Primary and revision posterior lumbar fusions have similar short-term complication rates, according to a new study published in Spine.
The researchers examined the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to study patients who underwent primary and revision posterior lumbar fusion from 2005 to 2013. The study authors examined complications within 30 days. There were 14,873 procedures included in the study; 1,287 were revision cases.
The researchers found:
1. There wasn't any difference in 30-day postoperative complications or readmissions between the primary and revision procedures. The study authors used a multivariate analysis controlling for patient and operative characteristics when making the comparison.
2. There wasn't a significant difference found in operative time between the two groups.
3. The hospital length of stay was similar between the primary and revision posterior lumbar surgery patients.
4. The one difference noted in the study was an increased blood transfusion rate for the revision surgery patients when compared with primary surgery patients.
5. The researchers concluded the "general health risk stratification for revision procedures can be similar to that considered for primary cases."