Non-concurrent overlapping orthopedic surgeries did not increase adverse outcomes, according to a study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Researchers examined 18,316 elective orthopedic surgical intervention outcomes between 2014-15 at a single academic healthcare system. Researchers used a coarsened exact matching system to assess the effect of overlapping surgeries.
What they found:
1. A total of 3,395 patients overlapped and were matched. Among matched patients, overlapping surgeries did not predict an unanticipated return to surgery at 30 days or 90 days.
2. Patients with overlapped surgeries had no difference with the control group concerning reoperation, readmission or emergency room visits at 30 days or 90 days.
3. Patients with overlapped surgeries had reduced mortality compared with control groups during follow-up.
4. Patients with end overlap did show an increased unexpected rate of return to ORs after reoperation at 90 days.
Researchers concluded, "Nonconcurrent overlapping surgery was not associated with adverse outcomes in a large, matched orthopedic surgery population across one academic health system."