Glucocorticoids are the most commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressant medications worldwide. This article highlights the risk of clinically significant and sometimes severe psychological, cognitive, and behavioral disturbances that may be associated with glucocorticoid use, as well as ways to prevent and treat these disturbances. An illustrative case vignette is presented describing a patient's experience of cycles of manic-like behavior and depression while on high-dosage prednisone, with long-term cognitive disorganization, vulnerability to stress, and personality changes. Severe neuropsychiatric consequences (including suicide, suicide attempt, psychosis, mania, depression, panic disorder, and delirium, confusion, or disorientation) have been reported to occur in 15.7 per 100 person-years at risk for all glucocorticoid courses, and 22.2 per 100 person-years at risk for first courses. The majority of patients experience less severe but distressing and possibly persistent changes in mood, cognition, memory, or behavior during glucocorticoid treatment or withdrawal. Although prediction of such effects is difficult, risks vary with age, gender, dosage, prior psychiatric history, and several biological markers. Key mechanisms thought to underlie these risk factors are briefly described. Recommendations are given for identifying individual risk factors and for monitoring and managing adverse neuropsychiatric effects of glucocorticoids.

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Background: There is literature on the association between chronic preoperative pain and worse outcomes among patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). However, there are few data on whether there is an optimum window that provides the best midterm surgical outcomes. Purpose: To assess the outcomes of hip arthroscopy for FAIS according to timing of surgical intervention. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients undergoing arthroscopic intervention for FAIS with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included. All patients completed the Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), Hip Outcome Score–Sport Specific (HOS-SS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), International Hip Outcome Tool–12 (iHOT-12), and visual analog scales for pain and satisfaction. Patients were stratified by preoperative symptom duration. We compared 3 to 6 months of symptoms with other subsequent time frames (>6-12, >12-24, and >24 months). Clinically significant outcome was determined with the minimal clinically important difference and patient acceptable symptomatic state. Results: A total of 1049 patients were included (mean ± SD: age, 32.3 ± 12.4 years; follow-up, 30.8 ± 6.7 months). Patients undergoing surgery at 3 to 6 months of symptoms had no significant differences in outcome when compared with those in the >6- to 12-month group except for the iHOT-12 ( P = .028). Patients with symptom duration of >12 to 24 months and >24 months had worse outcomes across all measures ( P < .001). Surgery within 3 to 6 months of symptoms was predictive for achieving the minimal clinically important difference on the HOS-ADL (odds ratio [OR], 1.81; 95% CI, 1.20-2.73) and HOS-SS (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.11-3.17), as well as the patient acceptable symptomatic state on the HOS-ADL (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.34-2.56) and HOS-SS (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.14-2.18), when compared with the other groups. In multivariate regression analysis, symptom duration was predictive of visual analog scale for pain (β = 3.10; 95% CI, 1.56-4.63; P < .001) and satisfaction (β = −4.16; 95% CI, −6.14 to −2.18; P < .001). Conclusion: Among patients with FAIS, surgical intervention early after the onset of symptoms (3-6 months) was associated with superior postoperative outcomes when compared with patients who underwent surgical intervention beyond this time frame. This information may help guide preoperative decision making regarding delay of surgery. These findings should be confirmed in a prospective study.

OBJECTIVEIntraoperative local steroid application has been theorized to reduce swelling and improve swallowing in the immediate period following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of intraoperative local steroid application on patient-reported swallow function and swelling after ACDF.METHODSA prospective, randomized single-blind controlled trial was conducted. A priori power analysis determined that 104 subjects were needed to detect an 8-point difference in the Quality of Life in Swallowing Disorders (SWAL-QOL) questionnaire score. One hundred four patients undergoing 1- to 3-level ACDF procedures for degenerative spinal pathology were randomized to Depo-Medrol (DEPO) or no Depo-Medrol (NODEPO) cohorts. Prior to surgical closure, patients received 1 ml of either Depo-Medrol (DEPO) or saline (NODEPO) applied to a Gelfoam carrier at the surgical site. Patients were blinded to the application of steroid or saline following surgery. The SWAL-QOL questionnaire was administered both pre- and postoperatively. A ratio of the prevertebral swelling distance to the anteroposterior diameter of each vertebral body level was calculated at the involved levels ± 1 level by using pre- and postoperative lateral radiographs. The ratios of all levels were averaged and multiplied by 100 to obtain a swelling index. An air index was calculated in the same manner but using the tracheal air window diameter in place of the prevertebral swelling distance. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t-test and chi-square analysis. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.RESULTSOf the 104 patients, 55 (52.9%) were randomized to the DEPO cohort and 49 (47.1%) to the NODEPO group. No differences in baseline patient demographics or preoperative characteristics were demonstrated between the two cohorts. Similarly, estimated blood loss and length of hospitalization did not differ between the cohorts. Neither was there a difference in the mean change in the scaled total SWAL-QOL score, swelling index, and air index between the groups at any time point. Furthermore, no complications were observed in either group (retropharyngeal abscess or esophageal perforation).CONCLUSIONSThe results of this prospective, randomized single-blind study did not demonstrate an impact of local intraoperative steroid application on patient-reported swallowing function or swelling following ACDF. Neither did the administration of Depo-Medrol lead to an earlier hospital discharge than that in the NODEPO cohort. These results suggest that intraoperative local steroid administration may not provide an additional benefit to patients undergoing ACDF procedures.■ CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE Type of question: therapeutic; study design: randomized controlled trial; evidence: Class I.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT03311425 (clinicaltrials.gov)

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