A new study published in Spine examines the predictors of readmissions after posterior cervical fusion.
The study authors collected data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. The 3,401 patients who met study criteria underwent surgery from 2006 to 2013. Study authors found:
1. The 30-day readmission rate was 6.2 percent, and postoperative infection accounted for 17 percent of all readmissions.
2. The factors associated with increased readmission rates were:
• Age older than 70 years
• Renal failure requiring dialysis
• Anemia
• Multilevel fusions
• Surgical site infection
• Wound dehiscence
• Postoperative pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism
• Progressing renal insufficiency
3. When physicians identify the predictors of readmission early, they can identify high-risk patients and improve patient counseling.
4. Patients with anemia and kidney failure, as well as other modifiable risk factors, can go through preoperative optimization to reduce the risk of readmission.
5. Patients with postoperative complications are a "key target for intervention," according to study authors."