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Study Design Retrospective cohort. Background Participating in sports at high altitude may have a protective effect on the brain, according to research studies. Research using validated data-collection methods in a previously unexplored cohort may better estimate the association between concussion injury risk and altitude. Objectives To determine the association between concussion rates and altitude during college football games. Methods Athletic trainers from 21 Division I football programs provided exposure and injury data to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) from the 2009–2010 to 2013–2014 academic years. The elevation of each stadium was determined. Concussion rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) were compared in 2 ways, based on the sample of stadium elevations: (1) median split (elevation higher than 178 m or lower than 178 m), and (2) quartile split. Rate ratios (RRs), rate differences, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. Results One hundred sixty-nine concussions were reported over 49 040 AEs (3.45/1000 AEs). Using the median split, the concussion rate above 178 m (RR = 4.18/1000 AEs) was 1.47 times the concussion rate below 178 m (RR = 2.84/1000 AEs; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.00; P = .01). The concussion rate at the highest altitude quartile (higher than 284 m; RR = 5.01/1000 AEs) was 1.67 times greater than the concussion rate at the lowest altitude quartile (lower than 43 m; RR = 3.00/1000 AEs; 95% CI: 1.13, 2.48; P = .01). Conclusion College football game concussion rates appear to increase at higher altitudes. The clinical significance of this relatively small increase is unknown. Future research should explore potential physiologic underpinnings associated with concussion risk at relatively higher and lower altitudes. Level of Evidence Prognosis, level 2b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2016;46(2):96–103. Epub 11 Jan 2016. doi:10.2519/jospt.2016.6315

Background: Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital aberrant connections between afferent arteries and draining veins with no intervening capillary bed or neural parenchyma. Other than seizures, the most common initial presentation of AVM is hemorrhage, which is typically intraparenchymal, subarachnoid, or intraventricular, and very rarely subdural. Case Description: This patient is a 66-year-old male with a history of atrial fibrillation, chronically anticoagulated with apixaban, who presented through emergency services after a fall. On presentation, computed tomography (CT) of the head showed a small, 6 mm right subdural hematoma, and the patient was neurologically intact. The hematoma was evacuated by burr hole craniotomy and placement of a subdural drain 12 days after the initial presentation due to worsening headaches and further hematoma expansion. Two weeks postevacuation, the patient was readmitted for seizures, and at this time, CT angiography showed no intracranial vascular lesion. Approximately 1 month later, the patient was readmitted for decreased responsiveness, and CT head at this time found right frontal intraparenchymal hemorrhage. On subsequent catheter angiography, the right frontal AVM was discovered. It was treated with preoperative embolization followed by surgical resection. Postoperatively, the patient followed commands and tracked with his eyes. There was spontaneous antigravity movement of the right upper extremity, but still no movement of the left upper or bilateral lower extremities. Conclusion: This case emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for underlying vascular lesions when evaluating intracranial bleeding, even in the setting of traumatic history, particularly in cases of hematoma expansion.

IntroductionUnderstanding outcomes after Vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) embolization has been limited by small sample size in reported series and predominantly single center studies. To address these limitations, we perform an individual-participant meta-analysis (IPMA) to identify risk factors associated with all-cause mortality and clinical outcome after VOGM endovascular embolization.MethodsWe performed a systematic review and IPMA of VOGM endovascular outcomes according to PRISMA guidelines. Individual patient characteristics including demographic, intra/post-operative adverse events, treatment efficacy (partial or complete occlusion), and clinical outcome were collected. Mixed-effects logistic regression with random effects modeling and Bonferroni correction was used (p ≤ 0.003 threshold for statistical significance). The primary and secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality and poor clinical outcome (moderate/severe developmental delay or permanent disabling injury), respectively. Data are expressed as (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) or (odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI), I2, p-value)ResultsThirty-five studies totaling 307 participants quantifying outcomes after endovascular embolization for VOGM were included. Follow up time was 42 (±57) months. Our analysis contained 42% neonates (<1 month) at first embolization, 45% infants (1 month ≤2 years), and 13% children (>2 years). Complete occlusion was reported in 48% of participants. Overall all-cause mortality was 16%. Overall, good clinical outcome was achieved in 68% of participants. First embolization as a neonate [OR = 6.93; 95% CI (1.99–24.08); I2 < 0.01; p < 0.001] and incomplete embolization [OR = 10.87; 95% CI (1.86–63.55); I2 < 0.01; p < 0.001] were associated with mortality. First embolization as a neonate [OR = 3.24; 95% CI (1.47–7.15); I2 < 0.01; p < 0.001], incomplete embolization [OR = 5.26; 95% CI (2.06–13.43); I2 < 0.01; p < 0.001], and heart failure at presentation [OR = 3.10; 95% CI (1.03–9.33); I2 < 0.01; p = 0.002] were associated with poor clinical outcomes. Sex, angioarchitecture of lesion, embolization approach (transvenous vs. transarterial), and single or multistage embolization were not associated with mortality or clinical outcome.ConclusionsWe identify incomplete VOGM embolization independently associated with mortality and poor clinical outcome. While this study provides the highest level of evidence for VOGM embolization to date, prospective multicenter studies are needed to understand the optimal treatment strategies, outcomes, and natural history after VOGM embolization.