Guan Qiang Li
MD Student with Scholarly Concentration in Bioengineering / Surgery, expected graduation Spring 2025
All Publications
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Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Injury: Evidence-Based Diagnosis, Management, and Outcomes.
The American surgeon
2023: 31348231216479
Abstract
Traumatic thoracolumbar spine injuries are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Targeted for non-spine specialist trauma surgeons, this systematic scoping review aimed to examine literature for up-to-date evidence on presentation, management, and outcomes of thoracolumbar spine injuries in adult trauma patients.This review was reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. We searched four bibliographic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible studies included experimental, observational, and evidence-synthesis articles evaluating patients with thoracic, lumbar, or thoracolumbar spine injury, published in English between January 1, 2010 and January 31, 2021. Studies which focused on animals, cadavers, cohorts with N <30, and pediatric cohorts (age <18 years old), as well as case studies, abstracts, and commentaries were excluded.A total of 2501 studies were screened, of which 326 unique studies were fully text reviewed and twelve aspects of injury management were identified and discussed: injury patterns, determination of injury status and imaging options, considerations in management, and patient quality of life. We found: (1) imaging is a necessary diagnostic tool, (2) no consensus exists for preferred injury characterization scoring systems, (3) operative management should be considered for unstable fractures, decompression, and deformity, and (4) certain patients experience significant burden following injury.In this systematic scoping review, we present the most up-to-date information regarding the management of traumatic thoracolumbar spine injuries. This allows non-specialist trauma surgeons to become more familiar with thoracolumbar spine injuries in trauma patients and provides a framework for their management.
View details for DOI 10.1177/00031348231216479
View details for PubMedID 37983195
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Socioeconomic Influence on Cervical Fusion Outcomes.
Clinical spine surgery
2023
Abstract
A retrospective observational study.The aim of this study was to compare postoperative outcomes following cervical fusion based on socioeconomic status (SES) variables including race, education, net worth, and homeownership status.Previous studies have demonstrated the effects of patient race and income on outcomes following cervical fusion procedures. However, no study to date has comprehensively examined the impact of multiple SES variables. We hypothesized that race, education, net worth, and homeownership influence important outcomes following cervical fusion.Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart (CDM) database was queried for patients undergoing first-time inpatient cervical fusion from 2003 to 2021. Patient demographics, SES variables, and the Charlson comorbidity index were obtained. Primary outcomes were hospital length of stay and 30-day rates of reoperation, readmission, and postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes included postoperative emergency room visits, discharge status, and total hospital charges.A total of 111,914 patients underwent cervical spinal fusion from 2003 to 2021. Multivariate analysis revealed that after controlling for age, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index, Black race was associated with a higher rate of 30-day readmissions [odds ratio (OR): 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.20]. Lower net worth (vs. >$500K) and renting (vs. owning a home) were significantly associated with both higher rates of 30-day readmissions (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.17-1.41; OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.22-1.49), and emergency room visits (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.18-1.42; OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.00-1.23). Lower net worth (vs. >$500K) was also associated with increased complications (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14-1.31).Socioeconomic variables, including patient race, education, and net worth, influence postoperative metrics in cervical spinal fusion surgery. Future studies should focus on developing and implementing targeted interventions based on patient SES to reduce disparity.
View details for DOI 10.1097/BSD.0000000000001533
View details for PubMedID 37691156
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Socioeconomic Effects on Lumbar Fusion Outcomes.
Neurosurgery
2023
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that socioeconomic status (SES) influences outcomes after spinal fusion. The influence of SES on postoperative outcomes is increasingly relevant as rates of lumbar fusion rise.OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of SES variables including race, education, net worth, and homeownership on postoperative outcomes.METHODS: Optum's deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart Database was used to conduct a retrospective review of SES variables for patients undergoing first-time, inpatient lumbar fusion from 2003 to 2021. Primary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS) and 30-day reoperation, readmission, and postoperative complication rates. Secondary outcomes included postoperative emergency room visits, discharge status, and total hospital charges.RESULTS: In total, 217204 patients were identified. On multivariate analysis, Asian, Black, and Hispanic races were associated with increased LOS (Coeff. [coefficient] 0.92, 95% CI 0.68-1.15; Coeff. 0.61, 95% CI 0.51-0.71; Coeff. 0.43, 95% CI 0.32-0.55). Less than 12th grade education (vs greater than a bachelor's degree) was associated with increased odds of reoperation (OR [odds ratio] 1.88, 95% CI 1.03-3.42). Decreased net worth was associated with increased odds of readmission (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.25-1.40) and complication (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.10-1.20). Renting a home (vs homeownership) was associated with increased LOS, readmissions, and total charges (Coeff. 0.30, 95% CI 0.17-0.43; OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.11-1.30; Coeff. 13200, 95% CI 9000-17000).CONCLUSION: Black race, less than 12th grade education, <$25K net worth, and lack of homeownership were associated with poorer postoperative outcomes and increased costs. Increasing perioperative support for patients with these sociodemographic risk factors may improve postoperative outcomes.
View details for DOI 10.1227/neu.0000000000002322
View details for PubMedID 36606803
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5-Aminolevulinic Acid Imaging of Malignant Glioma.
Surgical oncology clinics of North America
2022; 31 (4): 581-593
Abstract
High-grade glioma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Glioma infiltration renders it difficult to treat and likely to recur. Increasing the extent of resection has been associated with improving progression-free survival and overall survival by several months. The introduction of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence-guided surgery has allowed surgeons to better differentiate between neoplastic tissue and normal tissue, thus achieving greater extent of resection. The development of new intraoperative imaging modalities in combination with 5-ALA may provide additional benefits for glioma patients.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.soc.2022.06.002
View details for PubMedID 36243495
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Socioeconomic disparities in brain metastasis survival and treatment: a population-based study.
World neurosurgery
2021
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In the present study, we utilized a validated socioeconomic status (SES) index and population-based registry to identify and quantify the impact of SES on access to treatment and overall survival for patients diagnosed with synchronous brain metastases (BM).METHODS: The SEER was used to extract all patients between 2010 and 2016 with BM at initial presentation. SES was stratified into tertiles and quintiles using the validated Yost index. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to evaluate the impact of demographic, tumor, and socioeconomic covariates on receipt of radio- and chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate survival.RESULTS: Between 2010-2016, 35,595 patients presented with brain metastases at the time of primary cancer diagnosis. Most patients received radiation and/or chemotherapy as part of the initial course of their treatment; 71.6% (n=25,484) were irradiated while 54.4% (n=19,371) received chemotherapy and 44.9% (n=15,984) received chemoradiation. Patients in the highest Yost tertile and quintile experienced longer overall survival (p < 0.001). Additionally, multivariable logistic regression revealed that the lowest Yost quintile was significantly less likely to receive either radiation (adjusted OR (aOR): 0.82; 95% CI: 0.75-0.89; p<0.001) or chemotherapy (aOR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.58-0.67; p<0.001).CONCLUSIONS: In a large, population-based analysis of brain metastasis patients, we found significant differences in treatment access and mild survival differences along socioeconomic strata. More specifically, patients in lower SES tiers suffered worse outcomes and received radiation and chemotherapy less frequently than patients in higher tiers, even after accounting for other tumor- and demographic-related information.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.11.036
View details for PubMedID 34785360
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High-quality neurosurgeon communication and visualization during telemedicine encounters improves patient satisfaction
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience
2021; 94: 18-23
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jocn.2021.09.013