Diabetes and heart disease do not affect short-term lumbar fusion outcomes accounting for other risk factors in a matched cohort analysis.

Objectives: Comprehensive preoperative management involves the identification and optimization of medical comorbidities while avoiding excessive healthcare utilization. While diabetes and heart disease are major causes of morbidity that can worsen surgical outcomes, further study is needed to evaluate how well current perioperative strategies mitigate their risks. This study employs an exact matching protocol to isolate the effects of both diabetes and cardiovascular disease on spine surgery outcomes. Methods: 4680 consecutive patients undergoing single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion were retrospectively enrolled. Univariate logistic regression was performed on comorbidity subgroups, then coarsened exact matching (CEM) was employed for patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Patients were matched 1:1 on ten patient and procedural characteristics known to affect neurosurgical outcomes. Separate pairs of exact-matched cohorts were generated to isolate both cardiovascular disease (matched n = 192), and diabetes (matched n = 380). Primary outcomes were surgical complications; length of stay; discharge disposition (home vs. non-home); and 30- and 90-day Emergency Department (ED) visits, readmissions, reoperations, and mortality. Results: Cardiovascular disease and diabetes subgroups were not associated with short term outcomes after matching to control for confounders. Compared to univariate statistics, this method demonstrates that confounding control variables may drive outcomes more than these comorbidities themselves. Conclusion: Between otherwise exactly matched patients undergoing lumbar fusion, diabetes and cardiovascular disease posed no greater risk of short-term adverse outcomes. This suggests proper selection criteria for surgical candidates and effective current perioperative strategies to mitigate these common comorbidities. Further studies are warranted to assess and optimize the cost-effectiveness of preoperative management for patients with common comorbidities.

Reasons for Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Among Patients with Essential Tremor.

Background: Prior studies suggest that patients with essential tremor (ET) have increased rates of healthcare utilization, but the reason for this increased use is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reasons for healthcare use among ET patients. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of ET patients with an admission or emergency department (ED) visit at a tertiary health system from 2018-2023. Patients were matched on an encounter level with control patients based on propensity scores incorporating age, sex, race, and co-morbid conditions. The primary outcome was the odds of an encounter for each diagnostic category comparing ET patients with matched controls. Results: Only inpatient admissions for neurologic diagnoses were more likely for ET compared to control patients (odds ratio (OR) 3.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.54 - 5.49, p < 0.001). Once admissions related to the surgical treatment of tremor were excluded, admissions for neurologic diagnoses were equally likely among ET and control patients (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.59 - 1.57, p = 0.88). Discussion: Surgical treatment of tremor appears to be a key driver of healthcare use among ET patients. Future investigations should examine the pattern of healthcare use of ET patients before and after surgery. Highlights: Prior studies have shown increased healthcare use among essential tremor (ET) patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reasons for healthcare use among ET patients compared to matched control patients. Surgical treatment of tremor was found to be a key driver of healthcare use among ET patients.

The effect of chronic kidney disease on short-term single-level lumbar fusion outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has an increasing global prevalence and has previously been associated with increased complications and morbidity after spine surgery. Understanding the isolated effect of CKD on short-term patient outcomes is critical for optimizing perioperative risk management and healthcare utilization. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to utilize coarsened exact matching (CEM) to analyze the isolated effect of CKD on short-term patient outcomes in single-level posterior lumbar fusion surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 4680 consecutive patients undergoing single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion was performed. Univariate logistic regression comparing the odds of outcomes in patients with CKD (n=40) to patients without medical comorbidities (n=2329) was performed. CEM was then employed to match patients with CKD to those without any comorbidities 1:1 on ten patient characteristics known to affect neurosurgical outcomes. Primary outcomes included intraoperative complications, length of stay, discharge disposition, and 30-day Emergency Department (ED) visits, readmissions, reoperations, and mortality. RESULTS: In a univariate logistic regression, CKD was associated with increased risk of 30-day ED visits (OR=3.53, p=0.003) but not complication, discharge disposition, or 30-day readmissions or reoperations. Between otherwise exactly matched patients (n=72), CKD similarly remained associated with an increased risk of 30-day ED visits (OR=7.00, p=0.034) and not with other outcomes. CONCLUSION: Between otherwise exactly matched patients undergoing single-level posterior lumbar fusion, CKD was related to increased risk of 30-day ED utilization but not other markers indicative of inferior surgical outcomes. Further study must investigate the reasons for increased ED visitation and implement risk-mitigation strategies for these patients.

Outcomes from 871,441 Consecutive Surgical Procedures without Overlap or with Maximally Permissible Non-Concurrent Overlap.

OBJECTIVE: To isolate the impact of subsumed surgery (a shorter procedure completed entirely during overlapping non-critical portions of a longer antecedent procedure) on patient outcomes. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The American College of Surgeons recently recommended the elimination of "concurrent surgery" with overlap during a procedure's critical portions. Guidelines for non-concurrent overlap have been established, but the safety of subsumed surgery remains to be examined. METHODS: All consecutive procedures from 2013 to 2021 within a multihospital academic medical center were included (n=871,441). Simple logistic regression was performed to compare postoperative events between patients undergoing non-overlap surgery (n=533,032) and completely subsumed surgery (n=11,319). Thereafter, coarsened exact matching was used to match patients with non-overlap and subsumed surgery 1:1 on CPT code, 18 demographic features, baseline health characteristics, and procedural variables (n=7,146). Exact-matched cases were subsequently limited to pairs performed by the same surgeon (n=5,028). Primary outcomes included 30-day readmission, ED visits, and reoperations. RESULTS: Univariate analysis suggested that subsumed surgery had a higher 30-day risk of readmission (OR 1.55, P<0.0001), ED evaluation (OR 1.19, P<0.0001), and reoperation (OR 1.98, P<0.0001). When comparison was limited to the exact same procedure and patients were matched on demographics and health characteristics, there were no outcome differences between patients with subsumed surgery and non-overlapping surgery, even when limiting analyses to the same surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: Similar surgeries for similar patients result in similar outcomes whether there is completely subsumed or no overlap. Individual surgeons performing a specific procedure have no outcome differences with subsumed and non-overlapping cases.

Low Household Income Increases Hospital Length of Stay and Decreases Home Discharge Rates in Lumbar Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Matched Cohort Study. OBJECTIVES: Low median household income (MHI) has been correlated with worsened surgical outcomes, but few studies have rigorously controlled for demographic and medical factors at the patient level. This study isolates the relationship between MHI and surgical outcomes in a lumbar fusion cohort using coarsened exact matching. METHODS: Patients undergoing single-level, posterior lumbar fusion at a single institution were consecutively enrolled and retrospectively analyzed (n = 4263). Zip code was cross-referenced to census data to derive MHI. Univariate regression correlated MHI to outcomes. Patients with low MHI were matched to those with high MHI based on demographic and medical factors. Outcomes evaluated included complications, length of stay, discharge disposition, 30- and 90 day readmissions, emergency department (ED) visits, reoperations, and mortality. RESULTS: By univariate analysis, MHI was significantly associated with 30- and 90 day readmission, ED visits, reoperation, and non-home discharge, but not mortality. After exact matching (n = 270), low-income patients had higher odds of non-home discharge (OR = 2.5, P = .016) and higher length of stay (mean 100.2 vs 92.6, P = .02). There were no differences in surgical complications, ED visits, readmissions, or reoperations between matched groups. CONCLUSIONS: Low MHI was significantly associated with adverse short-term outcomes from lumbar fusion. A matched analysis controlling for confounding variables uncovered longer lengths of stay and higher rates of discharge to post-acute care (vs home) in lower MHI patients. Socioeconomic disparities affect health beyond access to care, worsen surgical outcomes, and impose costs on healthcare systems. Targeted interventions must be implemented to mitigate these disparities.

Racial disparities in short-term spinal fusion outcomes across 4263 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: Race plays a salient role in access to surgical care. However, few investigations have assessed the impact of race within surgical populations after care has been delivered. The objective of this study was to employ an exact matching protocol to a homogenous population of spine surgery patients in order to isolate the relationships between race and short-term postoperative outcomes. METHODS: In total, 4263 consecutive patients who underwent single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion at a single multihospital academic medical center were retrospectively enrolled. Of these patients, 3406 patients self-identified as White and 857 patients self-identified as non-White. Outcomes were initially compared across all patients via logistic regression. Subsequently, White patients and non-White patients were exactly matched on the basis of key demographic and health characteristics (1520 matched patients). Outcome disparities were evaluated between the exact-matched cohorts. Primary outcomes were readmissions, emergency department (ED) visits, reoperations, mortality, intraoperative complications, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: Before matching, non-White patients were less likely to be discharged home and more likely to be readmitted, evaluated in the ED, and undergo reoperation. After matching, non-White patients experienced higher rates of nonhome discharge, readmissions, and ED visits. Non-White patients did not have more surgical complications either before or after matching. CONCLUSIONS: Between otherwise similar cohorts of spinal fusion cases, non-White patients experienced unfavorable discharge disposition and higher risk of multiple adverse postoperative outcomes. However, these findings were not accounted for by differences in surgical complications, suggesting that structural factors underlie the observed disparities.

Association Between Race and Short-Term Outcomes Across 3988 Consecutive Single-Level Spinal Fusions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Race has implications for access to medical care. However, the impact of race, after access to care has been attained, remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to isolate the relationship between race and short-term outcomes across patients undergoing a single, common neurosurgical procedure. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 3988 consecutive patients undergoing single-level, posterior-only open lumbar fusion at a single, multihospital, academic medical center were enrolled over a 6-year period. Among them, 3406 patients self-identified as White, and 582 patients self-identified as Black. Outcome disparities between all White patients vs all Black patients were estimated using logistic regression. Subsequently, coarsened exact matching controlled for outcome-mitigating factors; White and Black patients were exact-matched 1:1 on key demographic and health characteristics (matched n = 1018). Primary outcomes included 30-day and 90-day hospital readmissions, emergency department (ED) visits, reoperations, mortality, discharge disposition, and intraoperative complication. RESULTS: Before matching, Black patients experienced increased rate of nonhome discharge, readmissions, ED visits, and reoperations (all P < .001). After exact matching, Black patients were less likely to be discharged to home (odds ratio [OR] 2.68, P < .001) and had higher risk of 30-day and 90-day readmissions (OR 2.24, P < .001; OR 1.91, P < .001; respectively) and ED visits (OR 1.79, P = .017; OR 2.09, P < .001). Black patients did not experience greater risk of intraoperative complication (unintentional durotomy). CONCLUSION: Between otherwise homogenous spinal fusion cohorts, Black patients experienced unfavorable short-term outcomes. These disparities were not explained by differences in intraoperative complications. Further investigation must characterize and mitigate institutional and societal factors that contribute to outcome disparities.

Quantifying a novel three-dimensional marker of scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Scoliosis causes abnormal spinal curvature and torsional rotation of the vertebrae and has implications for human suffering and societal cost. In differential geometry, Writhe describes three-dimensional curvature. Differential geometric quantities can inform better diagnostic metrics of scoliotic deformity. This evaluation could help physicians and researchers study scoliosis and determine treatments. METHODS: Eight adult lumbar spine CT scans were analyzed in custom MATLAB programs to estimate Writhe and Cobb angle. Five patients exhibited scoliotic curvature, and three controls were asymptomatic. Vertebral centroids in three-dimensional space were determined, and Writhe was approximated. A T-test determined whether the affected spines had greater Writhe than the controls. Cohen's D test was used to determine effect size. RESULTS: Writhe of scoliotic spines (5.4E-4 ± 2.7E-4) was significantly higher than non-scoliotic spines (8.2E-5 ± 1.1E-4; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Writhe, a measure of curvature derived from 3D imaging, is significantly greater in scoliotic than in non-scoliotic spines. Future directions must include more subjects and examine writhe as a marker of scoliosis severity, progression, and response to treatment.

Single cell RNA sequencing reveals emergent notochord-derived cell subpopulations in the postnatal nucleus pulposus.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a leading cause of chronic low back pain. Cell-based strategies that seek to treat disc degeneration by regenerating the central nucleus pulposus (NP) hold significant promise, but key challenges remain. One of these is the inability of therapeutic cells to effectively mimic the performance of native NP cells, which are unique amongst skeletal cell types in that they arise from the embryonic notochord. In this study, we use single cell RNA sequencing to demonstrate emergent heterogeneity amongst notochord-derived NP cells in the postnatal mouse disc. Specifically, we established the existence of progenitor and mature NP cells, corresponding to notochordal and chondrocyte-like cells, respectively. Mature NP cells exhibited significantly higher expression levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes including aggrecan, and collagens II and VI, along with elevated transforming growth factor-beta and phosphoinositide 3 kinase-protein kinase B signaling. Additionally, we identified Cd9 as a novel surface marker of mature NP cells, and demonstrated that these cells were localized to the NP periphery, increased in numbers with increasing postnatal age, and co-localized with emerging glycosaminoglycan-rich matrix. Finally, we used a goat model to show that Cd9+ NP cell numbers decrease with moderate severity disc degeneration, suggesting that these cells are associated with maintenance of the healthy NP ECM. Improved understanding of the developmental mechanisms underlying regulation of ECM deposition in the postnatal NP may inform improved regenerative strategies for disc degeneration and associated low back pain.

The Impact of Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage on Operative Outcomes after Single-Level Lumbar Fusion.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between socioeconomic status and neurosurgical outcomes has been investigated with respect to insurance status or median household income, but few studies have considered more comprehensive measures of socioeconomic status. This study examines the relationship between Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a comprehensive measure of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, and short-term postoperative outcomes after lumbar fusion surgery. METHODS: 1861 adult patients undergoing single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion at a single, multihospital academic medical center were retrospectively enrolled. An ADI matching protocol was used to identify each patient's 9-digit zip code and the zip code-associated ADI data. Primary outcomes included 30- and 90-day readmission, emergency department visits, reoperation, and surgical complication. Coarsened exact matching was used to match patients on key demographic and baseline characteristics known to independently affect neurosurgical outcomes. Odds ratios (ORs) were computed to compare patients in the top 10% of ADI versus lowest 40% of ADI. RESULTS: After matching (n = 212), patients in the highest 10% of ADI (compared to the lowest 40% of ADI) had significantly increased odds of 30- and 90-day readmission (OR = 5.00, P < 0.001 and OR = 4.50, P < 0.001), ED visits (OR = 3.00, P = 0.027 and OR = 2.88, P = 0.007), and reoperation (OR = 4.50, P = 0.039 and OR = 5.50, P = 0.013). There was no significant association with surgical complication (OR = 0.50, P = 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: Among otherwise similar patients, neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage (measured by ADI) was associated with worse short-term outcomes after single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion. There was no significant association between ADI and surgical complications, suggesting that perioperative complications do not explain the socioeconomic disparities in outcomes.

Varying Degree of Overlap Following the Critical Steps of Lumbar Fusion and Short-term Outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. OBJECTIVE: The present study analyzes the impact of end-overlap on short-term outcomes after single-level, posterior lumbar fusions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Few studies have evaluated how "end-overlap" (i.e., surgical overlap after the critical elements of spinal procedures, such as during wound closure) influences surgical outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 3563 consecutive adult patients undergoing single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion over a 6-year period at a multi-hospital university health system. Exclusion criteria included revision surgery, missing key health information, significantly elevated body mass index (>70), non-elective operations, non-general anesthesia, and unclean wounds. Outcomes included 30-day emergency department visit, readmission, reoperation, morbidity, and mortality. Univariate analysis was carried out on the sample population, then limited to patients with end-overlap. Subsequently, patients with the least end-overlap were exact-matched to patients with the most. Matching was performed based on key demographic variables-including sex and comorbid status-and attending surgeon, and then outcomes were compared between exact-matched cohorts. RESULTS: Among the entire sample population, no significant associations were found between the degree of end-overlap and short-term adverse events. Limited to cases with any end-overlap, increasing overlap was associated with increased 30-day emergency department visits ( P =0.049) but no other adverse outcomes. After controlling for confounding variables in the demographic-matched and demographic/surgeon-matched analyses, no differences in outcomes were observed between exact-matched cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of overlap after the critical steps of single-level lumbar fusion did not predict adverse short-term outcomes. This suggests that end-overlap is a safe practice within this surgical population.

Relationship Between Comorbidity Burden and Short-Term Outcomes Across 4680 Consecutive Spinal Fusions.

OBJECTIVE: Preoperative management requires the identification and optimization of modifiable medical comorbidities, though few studies isolate comorbid status from related patient-level variables. This study evaluates Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI)-an easily derived measure of aggregate medical comorbidity-to predict outcomes from spinal fusion surgery. Coarsened exact matching is employed to control for key patient characteristics and isolate CCI. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 4680 consecutive patients undergoing single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion at a single academic center. Logistic regression evaluated the univariate relationship between CCI and patient outcomes. Coarsened exact matching generated exact demographic matches between patients with high comorbid status (CCI >6) or no medical comorbidities (matched n = 524). Patients were matched 1:1 on factors associated with surgical outcomes, and outcomes were compared between matched cohorts. Primary outcomes included surgical complications, discharge status, 30- and 90-day risk of readmission, emergency department (ED) visits, reoperation, and mortality. RESULTS: Univariate regression of increasing CCI was significantly associated with non-home discharge, as well as 30- and 90-day readmission, ED visits, and mortality (all P < 0.05). Subsequent isolation of comorbidity between otherwise exact-matched cohorts found comorbid status did not affect readmissions, reoperations, or mortality; high CCI score was significantly associated with non-home discharge (OR = 2.50, P < 0.001) and 30-day (OR = 2.44, P = 0.02) and 90-day (OR = 2.29, P = 0.008) ED evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidity, measured by CCI, did not increase the risk of readmission, reoperation, or mortality. Single-level, posterior lumbar fusions may be safe in appropriately selected patients regardless of comorbid status. Future studies should determine whether CCI can guide discharge planning and postoperative optimization.

Single Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Emergent Notochord-Derived Cell Subpopulations in the Postnatal Nucleus Pulposus.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a leading cause of chronic low back pain. Cell-based strategies that seek to treat disc degeneration by regenerating the central nucleus pulposus hold significant promise, but key challenges remain. One of these is the inability of therapeutic cells to effectively mimic the performance of native nucleus pulposus cells, which are unique amongst skeletal cell types in that they arise from the embryonic notochord. In this study we use single cell RNA sequencing to demonstrate emergent heterogeneity amongst notochord-derived nucleus pulposus cells in the postnatal mouse disc. Specifically, we established the existence of early and late stage nucleus pulposus cells, corresponding to notochordal progenitor and mature cells, respectively. Late stage cells exhibited significantly higher expression levels of extracellular matrix genes including aggrecan, and collagens II and VI, along with elevated TGF-ß and PI3K-Akt signaling. Additionally, we identified Cd9 as a novel surface marker of late stage nucleus pulposus cells, and demonstrated that these cells were localized to the nucleus pulposus periphery, increased in numbers with increasing postnatal age, and co-localized with emerging glycosaminoglycan-rich matrix. Finally, we used a goat model to show the Cd9+ nucleus pulposus cell numbers decrease with moderate severity disc degeneration, suggesting that these cells are associated with maintenance of the healthy nucleus pulposus extracellular matrix. Improved understanding of the developmental mechanisms underlying regulation of ECM deposition in the postnatal NP may inform improved regenerative strategies for disc degeneration and associated low back pain.

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Impact of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery on Patients Undergoing Elective Spine Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in an elective spine surgery population. BACKGROUND: Surgical outcomes such as length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and opioid utilization greatly contribute to patient satisfaction and societal healthcare costs. ERAS protocols are multimodal, patient-centered care pathways shown to reduce postoperative opioid use, reduced LOS, and improved ambulation; however, prospective ERAS data are limited in spine surgery. METHODS: This single-center, institutional review board-approved, prospective RCT-enrolled adult patients undergoing elective spine surgery between March 2019 and October 2020. Primary outcomes were perioperative and 1-month postoperative opioid use. Patients were randomized to ERAS (n=142) or standard-of-care (SOC; n=142) based on power analyses to detect a difference in postoperative opioid use. RESULTS: Opioid use during hospitalization and the first postoperative month was not significantly different between groups (ERAS 112.2 vs SOC 117.6 morphine milligram equivalent, P =0.76; ERAS 38.7% vs SOC 39.4%, P =1.00, respectively). However, patients randomized to ERAS were less likely to use opioids at 6 months postoperatively (ERAS 11.4% vs SOC 20.6%, P =0.046) and more likely to be discharged to home after surgery (ERAS 91.5% vs SOC 81.0%, P =0.015). CONCLUSION: Here, we present a novel ERAS prospective RCT in the elective spine surgery population. Although we do not detect a difference in the primary outcome of short-term opioid use, we observe significantly reduced opioid use at 6-month follow-up as well as an increased likelihood of home disposition after surgery in the ERAS group.

Postoperative Outcomes and Resource Utilization Following Open vs Endoscopic Far Lateral Lumbar Discectomy.

BACKGROUND: Operative approaches for far lateral disc herniation (FLDH) repair may be classified as open or minimally invasive. The present study aims to compare postoperative outcomes and resource utilization between patients undergoing open and endoscopic (one such minimally invasive approach) FLDH surgeries. METHODS: A total of 144 consecutive adult patients undergoing FLDH repair at a single, university health system over an 8-year period (2013-2020) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: "open" (n = 92) and "endoscopic" (n = 52). Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the impact of procedural type on postoperative outcomes, and resource utilization metrics were compared between cohorts using χ 2 test (for categorical variables) or t test (for continuous variables). Primary postsurgical outcomes included readmissions, reoperations, emergency department visits, and neurosurgery outpatient office visits within 90 days of the index operation. Primary resource utilization outcomes included total direct cost of the procedure and length of stay. Secondary measures included discharge disposition, operative length, and duration of follow-up. RESULTS: No differences were observed in adverse postoperative events. Patients undergoing open FLDH surgery were more likely to attend outpatient visits within 30 days (P = 0.016). Although direct operating room cost was lower (P < 0.001) for open procedures, length of hospital stay was longer (P < 0.001). Patients undergoing open surgery also demonstrated less favorable discharge dispositions, longer operative length, and greater duration of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: While both procedure types represent viable options for FLDH, endoscopic surgeries appear to achieve comparable clinical outcomes with decreased perioperative resource utilization. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The present study suggests that endoscopic FLDH repairs do not lead to inferior outcomes but may decrease utilization of perioperative resources.

Neurosurgeons Deliver Similar Quality Care Regardless of First Assistant Type: Resident Physician versus Nonphysician Surgical Assistant.

OBJECTIVE: There are limited data evaluating the outcomes of attending neurosurgeons with different types of first assistants. This study considers a common neurosurgical procedure (single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion surgery) and examines whether attending surgeons deliver equal patient outcomes, regardless of the type of first assistant (resident physician vs. nonphysician surgical assistant [NPSA]), among otherwise exact-matched patients. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed 3395 adult patients undergoing single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion at a single academic medical center. Primary outcomes included readmissions, emergency department visits, reoperation, and mortality within 30 and 90 days after surgery. Secondary outcome measures included discharge disposition, length of stay, and length of surgery. Coarsened exact matching was used to match patients on key demographics and baseline characteristics known to independently affect neurosurgical outcomes. RESULTS: Among exact-matched patients (n = 1402), there was no significant difference in adverse postsurgical events (readmission, emergency department visits, reoperation, or mortality) within 30 days or 90 days of the index operation between patients who had resident physicians and those who had NPSAs as first assistants. Patients who had resident physicians as first assistants demonstrated a longer length of stay (mean: 100.0 vs. 87.4 hours, P < 0.001) and a shorter duration of surgery (mean: 187.4 vs. 213.8 minutes, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the percentage of patients discharged home. CONCLUSIONS: For single-level posterior spinal fusion, in the setting described, there are no differences in short-term patient outcomes delivered by attending surgeons assisted by resident physicians versus NPSAs.

Comparison of Single-Level Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Radiculopathy.

BACKGROUND: Posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) are 2 commonly used surgical approaches to address cervical radiculopathy. Demonstrating superiority in clinical outcomes and durability of one of the approaches could change clinical practice on a large scale. This is the largest reported single-institutional retrospective cohort of single-level PCFs compared with single-level ACDFs for cervical radiculopathy. METHODS: Patients undergoing either ACDF or PCF between 2014 and 2021 were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, surgical characteristics, and reoperations. Statistical analysis included t tests for continuous characteristics and c2 testing for categorical characteristics. RESULTS: In total, 236 single-level ACDFs and 138 single-level PCFs were included. There was no significant difference in age (51.0 vs 51.3 years), body mass index (BMI; 28.6 vs 28.1), or Charlson Comorbidity Index (1.89 vs 1.68) between patients who underwent ACDF and those who underwent PCF. There was no difference in the rate of reoperation (5.1% vs 5.1%), time to reoperation (247 vs 319 days), or reoperation for recurrent symptoms (1.7% vs 2.9%) for ACDF vs PCF. Hospital length of stay (LOS) was longer for ACDF compared with PCF (1.65 vs 1.35 days, P = 0.041), and the overall readmission rate after ACDF was 20.8% vs 10.9% after PCF (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Overall reoperation rates or reoperation for recurrent symptoms between ACDF and PCF were not significantly different, demonstrating that either procedure effectively addresses the indication for surgery. There was a significantly longer LOS after ACDF than PCF, and readmission rates at 90 days and 1 year were higher after ACDF.

"July Effect" in Spinal Fusions: A Coarsened Exact-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Few neurosurgical studies examine the July Effect within elective spinal procedures, and none uses an exact-matched protocol to rigorously account for confounders. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the July Effect in single-level spinal fusions, after coarsened exact matching of the patient cohort on key patient characteristics (including race and comorbid status) known to independently affect neurosurgical outcomes. METHODS: Two thousand three hundred thirty-eight adult patients who underwent single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion at a single, multicenter university hospital system were retrospectively enrolled. Primary outcomes included readmissions, emergency department visits, reoperation, surgical complications, and mortality within 30 days of surgery. Logistic regression was used to analyze month as an ordinal variable. Subsequently, outcomes were compared between patients with surgery at the beginning vs end of the academic year (ie, July vs April-June), before and after coarsened exact matching on key characteristics. After exact matching, 99 exactly matched pairs of patients (total n = 198) were included for analysis. RESULTS: Among all patients, operative month was not associated with adverse postoperative events within 30 days of the index operation. Furthermore, patients with surgeries in July had no significant difference in adverse outcomes. Similarly, between exact-matched cohorts, patients in July were observed to have noninferior adverse postoperative events. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence suggestive of a July Effect after single-level, posterior approach spinal fusions in our cohort. These findings align with the previous literature to imply that teaching hospitals provide adequate patient care throughout the academic year, regardless of how long individual resident physician assistants have been in their particular role.

Household income is associated with return to surgery following discectomy for far lateral disc herniation.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have demonstrated that household income is independently predictive of postsurgical morbidity and mortality, but few studies have elucidated this relationship in a purely spine surgery population. This study aims to correlate household income with adverse events after discectomy for far lateral disc herniation (FLDH). METHODS: All adult patients (N.=144) who underwent FLDH surgery at a single, multihospital, 1659-bed university health system (2013-2020) were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between household income and adverse postsurgical events, including unplanned hospital readmissions, ED visits, and reoperations. RESULTS: Mean age of the population was 61.72±11.55 years. Mean household income was $78,283±26,996; 69 (47.9%) were female; and 126 (87.5%) were non-Hispanic white. Ninety-two patients underwent open and fifty-two underwent endoscopic FLDH surgery. Each additional dollar decrease in household income was significantly associated with increased risk of reoperation of any kind within 90-days, but not 30-days, after the index admission. However, household income did not predict risk of readmission or ED visit within either 30-days or 30-90-days postsurgery. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that household income may predict reoperation following FLDH surgery. Additional research is warranted into the relationship between household income and adverse neurosurgical outcomes.

Coming in hot: Police transport and prehospital time after firearm injury.

BACKGROUND: In Philadelphia, PA, police and emergency medical services (EMS) transport patients with firearm injuries. Prior studies evaluating this system have lacked reliable prehospital times. By linking police and hospital data sets, we established a complete timeline from firearm injury to outcome. We hypothesized that police-transported patients have shorter prehospital times that, in turn, are associated with improved survival and increased unexpected survivorship at 6 and 24 hours. METHODS: This retrospective study linked patient-level data from OpenDataPhilly Shooting Victims and the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. All adults transported to a Level I or II trauma center after firearm injury in Philadelphia from 2015 to 2018 were included. Patient-level characteristics were compared between cohorts; unexpected survivors were identified using Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score. Multiple regression estimated risk-adjusted associations between transport method, prehospital time, and outcomes. RESULTS: Police-transported patients (n = 977) had significantly shorter prehospital times than EMS-transported patients (n = 320) (median, 9 minutes [interquartile range, 7-12 minutes] vs. 21 minutes [interquartile range, 16-29 minutes], respectively; p < 0.001). Police-transported patients were more often severely injured than those transported by EMS (60% vs. 50%, p = 0.002). After adjusting for confounders, police-transported patients had improved survival relative to EMS on hospital arrival (87% vs. 84%, respectively, p = 0.035), but not at 6 hours (79% vs. 78%, respectively, p = 0.126) or 24 hours after arrival (76% vs. 76%, respectively, p = 0.224). Compared with EMS, police-transported patients were significantly more likely to be unexpected survivors at 6 hours (6% vs. 2%, respectively, p < 0.001) and 24 hours (3% vs. 1%, respectively, p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Police-transported patients had more severe injuries, shorter prehospital times, and increased likelihood of unexpected survival compared with EMS-transported patients. After controlling for confounders, patient physiology and injury severity represent meaningful determinants of mortality in our mature trauma system, indicating an ongoing opportunity to optimize in-hospital care. Future studies should investigate causes of death among unexpected early survivors to mitigate preventable mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/Epidemiological, Level III.