Factors predicting postoperative complications following spinal fusions in children with cerebral palsy.

A retrospective review of 107 patients with cerebral palsy who had undergone a posterior spinal fusion with unit rod instrumentation by the same two surgeons was done to determine what factors cause complications that lead to delayed recovery time and a longer than average hospital stay. The operative risk score was developed with scores for the child's ability to walk and talk, oral feeding ability, cognitive ability, and medical problems within the year prior to surgery. Operative risk score is primarily a measure of degree of neurologic involvement. The postoperative complication score (POCS) is a combined measure of all postoperative complications including factors for prolonged intubation, intensive care unit stay, hospital stay, and delayed feeding. The mean age at surgery was 14.3 years. The mean weight was 29.5 kg, with 89 of 107 patients below the fifth percentile for weight compared with age. The mean degree of spinal deformity was 75.2 degrees (range 43-120 degrees ). The mean weight for age was -1.96 SD below the normal. The mean operative time was 4.3 h, with estimated blood loss of 1.2 blood volumes. The mean length of hospitalization was 23 days 2 h, with 5 days 2 h in the intensive care unit. The operative risk score and weight for chronological age below the fifth percentile showed statistical significance (p = 0.05) in regard to increased POCS. The weight for height-age and deficient total lymphocyte count, both factors that measure nutritional status, showed no statistical significance (p > 0.05) compared with POCS. Curves with deformity of >70 degrees had statistically significant high POCS (p = 0.03). Complications for patients having a posterior and an anterior surgery versus those who had a posterior fusion alone were not statistically different (p > 0.05). The factors that led to a greater rate of complications were the severity of neurologic involvement, severity of recent history of significant medical problems, and severity of scoliosis.