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BACKGROUND CONTEXT: With the goal of improving patient outcomes, the Integrated Spine Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center implemented an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol which includes pre- and post-surgery guidelines. Numerous studies have shown benefit of implementation of ERAS protocols to standardize perioperative care in line with best practices; however, the literature on complication rates, LOS, and readmissions shows mixed results. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of the ERAS protocol implementation on complication rates in the perioperative period, as well as hospital and ICU length of stay and hospital re-admission rates. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective cohort study was performed on all patients who underwent spine surgery between September 2016 and September 2021 at a single institution. Patients who met inclusion criteria were divided into non-ERAS and ERAS groups, and comparative statistics were used to evaluate ERAS protocol effectiveness. PATIENT SAMPLE: All patients who underwent spine surgery at UT Southwestern between September 2016 and September 2021 were evaluated for inclusion in the study. The patient sample was further refined to include only complex patient cases which were able to receive the full ERAS protocol (non-emergent admissions). OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of absence of post-operative complications including surgical site infection, AKI, DVT, MI, sepsis, pneumonia, PE, stroke, shock, and other complications were compared between groups, as were hospital and ICU length of stay, and 7, 30, and 90 day readmissions. Self-reported or functional measures were not used in outcome evaluation. METHODS: A database of patient and surgery characteristics was built using an EMR query tool with spot checks performed by the authors. Control and treatment groups were matched for gender, age, BMI, ASA score, and surgery type. Total number of complication rates was compared between ERAS and non-ERAS groups, and comparative statistics were used to determine significance. RESULTS: Significant differences between ERAS versus non-ERAS groups were found in rates of UTI (6.8% vs. 3.1%, respectively; p=.031), constipation (20.6% vs. 11.4%, respectively; p=.001), and any complications (31.4% vs. 19.4%, respectively; p<.001). There was no significant difference in the rates of other complications, in length of hospital or ICU stay, or readmissions at 7, 30, and 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the ERAS protocol did not decrease complication rates or length of stay, and ERAS patients had significantly higher rates of UTI, constipation, and any complications. There may have been confounding factors due to the impact of COVID-19 on delivery of care, as well as misalignment between ERAS goals and outcome measures.
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Management of pediatric facial fractures depends on location and severity, age, and associated injuries. Accurate diagnosis of associated injuries is crucial for effective treatment. This study evaluates the incidence of associated injuries and seeks to determine the influencing factors to provide imaging guidance. A retrospective review of pediatric facial fractures from the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank from 2017 to 2021 was completed. Associated cervical spine (c-spine), skull fracture, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and intracranial bleeding were evaluated. Demographics, fracture patterns, mechanisms, protective devices, and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were reviewed. A total of 44,781 pediatric patients with 65,613 facial fractures were identified. Of the total, 5.47% had a c-spine injury, 21.86% had a skull fracture, 18.82% had TBI, and 5.76% had intracranial bleeding. Multiple fractures significantly increased the rate of all associated cranial and c-spine injuries. Single midface fractures had the highest c-spine, TBI, and intracranial bleeding rates. With increasing age, there was a significant increase in c-spine injury and TBI, while there was a decrease in skull fractures. Motor vehicle accidents and GCS <13 were associated with significantly increased rates of all injuries. Among pediatric patients with facial fractures, 5.47% had a c-spine injury, 21.86% had a skull fracture, 18.82% had TBI, and 5.76% had intracranial bleeding. The authors' findings recommend c-spine imaging in older age and cranial imaging in younger patients. Multiple facial fractures, fractures of the midface, decreased GCS, and motor vehicle accidents increase the need for both c-spine and cranial imaging.
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OBJECTIVE: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used to evaluate patients with diffuse traumatic brain injury (dTBI). However, the utility of early MRI is understudied. We hypothesize that early MRI patients will have increased length of stay but no changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) management or disposition. METHODS: The 2019 National Trauma Data Bank was queried for patients with dTBI and Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8. Extra-axial and focal intra-axial hemorrhages were excluded. Clinical characteristics were controlled for. Patients with and without MRI were compared for ICP management, outcome, mortality, and disposition. A propensity score matching algorithm was used to create a 1:1 match cohort. RESULTS: In 2568 patients, MRI was less common in severe dTBI patients with clear reasons for poor examination, including bilaterally unreactive pupils or midline shift. After matching, 501 patients who underwent MRI within 1 week were compared with 501 patients without MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging patients had longer intensive care unit stays (11.6 ± 9.6 vs. 13.4 ± 9.5, p < 0.01; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], -3.03 to -0.66). There was no difference between groups in ICP monitor (23.6% vs. 27.3%; p = 0.17; 95% CI, -0.09 to 0.02) or ventriculostomy placement (13.6% vs. 13.2%, p = 0.85; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.05) or in withdrawal of care (15.0% vs. 18.6%, p = 0.12; 95% CI, -0.08 to 0.01). MRI patients were more likely to be discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (42.9% vs. 33.5%; p < 0.01; 95% CI, 0.03-0.15) but not to home (9.4% vs. 9.0%; p = 0.83; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.04). CONCLUSION: The decision to pursue early brain MRI may be driven by lack of obvious reasons for a patient's poor neurologic status. MRI patients had longer intensive care unit stays but no difference in rates of placement of ICP monitors or ventriculostomies or withdrawal of care. Further study is required to define the role of early MRI in dTBI patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level IV.
