A new study published in Spine examined the risk factors for short-term morbidity after posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis.
The researchers examined patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis from 2012 and 2013 based on information from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. There were 940 patients included in the study. The researchers found:
1. About 14 percent of the patients reported adverse events and 10.5 percent reported a severe adverse event.
2. The American Society of Anesthesiologists score of three or greater was the only independent risk factor for any adverse event or severe adverse event.
3. Body mass index-for-age on the 95th percentile or greater, ASA of three or greater and instrumentation to the pelvis were associated with infectious complications.
4. There were 67 patients — 27 percent — who were readmitted. Among those patients, BMI-for-age at the 95th percentile or greater was the only risk factor.
5. The researchers concluded the associated factors for poor short-term outcomes could be used as benchmarking data and could optimize patient care.