Rafael De la Garza Ramos1, Michael Longo2, Yaroslav Gelfand3, Murray Echt3, Bassel G Diebo4, Neil V Shah4, Remi A Kessler5, Peter G Passias6, Reza Yassari3. 1. Spine Research Group, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA. Electronic address: rafdelag@gmail.com. 2. Spine Research Group, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA. 3. Spine Research Group, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA. 4. Department of Orthopaedics, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA. 5. Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA. 6. Department of Orthopaedics, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare timing of intervention for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) requiring surgical procedures during weekend versus weekday admissions. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database from 2012 to 2014 was queried to identify patients with SCI who underwent surgical treatment (decompression with or without stabilization) as an emergent/urgent procedure. Timing of intervention, inpatient morbidity, and inpatient mortality were compared between patients admitted during the weekend versus a weekday. Multiple logistic regression analyses were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 9390 patients were identified (mean age 55 years, 73.2% male) from the database, with 34.1% admitted during the weekend and 65.9% during a weekday. The average day of intervention for the entire cohort was 2.8 (SD 3.9, interquartile range 1-4); day 2.7 (standard deviation [SD] 4.0) versus day 2.8 ([SD] 3.9) for patients admitted in a weekend versus weekday (P = 0.418). After controlling for patient age, sex, and injury severity score on multiple logistic regression analysis, weekend admission was not significantly associated with early intervention (odds ratio [OR] 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-1.21; P = 0.993), complication occurrence (OR 1.09; 95% CI, 0.86-1.38; P = 0.476), or inpatient mortality (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.44-1.56; P = 0.563). Patients with complete/American Spinal Injury Association A injuries were more likely to undergo early intervention (OR 2.09; 95% CI, 1.31-3.31; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In this national study, patients with SCI who were admitted during the weekend received surgical intervention as early as patients admitted during a weekday. Furthermore, no differences in complication or mortality rates between groups were found.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare timing of intervention for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) requiring surgical procedures during weekend versus weekday admissions. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database from 2012 to 2014 was queried to identify patients with SCI who underwent surgical treatment (decompression with or without stabilization) as an emergent/urgent procedure. Timing of intervention, inpatient morbidity, and inpatient mortality were compared between patients admitted during the weekend versus a weekday. Multiple logistic regression analyses were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 9390 patients were identified (mean age 55 years, 73.2% male) from the database, with 34.1% admitted during the weekend and 65.9% during a weekday. The average day of intervention for the entire cohort was 2.8 (SD 3.9, interquartile range 1-4); day 2.7 (standard deviation [SD] 4.0) versus day 2.8 ([SD] 3.9) for patients admitted in a weekend versus weekday (P = 0.418). After controlling for patient age, sex, and injury severity score on multiple logistic regression analysis, weekend admission was not significantly associated with early intervention (odds ratio [OR] 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-1.21; P = 0.993), complication occurrence (OR 1.09; 95% CI, 0.86-1.38; P = 0.476), or inpatient mortality (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.44-1.56; P = 0.563). Patients with complete/American Spinal Injury Association A injuries were more likely to undergo early intervention (OR 2.09; 95% CI, 1.31-3.31; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In this national study, patients with SCI who were admitted during the weekend received surgical intervention as early as patients admitted during a weekday. Furthermore, no differences in complication or mortality rates between groups were found.