A new study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine examines the risk factors for 30-day reoperation and three-month readmission after lumbar spine surgery.
The study authors collected data from 9,853 patients in the Quality and Outcomes Database. The study authors found:
1. Two percent of the patients underwent reoperation within 30 days of the initial procedure. The only independent factor associated with 30-day reoperations was prolonged operative time in the initial surgery.
2. The 30-day reoperation rate among Medicare patients younger than 65 years was 3.7 percent; the 30-day reoperation rate was 2.2 percent for patients 65 years and older.
3. The factors associated with 30-day reoperation rate among the 65 years and younger patients include female sex, high BMI and higher rates of depression.
4. Overall 90-day readmission rate was 6.3 percent; patients with a higher ASA class and history of depression were more likely to be readmitted within 90 days after surgery.
5. Medicare beneficiaries were more likely to have 90-day readmissions than patients with private insurance and Medicare patients younger than 65 years old were more likely to have readmissions within 90 days of their index procedure than those who were 65 years or older.
6. Factors associated with 90-day readmission rates among the Medicare patients under 65 years old include significantly higher BMI and higher depression rates.