclear and the efficacy of perioperative single-dose antibiotics against such bacteria remains underexplored. Research question This study aims to investigate whether pedicle screw loosening is associated with pathogens and if the choice of perioperative ant...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Pyogenic spinal infections pose therapeutic challenges, with the optimal treatment approach remaining contentious. This study aimed to compare outcomes of conservative vs early surgical treatment (SuT) modalities in primary pyogenic spondylodiskitis through an international cohort analysis. METHODS A retrospective outcome...

Purpose Spontaneous spinal hematoma (SSH), a rare neurological disorder, demands immediate diagnostic evaluation and intervention to prevent lasting deficits. This case series analyzes instances, particularly highlighting cases where vascular causes were identified despite inconclusive initial imaging. Methods In a retrospective study of 20 patien...

BACKGROUND Effective management of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) demands vigilant monitoring and treatment, given the risks of complications such as cerebral vasospasm and delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DINDs). Transcranial transmission ultrasound (TTUS) is a well-established technique for assessing brain pulsatil...

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the role of the microbiome in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Emerging research highlights the potential role of the microbiome in intracranial aneurysm (IA) formation and rupture, particularly in relation to inflammation. In this review, we aim to explore the existing literature re...

(1) Background: There is a marked proportion of spondylodiscitis patients who die during the early stage of the disease despite the applied therapy. This study investigates this early mortality and explores the associated risk factors. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of spondylodiscitis patients treated at our Level I spine cente...

Purpose The use of intraoperative MRI (ioMRI) contributes to an improved extent of resection. Hybrid operating room MRI suites have been established, with the patient being transferred to the MRI scanner. In the present descriptive analysis, we compared the rate of surgical site infections (SSI) after intracranial tumor surgery with and without the...

Background: Vasospasm of the large cerebral arteries (CVS) after aneurysmatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) reduces cerebral perfusion and causes delayed cerebral ischemia. Although endovascular spasmolysis shows convincing angiographic results, patients often do not improve in outcome. Delayed recognition of CVS contributes substantially to this...

(1) Background: Surgery for spinal metastases has gained a decisive role in modern oncological treatment. Recently, carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFR) polyethyl-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) pedicle screw systems were introduced, reducing artifacts on imaging and showing less perturbation effects on photon radiation. Preliminary clinical experience with CFR...

This study reports a large single-center series of primary bone tumors of the spine (PBTs). We aimed to review the concepts for management, as this kind of tumor represents a very rare entity, and also propose a new treatment algorithm. Retrospective analysis revealed 92 patients receiving surgery for PBTs from 2007 to 2019 at our center. They were...

Introduction Exposure of the posterior skull base and the cerebellopontine angle is challenging due to important neurovascular structures. The retrosigmoid approach (RSA) has become the standard method used in surgery. We report our experiences with RSAs regarding technical obstacles, complications, and approach-related outcomes. Materials and Met...

Simple Summary Spinal metastases affect an exceptionally high number of cancer patients and thereby represent a common challenge for healthcare providers. Patients may suffer from debilitating symptoms, including excruciating back pain, immobility and even neurological dysfunction. An exceptionally acute clinical presentation is caused by the compr...

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Introduction: Spinal metastases of the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ; C7-Th2) pose a challenge for treatment. The aim of our study is to compare surgical strategies for their treatment with respect to surgical complexity and associated complications. Material and Methods: 238 patients were surgically treated with spinal metastases of the CTJ in 200...

Treatment of patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) with predominant low back pain (LBP) remains challenging. High-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF10 SCS) is believed to achieve significant pain reduction. We aimed to evaluate the real-life efficacy of HF-10 SCS in a tertiary spine center. A prospective observational study of all pa...

The aim of this case series was to provide a modern cohort of patients with cerebral aspergillosis and show the effectiveness of modern treatment concepts. In a 10-year period from January 2009 to January 2019, we identified 10 patients (6 male, 4 female) who received surgery or frameless stereotactic drainage of a cerebral aspergilloma at our cent...

Objective To investigate the complication rates and long-term implant failure rates in a monocentric study of a consecutive cohort of patients with thoracolumbar spinal metastases after posterior instrumentation with a fenestrated Carbon-fiber reinforced Poly-Ether-Ether-Ketone (CFRP) pedicle screw system. Methods We retrospectively reviewed demog...

Background Due to the aging society, the incidence of pyogenic spondylodiscitis is still rising. Although surgical treatment for spondylodiscitis in general is increasingly accepted, an optimal surgical strategy for treatment of pyogenic spinal infection has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of percu...

OBJECTIVE Surgical management of spinal metastases at the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) is highly complex and relies on case-based decision-making. The aim of this multicentric study was to describe surgical procedures for metastases at the CTJ and provide guidance for clinical and surgical management. METHODS Patients eligible for this study wer...

The management of patients with spinal metastases (SM) requires a multidisciplinary team of specialists involved in oncological care. Surgical management has evolved significantly over the recent years, which warrants reevaluation of its role in the oncological treatment concept. Any patient with a SM was screened for study inclusion. We report bas...

Radiolucent carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFR) polyethyl-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) has been established in spinal instrumentation for oncological reasons. Laboratory data reported comparable bacterial adhesion as titanium. Thus, using of CFR-PEEK spinal instrumentation for spondylodiscitis bases on artifact-free imaging to evaluate therapeutic success....

We aimed to identify independent psychological predictors of quality of life (QOL) and functional outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for degenerative cervical spine disease. We prospectively included patients undergoing ACDF for degenerative cervical disc herniation and stenosis. Patients completed a structured psychologic...

Clinical data following head or spine trauma in patients over 90 years is rare. The aim of this study was to analyze this patient cohort, assessing clinical characteristics, outcomes, and survival rates and to identify variables that may predict early mortality. A retrospective analysis of all patients over the age of 90 that were treated between J...

Background: Spinal instrumentation can be associated with complications, including implant loosening. Hitherto, implant loosening has mainly been attributed to mechanical overload. Objective: To examine the role of low-grade infections as the cause of implant failure in suspected aseptic implant loosening following spinal instrumentation. Metho...

Demographic trends make it incumbent on spine surgeons to recognize the special challenges involved in caring for older patients. The aim of this study was to identify variables that may predict early mortality in geriatric patients over the age of 90 following elective hospitalization for various spinal pathologies. Retrospective analyses of all p...

Cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy is of low surgical complexity, so much so that it has become the “beginners” cranial case. However, these “simple” procedures may have high complication rates. Identification of specific risk factors would allow targeted intervention to lower the complication rates. The aim of this study was to asses...

Objective To quantify the correlation between patients’ psychopathological predisposition, disability and health-related quality of life (QOL) after surgery for degenerative lumbar spine disease. Methods We prospectively included patients undergoing decompression for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis or disc herniation with ad...

Background Some recent studies indicate correlations between cervical alignment and clinical outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery. However, there still are no established criteria for the interpretation of alignment, fusion and subsidence in relation to clinical outcome. Methods A retrospective analysis of 208 radio...

Objective To analyze psychopathological outcome and health-related quality of life (QOL) for cohorts of patients undergoing transcranial or transnasal anterior skull base surgery. Methods A prospective study of patients undergoing elective surgery for various entities of the anterior skull base was performed. Evaluation for depression (ADS-K score...

Awake craniotomies represent an essential opportunity in the case of lesions in eloquent areas. Thus, optimal surveillance of the patient during different stages of sedation, as well as the detection of seizure activity during brain surgery, remains difficult, as skin electrodes for electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis are not applicable in most...

Tentorial meningiomas (TMs) may challenge the surgeon with their close association to neurovascular structures. We analyzed a consecutive series with regard to surgical and functional outcome following microsurgical resection. We retrospectively reviewed patient charts and imaging data of every patient with a TM resected at a single institution and...

OBJECTIVE Meningiomas are the most common intracranial neoplasm. Evidence concerning surgical management and outcome is abundant, while the implications for the quality of life (QOL) of a patient confronted with the diagnosis and undergoing surgery are unclear. The authors conducted a prospective study to evaluate QOL in relation to psychological c...

Background The benefit of an infection prevention bundle made up of five basic procedures to avoid surgical site infections (SSIs) following cranial surgery was evaluated. Methods Data from all patients with first time elective brain surgery from March 2014 till May 2016 were analyzed. In April 2015, an infection prevention bundle was implemented....

Abstract Background Due to improved diagnostic methods, the incidence of brain abscess is still rising. Therefore, clear and evidence- based therapy for the patients who suffer from brain abscesses is necessary. Brain abscesses are potentially life-threatening conditions that possibly lead to permanent injuries even after sufficient healing has t...

Background Activation of the immune system in terms of subseptic conditions during liver regeneration is of paramount clinical importance. However, little is known about molecular mechanisms and their mediators that control hepatocyte proliferation. We sought to determine the functional role of immune cells, especially NKT cells, in response to par...

Identification of only few cleaved Caspase 3 (cCaspase3) apoptotic cells in the liver parenchyma post-PH and LPS application. Using immunofluorescence on sections of the liver parenchyma post-PH and LPS, only rare events of cCaspase3-positive apoptotic cells (red) could be detected. Exemplary image depicting a liver section of WT mice at 24h after...

Reduced numbers of NKT cells within the regenerating liver in absence of LFA-1. (A) Detection of TCRß+αGalCer/CD1d-dextramer+ cells within the liver of WT or LFA-1-/- mice before (ex vivo) or 48h post PH and LPS using flow cytometry. One representative assay is shown; 20.000 events per dot plot are shown. (B) Quantification of TCRß+αGalCer/CD1d-dex...

T cell numbers in the blood of the WT and LFA-1-/- mice. Quantification of Thy1.2+ T cells within the blood of untreated WT or LFA-1-/- mice using flow cytometry. A representative assay is shown (n = 3). (TIF)