A new study published in The Spine Journal examines trends for spinal deformity treatment from 2003 to 2010.
Study authors examined data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for adults who underwent anterior, posterior or combined surgical approaches for spinal deformity. There were 10,966 discharges studied. The researchers found:
1. From 2003 to 2010, the volume of adult spinal deformity discharges increased 112.5 percent.
2. The average patient age increased over the study period, and the number of discharges for patients older than 65 years grew as well.
3. There were 1,952 discharges associated with the anterior approach; 6,524 associated with the posterior approach and 1,106 were combined. The number of anterior cases decreased by 13.7 percent while combined approaches increased 22.7 percent.
4. Hospital charges increased over the study period.
5. Length of stay at the hospital decreased over the study period.
6. Morbidity for all three approaches grew 22.7 percent from 2003 to 2010 but the mortality didn't change. The most common morbidities at the beginning of the study period were:
• Hemorrhagic anemia
• Accidental cut
• Puncture
• Perforation
• Laceration
• Device-related complications
All common morbidities were the same in 2010, and there was an increase in acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary-related complications.