A new study published in Spine examines the 30-day unplanned readmission rate and major complications for spinal surgery patients.
The researchers examined spinal fusion patients who underwent the procedure in 2012 and 2013. They collected data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Participant User File. There were 18,602 patients included in the study. The researchers found:
1. There major perioperative complication in 5.2 percent of the patients overall.
2. The unplanned readmissions related to the initial surgery was 4.4 percent per 30 person-days.
3. The independent risk factors for readmissions and major perioperative complications included:
• Combined anterior and posterior surgery
• Diagnosis of solitary tumor
• Old age
• Higher ASA class
4. The patients with deep/organ surgical site infection reported a higher unplanned readmission risk. These patients also had higher risk of pulmonary embolism, acute renal failure and stroke/cerebral vascular accident with neurological deficit.
5. The study authors concluded, "Targeted preoperative planning on modifiable risk factors with proportional reimbursement may promote higher quality healthcare."