A new article published in Spine examines the national trends in adult lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis surgical management.
The researchers examined the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusion for isthmic spondylolisthesis from 1998 to 2011. There were 47,132 adult patients included in the study. Here are five key findings from the study:
1. The annual fusion rate for isthmic spondylolisthesis increased 4.33 times over the study period. The fusion rate in 1998 was 28.31 per million, which grew to 122.69 per million by 2011.
2. The annual rates in anterior spinal fusion for isthmic spondylolisthesis patients grew 2.65 times from 1998 to 2011; the number of posterior spinal fusions jumped 1.03 times over the study period and the posterior with interbody grew 4.33 times. The anterior-posterior spinal fusions grew 2.93 times over the study period.
3. The posterior spinal fusion patients had the highest complication rate — 3.61 percent. The next closest was the posterior with interbody patients — 2.58 percent.
4. Complication risk was lower for female patients, elective admissions and hospitals in the South.
5. The average hospitalization charges, adjusted to 2011 dollars, were significantly higher for anterior-posterior fusion patients, who reported average rates at $157,560. The posterior with interbody fusion patients were charged $103,700 on average while the lowest average hospital cost was for the posterior spinal fusions at $87,420.