ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF) is a commonly performed procedure to address cervical myelopathy. A significant number of these patients require revision surgery for adjacent-segment disease (ASD) or pseudarthrosis. Currently, there is no consensus among spine surgeons on the inclusion of proximal thoracic spine instrumentation. This study investigates the benefits of thoracic extension in long-segment cervical fusions and the potential drawbacks. The authors compare outcomes in long-segment subaxial cervical fusion for degenerative cervical myelopathy with caudal vertebral levels of C6, C7, and T1. METHODS: A retrospective analysis identified 369 patients who underwent PCDF. Patients were grouped by caudal fusion level. Reoperation rates for ASD and pseudarthrosis, infection, and blood loss were examined. Data were analyzed with chi-square, 1-way ANOVA, and logistic regression. RESULTS: The total reoperation rate for symptomatic pseudarthrosis or ASD was 4.8%. Reoperation rates, although not significant, were lower in the C3-6 group (2.6%, vs 8.3% for C3-7 and 3.8% for C3-T1; p = 0.129). Similarly, rates of infection were lower in the shorter-segment fusion without achieving statistical significance (2.6% for C3-6, vs 5.6% for C3-7 and 5.5% for C3-T1; p = 0.573). The mean blood loss was documented as 104, 125, and 224 mL for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the lack of statistical difference in reoperation rates for long-segment cervical fusions ending at C6, C7, or T1, shorter fusions in high-risk surgical candidates or elderly patients may be performed without higher rates of reoperation.
ABSTRACT
Opioids are used for pain control after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and carry risk for abuse. Mandatory statewide databases have been created to monitor their use. The goal of this study was to identify patient risk factors for prolonged opioid use after TKA. The authors retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 676 primary TKA procedures performed between January 2017 and July 2017. Information on fulfillment of narcotic, sedative, benzodiazepine, and stimulant prescriptions was obtained from the Pennsylvania State Controlled Substance Monitoring website 6 months before and 1 year after the procedure. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for the need for a second prescription and opioid use for longer than 6 months. Of this cohort, 30.3% used preoperative opioids, 60.5% filled a second opioid prescription, and 11.8% continued opioid use for longer than 6 months. Patients who had opioid use before the index procedure had more than 3-fold (odds ratio [OR], 3.29; P<.001) increased odds of filling a second opioid prescription and 8-fold (OR, 8.05; P<.001) increased odds of postoperative opioid use for longer than 6 months. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for requiring a second prescription, including discharge to a rehabilitation facility (OR, 2.77), bilateral procedures (OR, 1.88), preoperative narcotic use (OR, 1.70), and younger age (OR, 0.95). Independent risk factors for narcotic use for longer than 6 months included preoperative sedative (OR, 3.30) or narcotic use (OR, 1.49). This study identified several risk factors associated with prolonged narcotic use after TKA, including preoperative sedative use, and determined their relative weight. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(1):e50-e54.].
