Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40970980›Full record

ArticleActa neurochirurgica2025

Surgical outcomes for spinal arachnoid cysts and webs: a case series.

Lara Imwinkelried, Danial Nasiri, Ralph T Schär, Johannes Goldberg, Levin Häni, Andreas Raabe, Christopher Marvin Jesse

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta neurochirurgica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Lara Imwinkelried *Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Danial Nasiri *Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. danial.nasiri@insel.ch.
Ralph T SchärDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Johannes GoldbergDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Levin HäniDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Andreas RaabeDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Christopher Marvin JesseDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSpinal arachnoid cysts (SAC) and spinal arachnoid webs (SAW) are intradural pathologies, often presenting with pain and/or myelopathic symptoms. Reports on postoperative outcomes for SAC and SAW are scarce. This study aims to assess the surgical outcomes of SAC and SAW.

methodsPatients who underwent surgical treatment for SAC or SAW at our institution between 2011 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, radiological findings, surgical management, and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the modified McCormick (mMC) scale. Outcomes were categorized as "favorable" (mMC I-II) or "unfavorable" (mMC III-V).

resultsA total of 35 patients (29 SAC, 6 SAW) were analyzed. Mean age was 50.9 (SD ± 9.8) years. Males comprised 70.3% of cases (SAC: 64.5%, SAW: 100%). Most common symptoms were local or radiating pain (SAC 77.4%; SAW 100%), gait-disturbance (SAC 45.2%; SAW 16.7%), sensory-deficits (SAC 32.3%; SAW 66.7%) and impaired motor function (SAC 20%; SAW 16.7%). Median preoperative mMC was 2 in both groups (SAC IQR: 1; SAW IQR: 1). Median postoperative mMC was 1 in both groups (SAC CI 1.07-1.34; SAW CI 0.74-1.60). Favorable outcome (postoperative mMC I-II) was achieved in 26 SAC patients (90%) and 5 SAW patients (83%) respectively. Surgical complications occurred in 14.7%, all in the SAC group, without lasting deficits.

conclusionSurgical treatment for SAC and SAW appears to have an overall favorable outcome, though larger cohort analyses are needed. Surgery should be considered in symptomatic patients.

Indexed as

Arachnoid CystsNeurosurgical ProceduresSpinal Cord DiseasesAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeIntradural spinal arachnoidopathiesSpinal arachnoid cystsSpinal arachnoid websSurgical outcomes

Identifiers

PMID40970980
PMCPMC12449414

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.