Risk Factors for Blood Transfusions in Elective Single-Level Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Conditions.

Background: ALIF (anterior lumbar interbody fusion) and other spinal fusion surgeries are among the most common orthopaedic procedures requiring blood transfusions. However, blood transfusions have been associated with various complications, including adverse reactions and infections. The present study aims to identify independent risk factors for blood transfusions in patients undergoing single-level ALIF specifically to better identify high risk patients and optimize perioperative management. Methods: All patients who had undergone single-level ALIF patients for the treatment of degenerative spinal conditions, excluding traumatic, pathologic, and infectious etiologies, were identified by querying a multi-institutional surgical registry from 2005 to 2018. Multi-level fusions, PLIF/TLIF, and posterior procedures were also excluded. Mann-Whitney-U-Tests were used to analyze continuous variables, while Fisher's-Exact-Tests/Bonferroni-Corrected-Tests were used for categorical variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with alternating backward stepwise elimination and forward entry was implemented to identify significant predictors for blood transfusions within 72 hours after incision. The predicted probabilities were used in post-regression diagnostics to generate a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve to assess model performance. Results: 4,792 single-level ALIF patients met inclusion criteria - 183 (3.82%) had received blood transfusions within 72 hours after incision and 4,609 (96.18%) had not. Age ≥60 years (OR 1.954, p<0.001), preoperative transfusions (OR 33.758, p=0.023), extended operative times (≥197.0 minutes; 75th percentile) (OR 4.645, p<0.001), ASA≥3 (OR 1.395, p<0.001) and preoperative hematocrit levels (Hct) 30.00-37.99 (OR 1.562, p=0.016) and Hct <30.00 (OR 6.334, p<0.001) were shown to be significant independent risk factors for perioperative blood transfusions. The area under the ROC curve (AUROC; C-statistic) was 0.759 (p<0.001), indicating relatively strong discriminatory ability/predictability of the final model. Conclusion: Several independent risk factors including age ≥60 years, preoperative blood transfusions and extended operative times increased risk for blood transfusion following single-level ALIF. The present study aims to help surgeons identify high-risk patients to better communicate postoperative expectations and optimize patients to reduce the risk of transfusions and secondary complications. Level of Evidence: III.

Characterizing the Effect of Perioperative Narcotic Consumption and Narcotic Prescription Dosing at Discharge on Satisfaction With Pain Control for Patients Undergoing Single-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: A single-center, retrospective review of prospectively collected data on patients who underwent single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusions (ACDFs) between October 2014 and October 2019. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of perioperative narcotic consumption and amount of narcotic prescribed at discharge on patient satisfaction with pain control after single-level ACDF. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Prior research has demonstrated that opioid prescription habits may be related to physician desire to produce superior patient satisfaction with pain control. METHODS: Patients with complete Press-Ganey Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey information were analyzed. Inpatient opioid prescriptions were recorded and converted to milligram morphine equivalents (MME) and tablets of 5 mg oxycodone. HCAHPS scores were converted to a Likert-type 5-point scale. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients met inclusion criteria for this study. Average age was 48.1±10.9 y. Average inpatient opioids prescribed was 102±106 MME. Average opioids prescribed at discharge was 437±342 MME. No statistically significant correlation was found between satisfaction with pain control and opioid consumption while in the hospital [r=-0.106, P=0.483]. Similarly, there was no statistically significant correlation between satisfaction with pain control and opioids prescribed upon discharge [r=-0.185, P=0.219]. No statistically significant correlation was found between date of surgery and inpatient MME consumption [r=-0.113, P=0.450]. Interestingly, more opioids were prescribed at discharge the earlier the date of surgery [r=-0.426, P=0.003]. For every additional month further along in the study period, the odds of a patient reporting a top box score for satisfaction with pain control increased by 5.5% [P=0.025]. CONCLUSION: Our study found no correlation between patient satisfaction with pain control and inpatient opioid dosage or outpatient prescription dosage after single-level ACDF. Moreover, satisfaction with pain control increased over time despite a decrease in MME prescribed at discharge. This suggests that factors other than narcotic consumption play a more important role in patient satisfaction with pain control. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Fusing to the Sacrum/Pelvis: Does the Risk of Reoperation in Thoracolumbar Fusions Depend on Upper Instrumented Vertebrae (UIV) Selection?

BACKGROUND: There is controversy as to whether fusions should have the upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) end in the upper lumbar spine or cross the thoracolumbar junction. This study compares outcomes and reoperation rates for thoracolumbar fusions to the sacrum or pelvis with UIV in the lower thoracic versus lumbar spine to determine if there is an increased reoperation rate depending on UIV selection. METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was conducted from a single-center database on adult patients with degeneration and deformity who underwent primary and revision fusions with a caudal level of S1 or ilium between 2012 and 2018. Fusions were classified as anterior, posterior, or combination approach. Revision fusions included patients who had spinal surgery at another institution prior to their revision surgery at the center. Patients were categorized into 1 of 3 groups based on UIV: T9-T11, upper lumbar region (L1-L2), and lower lumbar region (L3-L5). Inclusion criteria were age 18 years or older and at least 1 year of clinical follow-up. Patients were excluded from analysis if they had tumors, infections, or less than 1 year of follow-up after the index procedure. RESULTS: The reoperation rates for the UIV groups in the thoracic (28%) and upper lumbar (27%) spine were nearly equal in magnitude and were both significantly higher than the reoperation rate in the lower lumbar group (18%, P = .046). Reoperation for the diagnosis of adjacent segment disease was 8.3% in the upper lumbar spine and statistically significantly higher than the reoperation rates for adjacent segment disease in the thoracic (1%) or lower lumbar (4.5%, P = .042) spine. Reoperations for pseudoarthrosis and proximal junctional kyphosis were 13% and 4%, respectively, in the thoracic spine, both of which were statistically significantly different (pseudoarthrosis, P = .035; proximal junctional kyphosis, P = .002) from the reoperation rates for the same diagnoses in the upper lumbar spine (4.6% and 1%) or lower lumbar spine (6.2% and 0%). A multivariate logistical regression model at 2-year follow up did not show a statistically significant difference between reoperation rates between the thoracic and upper lumbar spine UIV groups. CONCLUSION: Constructs with UIV in the thoracic spine suffer from higher rates of proximal junctional kyphosis and pseudoarthrosis, whereas those with UIV in the upper lumbar spine have higher rates of adjacent segment disease. Given this tradeoff, there is no certain recommendation on what UIV will result in a lower reoperation rate in thoracolumbar fusion constructs to the sacrum or pelvis. Surgeons must evaluate patient characteristics and risks to make the optimal decision.

Outcomes following outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the treatment of myelopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment of degenerative cervical disease. With continued increase in U.S. healthcare expenditure, surgeons have begun to more closely examine the benefits of performing ACDF in an outpatient setting to increase efficiency, reduce the overall financial burden on patients/providers, and provide streamlined care for these patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze outcomes following outpatient ACDF for the treatment of myelopathy. METHODS: 14,490 patients who had undergone ACDF for myelopathy from 2010 to 2018 were included in this retrospective study, of which 2956 (20.40%) patients were considered to have undergone outpatient surgery. Pearson chi-squared tests and Fischer's Exact Tests were used to analyze differences in categorical variables of demographics, preoperative comorbidities, and postoperative complications, while Mann-Whitney-U-Tests were used to compare mean values of continuous variables. Coarsened-exact-matching (CEM) was implemented to control for baseline differences in demographics and comorbidities, and post-matching diagnostics included multivariate and univariate imbalance measure assessment. Outcomes were compared between the CEM-matched inpatient and outpatients ACDF cohorts. RESULTS: Upon CEM-matching (L1-statistic <0.001), the outpatient cohort (n = 2610, 25.13%) demonstrated significantly lower rates of any complication (p < 0.001), minor complications (p = 0.001), urinary tract infections (p = 0.029), blood transfusions (p < 0.001), major complications (p < 0.001), deep incisional surgical site infections (p = 0.017), ventilator dependence (p = 0.027), cardiac arrest (p = 0.028), unplanned reoperations (p = 0.001), and mortality (p = 0.006) in the 30-day postoperative period when compared to inpatient controls (n = 7774, 74.87%). CONCLUSION: ACDF has been a target amongst spinal procedures as a prime candidate for outpatient surgery. However, no previous reports have described complication rates and perioperative parameters in the sub-population of outpatient ACDF patients with myelopathy. In addition to shorter times from admission to operating room, operative time, and LOS, our study also demonstrated lower rates of major and overall complications in outpatient ACDF's for myelopathy in comparison to their inpatient counterparts. Performing ACDF's for myelopathy in an outpatient setting may help to curb costs, improve outcomes, and serve as a valuable learning resource for graduate medical education with rapid turnovers and shorter operative times.

Increased Rates of Septic Shock, Cardiac Arrest, and Mortality Associated With Chronic Steroid Use Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an established treatment modality for cervical spondylosis. Many patients are on immunosuppressant therapy in the management of various inflammatory spinal pathologies and other comorbid conditions. The impact of chronic steroid use on postoperative complications has not been examined in cervical fusion procedures. The objective of this study was to identify specific postoperative complications associated with steroid/immunosuppressant use following ACDF for cervical stenosis. METHODS: A multi-institutional surgical registry was queried to identify 5377 patients with ACDF diagnosed with cervical stenosis. Patients were stratified into cohorts with a history of steroid/immunosuppressant use for chronic conditions (n = 198, 3.3%) versus those who did not (n = 5179, 96.7%). Propensity-score matching without replacement was implemented to control for preoperative demographics and comorbidities. Pearson χ2 and Fischer exact tests were used in comparing the prevalence of demographics, comorbidities, and complication rates. RESULTS: Upon propensity matching, increased rates of pulmonary embolisms (0.51% vs 0.00%, P = .025), cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation (1.01% vs 0.10%, P = .020), septic shock (0.51% vs 0.00%, P = .025), and mortality (1.52% vs 0.20%, P = .009) in the postoperative 30-day period in patients on chronic steroid/immunosuppressant use were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that steroid use/immunosuppression in patients with ACDF has a higher associated rate of pulmonary embolisms, cardiac arrest, septic shock, and mortality. The risk of mortality and these other complications should be carefully considered prior to operative intervention. Future research may investigate steroid-tapering protocols that reduce the rate of infection and other postoperative complications in the subset of immunosuppressed ACDF patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: By elucidating the complication rates of ACDF patients on steroids for cervical stenosis, orthopedic surgeons can better stratify patients for risk of postoperative morbidity. Surgeons may have deeper risk-benefit discussions with these specific patients before they elect to have the operation.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Urinary Tract Infections Following Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Although risk factors contributing to UTI have been studied in posterior approaches to lumbar fusion, there is a lack of literature on factors contributing to UTI in anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). Our purpose was to identify preoperative independent risk factors for postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) following anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) so that surgeons may be able to initiate preventative measures and minimize the risk of UTI-related morbidity following ALIF. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to identify 10 232 patients who had undergone ALIF from 2005 to 2016; 144 patients (1.41%) developed a postoperative UTI while 10 088 patients (98.59%) did not. Univariate analyses were conducted to compare the 2 cohorts' demographics and preoperative comorbidities. Multivariate logistic regression models were then utilized to identify significant predictors of postoperative UTI following ALIF while controlling for differences seen in univariate analyses. RESULTS: Age ≥ 60 years (P = .022), female sex (P < .001), alcohol use (P = .014), open wound or wound infections (P = .019), and steroid use (P = .046) were independent risk factors for postoperative UTI. Longer operative times were also independent predictors for developing UTI: 120 minutes ≤ x < 180 minutes (P = .050), 180 minutes ≤ x < 240 minutes (P = .025), and ≥ 240 minutes (P = .001). Postoperative UTI independently increased the risk for pneumonia, blood transfusions, sepsis, thromboembolic events, and extended length of stay as well. CONCLUSIONS: Age ≥ 60 years, female sex, alcohol use, steroid use, and open wound or wound infections independently increased the risk for UTI following ALIF. Future work analyzing the efficacy of tapering alcohol and steroid use preoperatively and reducing procedural time with the aim of lowering UTI risk is warranted. Preoperative wound care is strongly encouraged to decrease UTI risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

A Case Series That Supports the Application of the S2AI Technique for Fractures and Failures After Lumbosacral Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Sacral fractures and failures are uncommon after lumbosacral fusion but have received increasing attention in the surgical literature. They can be difficult to diagnose, making timely treatment difficult. No consensus has been reached on the characteristics of these complications or on optimal treatment. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The goal of this retrospective case series is to contribute additional cases of these uncommon complications of lumbosacral fusion to the surgical literature to help clinicians to anticipate, diagnose, characterize, manage, and treat sacral fractures and failures after lumbosacral fusion. METHODS: The medical records of five patients who experienced a sacral fracture or failure after lumbosacral fusion between January 2012 and November 2017 were identified and reviewed retrospectively. Records were reviewed for age, sex, clinical presentation, previous management, outpatient clinical records, imaging, and post-operative course. RESULTS: Four patients in the series experienced a sacral fracture and one experienced hardware failure. All patients presented with elevated pain and underwent revision surgery. Radiographic detection of the fracture or failure occurred at a mean of 11.2 weeks (range, 3 to 24 weeks) after initial surgery, and the mean age of patients was 68.2 years (range, 63 to 80 years). Of the five patients, four were female; two had been diagnosed with osteoporosis and two with osteopenia. In our case series, the S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) technique was used with success in all five cases. CONCLUSION: Fractures and failures after lumbosacral fusion can be difficult to diagnose because of delayed presentation, nonspecific presenting symptoms, and a lack of identifiable mechanism. A high index of suspicion is required to detect these uncommon complications, and patients have responded well to both conservative and surgical treatments.

Characterizing efficiency in the ambulatory surgery setting: An analysis of operating room time and cost savings in orthopaedic surgery.

Changing surgical settings for orthopaedic procedures could drive reductions in operative time and reduce healthcare costs. Time-cost differences were calculated using estimated operating room costs by utilizing the ACS-NSQIP database. Multivariate analyses were generated from propensity-matched cohorts to assess differences between inpatient/outpatient outcomes, and whether surgical length increased risk for complications. Outpatient procedures demonstrated time-cost savings of $1716.06. Generally, inpatient procedures demonstrated increased rates of major/minor complications, reoperation, extended LOS, and unplanned readmission (p < 0.001). Overall, longer operative times increased the risk for postoperative complications (p ≤ 0.001). More elective orthopaedic procedures done on an outpatient basis may result in substantial time-cost savings.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion With Cement Augmentation Without Posterior Fixation to Treat Isthmic Spondylolisthesis in an Osteopenic Patient-A Surgical Technique.

BACKGROUND: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has been well established as an effective surgical intervention for chronic back pain due to osteoporotic vertebral collapse. Historically, ALIF has consisted of an anterior approach to disc height restoration with a subsequent posterior pedicle screw fixation. Although the applications of cement augmentation with posterior fixation have been previously reported, treatment of patients with both isthmic spondylolisthesis and decreased bone mineral density using a stand-alone ALIF is controversial because of concerns for decreased fusion rates and increased subsidence risk, respectively. We report a case of stand-alone ALIF used to treat a low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis in the setting of idiopathic thoraco-lumbar scoliosis in a patient with secondary degenerative changes and discuss the benefits of this surgical technique in a patient with several comorbidities. METHODS: An osteopenic 66-year-old woman with multiple medical comorbidities and 2 years of left radicular leg pain was found to have a Myerding grade I isthmic spondylolisthesis in the setting of idiopathic thoraco-lumbar scoliosis with secondary changes. The patient underwent an L5-S1 stand-alone ALIF with anterior cement augmentation without posterior pedicle screw fixation. RESULTS: The patient experienced immediate relief of radicular leg pain postoperatively and had an uneventful course. At 2 years follow-up, she remained symptom free, and radiographs showed excellent fusion and maintenance of intervertebral disc height. CONCLUSIONS: The use of stand-alone ALIF with anterior cement augmentation of the vertebral bodies is a surgical technique that could produce excellent improvement in patients with low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis in the setting of osteopenia. The use of the all-anterior approach in similar patients with multiple medical comorbidities can also be a useful technique, as it decreases associated morbidity of surgery and complication risks associated with prolonged operative times.