Owoicho Adogwa1, Aladine A Elsamadicy2, Jared Fialkoff1, Victoria D Vuong1, Ankit I Mehta3, Raul A Vasquez4, Joseph Cheng5, Isaac O Karikari2, Carlos A Bagley6. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. 5. Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. 6. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas South Western, Dallas, TX, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The association between functional decline occurring with prolonged bed rest after surgery is well-known. Immediate in-patient post-operative ambulation with the physical therapy (PT) service has been reported to improve pain and disability, while decreasing the incidence of perioperative complications. Whether formal PT evaluation prior to hospital discharge leads to improved ambulation (number of steps ambulated), shorter duration of hospital stay and lower peri-operative complications compared to nurse-assisted ambulation protocols remain unknown. METHODS: The medical records of 274 patients (No PT: n=87, PT: n=187) undergoing elective spine surgery at a major academic medical center were reviewed. Patients were categorized based on whether PT services were delivered during the post-operative in-patient stay. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and post-operative complication rates were collected and compared. Ambulation status and the number of steps ambulated were recorded. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in both cohorts. Operative variables were similar between both cohorts, with no significant difference in operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), and number of fusion levels. Peri-operative complication rates were similar between the cohorts. Compared to patients in the nurse-assisted ambulation cohort (No PT), patients in the PT cohort had a longer duration of hospital stay (4.17 vs. 3.39 days, P=0.15). 30-day readmission rates, although higher in the PT cohort, was not statistically significantly different (PT 6.57% vs. No PT: 2.30%, P=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the routine use of the PT services compared to nurse-assisted ambulation programs is associated with a modest increase in the duration of hospital stay without any significant reduction in peri-operative complications profile. In a health conscious healthcare climate, appropriate screening mechanisms and risk stratification should be performed to optimize utilization of post-operative in-patient PT services.
BACKGROUND: The association between functional decline occurring with prolonged bed rest after surgery is well-known. Immediate in-patient post-operative ambulation with the physical therapy (PT) service has been reported to improve pain and disability, while decreasing the incidence of perioperative complications. Whether formal PT evaluation prior to hospital discharge leads to improved ambulation (number of steps ambulated), shorter duration of hospital stay and lower peri-operative complications compared to nurse-assisted ambulation protocols remain unknown. METHODS: The medical records of 274 patients (No PT: n=87, PT: n=187) undergoing elective spine surgery at a major academic medical center were reviewed. Patients were categorized based on whether PT services were delivered during the post-operative in-patient stay. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and post-operative complication rates were collected and compared. Ambulation status and the number of steps ambulated were recorded. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in both cohorts. Operative variables were similar between both cohorts, with no significant difference in operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), and number of fusion levels. Peri-operative complication rates were similar between the cohorts. Compared to patients in the nurse-assisted ambulation cohort (No PT), patients in the PT cohort had a longer duration of hospital stay (4.17 vs. 3.39 days, P=0.15). 30-day readmission rates, although higher in the PT cohort, was not statistically significantly different (PT 6.57% vs. No PT: 2.30%, P=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the routine use of the PT services compared to nurse-assisted ambulation programs is associated with a modest increase in the duration of hospital stay without any significant reduction in peri-operative complications profile. In a health conscious healthcare climate, appropriate screening mechanisms and risk stratification should be performed to optimize utilization of post-operative in-patient PT services.
Authors: Lisa G Oestergaard; Finn B Christensen; Claus V Nielsen; Cody E Bünger; Soeren Fruensgaard; Rikke Sogaard Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2013-11-01 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Lisa G Oestergaard; Claus V Nielsen; Cody E Bünger; Rikke Sogaard; Soeren Fruensgaard; Peter Helmig; Finn B Christensen Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2012-10-01 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Kristian Larsen; Torben B Hansen; Per B Thomsen; Terkel Christiansen; Kjeld Søballe Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2009-04 Impact factor: 5.284