The 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index Score Predicts Return to the Operating Room for Patients Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion for Traumatic Spine Injury

The clinical frailty scale is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications and the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis in elderly patients with trimalleolar ankle fractures - a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a tool to assess the overall health of older adults. There are few reports of CFS and prognosis of ankle fracture. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive power of the CFS for adverse clinical and radiographic outcomes after surgery in elderly patients with trimalleolar fractures.

METHOD

All patients aged 65 and older underwent open reduction and internal fixation for trimalleolar fractures between January 2015 to January 2023 were selected. Follow-up time was at least 1 year. Patients with post-traumatic osteoarthritis, bone tumors, bone infection, and other diseases before surgery were excluded. According to the CFS score, the patients were divided into three groups: not frail, vulnerable, and frail. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the clinical frailty scale on postoperative complications.

RESULT

Excluding 3 cases of death during the follow-up process, and 4 cases lost to follow-up, the study included a total of 146 patients, who were grouped based on their degree of frailty: the Healthy Group (CFS = 1-3, n = 69), the Vulnerable Group (CFS = 4, n = 50), and the Frail Group (CFS = 5-9, n = 47). In comparison with the not frail group, frail (CFS 5-9) emerged as an independent predictor of any complications (OR = 6.90, CI: 1.43-11.56, P = 0.009), adverse discharge destination (OR = 7.53, CI: 2.06-77.50, P = 0.006), and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OR = 8.90, CI: 1.94-24.66, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The frailty assessed by the CFS is associated with adverse discharge destination, any complications, and post-traumatic osteoarthritis in elderly patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation for trimalleolar fractures.

Prognostic Utility of Modified 5-Item Frailty Index on the Outcomes of Spine Surgeries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Frailty refers to a state of weakness that can arise due to age or illnesses, and frailty predisposes individuals to several adverse health outcomes. This has been postulated to prognosticate the outcome of various surgeries, including surgeries for various spine conditions; however, no meta-analysis has validated this finding.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the prognostic utility of frailty for the outcome of spine surgeries. We performed a systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases for studies investigating the ability of frailty to predict the outcome of spine surgeries. We analyzed the effect of high frailty using the 5-item Modified Frailty Index on the outcomes (extended length of stay, readmission, postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality, reoperation, and nonroutine discharge) of spine surgeries.

RESULTS

Meta-analysis of the information provided in the 11 studies included a sample size of 89,137; all studies used the 5-item Modified Frailty Index ≥2 as their cutoff for high frailty, and most studies were performed in the United States based on the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. The outcomes of our analysis were extended hospital length of stay (effect size 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49, 1.79), postoperative complications (effect size 1.49; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.88), readmission (effect size 1.69; 95% CI: 1.40, 1.99), nonroutine discharge (effect size 2.16; 95% CI: 1.80, 2.51), postoperative in-hospital mortality (effect size 2.11; 95% CI: 1.25, 2.96), and reoperation (effect size 1.32; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.45).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that high frailty according to the modified 5-Item Frailty Index is correlated with an increased risk of readmission, extended length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, nonroutine discharge, postoperative in-hospital mortality, and reoperation following spine surgeries for any pathology of the spine.

Modified 5-Item Frailty Index: A Useful Tool for Assessing the Impact of Frailty on Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality Following Surgical Fixation of Thoracolumbar Fractures

OBJECTIVES

The modified 5-item frailty index (mFI-5) is a comorbidity-based risk stratification tool to predict adverse events following various neurologic surgeries. This study aims to quantify the association between increased mFI-5 and postoperative complications and mortality following surgical fixation of traumatic thoracolumbar fractures.

METHODS

The 2011-2021 American College of Surgeons - National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) dataset was used to identify patients undergoing fusion surgeries for thoracolumbar spine fractures. The mFI-5 score was calculated based on the presence of 5 major comorbidities: congestive heart failure within 30 days before surgery, insulin-dependent or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, partially dependent or totally dependent functional health status at the time of surgery, and hypertension requiring medication. Multivariate analysis assessed the independent impact of increasing mFI-5 scores on postoperative 30-day morbidity and mortality while controlling for baseline clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 66,904 patients were included in our analysis (54.2% female, mean age 62.27 ± 12.93 years). On univariate analysis, higher mFI-5 score was significantly associated with increased risks of superficial surgical site infection, deep surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, unplanned reoperation, pneumonia, unplanned intubation, postoperative ventilator use, progressive renal insufficiency, acute renal failure, urinary tract infection, stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, bleeding requiring transfusion, sepsis, septic shock, and longer hospital length of stay (LOS). On multivariate logistic regression, increasing mFI-5 score versus a mFI-5 score of zero was associated with higher odds of overall complications (mFI-5 ≥2: odds ratio [OR] 1.38 CI: 1.24-1.54, P < 0.001; mFI-5 = 1: OR 1.18 CI: 1.11-1.24, P < 0.001) and 30-day mortality (mFI-5 ≥2: OR 2.33 CI: 1.60-3.38, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that frailty, when measured using the mFI-5, independently predicts postoperative complications, hospital LOS, and 30-day mortality after surgical repair of thoracolumbar fractures. These findings are important for risk stratification in patients undergoing thoracolumbar fusion surgery and for standardization in reporting outcomes after those procedures.

The 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) predicts adverse outcomes after elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)

Background

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a reliable procedure commonly performed in older patients with degenerative diseases of the cervical spine. Over 130,000 procedures are performed every year with an annual increase of 5%, and overall morbidity rates can reach as high as 19.3%, indicating a need for surgeons to gauge their patients' risk for adverse outcomes. Frailty is an age-associated decline in functioning of multiple organ systems and has been shown to predict adverse outcomes following various spine procedures. There have been several proposed frailty indices of various factors including the 11-factor modified frailty index (mFI-11), which has been shown to be an effective tool for predicting complications in patients undergoing ACDF. However, there is a paucity of literature assessing the utility of the 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) as a risk stratification tool for patients undergoing ACDF. The purpose of this study was to analyze the predictive capability of the mFI-5 score for 30-day postoperative adverse events following elective ACDF.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2010 through 2019. Patients older than 50 years of age who underwent elective ACDF were identified using Current Procedural Terminology ([CPT] codes 22554, 22551, 22552, and 63075). Exclusion criteria removed patients under the age of 51, as well as those with fractures, sepsis, disseminated cancer, a prior operation in the last 30 days, ascites, wound infection, or an emergency surgery. Patients were grouped using mFI scores of 1, 2, and 3+. Univariate analysis, using chi-squared and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests, was conducted to compare demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications across the varying cohorts based on mFI-5 scores. Multivariate logistic regression, including patient demographics and preoperative comorbidities as covariates, was performed to evaluate if mFI-5 scores were independent predictors of 30-day postoperative adverse events. Covariates including race, BMI, sex, ASA, and comorbidities were included in regression models.

Results

The 45,991 patients were identified and allocated in cohorts based on mFI-5 score. Rates for superficial surgical site infection (SSI), organ/deep space SSI, pneumonia, progressive renal insufficiency, acute renal failure (ARF), urinary tract infection (UTI), stroke/cardiovascular accident (CVA), cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), myocardial infarction, bleeding requiring transfusions, deep vein thrombosis/thrombophlebitis, sepsis, septic shock, readmissions, reoperation, and mortality incrementally increased with mFI-5 scores from 0 to 3+. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that mFI-5 scores 1 to 3+ increased the odds, in a stepwise manner, of total complications, cardiac arrest requiring CPR, pneumonia and mortality. MFI-5 scores of 2 and 3+ were independent predictors of readmission (2: OR=1.5, p<.001; 3+: OR=2.0, p<.001) and myocardial infarction (2: OR=3.4, p=.001; 3+: OR=6.9, p<.001). A score of 3+ increased the odds of ARF (OR=9.7, p=.022), septic shock (OR=3.6, p=.036), UTI (OR=2.1, p=.007), bleeding requiring transfusions (OR=2.1, p=.016), and reoperations (OR=1.7, p=.004).

Conclusion

mFI-5 score is a quick and viable option for surgeons to use as an assessment tool to stratify high risk patients undergoing elective ACDF, as increasing mFI-5 scores showed significantly higher rates of all adverse outcomes accounted for in this study, except for deep incisional SSI, wound disruption, and PE. Additionally, moderate to severe mFI-5 scores of 2 or 3+ were independent predictors for 30-day postoperative ARF, UTI, MI, bleeding requiring transfusions, septic shock, reoperation, and readmissions following elective ACDF surgery in adults over 50 years old.

Utility of the modified 5-item frailty index as a predictor of postoperative febrile urinary tract infection in patients who underwent ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the effect of the modified 5-item frailty index on perioperative complications and surgical outcomes in patients who underwent ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones.

METHODS

Patients who underwent ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones between 2019 and 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Assessment was performed using the modified 5-item frailty index based on medical history (hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and functional status. Patients were categorized into the high (≥ 2) and low (≤ 1) modified 5-item frailty index groups based on the frailty score. We compared the perioperative complications and surgical outcomes between the two groups.

RESULTS

Seventy-one (15.8%) and 393 (84.1%) of the 467 patients were classified into the high and low modified 5-item frailty index groups, respectively. The high modified 5-item frailty index group exhibited a significant association with increased febrile urinary tract infections compared to the low modified 5-item frailty index group [≥ 37.8 °C: 15 (20.3%) vs 13 (3.3%), p < 0.001; ≥ 38 °C: 9 (12.2%) vs 7 (1.8%), p < 0.001]. Surgical outcomes, including operative time and stone-free rate, did not differ significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The modified 5-item frailty index is valuable for predicting postoperative complications, particularly febrile urinary tract infections, after ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones. This index allows for practical preoperative risk assessment in patients who underwent ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy.

Evaluation of perioperative care and drivers of cost in geriatric thoracolumbar trauma

Introduction

As the population of elderly patients continues to rise, the number of these individuals presenting with thoracolumbar trauma is expected to increase.

Research question

To investigate thoracolumbar fusion outcomes for patients with vertebral fractures as stratified by decade. Secondarily, we examined the variability of cost across age groups by identifying drivers of cost of care.

Materials and methods

We queried the United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample(NIS) for adult patients undergoing spinal fusion for thoracolumbar fractures between 2012 and 2017. Patients were stratified by decade 60-69(sexagenarians), 70-79(septuagenarians) and 80-89(octogenarians). Bivariable analysis followed by multivariable regression was performed to assess independent predictors of length of stay(LOS), hospital cost, and discharge disposition.

Results

A total of 2767 patients were included, of which 46%(N = 1268) were sexagenarians, 36% septuagenarians and 18%(N = 502) octogenarians. Septuagenarians and octogenarians had shorter LOS compared to sexagenarians(ß = -0.88 days; p = 0.012) and(ß = -1.78; p < 0.001), respectively. LOS was reduced with posterior approach(-2.46 days[95% CI: 3.73-1.19]; p < 0.001), while Hispanic patients had longer LOS(+1.97 [95% CI: 0.81-3.13]; p < 0.001). Septuagenarians had lower total charges $12,185.70(p = 0.040), while the decrease in charges in octogenarians was more significant, with a decrease of $26,016.30(p < 0.001) as compared to sexagenarians. Posterior approach was associated with a decrease of $24,337.90 in total charges(p = 0.026). Septuagenarians and octogenarians had 1.72 higher odds(p < 0.001) and 4.16 higher odds(p < 0.001), respectively, of discharge to a skilled nursing facility.

Discussion and conclusions

Healthcare utilization in geriatric thoracolumbar trauma is complex. Cost reductions in the acute hospital setting may be offset by unaccounted costs after discharge. Further research into this phenomenon and observed racial/ethnic disparities must be pursued.

Frailty-aware surgical care: Validation of Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) in older surgical patients

Introduction

Frailty has an important impact on the health outcomes of older patients, and frailty screening is recommended as part of perioperative evaluation. The Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) is a validated tool that highlights frailty risk using 109 International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes. In this study, we aim to compare HFRS to the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and validate HFRS as a predictor of adverse outcomes in Asian patients admitted to surgical services.

Method

A retrospective study of electronic health records (EHR) was undertaken in patients aged 65 years and above who were discharged from surgical services between 1 April 2022 to 31 July 2022. Patients were stratified into low (HFRS <5), interme-diate (HFRS 5-15) and high (HFRS >15) risk of frailty.

Results

Those at high risk of frailty were older and more likely to be men. They were also likely to have more comorbidities and a higher CCI than those at low risk of frailty. High HFRS scores were associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes, such as mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS) and 30-day readmission. When used in combination with CCI, there was better prediction of mortality at 90 and 270 days, and 30-day readmission.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first validation of HFRS in Singapore in surgical patients and confirms that high-risk HFRS predicts long LOS (≥7days), increased unplanned hospital readmissions (both 30-day and 270-day) and increased mortality (inpatient, 10-day, 30-day, 90-day, 270-day) compared with those at low risk of frailty.

[Frailty phenotype and risk factor for disturbed sleep]

Regardless of the nature of its operationalization, frailty has significant negative consequences for the person concerned and the community. Even if a generally accepted definition of frailty is still missing, there is no doubt about the existence of this phenomenon. Pathophysiologically, a dysfunctional interaction between multiple complex systems is discussed. Therapeutic interventions show that frailty is a dynamic state that can be improved. The pathophysiological characteristics of frailty and sleep disturbances show numerous similarities. In addition, the risk of frailty is increased in individuals with sleep disturbances. As the majority of sleep disorders can usually be well treated, screening for sleep disorders should be integrated into a comprehensive concept of management of frailty.