Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: risk factors for complications and the effect of hospital volume on outcomes.

OBJECTIVE Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of scoliosis. Limited literature exists defining risk factors associated with outcomes during initial hospitalization in these patients. In this study, the authors investigated patient demographics, clinical and hospital characteristics impacting short-term outcomes, and costs in adolescent patients undergoing surgical deformity correction for idiopathic scoliosis. Additionally, the authors elucidate the impact of hospital surgical volume on outcomes for these patients. METHODS Using the National Inpatient Sample database and appropriate International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes, the authors identified adolescent patients (10-19 years of age) undergoing surgical deformity correction for idiopathic scoliosis during 2001-2014. For national estimates, appropriate weights provided by the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality were used. Multivariable regression techniques were employed to assess the association of risk factors with discharge disposition, postsurgical neurological complications, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization costs. RESULTS Overall, 75,106 adolescent patients underwent surgical deformity correction. The rates of postsurgical complications were estimated at 0.9% for neurological issues, 2.8% for respiratory complications, 0.8% for cardiac complications, 0.4% for infections, 2.7% for gastrointestinal complications, 0.1% for venous thromboembolic events, and 0.1% for acute renal failure. Overall, patients stayed at the hospital for an average of 5.72 days (median 5 days) and on average incurred hospitalization costs estimated at $54,997 (median $47,909). As compared with patients at low-volume centers (≤ 50 operations/year), those undergoing surgical deformity correction at high-volume centers (> 50/year) had a significantly lower likelihood of an unfavorable discharge (discharge to rehabilitation) (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.03-1.30, p = 0.016) and incurred lower costs (mean $33,462 vs $56,436, p < 0.001) but had a longer duration of stay (mean 6 vs 5.65 days, p = 0.002). In terms of neurological complications, no significant differences in the odds ratios were noted between high- and low-volume centers (OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.97-1.55, p = 0.091). CONCLUSIONS This study provides insight into the clinical characteristics of AIS patients and their postoperative outcomes following deformity correction as they relate to hospital volume. It provides information regarding independent risk factors for unfavorable discharge and neurological complications following surgery for AIS. The proposed estimates could be used as an adjunct to clinical judgment in presurgical planning, risk stratification, and cost containment.

Neurosurgery value and quality in the context of the Affordable Care Act: a policy perspective.

Neurosurgeons provide direct individualized care to patients. However, the majority of regulations affecting the relative value of patient-related care are drafted by policy experts whose focus is typically system- and population-based. A central, prospectively gathered, national outcomes-related database serves as neurosurgery's best opportunity to bring patient-centered outcomes to the policy arena. In this study the authors analyze the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the determination of quality and value in neurosurgery care through the scope, language, and terminology of policy experts. The methods by which the ACA came into law and the subsequent quality implications this legislation has for neurosurgery will be discussed. The necessity of neurosurgical patient-oriented clinical registries will be discussed in the context of imminent and dramatic reforms related to medical cost containment. In the policy debate moving forward, the strength of neurosurgery's argument will rest on data, unity, and proactiveness. The National Neurosurgery Quality and Outcomes Database (N(2)QOD) allows neurosurgeons to generate objective data on specialty-specific value and quality determinations; it allows neurosurgeons to bring the patient-physician interaction to the policy debate.

Woodrow Wilson's hidden stroke of 1919: the impact of patient-physician confidentiality on United States foreign policy.

World War I catapulted the United States from traditional isolationism to international involvement in a major European conflict. Woodrow Wilson envisaged a permanent American imprint on democracy in world affairs through participation in the League of Nations. Amid these defining events, Wilson suffered a major ischemic stroke on October 2, 1919, which left him incapacitated. What was probably his fourth and most devastating stroke was diagnosed and treated by his friend and personal physician, Admiral Cary Grayson. Grayson, who had tremendous personal and professional loyalty to Wilson, kept the severity of the stroke hidden from Congress, the American people, and even the president himself. During a cabinet briefing, Grayson formally refused to sign a document of disability and was reluctant to address the subject of presidential succession. Wilson was essentially incapacitated and hemiplegic, yet he remained an active president and all messages were relayed directly through his wife, Edith. Patient-physician confidentiality superseded national security amid the backdrop of friendship and political power on the eve of a pivotal juncture in the history of American foreign policy. It was in part because of the absence of Woodrow Wilson's vocal and unwavering support that the United States did not join the League of Nations and distanced itself from the international stage. The League of Nations would later prove powerless without American support and was unable to thwart the rise and advance of Adolf Hitler. Only after World War II did the United States assume its global leadership role and realize Wilson's visionary, yet contentious, groundwork for a Pax Americana. The authors describe Woodrow Wilson's stroke, the historical implications of his health decline, and its impact on United States foreign policy.

A comparison of lumboperitoneal and ventriculoperitoneal shunting for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: an analysis of economic impact and complications using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

OBJECT: Complications following lumboperitoneal (LP) shunting have been reported in 18% to 85% of cases. The need for multiple revision surgeries, development of iatrogenic Chiari malformation, and frequent wound complications have prompted many to abandon this procedure altogether for the treatment of idiopathic benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri), in favor of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting. A direct comparison of the complication rates and health care charges between first-choice LP versus VP shunting is presented. METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was queried for all patients with the diagnosis of benign intracranial hypertension (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code 348.2) from 2005 to 2009. These data were stratified by operative intervention, with demographic and hospitalization charge data generated for each. RESULTS: A weighted sample of 4480 patients was identified as having the diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), with 2505 undergoing first-time VP shunt placement and 1754 undergoing initial LP shunt placement. Revision surgery occurred in 3.9% of admissions (n = 98) for VP shunts and in 7.0% of admissions (n = 123) for LP shunts (p < 0.0001). Ventriculoperitoneal shunts were placed at teaching institutions in 83.8% of cases, compared with only 77.3% of first-time LP shunts (p < 0.0001). Mean hospital length of stay (LOS) significantly differed between primary VP (3 days) and primary LP shunt procedures (4 days, p < 0.0001). The summed charges for the revisions of 92 VP shunts ($3,453,956) and those of the 6 VP shunt removals ($272,484) totaled $3,726,352 over 5 years for the study population. The summed charges for revision of 70 LP shunts ($2,229,430) and those of the 53 LP shunt removals ($3,125,569) totaled $5,408,679 over 5 years for the study population. CONCLUSIONS: The presented results appear to call into question the selection of LP shunt placement as primary treatment for IIH, as this procedure is associated with a significantly greater likelihood of need for shunt revision, increased LOS, and greater overall charges to the health care system.

State-to-State Variation in Medicaid Reimbursement for Neurosurgical Procedures: Implications for Healthcare Access in Vulnerable Populations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Medicaid payment for healthcare services traditionally reimburses less than Medicare and commercial insurance. This disparity in reimbursement seems to be an important driver of limited access to care among Medicaid beneficiaries. This study seeks to examine the degree of variation in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement for the most common neurosurgical current procedural terminology codes and determine its potential impact on provider accessibility. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, maximum allowed physician reimbursement fees for 20 common neurosurgical codes reported in the literature were obtained from the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and individual state Medicaid Fee-for-Service Schedules. The Medicaid-Medicare Index (MMI), which measures Medicaid reimbursement as a fraction of Medicare allowed amounts, was calculated for each procedure across 49 states and the District of Columbia. Lower MMI indicates a greater disparity, or "discount," between Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement. The proportion of providers accepting new Medicaid patients and total Medicaid enrollment were compared across states as a function of MMI. RESULTS: The average national MMI was 0.79, with a range of 0.37 in NY/NJ to 1.43 in NE. Maximum allowed amounts for Medicare reimbursement (coefficient of variation = 0.09) were less variable than those for Medicaid (coefficient of variation = 0.26, P < .01). The largest absolute disparity was observed for intracranial aneurysm clipping in NY, where the maximum Medicaid reimbursement is $3496.52 less than that of Medicare. Higher MMI was associated with a significantly larger proportion of providers accepting new Medicaid patients (R2 = 0.43, P < .01). Moreover, MMI varied inversely with the number of Medicaid beneficiaries (R2 = 0.12, P = .01). CONCLUSION: Medicaid reimbursement varies between states reflecting the disparate methods of fee schedule calculation. Lower reimbursement is associated with more limited provider enrollment, especially in states with a greater number of beneficiaries.

Barriers to overlapping complex and general spine surgery at a tertiary academic hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Policy concern and debate surround the concept of overlapping spine surgery. Overlapping surgery specifically refers to nonessential portions of the case or noncutting time overlap. This differs from concurrent surgery, in which critical portions of the procedure overlap. Here the authors explore the barriers for safe and efficient overlapping surgery in academic spinal deformity practice. METHODS: Over a 24-month period, cases of spinal deformity, degenerative cases, anterior cervical discectomy and fusions (ACDFs), and laminectomy were reviewed for duration in operating room (OR) prior to surgery, duration of cutting time, duration in OR after surgery, turnover duration, and time delay from initial start time. Standard degenerative cases were referenced as 1-2 ACDFs as well as 1- to 2-level laminectomy surgery. The blocks of time between two consecutive cutting periods were investigated to determine the feasibility of overlapping an additional surgery. Specifically, the authors compared the blocks of time that include the postsurgery period, the turnover period, and the presurgery period to cutting periods. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-six complex spinal deformity procedures and 85 degenerative cases (including 49 ACDFs and 36 laminectomies) from one center and one neurosurgeon were reviewed. These procedures were performed between September 2019 and December 2021 with a 3-month gap in military deployment. On average, the procedure's duration for cases of deformity was 236.5 minutes, for cases of ACDFs it was 84 minutes, and for cases of laminectomies it was 105.5 minutes. The block of noncutting time while the patient was in the OR showed no difference from the surgical cut time. The turnover time between cases was 52.35 minutes. Of 100 cases scheduled as the first case of the day, 94 had a delay to the OR averaging 18.2 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The data in this study indicate that estimates for pre- and postsurgical times alone are not sufficient to allow for overlapping surgery. The average cut-time duration of ACDF was 84 minutes; the average presurgical time for deformity was 68 minutes. This highlights the critical analysis for further examination of optimal scheduling, on-time first start, turnover periods, and the orchestration of all members of the providing team to optimize the cutting time for safe and consistent implementation of overlapping spine surgery.

Neonatal Halter Traction for Severe Cervical Spine Deformity: A Technical Case Report With 2-Year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Although rare, severe congenital cervical spine deformity can present with limited treatment options and potentially catastrophic outcomes. The use of halter traction for cervical deformity correction in children has been well described, but it has not been previously reported in the management of neonates. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A baby girl born at full-term gestation presented with generalized hypotonia, bilateral club feet, and significant right upper extremity weakness. Imaging demonstrated a severe congenital swan-neck deformity with spinal cord compression. Halter traction was initiated in the neonatal intensive care unit with subsequent neurological and radiographic improvement. After 7 days, traction was discontinued and she was placed in a custom-fitted cervico-thoracic orthosis. At 2 years of follow-up, she remains neurologically stable with maintained cervical alignment. CONCLUSION: Halter traction followed by external bracing is technically possible in the neonatal period. For children with severe cervical congenital deformity, this technique can reduce spinal cord compression, provide significant deformity correction, and delay the need for definitive operative spinal stabilization.

Neurological Manifestations of COVID-19 Within the Intensive Care Unit During a Military Deployment for the Early Pandemic Surge in New York City.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in a worldwide pandemic that at the time of this writing has caused over 400,000 deaths within the United States. During the pandemic surge in New York City, NY, a number of military Medical Corps (MC) and Nurse Corps (NC) providers were mobilized in direct support of critical care capabilities through expansion intensive care units. In the course of the deployment, high rates of neurological-related manifestations associated with COVID-19 infection were directly observed by our military provider teams which will be described and supporting literature highlighted. This is organic information absorbed in real time during the early stages of the pandemic in New York City. The neurological manifestations of COVID-19 varied in presentation and severity. Cerebral vascular injuries documented included strokes, iatrogenic intraparenchymal hemorrhage, hypoxia-related changes and sequelae, as well as acquired diseases secondary to delayed treatment of other primary neurologic disease states. Hypercoagulable and inflammatory markers (d-dimer, C-reactive protein, etc) were commonly elevated, and anticoagulation became a key factor in disease treatment and to help mitigate the downstream neurologic sequelae associated with this disease. Here we present these initial findings to lay the groundwork for more robust clinical studies moving forward.

Severe hypotension with loss of motor evoked potentials during cervical surgery prompting immediate cardiovascular resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is a well-established adjunct to spinal surgery to ensure safety of the neural elements.IONM has extremely high sensitivity and specificity for impending neurologic damage. In very rare instances, hypoperfusion of the cord may lead to a loss of IONM modalities that may be reversed if blood pressure issues responsible for the drop out of potentials are immediately addressed. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors describe a case in which IONM documented hypoperfusion of the cord intraoperatively due to hypotension. Recognition of this problem and reversal of the hypotension resulted in normalization of postoperative function. CONCLUSION: The use of IONM allowed for quick recognition of an impending neurological insult during spinal deformity surgery. Prompt response to signaling changes allowed for the correction of hypotension and favorable neurologic outcome.

Resection of congenital hemivertebra in pediatric scoliosis: the experience of a two-specialty surgical team.

OBJECTIVE: Institutions investigating value and quality emphasize utilization of two attending surgeons with different areas of technical expertise to treat complex surgical cases and to minimize complications. Here, the authors chronicle the 12-year experience of using a two-attending surgeon, two-specialty model to perform hemivertebra resection in the pediatric population. METHODS: Retrospective cohort data from 2008 to 2019 were obtained from the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital operative database. This database included all consecutive pediatric patients < 21 years old who underwent hemivertebra resection performed with the two-attending surgeon (neurosurgeon and orthopedic surgeon) model. Demographic information was extracted. Intraoperative complications, including durotomy and direct neurological injury, were queried from the clinical records. Intraoperative neuromonitoring data were evaluated. Postoperative complications were queried, and length of follow-up was determined from the clinical records. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2019, 22 patients with a median (range) age of 9.1 (2.0-19.3) years underwent hemivertebra resection with the two-attending surgeon, two-specialty model. The median (range) number of levels fused was 2 (0-16). The mean (range) operative time was 5 hours and 14 minutes (2 hours and 59 minutes to 8 hours and 30 minutes), and the median (range) estimated blood loss was 325 (80-2700) ml. Navigation was used in 14% (n = 3) of patients. Neither Gardner-Wells tongs nor halo traction was used in any operation. Neuromonitoring signals significantly decreased or were lost in 14% (n = 3) of patients. At a mean ± SD (range) follow-up of 4.6 ± 3.4 (1.0-11.6) years, 31% (n = 7) of patients had a postoperative complication, including 2 instances of proximal junctional kyphosis, 2 instances of distal junctional kyphosis, 2 wound complications, 1 instance of pseudoarthrosis with hardware failure, and 1 instance of screw pullout. The return to the operating room (OR) rate was 27% (n = 6), which included patients with the abovementioned wound complications, distal junctional kyphosis, pseudoarthrosis, and screw pullout, as well as a patient who required spinal fusion after loss of motor evoked potentials during index surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-two patients underwent hemivertebra resection with a two-attending surgeon, two-specialty model over a 12-year period at a specialized children's hospital, with a 14% rate of change in neuromonitoring, 32% rate of nonneurological complications, and a 27% rate of unplanned return to the OR.

A new modular radiographic classification of adult idiopathic scoliosis as an extension of the Lenke classification of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

PURPOSE: To propose and test the reliability of a radiographic classification system for adult idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: A three-component radiographic classification for adult idiopathic scoliosis consisting of curve type, a lumbosacral modifier, and a global alignment modifier is presented. Twelve spine surgeons graded 30 pre-marked cases twice, approximately 1 week apart. Case order was randomized between sessions. RESULTS: The interrater reliability (Fleiss' kappa coefficient) for curve type was 0.660 and 0.798, for the lumbosacral modifier 0.944 and 0.965, and for the global alignment modifier 0.922 and 0.916, for round 1 and 2 respectively. Mean intrarater reliability was 0.807. CONCLUSIONS: This new radiographic classification of adult idiopathic scoliosis maintains the curve types from the Lenke classification and introduces the lumbosacral and global alignment modifiers. The reliability of the lumbosacral modifier and global alignment modifier shows near perfect agreement, and sets the foundation for further studies to validate the reliability, utility, and applicability of this classification system.

Stepwise Retrieval of a Broken Pituitary Disc Rongeur.

We report a case of a patient undergoing open microdiscectomy at L5-S1, wherein the distal tip of a pituitary rongeur became dislodged within the disc space. Complication management and avoidance of anterior advancement are paramount. A stepwise plan to retrieve the foreign body was entertained in a methodical fashion. Such device failure places the patient at greater risk of injury, extends operation time, and adds undue burden on the surgical team. This situation warrants discussing the complications from retained foreign bodies and measures taken for their removal.

Does the Global Alignment and Proportion score overestimate mechanical complications after adult spinal deformity correction?

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to validate the Global Alignment and Proportion (GAP) score in a cohort of patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. The GAP score is a novel measure that uses sagittal parameters relative to each patient's lumbosacral anatomy to predict mechanical complications after ASD surgery. External validation is required. METHODS: Adult ASD patients undergoing > 4 levels of posterior fusion with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included. Six-week postoperative standing radiographs were used to calculate the GAP score, classified into a spinopelvic state as proportioned (P), moderately disproportioned (MD), or severely disproportioned (SD). A chi-square analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve, and Cochran-Armitage analysis were performed to assess the relationship between the GAP score and mechanical complications. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients with a mean age of 52.5 years (range 18-75 years) and a mean follow-up of 2.04 years were included. Patients with < 2 years of follow-up were included only if they had an early mechanical complication. Twenty of 67 patients (29.8%) had a mechanical complication. The spinopelvic state breakdown was as follows: P group, 21/67 (31.3%); MD group, 23/67 (34.3%); and SD group, 23/67 (34.3%). Mechanical complication rates were not significantly different among all groups: P group, 19.0%; MD group, 30.3%; and SD group, 39.1% (χ2 = 1.70, p = 0.19). The rates of mechanical complications between the MD and SD groups (30.4% and 39.1%) were less than those observed in the original GAP study (MD group 36.4%-57.1% and SD group 72.7%-100%). Within the P group, the rates in this study were higher than in the original study (19.0% vs 4.0%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The authors found no statistically significant difference in the rate of mechanical complications between the P, MD, and SD groups. The current validation study revealed poor generalizability toward the authors' patient population.

Value Proposition to a Hospital of Obtaining 36-inch Standing Scoliosis Film Technology.

Introduction Some hospitals do not have the technological capabilities of obtaining full 36-inch long-standing films to evaluate patients via proper sagittal balance spinal imaging protocol. Resistance from hospital administration for the purchase of proper hardware and software remains frustrating for spinal surgeons at both community and academic hospitals. Materials and methods Recurring transaction-based revenue streams were applied comparing cost with the different income generation at the hospital level. Cost is fixed cost, attributed to purchasing both the physical radiograph machine as well as the necessary software capabilities. Marginal cost was negligible as both materials and human capital are largely fungible and trivial at the margin. Revenue generation is largely identical to marginal revenue. Income was linked to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System for radiographic interpretation of films (Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) 72069). Income was also estimated from surgical volume calculation. Results The listed prospective outpatient radiographic reimbursement for the hospital was $24.36 per film. Medicare-defined reimbursements for a complex spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy or 9+ fusions with a Major Complication or Comorbidity (MCC) was listed at $55,228, and with a Complication or Comorbidity (CC) was noted to be $40,566. Complex spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy or 9+ fusions without CC/MCC was listed as $30,913. Lumbar spinal fusion except cervical with MCC was $39,164 and with CC was $23,490. University Neurosurgery at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA performed 1,013 thoracolumbar procedures in fiscal year (FY) 2015 with 557 (54.9%) being instrumented procedures. At a minimum, all instrumented procedures could benefit from proper spinal axis imaging, representing $13,568.52 of transaction-based annual gross revenue from radiographs alone. Hypothetical revenue generation of $491,696.42 was calculated. Conclusion There is a significant value proposition to the hospital in obtaining the proper technology for formal standing 36-inch scoliosis imaging. Marginal cost is negligible, while there are significant opportunities for marginal revenue per image obtained through transaction-based gross revenue, as well an immense hypothetical revenue stream from surgery-related gains. More importantly, it ensures a proper and complete delivery of spinal health to the hospital's healthcare population.

Natalizumab-Associated Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: Natalizumab, a selective adhesion molecule inhibitor binding to an α-4 subunit of integrin, has emerged to be an effective immunomodulator, especially in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and Crohn disease. Recent reports documenting the development of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) as a result of its administration have been concerning, and they trigger a debate about a possible causal association. In our report, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature on lymphoma development after natalizumab use, and we report an additional case of PCNSL development in a young woman who received natalizumab for her Crohn disease. METHODS: A systematic (qualitative) review of literature on lymphoma development after natalizumab therapy was performed by use of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data on patient characteristics, indication for drug therapy, dosages, radiologic findings, potential risk factors for PCNSL, and tumor markers were synthesized. Additionally, we present the findings from the case of a young woman who received natalizumab therapy (4 doses, 300 mg each) for Crohn disease and in whom PCNSL developed. RESULTS: Overall, 8 reports including our index case document lymphoma development after natalizumab use. Our case finding revisits the debate suggesting a remote possibility of association that warrants further evaluation and validation. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence documenting a causal association of natalizumab and PCNSL is weak. Considering the potential benefits of using natalizumab for current indications, we recommend vigilant monitoring of patients receiving the drug for PCNSL outlook.

Impact of Psychiatric Comorbidities on Short-Term Outcomes Following Intervention for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, observational cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of psychiatric diseases on short-term outcomes in patients undergoing fusion surgery for lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDDD). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Limited literature exists on the prevalence and impact of psychiatric comorbidities on outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for LDDD. METHODS: Adult patients (>18 yr) registered in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2002-2011) and undergoing an elective spine fusion for LDDD that met inclusion criteria formed the study population. Defined primary outcome measures were discharge disposition, length of stay, hospitalization cost, and short-term postsurgical complications (neurological, respiratory, cardiac, gastrointestinal, wound complication and infections, venous thromboembolism, and acute renal failure). Multivariable regression techniques were used to explore the association of psychiatric comorbidities on short-term outcomes by adjusting for patient demographics, clinical, and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 126,044 adult patients undergoing fusion surgery for LDDD (mean age: 54.91 yr, 58% female) approximately 18% had a psychiatric disease. Multivariable regression analysis revealed patients with psychiatric disease undergoing fusion surgery have higher likelihood for unfavorable discharge (odds ratio [OR] 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-1.47; P < 0.001), length of stay (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.02-1.04; P < 0001), postsurgery neurologic complications (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.13-1.37; P < 0.001), venous thromboembolic events (OR 1.38 95% CI 1.26-1.52; P < 0.001), and acute renal failure (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.01-1.37; P = 0.040). Patients with psychiatric disease were also associated to have higher hospitalization cost (6.3% higher; 95% CI: 5.6%-7.1%; P < 0.001) compared to those without it. CONCLUSION: Our study quantifies the estimates for presence of concomitant psychiatric comorbid conditions on short outcomes in patients undergoing fusions for LDDD. The data provide supporting evidence for adequate preoperative planning and postsurgical care including consultation for mental health for favorable outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Impact of insurance precertification on neurosurgery practice and health care delivery.

OBJECTIVE Insurance preauthorization is used as a third-party tool to reduce health care costs. Given the expansion of managed care, the impact of the insurance preauthorization process in delaying health care delivery warrants investigation through a diversified neurosurgery practice. METHODS Data for 1985 patients were prospectively gathered over a 12-month period from July 1, 2014, until June 30, 2015. Information regarding attending, procedure, procedure type, insurance type, need for insurance approval, number of days for authorization, or insurance denial was obtained. Delay in authorization was defined as any wait period greater than 7 days. Some of the parameters were added retrospectively to enhance this study; hence, the total number of subjects may vary for different variables. RESULTS The most common procedure was back surgery with instrumentation (28%). Most of the patients had commercial insurance (57%) while Medicaid was the least common (1%). Across all neurosurgery procedures, insurance authorization, on average, was delayed 9 days with commercial insurance, 10.7 days with Tricare insurance, 8.5 days with Medicare insurance, 11.5 days with Medicaid, and 14.4 days with workers' compensation. Two percent of all patients were denied insurance preauthorization without any statistical trend or association. Of the 1985 patients, 1045 (52.6%) patients had instrumentation procedures. Independent of insurance type, instrumentation procedures were more likely to have delays in authorization (p = 0.001). Independent of procedure type, patients with Tricare (military) insurance were more likely to have a delay in approval for surgery (p = 0.02). Predictably, Medicare insurance was protective against a delay in surgery (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Choice of insurance provider and instrumentation procedures were independent risk factors for a delay in insurance preauthorization. Neurosurgeons, not just policy makers, must take ownership to analyze, investigate, and interpret these data to deliver the best and most efficient care to our patients.

Early intervention in cauda equina syndrome associated with better outcomes: a myth or reality? Insights from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2005-2011).

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Evidence-based consensus on timing to surgical decompression following symptom onset in patients with cauda equina syndrome (CES) is limited or widely debated. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate whether timing to intervention in the management of patients with CES has an impact on outcomes. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: This is a retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE: The patient sample included 4,066 adult patients with CES registered in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2005-2011) and undergoing elective decompression surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures are inpatient mortality, unfavorable discharge (discharge to rehabilitation), prolonged length of stay (LOS>75th percentile), and high hospital charges in patients undergoing decompression for CES. METHODS: The patients were stratified into three categories based on timing to surgical intervention: (1) within 24 hours (n=1,846, 45.6%); (2) between 24 and 48 hours (n=1,080, 26.6%), and (3) beyond 48 hours (n=1,130, 27.8%). Multivariable logistic regression fitted with generalized estimating equations using the sandwich variance-covariance matrix estimator to account for the clustering of similar outcomes within hospitals was used to examine the association of timing to surgical intervention categories with binary primary end points. For metric end points (charges), we used the ordinary least squares model to test the effect of timing to intervention. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 50.19±17.55 years and 41% were female. In comparison to patients operated within 24 hours, increased likelihood of inpatient mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 3.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32-9.85, p=.012), unfavorable discharge (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.87-2.66, p<.001), prolonged postsurgical LOS (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.44-2.14, p<.001), and high hospital charges (OR:1.92, 95% CI: 1.81-2.05, p<.001) were observed in patients operated on over 48 hours since admission. Likewise, patients with incomplete CES with intervention beyond 48 hours had higher odds for unfavorable discharge (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.99-3.17, p<.001), prolonged postsurgical LOS (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.35-2.20, p<.001), and high hospital charges (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.79-2.10, p<.001). Likewise, patients with complete CES with interventions beyond 48 hours had higher odds for unfavorable discharge (OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.41-2.45, p<.001), prolonged postsurgical LOS (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.53-2.77, p<.001), and high hospital charges (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.15-1.68, p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Early intervention in CES, regardless of the subtype (complete or incomplete), has higher likelihood of improved inpatient outcomes. The odds of getting better were higher, however, with incomplete CES. The timing of intervention did not seem to matter in traumatic CES as compared with degenerative etiology. Prospective randomized controlled trials may further help elucidate the impact of early intervention on outcomes in patients with CES.