Researchers analyzed the reasons and risks associated with unplanned reoperation for lumbar spine surgery, according to a study published in Spine.
The study reviewed 3,936 patients who had primary lumbar spinal surgery at three centers between January 2010 and April 2015. Of those 3,936 patients, 82 underwent unplanned reoperations.
Here are four takeaways:
1. Patients underwent unplanned reoperations for the following reasons:
- Wound infection — 0.94 percent
- Screw replacement — 0.53 percent
- Cerebrospinal fluid leakage — 0.27 percent
- Wound hematoma — 0.18 percent
- Neurologic deficit — 0.15 percent
2. Diagnosis also impacted reoperation rate:
- Lumbar spinal spondylolisthesis — 4.3 percent
- Lumbar stenosis — 2.3 percent
- Vertebral tumor — 2.2 percent
- Vertebral fracture — 1.2 percent
- Disc herniation — 1.1 percent
3. Patients receiving posterior lumbar interbody fusion experienced a higher revision rate compared to patients undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
4. Overall, researchers found the unplanned reoperation rate for lumbar spinal surgery to be 2.08 percent.