Increasing surgical duration for single-level lumbar fusion is associated with a wide array of complications, according to a study in Spine.
Researchers retrospectively reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to identify all patients who underwent lumbar fusion procedures during 2006 to 2011. A total of 4,588 patients were included in the analysis.
The study found that increasing operative time was associated with stepwise increase in risk for overall complications, medical complications, surgical complications, superficial surgical site infection and postoperative transfusions.
Operative duration of five hours or more was also associated with increased risk of reoperation, organ/space surgical site infection, sepsis/septic shock, wound dehiscence and deep vein thrombosis.
Operative duration is, therefore, an important quality metric in the performance of lumbar fusion, concluded the study authors.
More Articles on Spine:
Anterior Spine Surgery for Disc Herniation at C7-T1: Outcomes Analysis
Orthopedic, Neurosurgeon Roles: Medical Teaching, Administrative & Research
Growing Patient Volume in 2014 & Beyond: 4 Spine Surgeon Initiatives