Factors Affecting Length of Stay Following Elective Anterior and Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery

Cervical fusion for adult patients with atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation

BACKGROUND

Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation (AARS) is a rare injury of the C1/C2 junction. It is often associated with trauma in adults. Treatment may depend on the duration of symptoms and clinical presentation, but there is no consensus regarding the ideal management of these injuries. Our objective is to ascertain the prevalence of neurological deficit, complications, and outcomes of patients diagnosed with AARS undergoing cervical fusion (CF) versus those treated without CF.

METHODS

The 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried using International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) for adult patients with C1/C2 subluxation. Patients undergoing CF were defined through ICD-10 procedure codes. Baseline health and acute illness severity was calculated using the 11-point modified frailty index (mFI-11). Presenting characteristics, treatment complications, and outcomes were evaluated of CF vs. non-CF patients.

RESULTS

Of 990 adult patients with AARS, 720 were treated without CF and 270 were treated with CF. CF patients were more often myelopathic. Patients that had undergone CF treatment were negatively associated with having had extensive trauma. Patients undergoing CF experienced significantly longer length of stay (LOS), increased healthcare resource utilization, and decreased inpatient mortality. Sepsis had a negative association with patients that underwent CF treatment while pneumonia had a positive association.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult patients undergoing CF for AARS demonstrated an increase in healthcare resource utilization but also a significant decrease in mortality. Extent of acute injury appears to have a strong influence on decision making for CF. Further study of decision making for treatment of this rare injury in adults is warranted.

Health Care Resource Utilization in Commercially Insured Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Degenerative Cervical Pathology

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of an administrative database.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to investigate the distribution of spending for the entire episode of care among nonelderly, commercially insured patients undergoing elective, inpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgeries for degenerative cervical pathology.

METHODS

Using a private insurance claims database, we identified patients who underwent single-level, inpatient ACDF for degenerative spinal disease. Patients were selected using a combination of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Entire episode of care was defined as 6-months before (preoperative) to 6 months after (postoperative) the surgical admission.

RESULTS

In our cohort containing 33 209 patients, perioperative median spending per patient (MSPP) within the year encompassing surgery totaled $37 020 (interquartile range [IQR] $28 363-$49 206), with preoperative, surgical admission, and postoperative spending accounting for 9.8%, 80.7%, and 9.5% of total spending, respectively. Preoperatively, MSPP was $3109 (IQR $1806-$5215), 48% of patients underwent physical therapy, and 31% underwent injections in the 6 months period prior to surgery. Postoperatively, MSPP was $1416 (IQR $398-$3962), and unplanned hospital readmission (6% incidence) accounted for 33% of the overall postoperative spending. Discharge to a nonhome discharge disposition was associated with higher postoperative spending ($14 216) compared with patients discharged home ($1468) and home with home care ($2903), P < .001.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the elements and distribution of perioperative spending for the episode of care in patients undergoing ACDF surgery for degenerative conditions is important for health care planning and resource allocation.

Tissue-Sparing Posterior Cervical Fusion With Interfacet Cages: A Systematic Review of the Literature

STUDY DESIGN

Literature review.

OBJECTIVES

Posterior cervical interfacet cages are an alternative to lateral mass fixation in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. Recently, a percutaneous, tissue-sparing system for interfacet cage placement has been developed, however, there is limited clinical evidence supporting its widespread use. The aim was to review studies published on this system for patient reported outcomes, radiographic outcomes, intraoperative outcomes, and complications.

METHODS

Four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and MEDLINE) were queried for original published studies that evaluated the percutaneous, tissue-sparing technique for posterior cervical fusion with interfacet cage placement. All studies reporting on open techniques and purely biomechanical studies were excluded.

RESULTS

The extensive literature search returned 7852 studies. After systematic review, a total of 7 studies met inclusion criteria. Studies were independently classified as retrospective or prospective cohort studies and each assessed by the GRADE criteria. Patient reported outcomes, radiographic outcomes, intraoperative outcomes, and complications were extracted from each study and presented.

CONCLUSIONS

Tissue-sparing, posterior cervical fusion with interfacet cages may be considered a safe and effective surgical intervention in patients failing conservative management for cervical spondylotic disease. However, the quality of evidence in the literature is lacking, and controlled, comparative studies are needed for definitive assessment.

Predicting extended operative time and length of inpatient stay in cervical deformity corrective surgery

It's increasingly common for surgeons to operate on more challenging cases and higher risk patients, resulting in longer op-time and inpatient LOS. Factors predicting extended op-time and LOS for cervical deformity (CD) patients are understudied. This study identified predictors of extended op-time and length of stay (LOS) after CD-corrective surgery. CD patients with baseline (BL) radiographic data were included. Patients were stratified by extended LOS (ELOS; >75th percentile) and normal LOS (N-LOS; <75th percentile). Op-time analysis excluded staged cases, cases >12 h. A Conditional Variable Importance Table used non-replacement sampling set of Conditional Inference trees to identify influential factors. Mean comparison tests compared LOS and op-time for top factors. 142 surgical CD patients (61 yrs, 62%F, 8.2 levels fused). Op-time and LOS were 358 min and 7.2 days; 30% of patients experienced E-LOS (14 ± 13 days). Overlapping predictors of E-LOS and op-time included levels fused (>7 increased LOS 2.7 days; >5 increased op-time 96 min, P < 0.001), approach (anterior reduced LOS 3.0 days; combined increased op-time 69 min, P < 0.01), BMI (>38 kg/m² increased LOS 8.1 days; >39 kg/m² increased op-time 17 min), and osteotomy (LOS 2.0 days, op-time 62 min, P < 0.005). BL cervical parameters increased LOS and op-time: cSVA (>42 mm increased LOS; >50 mm increased op-time, P < 0.030), C0 slope (>@-0.9° increased LOS, >0.3° increased op-time, P < 0.003.) Additional op-time predictors: prior cervical surgery (p = 0.004) and comorbidities (P = 0.015). Other predictors of E-LOS: EBL (P < 0.001), change in mental status (P = 0.001). Baseline cervical malalignment, levels fused, and osteotomy predicted both increased op-time and LOS. These results can be used to better optimize patient care, hospital efficiency, and resource allocation.

Length of stay associated with posterior cervical fusion with intervertebral cages: experience from a device registry

Background

Using a multi-center medical device registry, we prospectively collected a set of perioperative and clinical outcomes among patients treated with tissue-sparing, posteriorly-placed intervertebral cage fusion used in the management of symptomatic, degenerative neural compressive disorders of the cervical spine.

Methods

Cervical fusion utilizing posteriorly-placed intervertebral cages offers a tissue-sparing alternative to traditional instrumentation for the treatment of symptomatic cervical radiculopathy. A registry was established to prospectively collect perioperative and clinical data in a real-world clinical practice setting for patients treated via this approach. This study evaluated length of stay as well as estimated blood loss and procedural time in 271 registry patients.

Results

The median length of stay was 1.1, 1.1 and 1.2 days for patients having a stand-alone arthrodesis, revision of a pseudoarthrosis, and circumferential fusion (360°), respectively, and was not related to number of levels treated. Historical comparison to published literature demonstrated that average lengths of stay associated with open, posterior lateral mass fixation were consistently ≥4 days. Average blood loss (range, 32-75 mL) and procedural time (range, 51-88 min) were also diminished in patients having tissue-sparing, cervical intervertebral cage fusion compared to open posterior lateral mass fixation.

Conclusions

Adoption of this tissue-sparing procedure may offer substantial cost-constraining benefits by reducing the length of post-operative hospitalization by, at least, 3 days compared to traditional lateral mass fixation.