Semaglutide utilization associated with reduced ninety-day postoperative complications following single-level posterior lumbar fusion for patients with type II diabetes.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Semaglutide (the active agent in medications such as Ozempic®) has emerged as an increasingly popular medication in the management of diabetes due to its superior clinical efficacy compared with other medications. Patients undergoing surgery, such as posterior lumbar fusion (PLF), may be on these medications for type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While the correlation of T2DM with inferior PLF outcomes is known, considering the potential impact of semaglutide on the odds of postoperative complications has not previously been characterized. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential correlation of semaglutide on 90-day postoperative adverse events following single-level PLF for those with T2DM who are or are not concurrently taking insulin. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective cohort study utilizing the 2010 - Q2 2022 M161Ortho PearlDiver Mariner Patient Claims Database. PATIENT SAMPLE: T2DM patients (with or without concurrent insulin use) undergoing single-level PLF (with or without interbody fusion) were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Exclusion criteria included: patients less than 18 years of age, those undergoing concurrent cervical, thoracic, anterior, or multi-level fusion procedures, and those with trauma, neoplasm, or infection diagnosed within three months of surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of 90-day aggregated any, severe, and minor adverse events (AAE, SAE, and MAE, respectively), emergency department (ED) visits, and hospital readmissions. METHODS: Patients with a prior diagnosis of T2DM not using insulin (T2DM-insulin) and T2DM concurrently using insulin (T2DM+insulin) undergoing PLF were identified. Patients within each group who utilized semaglutide in the year prior to surgery were identified and matched 1:4 with non-semaglutide T2DM-insulin and non-semaglutide T2DM+insulin patients, respectively, based on age, sex, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI), obesity, tobacco use, metformin use, and sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use. The incidence of 90-day adverse events between groups was compared by univariate and multivariate analyses. Bonferroni correction was utilized to reduce the risk of type I error. RESULTS: Of all T2DM patients undergoing PLF, semaglutide use was noted for 227 (0.73%) of T2DM-insulin patients, and 244 (2.17%) of T2DM+insulin patients. Once matched, there were 191 and 148 in the semaglutide groups, respectively. For the PLF T2DM-insulin analysis, those using semaglutide were at significantly lower odds of AAE (odds ratio [OR] 0.43), MAE (OR 0.45), and ED visits (OR 0.34) (p<0.001 for all), but not of SAEs or readmissions. For the PLF T2DM+insulin analysis, those using semaglutide were at significantly lower odds of AAE (OR 0.40, p<0.001), SAE (OR 0.43, p=0.004), MAE (OR 0.34, p<0.001), and ED visits (OR 0.26, p<0.001), but not readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: The current study found consistent reductions in aggregated 90-day adverse events, but similar odds of hospital readmission for T2DM patients undergoing PLF taking semaglutide preoperatively. These encouraging findings of reduced postoperative complications suggest further prospective analysis, as the observed findings suggest clinical benefit to semaglutide being utilized by the studied patient population.

Outcomes following two-level Cervical Disc Arthroplasty Relative to two-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate postoperative adverse events, readmissions, and five-year survival to reoperation for two-level cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) relative to two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). BACKGROUND: CDA and ACDF are both treatment options for degenerative cervical spine pathology. Relative to ACDF, CDA is a relatively novel treatment option, and limited research exists comparing outcomes between two-level CDA and two-level ACDF. METHODS: Patients undergoing two-level CDA or two-level ACDF were isolated from the PearlDiver M165Ortho database. These two cohorts were matched 1:1 based on patient age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) scores. The odds of 90-day postoperative adverse events were compared between the two groups by multivariable analysis. Overall cost-of-care for the first 90-days postoperatively, and five-year survival to cervical spine reoperation were then assessed. RESULTS: Of the two-level cases identified, only 3.9% had CDA and the rest had ACDF. After matching, there were 4,224 patients in each of the study groups. With controlling for patient age, sex, and ECI on multivariable analysis, two-level CDA patients had significantly lower odds of experiencing 90-day dysphagia (OR 0.60, P<0.0001 driving aggregated any adverse event [OR 0.65, P<0.0001]) and readmission (OR 0.69, P=0.0002). Median 90-day cost of care was greater for two-level ACDF patients ($4,776.00 vs. $3,191.00, P<0.0001). No significant difference in five-year survival to cervical spine reoperation was identified (P=0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Relative to two-level ACDF patients, two-level CDA patients were found to have significantly lower odds of 90-day readmissions and minor adverse events (dysphagia), while rates of major adverse events (pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, sepsis, etc.) were comparable between the groups. Further CDA patients had lower cost of overall care, but no difference in five-year survival to cervical spine reoperation. Thus, it may be appropriate to further consider CDA when two-level surgery is pursued.

Robotic-Assisted Versus Navigation-Assisted Posterior Lumbar Fusion : A National Database Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare perioperative adverse events and reoperations between navigation-assisted and robotic-assisted posterior lumbar fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Navigation has become increasingly utilized for posterior lumbar fusion (PLF). More recently, robotic-assisted systems have been gaining traction. However, the incremental advantage of these systems has been unclear in the literature. METHODS: Patients undergoing one-level to three-level PLF (with or without anterior or posterior interbody fusion) were identified from the 2015 to 2022 M161Ortho PearlDiver Database using CPT codes. Navigation assistance was identified based on CPT coding and robotic assistance was based on ICD-10 procedural coding. Navigation-assisted cases were matched 4:1 to robotic-assisted patients based on age, sex, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, number of levels fuse, and concomitant anterior fusion. Incidence of 90-day adverse outcomes were assessed and compared with multivariable logistical regression. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple testing. Rate of reoperation was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2022, there has been a significant increase in both navigation-assisted and robotic-assisted lumbar fusions, with navigation-assisted surgery being significantly more common. After matching, there were 2401 navigation-assisted cases and 651 robotic-assisted cases. On multivariate analysis, there were no significant differences in 90-day any, severe, or minor adverse events. There was a significant increase odd of readmissions in the robotic cohort (OR: 1.77, P <0.001). There were no differences in 3-year reoperation rates between the navigation-assisted and robotic-assisted cohorts (95.8% vs. 94.0%, P =0.30). CONCLUSIONS: As spinal navigation has been gaining popularity and robotic assistance is starting to be further utilized, the incremental advantage of different techniques may be questioned. While further study and technique evolution are ongoing, the current study was not able to demonstrate 90-day or 3-year incremental advantages for robotics relative to navigation based on the metrics evaluated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

The correlation of psoriasis and its treatment medications with lumbar discectomy postoperative infections.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the skin that affects approximately 3% of the US adult population. Patients with psoriasis may be predisposed to spine surgical site infections (SSI) related to the condition and/or related medications following surgeries such as lumbar laminotomy/discectomy. PURPOSE: To assess the potential correlation of psoriasis and its related treatment medications on the risk of infection-related complications after lumbar laminotomy/discectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case control, national administrative database study. PATIENT SAMPLE: Adult patients who underwent isolated single-level lumbar discectomy between 2010 and Q1 of 2021 were identified in the PearlDiver Mariner Ortho151 national administrative database (excluding those with concurrent diagnoses of fractures, neoplasms, or infections). OUTCOME MEASURES: Ninety-day postoperative rates of surgical site infection and sepsis. METHODS: Lumbar laminotomy/discectomy patients with versus without psoriasis were matched 1:4 based on age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. The risk of SSI and sepsis in the 90-day postoperative window between the cohorts were compared with multivariable analyses. Five-year reoperation rates were also compared with log rank test. The matched psoriasis cohort was further subdivided by psoriasis treatment regimens - no medication treatment (NT), topical therapies only (TT), topical therapies with oral systemic treatments (TT/OS), and topical therapies with biologics (TT/B). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the risk of SSI and sepsis within 90 days after lumbar laminotomy/discectomy for each treatment subgroup compared to patients without psoriasis. RESULTS: In total, 2,262 patients with psoriasis who underwent single-level lumbar laminotomy/discectomy were identified and matched by age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index to 9,044 patients without psoriasis. Multivariable logistic regression showed that, compared to the patients without psoriasis, patients with psoriasis had a 1.795 times higher chance of developing SSI (odds ratio [OR]) (p<.001) and sepsis (OR: 1.743, p=.027) within 90 days of surgery. Having psoriasis did not significantly correlate with 5-year reoperation rates. Of those with psoriasis, NT subcohort had 1,038 patients, TT subcohort 571 patients, TT/OS subcohort 226 patients, and TT/B subcohort 140 patients. Based on multivariable analysis and compared to nonpsoriasis patients, those in the NT, TT, TT/OS were not at greater odds of postoperative SSI or sepsis. Conversely, those in the TT/B subcohort were at significantly greater odds of SSI (OR: 3.102, p=.019) and sepsis (OR: 6.367, p=.027). CONCLUSIONS: Of single-level lumbar laminotomy/discectomy patients with psoriasis, only those on topical therapies and biologics were at greater risk of postoperative SSI and sepsis. This subcohort warrants specific attention when undergoing lumbar laminotomy/discectomy and possibly holding such medications for a period prior to surgery may be warranted if possible.

Is There Utility to Requiring Spine MRI Pre-authorizations? Pre-authorizations: A Single Institution's Perspective.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of a patient undergoing treatment at a single institution's Spine Center. OBJECTIVE: The current study assessed the rates and eventual disposition of pre-authorizations required before spine MRIs are ordered from an academic spine center. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often requires preauthorization by insurance carriers. While there are potential advantages to ensuring consistent indicators for imaging modalities, previous studies have found that such processes can add administrative burdens and barriers to care. METHODS: Patients from a single academic institution's spine center who were covered by commercial insurance and had a spine MRI ordered between January 2013 and December 2019 were identified. The requirement for preauthorization and eventual disposition of each of these studies was tracked. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine if commercial insurance carriers or anatomic region MRIs were associated with requiring a preauthorization. The eventual disposition of studies associated with this process was tracked. RESULTS: In total, 2480 MRI requests were identified, of which preauthorization was needed for 2122 (85.56%). Relative to cervical spine scans, preauthorization had greater odds of being required for thoracic (OR=2.71, P =0.003) and lumbar (OR=2.46, P <0.001) scans. Relative to a reference insurer, 4 of the 5 commercial carriers had statistically significant increased odds of requiring preauthorization (OR=1.54-10.17 P <0.050 for each).Of the imaging studies requiring preauthorization, peer to peer review was required for 204 (9.61%), and 1,747 (82.33% of all requiring preauthorization) were approved. Of 375 (17.67%) initially cancelled or denied by the preauthorization process, 290 (77.33% of those initially cancelled or denied) were completed within 3 months. In total, only 85 were not eventually approved and completed. CONCLUSION: Of 2480 distinct MRI orders, commercial insurers required preauthorization for 85.56%. Nonetheless, 96.57% of all scans went on to be completed within 3 months, raising questions about the costs, benefits, and overall value of this administrative process.

A comparison of in-hospital outcomes after elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in cases with and without Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Following orthopedic surgery, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have been shown to have high rates of surgical complications, and some studies suggest that PD may be associated with greater risk for postoperative medical complications. As complication rates are critical to consider for elective surgery planning, the current study aimed to describe the association of PD with medical complications following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), the most commonly performed procedure to treat cervical degenerative pathology. Methods: The 2008-2018 National Inpatient Sample database was queried for cases involving elective ACDF. Demographics and comorbidities were extracted using ICD codes. Cases were propensity matched based on demographic and comorbidity burden, and logistic regression was used to compare in-hospital complications between patients with and without PD. Results: After weighting, a total of 1,273,437 elective ACDF cases were identified, of which 3948 (0.31%) involved cases with PD. After 1:1 propensity score matching by demographic and comorbidity variables, there were no differences between the PD and non-PD cohorts. Logistic regression models constructed for the matched and unmatched populations showed that PD cases have greater odds of in-hospital minor adverse events with no differences in odds of serious adverse events or mortality. Conclusions: After matching for demographics and comorbidity burden, PD cases undergoing elective ACDF had slightly longer length of stay and greater risk for minor adverse events but had similar rates of serious adverse events and mortality. These findings are important for surgeons and patients to consider when making decisions about surgical intervention.

Correlation of Patient Reported Satisfaction With Adverse Events Following Elective Posterior Lumbar Fusion Surgery: A Single Institution Analysis.

Background: With increasing emphasis on patient satisfaction metrics, such as the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey, hospital reputations and reimbursements are being affected by their results. The purpose of the current study is to determine if post-operative self-reported patient satisfaction differed among patients who experienced any adverse event (AAE) following elective posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) surgery compared to those who did not. Methods: Patients who underwent elective PLF surgery performed at a single institution between February 2013 and May 2020 and returned an HCAHPS survey following discharge were included in the retrospective cohort analysis. Demographic, comorbidity, and HCAHPS survey data were compared between patients who did and did not experience any adverse event (AAE) in the 30-days postoperatively. Results: Of 5,117 PLF patients, the HCAHPS survey was returned by 1,071 patients, of which 30-day AAE was experienced by 40 (3.73%). Of those that experienced AAE, the survey response rate was significantly lower (13.94% versus 21.35%, p=0.003). Those responding reported lower scores pertaining to if medication side-effects were adequately explained (22.22% versus 52.56%, p=0.002) and if post-discharge care was adequately explained (79.17% versus 93.76%, p=0.005), as well as overall top-box responses (67.62% versus 75.93% survey average, p<0.001). Conclusions: Patients experiencing AAE after elective PLF surgery are less likely to respond to surveys about their hospital experience. For those who did respond, they report less satisfaction with multiple aspects of their hospital care measured by the HCAHPS survey. Understanding how postoperative adverse events impact patients' perception of healthcare quality provides insight into what patients value and has implications for optimizing their care.

In-hospital complications after cervical fusion in cases with versus without cerebral palsy.

Background: Patients with cerebral palsy (CP) are at increased risk for cervical spine pathology. Cervical fusion surgery may be considered in this population, but perioperative outcomes relative to patients without CP remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to compare in-hospital complications after cervical fusion in patients with versus without cerebral palsy (CP) using a retrospective cohort design. Methods: Cervical fusion cases with and without CP were identified in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. In-hospital adverse events were tabulated and grouped into any (AAE), serious (SAE), and minor adverse events (MAE). Length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality were assessed. Multiple logistic regression models with and without 1:1 propensity matching were used to compare outcomes between cases with and without CP, controlling for demographic and preoperative variables. Results: After weighting, 1,518,012 cases were included in the study population, of which 4,554 (0.30%) had CP. Those with CP were younger, more often male, suffered more comorbidities, more frequently operated on from a posterior or combined approach, and were more frequently addressed at more than one level. By multiple logistic regression after matching, CP cases had higher odds of AAE (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.05-2.81; p=0.030) and MAE (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.20-3.57; p=0.009), but no differences in odds of SAE or in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: As there is increasing awareness of potentially cervical pathology in the CP population, the current study suggests that surgical intervention for this population can be appropriately considered without severe in-hospital morbidity or mortality.

Underweight patients are the highest risk body mass index group for perioperative adverse events following stand-alone anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Prior studies investigating the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and patient outcomes following spine surgery have had inconsistent conclusions, likely owing to insufficient power, confounding variables, and varying definitions and cutoffs for BMI categories (eg, underweight, overweight, obese, etc.). Further, few studies have considered outcomes among low BMI cohorts. PURPOSE: The current study analyzes how anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) perioperative outcomes vary along the BMI spectrum, using World Health Organization (WHO) categories of BMI. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE: Patients undergoing stand-alone one or two-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) found in the 2005-2018 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) databases. OUTCOME MEASURES: Thirty-day adverse events, hospital readmissions, post-operative infections, and mortality. METHODS: Stand-alone one or two-level ALIF surgical cases were identified and extracted from the 2005-2018 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Posterior cases and those primary diagnoses of trauma, tumor, infection, or emergency presentation were excluded. Patients were then binned into WHO guidelines of BMI. The incidence of adverse outcomes within 30-day post-operation was defined. Odds ratios of adverse outcomes, normalized to the average risk of normal-weight subjects (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m3), were calculated. Multivariate analysis was then performed controlling for patient factors. RESULTS: In total, 13,710 ALIF patients were included in the study. Incidence of adverse events was elevated in both the underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m3) and super morbidly obese (>50 kg/m3), however, multivariate risks for adverse events and postoperative infection were elevated for underweight patients beyond those found in any other BMI category. No effect was noted in these identical variables between normal, overweight, obese class 1, or even obese class 2 patients. Multivariate analysis also found overweight patients to show a slightly protective trend against mortality while the super morbidly obese had elevated odds. CONCLUSIONS: Underweight patients are at greater odds of experiencing postoperative adverse events than normal, overweight, obese class 1, or even obese class 2 patients. The present study identifies underweight patients as an at-risk population that should be given additional consideration by health systems and physicians, as is already done for those on the other side of the BMI spectrum.

Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes of Patients With Osteosarcoma: An Analysis of Outcomes From the National Cancer Database.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies about osteosarcoma patient characteristics, management, and outcomes have limited patient numbers, combine varied tumor types, and/or are older studies. METHODS: Patients with osteosarcoma from the 2004 to 2015 National Cancer Database data sets were separated into axial, appendicular, and other. Demographic and treatment data as well as 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival were determined for each group. A multivariate Cox analysis of patient variables with the likelihood of death was performed, and the Kaplan Meier survival curves were generated. RESULTS: Four thousand four hundred thirty patients with osteosarcoma (3,435 appendicular, 810 axial, and 185 other) showed survival at 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year and was highest among the appendicular cohort (91.17%, 64.43%, and 58.58%, respectively). No change in survival was seen over the periods studied. The likelihood of death was greater with increasing age category, distant metastases, and treatment with radiation alone but less with appendicular primary site, treatment with surgery alone, or surgery plus chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: Despite advances in tumor management, surgical excision remains the best predictor of survival for osteosarcomas. No difference was observed in patient survival from 2004 to 2015 and, as would be expected, distant metastases were a poor prognostic sign, as was increasing age, male sex, and axial location.

Admission NarxCare Narcotic Scores Are Associated With Increased Odds of Readmission and Prolonged Length of Hospital Stay After Primary Elective Total Knee Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The association of preoperative narcotic use with postoperative outcomes after primary elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has remained poorly characterized. The NarxCare platform analyzes patients' state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program records to assign numerical scores that approximate a patient's overall opioid usage. The present study investigated the utility of admission NarxCare narcotic scores in predicting the odds of adverse events (AEs) after primary elective TKA. METHODS: Elective primary TKA patients performed at a single institution between October 2017 and May 2020 were evaluated. NarxCare narcotic scores at the time of admission, patient characteristics, 30-day AEs, readmissions, revision surgeries, and mortality were abstracted. Elective TKA patients were binned based on admission NarxCare narcotic scores. The odds of experiencing adverse outcomes were compared. RESULTS: In total, 1136 patients met the criteria for inclusion in the study (Narx Score 0: n = 293 [25.8%], 1 to 99: n = 253 [22.3%], 100 to 299: n = 368 [32.4%], 300 to 499: n = 161 [14.2%], and 500+: n = 61 [5.37%]). By logistic regression, patients with higher admission narcotic scores tended to have a dose-dependent increase in the odds of prolonged length of hospital stay, readmission within 30 days, and aggregated AEs. DISCUSSION: Admission narcotic scores may be used to predict readmission and to stratify TKA patients by risk of AEs.

COVID-positive ankle fracture patients are at increased odds of perioperative surgical complications following open reduction internal fixation surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Ankle fractures have continued to occur through the COVID pandemic and, regardless of patient COVID status, often need operative intervention for optimizing long-term outcomes. For healthcare optimization, patient counseling, and care planning, understanding if COVID-positive patients undergoing ankle fracture surgery are at increased risk for perioperative adverse outcomes is of interest. METHODS: The COVID-19 Research Database contains recent United States aggregated insurance claims. Patients who underwent ankle fracture surgery from April 1st, 2020 to June 15th, 2020 were identified. COVID status was identified by ICD coding. Demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were extracted based on administrative data. COVID-positive versus negative patients were compared with univariate analyses. Propensity-score matching was done on the basis of age, sex, and comorbidities. Multivariate regression was then performed to identify risk factors independently associated with the occurrence of 30-day postoperative adverse events. RESULTS: In total, 9,835 patients undergoing ankle fracture surgery were identified, of which 57 (0.58%) were COVID-positive. COVID-positive ankle fracture patients demonstrated a higher prevalence of comorbidities, including: chronic kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity (p<0.05 for each). After propensity matching and controlling for all preoperative variables, multivariate analysis found that COVID-positive patients were at increased risk of any adverse event (odds ratio [OR] = 3.89, p = 0.002), a serious adverse event (OR = 5.48, p = 0.002), and a minor adverse event (OR = 3.10, p = 0.021). DISCUSSION: COVID-positive patients will continue to present with ankle fractures requiring operative intervention. Even after propensity matching and controlling for patient factors, COVID-positive patients were found to be at increased risk of 30-day perioperative adverse events. Not only do treatment teams need to be protected from the transmission of COVID in such situations, but the increased incidence of perioperative adverse events needs to be considered.

Clinical Characteristics and Perioperative Complication Profiles of COVID-19-Positive Patients Undergoing Hip Fracture Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disease has imposed an unprecedented degree of stress on healthcare systems. This study aimed to understand whether COVID-19 positivity is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes after geriatric hip fracture surgery. METHODS: From a national administrative claims data set, patients who underwent hip fracture surgery from April 1, 2020, to December 1, 2020 were selected for analysis. COVID-19-positive status was assessed by the emergency International Classification of Diagnoses, 10th Revision, COVID-19 code within 2 weeks before the surgery. Demographic, comorbidity, and 30-day postoperative adverse event information were extracted. Logistic regression before and after 10:1 propensity matching was performed to identify patient risk factors associated with the occurrence of postoperative adverse events. RESULTS: Of 42,002 patients who underwent hip fracture surgery, 678 (1.61%) were identified to be positive for COVID-19 infection. No significant differences in age, sex, and procedure type were found between COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative groups, but the COVID-19-positive patients demonstrated a higher incidence of several comorbidities. These differences were no longer significant after matching. After matching, the COVID-19-positive group had a higher incidence of any, serious, and minor adverse events (P < 0.001 for all). Controlling for preoperative variables, COVID-19 positivity was associated with an increased risk of experiencing any adverse events (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [1.37 to 1.92], P < 0.001), serious adverse events (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = [1.31 to 2.07], P < 0.001), and minor adverse events (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = [1.34 to 1.89], P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: After matching and controlling for confounding variables, COVID-19-positive hip fracture patients had increased odds of multiple postoperative events. Clinicians caring for this vulnerable geriatric population should be mindful of this risk to improve the care for these patients during the ongoing global pandemic.

Patients Undergoing 3-Level-or-Greater Decompression-Only Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Have Similar Outcomes to Those Undergoing Single-Level Surgery at 2 Years.

BACKGROUND: Stability following multilevel decompressive laminectomy without fusion has been debated using in vitro biomechanical and radiographic models. However, there is a lack of information regarding clinical outcomes for these patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between clinical outcomes and number of levels decompressed via laminectomy for treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients who underwent a primary lumbar laminectomy between 2009 and 2015 by senior orthopedic spine surgeons for lumbar spinal stenosis. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the number of decompression levels: single level or 3 or more levels. Patient-reported outcomes were obtained in the form of Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, visual analog scale (VAS) scores for the back and leg, 12-Item Short Form Mental and Physical Survey scores, and Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Mental and Physical Survey scores. RESULTS: Overall, 138 consecutive patients were assessed, of which 106 underwent a single-level and 32 underwent a 3-or-more-level laminectomy. Average follow-up was 24.2 months. There were no significant differences in the preoperative VAS back, VAS leg, or ODI scores between the single-level laminectomy and 3-or-more-level laminectomy groups. Both groups of patients experienced significant improvements in these clinical outcomes postoperatively with no clinically significant difference in the degree of improvement. Reoperation rates were low and similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing decompression of 3 or more levels present with similar postoperative outcomes to those who undergo a single-level decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis. Under specific clinical and radiographic criteria, a multilevel decompression of 3 or more levels may be a safe and effective procedure with acceptable outcomes at 2 years after surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Long-term Corticosteroid Use Independently Correlates With Complications After Posterior Lumbar Spine Surgery.

With the increasing medical complexity of patients undergoing posterior lumbar surgery, more patients are pharmacologically immunosuppressed to manage chronic conditions. The effects of immunosuppression have become of greater interest across multiple surgical specialties. The goal of the current study was to investigate whether long-term corticosteroid use is independently associated with perioperative adverse outcomes among patients undergoing posterior lumbar surgery. Patients who underwent elective posterior lumbar spine surgery (decompression and/or fusion) were identified in the 2005-2016 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Patient factors, surgical factors, and 30-day perioperative outcomes for patients taking long-term corticosteroids were compared with those for patients who were not taking these drugs. Propensity matching and multivariate analysis were used to evaluate comparable patients while controlling for potentially confounding variables. In total, 140,519 patients undergoing posterior lumbar spine surgery were identified. Of these, 5243 (3.73%) were taking corticosteroids. After propensity matching and controlling for age, sex, body mass index, functional status, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and surgical procedure, those taking corticosteroids were at greater risk for any adverse event (odds ratio, 1.45), a serious adverse event (odds ratio, 1.57), a minor adverse event (odds ratio, 1.47), infection (odds ratio, 1.48), reoperation (odds ratio, 1.48), and readmission (odds ratio, 1.47) (P≤.001 for each). The findings confirmed that long-term corticosteroid use is associated with significant increases in perioperative adverse outcomes for patients undergoing elective posterior lumbar surgery, even with matching and controlling for potentially confounding variables. These findings can guide patient counseling and preemptive interventions before surgery for this patient population. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(3):172-179.].

Cement Augmentation of Vertebral Compression Fractures May Be Safely Considered in the Very Elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study was to perform a retrospective review of a national database to assess the safety of cement augmentation for vertebral compression fractures in geriatric populations in varying age categories. METHODS: The 2005-2016 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databases were queried to identify patients undergoing kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty in the following age categories: 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, and 90+ years old. Demographic variables, comorbidity status, procedure type, provider specialty, inpatient/outpatient status, number of procedure levels, and periprocedure complications were compared between age categories using chi-square analysis. Multivariate logistic regressions controlling for patient and procedural variables were then performed to assess the relative periprocedure risks of adverse outcomes of patients in the different age categories relative to those who were 60-69 years old. RESULTS: For the 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, and 90+ years old cohorts, 486, 822, 937, and 215 patients were identified, respectively. After controlling for patient and procedural variables, 30-day any adverse events, serious adverse events, reoperation, readmission, and mortality were not different for the respective age categories. Cases in the 80- to 89-year-old cohort were at increased risk of minor adverse events compared to cases in the 60- to 69-year-old cohort. CONCLUSION: As the population ages, cement augmentation is being considered as a treatment for vertebral compression fractures in increasingly older patients. These results suggest that even the very elderly may be appropriately considered for these procedures (level of evidence: 3).

A Matched Comparison of Postoperative Complications Between Smokers and Nonsmokers Following Open Reduction Internal Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to identify differences in 30-day adverse events, reoperations, readmissions, and mortality for smokers and nonsmokers who undergo operative treatment for a distal radius fracture. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for patients who had operatively treated distal radius fractures between 2005 and 2017. Patient characteristics and surgical variables were assessed. Thirty-day outcome data were collected on serious (SAEs) and minor adverse events (MAEs), as well as on infection, return to the operating room, readmission, and mortality. Multivariable logistic analyses with and without propensity-score matching was used to compare outcome measures between the smoker and the nonsmoker cohorts. RESULTS: In total, 16,158 cases were identified, of whom 3,062 were smokers. After 1:1 propensity-score matching, the smoking and nonsmoking cohorts had similar demographic characteristics. Based on the multivariable propensity-matched logistic regression, cases in the smoking group had a significantly higher rate of any adverse event (AAE) (odds ratio [OR], 1.75; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.28-2.38), serious adverse event (SAE) (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.22-2.50), and minor adverse event (MAE) (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.04-3.23). Smokers also had higher rates of infection (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.26-2.39), reoperation (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.13-3.78), and readmission (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.20-2.79). There was no difference in 30-day mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers who undergo open reduction internal fixation of distal radius fractures had an increased risk of 30-day perioperative adverse events, even with matching and controlling for demographic characteristics and comorbidity status. This information can be used for patient counseling and may be helpful for treatment/management planning. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Underweight patients are an often under looked "At risk" population after undergoing posterior cervical spine surgery.

BACKGROUND: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a weight-for-height metric that is used to quantify tissue mass and weight levels. Past studies have mainly focused on the association of high BMI on spine surgery outcomes and shown variable conclusions. Prior results may have varied due to insufficient power or inconsistent categorical separation of BMI groups (e.g. underweight, overweight, or obese). Additionally, few studies have considered outcomes of patients with low BMI. The aim of the current study was to analyze patients along the entirety of the BMI spectrum and to establish specific granular BMI categories for which patients become at risk for complication and mortality following posterior cervical spine surgery. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective posterior cervical spine surgery were abstracted from the 2005-2016 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) databases. Patients were aggregated into pre-established WHO BMI categories and adverse outcomes were normalized to average risk of normal-weight subjects (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2). Risk-adjusted multivariate regressions were performed controlling for patient demographics and overall health. RESULTS: A total of 16,806 patients met inclusion criteria. Odds for adverse events for underweight patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) were the highest among any category of patients along the BMI spectrum. These patients experienced increased odds of any adverse event (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.67, p = 0.008, major adverse events (OR=2.08, p = 0.001), post-operative infection (OR = 1.95, p = 0.002), and reoperation (OR = 1.84, p = 0.020). Interestingly, none of the overweight or obese categories were found to be correlated with increased risk of adverse event categories other than super-morbidly obese patients (BMI>50.0 kg/m2) for post-operative infection (OR = 1.54, p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: The current study found underweight patients to have the highest risk of adverse events after posterior cervical spine surgery. Increased pre-surgical planning and resource allocation for this population should be considered by physicians and healthcare systems, as is often already done for patients on the other end of the BMI spectrum.

Postoperative bracing practices after elective lumbar spine surgery: A questionnaire study of U.S. spine surgeons.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data available on the use of orthoses across varying elective spine surgeries. When previously studied in 2009, inconsistent lumbar postoperative bracing practices were reported. The present study aimed to provide a ten-year update regarding postoperative bracing practices after elective lumbar surgery among United States (U.S.) spine surgeons. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to attendees of the Lumbar Spine Research Society Annual Meeting (April 2019). The questionnaire collected demographic information, and asked surgeons to identify if they used orthoses postoperatively after ten elective lumbar surgeries. Information regarding type of brace, duration of use, and reason for bracing was also collected. Chi-square tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for comparisons. RESULTS: Seventy-three of 88 U.S. attending surgeons completed the questionnaire (response rate: 83%). The majority of respondents were orthopaedic surgery-trained (78%), fellowship-trained (84%), and academic surgeons (73%). The majority of respondents (60%) did not use orthoses after any lumbar surgery. Among the surgeons who braced, the overall bracing frequency was 26%. This rate was significantly lower than that reported in the literature ten years earlier (p<0.0001). Respondents tended to use orthoses most often after stand-alone lateral interbody fusions (43%) (p<0.0001). The average bracing frequency after lumbar fusions (34%) was higher than the average bracing frequency after non-fusion surgeries (16%) (p<0.0001). The most frequently utilized brace was an off the shelf lumbar sacral orthosis (66%), and most surgeons braced patients to improve pain (42%). Of surgeons who braced, most commonly did so for 2-4 months (57%). CONCLUSION: Most surgeon respondents did not prescribe orthoses after varying elective lumbar surgeries, and the frequency overall was lower than a similar study conducted in 2009. There continues to be inconsistencies in postoperative bracing practices. In an era striving for evidence-based practices, this is an area needing more attention.

Underweight Patients Are the Greatest Risk Body Mass Index Group for 30-Day Perioperative Adverse Events After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Existing literature investigating the correlation of body mass index (BMI) with surgical complications has focused on those with elevated BMI. These investigations have reported mixed conclusions, possible because of insufficient power, poor controlling of confounding variables, and inconsistent definitions of BMI categories (eg, underweight, overweight, and varying classifications of obese). Few studies have considered complications of patients with low BMI. The aim of the current study was to analyze the spectrum of categories for BMI with 30-day perioperative adverse events after primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) to better assess where along the BMI spectrum patients are at risk for complications. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective TSA were abstracted from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) databases from 2005 to 2016. Patients were then aggregated into BMI categories, and 30-day adverse events were normalized to average risk of normal-weight subjects (BMI 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2). Risk-adjusted multivariate regressions were performed, controlling for demographic variables and overall health. RESULTS: In total, 15,717 patients met the inclusion criteria. Underweight TSA patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) had the greatest odds for multiple perioperative adverse events compared with any other BMI category. By multivariate analysis, underweight patients were more likely to experience any adverse event (odds ratio [OR] = 2.22, P = 0.034), serious adverse events (OR = 3.18, P = 0.004), or have postoperative infections (OR = 2.77, P = 0.012) within 30 days when compared with normal-weight patients. No significant difference was observed in these complications for elevated BMI categories when compared with normal-weight patients. CONCLUSIONS: Only underweight TSA patients were found to have higher rates of 30-day perioperative adverse events than normal BMI patients, unlike any overweight/obese category including the super morbidly obese. Underweight TSA patients were thus identified as an at-risk subpopulation of TSA patients who had not previously been described. Physicians and healthcare systems should give additional consideration to this fragile cohort because they often already do for those at the other end of the BMI spectrum. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.