Nathan J Lee1, Meghan Cerpa2, Eric Leung1, Zeeshan M Sardar1, Ronald A Lehman1, Lawrence G Lenke1. 1. Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, 161 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY, 10032, USA. 2. Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, 161 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY, 10032, USA. mc4338@cumc.columbia.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Unplanned readmissions and reoperations are known to be associated with undesirable costs and potentially inferior outcomes in complex adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. A paucity of literature exists on the impact of readmissions/reoperations on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in this population. METHODS: Consecutively treated adult patients who underwent complex ASD surgery at a single institution from 2015-2018 and minimum 2-year follow-up were studied. Demographics/comorbidities, operative factors, inpatient complications, and postoperative clinical and patient-reported outcomes (SRS-22r, ODI) were assessed for those with and without readmission/reoperation. RESULTS: 175 patients (72% female, mean age 52.6 ± 16.4) were included. Mean total instrumented/fused levels was 13.3 ± 4.1, range 6-25. The readmission and reoperation rates were 16.6% and 12%, respectively. The two most common causes of reoperation were pseudarthrosis (5.1%) and PJK (4.0%). Predictors for readmission within 2 years following surgery included pulmonary, cardiac, depression and gastrointestinal comorbidities, along with performance of a VCR, and TLIF. At 2 years postoperatively, those who required a readmission/reoperation had significant increases in SRS and reductions in ODI compared to 1-year and preoperative values. Inpatient complications did not negatively impact 2-year PRO's. The 2-year MCID in PROs was not significantly different between those with and without readmission/reoperation. CONCLUSION: Complex ASD surgery carries risk, but the vast majority can achieve MCID (SRS-86.4%, ODI-68.2%) in PROs by 2 years. Importantly, even those with inpatient complications and those who required unplanned readmission/reoperation can improve PROs by 2-year follow-up compared to preoperative baseline and 1-year follow-up and achieve similar improvements compared to those who did not require a readmission. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
BACKGROUND: Unplanned readmissions and reoperations are known to be associated with undesirable costs and potentially inferior outcomes in complex adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. A paucity of literature exists on the impact of readmissions/reoperations on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in this population. METHODS: Consecutively treated adult patients who underwent complex ASD surgery at a single institution from 2015-2018 and minimum 2-year follow-up were studied. Demographics/comorbidities, operative factors, inpatient complications, and postoperative clinical and patient-reported outcomes (SRS-22r, ODI) were assessed for those with and without readmission/reoperation. RESULTS: 175 patients (72% female, mean age 52.6 ± 16.4) were included. Mean total instrumented/fused levels was 13.3 ± 4.1, range 6-25. The readmission and reoperation rates were 16.6% and 12%, respectively. The two most common causes of reoperation were pseudarthrosis (5.1%) and PJK (4.0%). Predictors for readmission within 2 years following surgery included pulmonary, cardiac, depression and gastrointestinal comorbidities, along with performance of a VCR, and TLIF. At 2 years postoperatively, those who required a readmission/reoperation had significant increases in SRS and reductions in ODI compared to 1-year and preoperative values. Inpatient complications did not negatively impact 2-year PRO's. The 2-year MCID in PROs was not significantly different between those with and without readmission/reoperation. CONCLUSION: Complex ASD surgery carries risk, but the vast majority can achieve MCID (SRS-86.4%, ODI-68.2%) in PROs by 2 years. Importantly, even those with inpatient complications and those who required unplanned readmission/reoperation can improve PROs by 2-year follow-up compared to preoperative baseline and 1-year follow-up and achieve similar improvements compared to those who did not require a readmission. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
Authors: Shian Liu; Frank Schwab; Justin S Smith; Eric Klineberg; Christopher P Ames; Gregory Mundis; Richard Hostin; Khaled Kebaish; Vedat Deviren; Munish Gupta; Oheneba Boachie-Adjei; Robert A Hart; Shay Bess; Virginie Lafage Journal: Ochsner J Date: 2014