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Chan JL, Whitmore RG. Commentary: Clinical Outcomes and Radiographic Results of Prone Transpsoas Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Single-Institution Case Series. Neurosurgery 2024:00006123-990000000-01331. [PMID: 39240083 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julie L Chan
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Robert G Whitmore
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts, USA
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Sanusi TD, Momin S, Sachdev B, Leung A. Super-elderly, spinal surgery, evaluating the risks and benefits: a retrospective single-centre cohort study. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2024; 166:248. [PMID: 38833175 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-024-06135-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION An increasingly ageing population presents emerging healthcare challenges. Adequate clinical evaluation and understanding of outcome-predicting factors are integral to delivering safe spinal surgery to super-elderly patients. AIM To evaluate spine surgery outcomes in patients aged 80 or above. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated patients 80 years and above who underwent elective or emergency spinal surgery between 2017 and 2022. The Eurospine Surgery Classification (ESC) was used to classify operations into Large, Medium, and Small. We calculated and compared Clinical Frailty Scores (CFS) pre- and post-operatively. RESULTS Two hundred forty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. Most were male (n = 145). The age range was 80 to 99 (mean 83.3). Most operations were elective (n = 151, 62%). In our cohort, 211, 22, 10,2 and 1 patients had degenerative, trauma, tumour, infective and vascular pathologies, respectively. According to the Eurospine classification, 201 (82.0%) had Minor spine surgery (63 emergently and 138 electively), 38 had Medium surgery (15.5% - 30 emergently and 8 electively), and 6 had Large surgery (2.4% - 1 emergently and 5 electively). 163 (66.5%) were discharged or under follow-up. There were 11 in-patient mortalities (4.5%). Outpatient mortality was 51 (20.8%), with the median time from surgery to death being 504.5 days, all the outpatient mortalities were neither non-spinal pathology nor spinal surgical related. CFS improved across the cohort, from 5 pre-operatively to 4 post-operatively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Spine surgery in those over the 80s can be performed safely and improve their quality of life, as demonstrated by improvements in the CFS. Good patient selection and adequate pre-operative workup is essential, although it may not be possible in emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sheikh Momin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
- Institute of Inflammation & Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Bobby Sachdev
- Department of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andraay Leung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
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Findlay MC, Kim RB, Warner WS, Sherrod BA, Park S, Mazur MD, Mahan MA. Identification of an Operative Time Threshold for Substantially Increased Postoperative Complications Among Elderly Spine Surgery Patients. Global Spine J 2024; 14:1532-1541. [PMID: 36623932 DOI: 10.1177/21925682221149390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES To identify whether thresholds exist beyond which operative duration or age increases risks for complications among patients ≥65 years undergoing elective spine surgery. METHODS Elective inpatient spine procedures unrelated to infection/trauma/tumor diagnoses in patients <65 years recorded in the 2006-2019 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database were identified. Univariate analyses was used to compare 30 day complication rates among 5 operative duration and age-stratified groups. To quantify the risk of prolonged operative duration on complications, multivariate analyses were performed controlling for confounders. A generalized linear model was used to assess the individual and combined effect strength of age and operative duration on complication rates. RESULTS Among 87,705 patients stratified by operative duration, 30 day complication rates rose nonlinearly as operative duration increased, with a sharp rise after 4.0-4.9 hours (28.3% at 4.0-4.9 hours, 51.7% at ≥5 hours, P < .001). Multivariate analysis found operative duration was independently associated with increased risk of overall complications (odds ratio 1.10→1.69, P < .001) and medical complications (odds ratio 1.19→1.98, P < .001). Although complication rates rose by age (all P < .001), age was not independently predictive of overall complications within any operative duration group on multivariate analysis. Operative duration had a greater effect (η2P = .067) than age (η2P = .003) on overall complication rates. CONCLUSIONS Increased operative duration was strongly associated with 30 day complication rates, particularly beyond a threshold of 5 hours. Furthermore, operative duration had a notably larger effect on overall complication rates than age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Findlay
- School of Medicine, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Robert B Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Wesley S Warner
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Brandon A Sherrod
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Marcus D Mazur
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Mark A Mahan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Shahrestani S, Reardon T, Brown NJ, Kuo CC, Gendreau J, Singh R, Patel NA, Chou D, Chan AK. Developing Mixed-Effects Models to Compare the Predictive Ability of Various Comorbidity Indices in a Contemporary Cohort of Patients Undergoing Lumbar Fusion. Neurosurgery 2024; 94:711-720. [PMID: 37855622 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000002733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE As incidence of operative spinal pathology continues to grow, so do the rates of lumbar spinal fusion procedures. Comorbidity indices can be used preoperatively to predict potential complications. However, there is a paucity of research defining the optimal comorbidity indices in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. We aimed to use modeling strategies to evaluate the predictive validity of various comorbidity indices and combinations thereof. METHODS Patients who underwent spinal fusion were queried using data from the Nationwide Readmissions Database for the years 2016 through 2019. Using comorbidity indices as predictor variables, receiver operating characteristic curves were developed for pertinent complications such as mortality, nonroutine discharge, top-quartile cost, top-quartile length of stay, and 30-day readmission. RESULTS A total of 750 183 patients were included. Nonroutine discharges occurred in 161 077 (21.5%) patients. The adjusted all-payer cost for the procedure was $37 616.97 ± $27 408.86 (top quartile: $45 409.20), and the length of stay was 4.1 ± 4.4 days (top quartile: 8.1 days). By comparing receiver operating characteristics of various models, it was found that models using Frailty + Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) as the primary predictor performed better than other models with statistically significant P -values on post hoc testing. However, for prediction of mortality, the model using Frailty + ECI was not better than the model using ECI alone ( P = .23), and for prediction of all-payer cost, the ECI model outperformed the models using frailty alone ( P < .0001) and the model using Frailty + ECI ( P < .0001). CONCLUSION This investigation is the first to use big data and modeling strategies to delineate the relative predictive utility of the ECI and Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups comorbidity indices for the prognostication of patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery. With the knowledge gained from our models, spine surgeons, payers, and hospitals may be able to identify vulnerable patients more effectively within their practice who may require a higher degree of resource utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Shahrestani
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles , California , USA
- Department of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena , California , USA
| | - Taylor Reardon
- Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of Pikeville, Pikeville , Kentucky , USA
| | - Nolan J Brown
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Orange , California , USA
| | - Cathleen C Kuo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University at Buffalo, Buffalo , New York , USA
| | - Julian Gendreau
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore , Maryland , USA
| | - Rohin Singh
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Arizona Campus, Scottsdale , Arizona , USA
| | - Neal A Patel
- School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah , Georgia , USA
| | - Dean Chou
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, The Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian, New York , New York , USA
| | - Andrew K Chan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, The Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian, New York , New York , USA
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Lenga P, Gülec G, Bajwa AA, Issa M, Oskouian RJ, Chapman JR, Kiening K, Unterberg AW, Ishak B. Lumbar Decompression versus Decompression and Fusion in Octogenarians: Complications and Clinical Course With 3-Year Follow-Up. Global Spine J 2024; 14:687-696. [PMID: 36148681 PMCID: PMC10802554 DOI: 10.1177/21925682221121099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess and compare the clinical course and complications between surgical decompression and decompression with fusion in lumbar spine patients aged ≥80 years. METHODS A retrospective review of electronic medical records at a single institution was conducted between September 2005 and December 2021. Logistic regression was used to identify potential risk factors for the occurrence of complications. RESULTS Over a 16-year period, 327 patients were allocated to the decompression only group and 89 patients were allocated to the decompression and instrumented fusion group. The study had a mean follow-up duration of 36.7 ± 12.4 months. When assessing the CCI, patients of the instrumentation group had fewer comorbidities (8.9 ± .5 points vs 6.2 ± 1.5 points; P < .001), significantly longer surgical duration (290 ± 106 minutes vs 145 ±50.2 minutes; P < .001), significantly higher volume of intraoperative blood loss (791 ± 319.3 ml vs 336.1 ± 150.8 ml; P < .001), more frequent intraoperative blood transfusion (7 ± 2.1% vs 16± 18.0%; P < .001), and extended stays in the intensive care unit and hospitalization rates. Logistic regression analysis revealed that surgical duration and extent of surgery were unique risk factors for the occurrence of complications. CONCLUSIONS Lumbar decompression and additional fusion in octogenarians are considerable treatment techniques; albeit associated with increased complication risks. Prolonged operative time and extent of surgery are critical confounding factors associated with higher rates of postoperative complications. Surgery should only be performed after careful outweighing of potential benefits and risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlina Lenga
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gelo Gülec
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Awais A. Bajwa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mohammed Issa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Karl Kiening
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Basem Ishak
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Shahrestani S, Brown NJ, Yue JK, Tan LA. Developing Mixed-effects Models to Optimize Prediction of Postoperative Outcomes in a Modern Sample of Over 450,000 Patients Undergoing Elective Cervical Spine Fusion Surgery. Clin Spine Surg 2023; 36:E536-E544. [PMID: 37651572 DOI: 10.1097/bsd.0000000000001512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN A retrospective cohort. OBJECTIVE We utilize big data and modeling techniques to create optimized comorbidity indices for predicting postoperative outcomes following cervical spine fusion surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Cervical spine decompression and fusion surgery are commonly used to treat degenerative cervical spine pathologies. However, there is a paucity of high-quality data defining the optimal comorbidity indices specifically in patients undergoing cervical spine fusion surgery. METHODS Using data from 2016 to 2019, we queried the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) to identify individuals who had received cervical spine fusion surgery. The Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups (JHACG) frailty-defining indicator was used to assess frailty. To measure the level of comorbidity, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) scores were queried. Receiver operating characteristic curves were developed utilizing comorbidity indices as predictor variables for pertinent complications such as mortality, nonroutine discharge, top-quartile cost, top-quartile length of stay, and 1-year readmission. RESULTS A total of 453,717 patients were eligible. Nonroutine discharges occurred in 93,961 (20.7%) patients. The mean adjusted all-payer cost for the procedure was $22,573.14±18,274.86 (top quartile: $26,775.80) and the mean length of stay was 2.7±4.4 days (top quartile: 4.7 d). There were 703 (0.15%) mortalities and 58,254 (12.8%) readmissions within 1 year postoperatively. Models using frailty+ECI as primary predictors consistently outperformed the ECI-only model with statistically significant P -values for most of the complications assessed. Cost and mortality were the only outcomes for which this was not the case, as frailty outperformed both ECI and frailty+ECI in cost ( P <0.0001 for all) and frailty+ECI performed as well as ECI alone in mortality ( P =0.10). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that frailty+ECI may most accurately predict clinical outcomes in patients receiving cervical spine fusion surgery. These models may be used to identify high-risk populations and patients who may necessitate greater resource utilization following elective cervical spinal fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Shahrestani
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
- Department of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
| | - Nolan J Brown
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Orange
| | - John K Yue
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Lee A Tan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA
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Koch K, Szoverfi Z, Jakab G, Varga PP, Hoffer Z, Lazary A. Complication Pattern After Percutaneous Cement Discoplasty: Identification of Factors Influencing Reoperation and Length of Hospital Stay. World Neurosurg 2023; 178:e700-e711. [PMID: 37544606 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.07.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Percutaneous cement discoplasty (PCD) was introduced to treat symptomatic vertical instability of the lumbar spine in a minimally invasive way. The aim of the present study was to analyze the complication pattern after PCD and to identify factors that predict the chance of cement leakage, reoperation, and length of hospital stay (LOS). METHODS patients were treated with PCD within the study period. Clinical features and complications were analyzed by applying descriptive statistics, whereas perioperative factors predictive of cement leakage, reoperation, and LOS were identified by regression models. RESULTS Cement leakage rate was 30.4% in the total cohort; however, only fifth of them were symptomatic. Cement leakage itself did not have a significant influence on clinical outcome. Other complications and nonsurgical adverse events were registered only in 2.0% of cases. Age, subcutaneous fat tissue thickness, low viscosity cement, lower level of surgeon's experience and the number of operated levels were identified as risk factors of cement leakage (P < 0.01; c-index = 0.836). Type of procedure, Charlson comorbidity score, reoperation, and nonsurgical adverse events significantly increased the LOS (P < 0.01). Cement leakage, early surgical practice, and increased subcutaneous fat tissue thickness were risk factors for reoperation (P < 0.01; c-index = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS PCD is a relatively safe and effective procedure for treating spinal instability caused by advanced-stage disc degeneration characterized by vacuum phenomenon. Cement leakage is not uncommon but is only a radiologic complication without clinical consequences in most cases. On the other hand, it can increase the LOS and is a significant risk factor for reoperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristof Koch
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Budapest, Hungary; School of PhD Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Szoverfi
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabor Jakab
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Pal Varga
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Hoffer
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Aron Lazary
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Buda Health Center, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
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Li K, Han X, Zhang H, Chen X, Xu D, Li Z. Comparison of Lumbar Fusion Surgical Outcomes Between Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis ≥80 Versus 65-79 Years Old. Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e938837. [PMID: 36843310 PMCID: PMC9983286 DOI: 10.12659/msm.938837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The efficacy of lumbar fusion surgery in patients age 80 years and older with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is still controversial. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of LSS patients ³80 vs 65-79 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 66 patients diagnosed with LSS from 2014 to 2020; 33 patients were ³80 years and 33 patients were 65-79 years. The 2 groups were matched for sex and surgical segment. All patients underwent posterior lumbar decompression, fixation, and fusion surgery. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) of leg and back pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and radiographic data were collected before surgery and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS NRS (back) in the ≥80 years group was significantly higher than in the 65-79 years group at 3 months [2 (0-3) vs 1 (0-3), P=0.001]. Improvement of SF-36 (3 months: 15.7±4.9 vs 27.6±5.4, P<0.001; 6 months: 27.3±6.8 vs 31.5±5.6, P=0.011) and Physical Component Score (PCS) (3 months: 6.5±2.5 vs 17.0±3.6, P<0.001; 6 months: 15.9±3.4 vs 20.1±3.1, P<0.001) at 3 and 6 months in the ≥80 years group were significantly smaller than in 65-79 years group. There was a difference of Pfirrmann index of adjacent segment disc between the 2 groups at 12 months [≥80 vs 65-79 years group: 5.5 (4-8) vs 5 (3-8), P=0.003]. CONCLUSIONS Lumbar fusion surgery in patients ≥80 years with LSS can provide comparable improvements in clinical and radiographic outcomes compared with younger patients. Postoperative physiological function recovery was slower in patients ≥80 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xiao Han
- Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Fourth Clinical College of Peking University, Jishuitan Orthopaedic College of Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Haozhi Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Derong Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
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Operative Versus Nonoperative Management of Unstable Spine Fractures in the Elderly: Outcomes and Mortality. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2023; 48:39-48. [PMID: 36083602 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE To assess outcomes and mortality in elderly patients following unstable spine fractures depending on treatment modality. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Operative management of unstable spine fractures in the elderly remains controversial due to increased risk of perioperative complications. Mortality rates after operative versus nonoperative treatment of these injuries have not been well-characterized. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients aged above 65 with unstable spine fractures without neurologic injury from 2015 to 2021 were identified from the Clinformatics ® Data Mart (CDM) Database. Demographics, complications, and mortality were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for the effect of baseline characteristics on mortality following unstable fracture diagnosis. RESULTS Of the 3688 patients included, 1330 (36.1%) underwent operative management and 2358 (63.9%) nonoperative. At baseline, nonoperative patients were older, female, had higher Elixhauser comorbidity scores, and were more likely to have a cervical fracture. Operative patients had a longer length of stay in the hospital compared with nonoperative patients (9.7 vs. 7.7 days; P <0.001). Although patients in the operative group had higher rates of readmission at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after diagnosis ( P <0.01), they had lower mortality rates up to five years after injury. After adjusting for covariates, nonoperative patients had a 60% greater risk of mortality compared with operative patients (hazard ratio: 1.60, 95% confidence interval: 1.40-1.78, P <0.001). After propensity score matching, operative patients age 65 to 85 had greater survivorship compared with their nonoperative counterparts. CONCLUSIONS Elderly patients with an unstable spine fracture who undergo surgery experience lower mortality rates up to five years postdiagnosis compared with patients who received nonoperative management, despite higher hospital readmission rates and an overall perioperative complication rate of 37.3%. Operating on elderly patients with unstable spine fractures may outweigh the risks and should be considered as a viable treatment option in appropriately selected patients.
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