A study recently published in Spine examined the morbidity, mortality and readmissions after vertebral augmentation.
The researchers examined patients more than 65 years old who underwent vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty in 2011 and 2012. The data was gathered from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database. There were 850 patients included in the study, with 70.8 percent of the patients being female. Here are four quick findings from the study:
• 9.5 percent of the patients had adverse events
• 6.6 percent of the patients had serious adverse events
• 1.5 percent of the patients died
• 10.8 percent of the patients were readmitted within 30 days
Factors associated with patients who experienced complications were:
• American Society of Anesthesiologists class four
• Inpatient stays before the procedure
• Increased postoperative mortality rate (associated with ASA class four)
• Non-general anesthesia use
Readmissions were associated with pulmonary disease history and inpatient status before the procedure.