Does obesity and varying body mass index affect the clinical outcomes and safety of biportal endoscopic lumbar decompression? A comparative cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic spine surgery has recently grown in popularity due to the potential benefits of reduced pain and faster recovery time as compared to open surgery. Biportal spinal endoscopy has been successfully applied to lumbar disc herniations and lumbar spinal stenosis. Obesity is associated with increased risk of complications in spine surgery. Few prior studies have investigated the impact of obesity and associated medical comorbidities with biportal spinal endoscopy. METHODS: This study was a prospectively collected, retrospectively analyzed comparative cohort design. Patients were divided into cohorts of normal body weight (Bone Mass Index (BMI)18.0-24.9), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9) and obese (BMI > 30.0) as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Patients underwent biportal spinal endoscopy by a single surgeon at a single institution for treatment of lumbar disc herniations and lumbar spinal stenosis. Demographic data, surgical complications, and patient-reported outcomes were analyzed. Statistics were calculated amongst treatment groups using analysis of variance and chi square where appropriate. Statistical significance was determined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were followed. 26 (30.1%) were normal BMI, 35 (41.7%) were overweight and 23 (27.4%) were obese. Patients with increasing BMI had correspondingly greater American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) scores. There were no significant differences in VAS Back, VAS Leg, and ODI scores, or postoperative complications among the cohorts. There were no cases of surgical site infections in the cohort. All cohorts demonstrated significant improvement up to 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that obesity is not a risk factor for increased perioperative complications with biportal spinal endoscopy and has similar clinical outcomes and safety profile as compared to patients with normal BMI. Biportal spinal endoscopy is a promising alternative to traditional techniques to treat common lumbar pathology.

Elevated Serum Alkaline Phosphatase is an Independent Predictor of Complications after Lumbar Spinal Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme which has been proven useful as a biomarker for bone turnover and inflammation. We hypothesized that high serum ALP levels are associated with increased complication rates following lumbar spinal fusion. METHODS: Lumbar spinal fusion procedures from 2005-2019 were queried from the national Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Serum alkaline phosphatase levels were stratified into low <44 IU/L, normal 44-147 IU/L, and high >147 IU/L. A risk-adjusted multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze ALP as an independent risk factor for complications. RESULTS: A total of 16,441 patients who underwent lumbar fusion procedures were included. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that patients with a high serum ALP level had a significantly increased risk for developing septic shock (OR 4.68, 95% CI 1.83-11.97), pneumonia (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.59-5.25), requiring a transfusion (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.68-2.59), reoperation within 30 days (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.12-2.52), readmission within 30 days (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.16-2.21), increased length of stay (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.49-2.36), and nonhome discharge (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.80-2.66). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serum alkaline phosphatase is a valuable and readily available tool for preoperative risk stratification of patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum ALP in patients undergoing lumbar fusion procedures is associated with increased risk for multiple in-hospital complications as well as higher rates of readmission and reoperation.

Effect of the administration route on the hemostatic efficacy of tranexamic acid in patients undergoing short-segment posterior lumbar interbody fusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an FDA-approved antifibrinolytic that is seeing increased popularity in spine surgery owing to its ability to reduce intraoperative blood loss (IOBL) and allogeneic transfusion requirements. The present study aimed to summarize the current literature on these formulations in the context of short-segment instrumented lumbar fusion including ≥ 1-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). METHODS: The PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were queried for all full-text English studies evaluating the use of topical TXA (tTXA), systemic TXA (sTXA), or combined tTXA+sTXA in patients undergoing PLIF. The primary endpoints of interest were operative time, IOBL, and total blood loss (TBL); secondary endpoints included venous thromboembolic complication occurrence, and allogeneic and autologous transfusion requirements. Outcomes were compared using random effects. Comparisons were made between the following treatment groups: sTXA, tTXA, and sTXA+tTXA. Given that sTXA is arguably the standard of care in the literature (i.e., the most common route of administration that to this point has been studied the most), the authors compared sTXA versus tTXA and sTXA versus sTXA+tTXA. Study heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 test, and grouped analysis using the Hedge's g test was performed for measurement of effect size. RESULTS: Forty-five articles were identified, of which 17 met the criteria for inclusion with an aggregate of 1008 patients. TXA regimens included sTXA only, tTXA only, and various combinations of sTXA and tTXA. There were no significant differences in operative time, TBL, or postoperative drainage between the sTXA and tTXA groups or between the sTXA and sTXA+tTXA groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis suggested clinical equipoise between isolated sTXA, isolated tTXA, and combinatorial tTXA+sTXA formulations as hemostatic adjuvants/neoadjuvants in short-segment fusion including ≥ 1-level PLIF. Given the theoretically lower venous thromboembolism risk associated with tTXA, additional investigations using large cohorts comparing these two formulations within the posterior fusion population are merited. Although TXA has been shown to be effective, there are insufficient data to support topical or systemic administration as superior within the open PLIF population.

Neurosurgery compared to orthopedic spine consultation: A single level I trauma center experience.

Introduction: Both Orthopedic Surgery (OS) and Neurosurgery (NS) perform spine surgery in the setting of trauma. However, it is unknown whether outcomes differ between these specialties. This study compares management and outcomes for vertebral fractures between NS and OS, hypothesizing similar operation rate, length of stay (LOS), and readmission. Research question: Do outcomes differ between NS and OS in the management of vertebral fractures following trauma? Methods: A retrospective single-center study was conducted on adult patients with cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral fractures treated at a single trauma center, where no standardized pathway exists across NS and OS. Patients were compared for injury profile, diagnostic imaging, and operative techniques as well as LOS, mortality, and complications. Results: A total of 630 vertebral fracture patients (OS:350 (55.6%); NS:280 (44.4%)) were included. NS utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more commonly (36.4% vs. 22.6%, p < 0.001). NS patients more often underwent operation (13.2% vs. 7.4%, p = 0.016) despite similar fracture number and severity (p > 0.05). Post-operative complications, LOS, and readmission rates were similar between cohorts (p > 0.05). Discussion and conclusion: Despite similar injury profiles, NS had higher rates of MRI usage and operative interventions in the context of traumatic spine fractures. Despite differences in management, major clinical outcomes were similar between NS and OS. However, we do call for further standardization of evaluation and treatment of patients based on established algorithms from such as the AOSpine Thoracolumbar Spine Injury Classification System (ATLICS).

The Role of Perioperative Nutritional Status and Supplementation in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Review of Postoperative Outcomes.

¼ Identification of malnourished and at-risk patients should be a standardized part of the preoperative evaluation process for every patient.¼ Malnourishment is defined as a disorder of energy, protein, and nutrients based on the presence of insufficient energy intake, weight loss, muscle atrophy, loss of subcutaneous fat, localized or generalized fluid accumulation, or diminished functional status.¼ Malnutrition has been associated with worse outcomes postoperatively across a variety of orthopaedic procedures because malnourished patients do not have a robust metabolic reserve available for recovery after surgery.¼ Screening assessment and basic laboratory studies may indicate patients' nutritional risk; however, laboratory values are often not specific for malnutrition, necessitating the use of prognostic screening tools.¼ Nutrition consultation and perioperative supplementation with amino acids and micronutrients are 2 readily available interventions that orthopaedic surgeons can select for malnourished patients.

Cervical Spine Surgery Following COVID-19 Infection: When is it Safe to Proceed?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. OBJECTIVE: We utilized the NIH National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) database to characterize the risk profile of patients undergoing spine surgery during multiple time windows following the COVID-19 infection. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: While the impact of COVID-19 on various organ systems is well documented, there is limited knowledge regarding its effect on perioperative complications following spine surgery or the optimal timing of surgery after an infection. METHODS: We asked the National COVID Cohort Collaborative for patients who underwent cervical spine surgery. Patients were stratified into those with an initial documented COVID-19 infection within 3 time periods: 0-2 weeks, 2-6 weeks, or 6-12 weeks before surgery. RESULTS: A total of 29,449 patients who underwent anterior approach cervical spine surgery and 46,379 patients who underwent posterior approach cervical spine surgery were included. Patients who underwent surgery within 2 weeks of their COVID-19 diagnosis had a significantly increased risk for venous thromboembolic events, sepsis, 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality, irrespective of the anterior or posterior approach. Among patients undergoing surgery between 2 and 6 weeks after COVID-19 infection, the 30-day mortality risk remained elevated in patients undergoing a posterior approach only. Patients undergoing surgery between 6 and 12 weeks from the date of the COVID-19 infection did not show significantly elevated rates of any complications analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing either anterior or posterior cervical spine surgery within 2 weeks from the initial COVID-19 diagnosis are at increased risk for perioperative venous thromboembolic events, sepsis, and mortality. Elevated perioperative complication risk does not persist beyond 2 weeks, except for 30-day mortality in posterior approach surgeries. On the basis of these results, it may be warranted to postpone nonurgent spine surgeries for at least 2 weeks following a COVID-19 infection and advise patients of the increased perioperative complication risk when urgent surgery is required.

A Comparison of Short-Term Outcomes after Surgical Treatment of Multilevel Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy in the Geriatric Patient Population: An Analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database 2010-2020.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2010 to 2020. PURPOSE: To compare the short-term complication rates of anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF), posterior cervical laminoplasty (LP), and posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion (PCF) in a geriatric population. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The geriatric population in the United States has increased significantly. Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is caused by cervical spinal stenosis, and its prevalence increases with age. Therefore, the incidence of multilevel DCM requiring surgical intervention is likely to increase. ACDF, LP, and PCF are the most commonly used surgical techniques for treating multilevel DCM. However, there is uncertainty regarding the optimal surgical technique for the decompression of DCM in geriatric patients. METHODS: Patients aged 65 years who had undergone either multilevel ACDF, LP, or PCF for the treatment of DCM were analyzed. Additional analysis was performed by standardizing the data for the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification scores and preoperative functional status. RESULTS: A total of 23,129 patients were identified. Patients with ACDF were younger, more often female, and preoperatively healthier than those in the other two groups. The estimated postoperative mortality and morbidity, mean operation time, and length of hospital stay were the lowest for ACDF, second lowest for LP, and highest for PCF. The readmission and reoperation rates were comparable between ACDF and LP; however, both were significantly lower than PCF. CONCLUSIONS: PCF is associated with the highest risk of mortality, morbidity, unplanned reoperation, and unplanned readmission in the short-term postoperative period in patients aged 65 years. In contrast, ACDF carries the lowest risk. However, some disease-specific factors may require posterior treatment. For these cases, LP should be included in the preoperative discussion when determining the ideal surgical approach for geriatric patients.

A temporal analysis of perioperative complications following COVID-19 infection in patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion: When is it safe to proceed?

Background Context: COVID-19 has been shown to adversely affect multiple organ systems, yet little is known about its effect on perioperative complications after spine surgery or the optimal timing of surgery after an infection. We used the NIH National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) database to characterize the risk profile in patients undergoing spine surgery during multiple time windows following COVID-19 infection. Methods: We queried the National COVID Cohort Collaborative, a database of 17.4 million persons with 6.9 million COVID-19 cases, for patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Patients were stratified into those with an initial documented COVID-19 infection within 3 time periods: 0 to 2 weeks, 2 to 6 weeks, or 6 to 12 weeks before surgery. Results: A total of 60,541 patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusion procedures were included. Patients who underwent surgery within 2 weeks of their COVID-19 diagnosis had a significantly increased risk for venous thromboembolic events (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.58-3.32), sepsis (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.03-2.36), 30-day mortality (OR 5.55, 95% CI 3.53-8.71), and 1-year mortality (OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.91-3.82) compared with patients who were COVID negative during the same period. There was no significant difference in the rates of acute kidney injury or surgical site infection. Patients undergoing surgery between 2 and 6 weeks or between 6 and 12 weeks from the date of COVID-19 infection did not show significantly elevated rates of any complication analyzed. Conclusions: Patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion within 2 weeks from initial COVID-19 diagnosis are at increased risk for perioperative venous thromboembolic events and sepsis. This effect does not persist beyond 2 weeks, however, so it may be warranted to postpone non-urgent spine surgeries for at least 2 weeks following a COVID-19 infection or to consider a more aggressive VTE chemoprophylaxis regimen for urgent surgery in COVID-19 patients.

Low early complication rates after arthroscopic meniscus repair and meniscectomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 30-day complication rates after arthroscopic meniscus repair and meniscectomy using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database, with subgroup analysis of patients aged > 40 years. METHODS: NSQIP registries between 2006 and 2019 were queried using Current Procedural Terminology codes to identify patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscus repair (CPT 29882, 29883) and meniscectomy (29880, 29881). The following 30-day complications were assessed: pulmonary embolism (PE), venous thromboembolism (VTE), surgical site infection (SSI), reoperation, and readmission. Complications rates between treatment groups were compared using multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex, age, steroid use, and smoking/dyspnoea/COPD. A subgroup analysis was performed for patients aged > 40 years. RESULTS: A total 6354 meniscus repairs and 99,372 meniscectomies were identified. Complication rates were < 1% for both meniscus repair and meniscectomy. Meniscus repair was associated with significantly higher rates of PE, VTE, and readmission compared to meniscectomy: PE (0.2% vs 0.1%, p < 0.001), VTE (0.8% vs 0.4%, p < 0.001), superficial SSI (0.1% vs 0.2%, n.s), deep SSI (0.07% vs 0.1%, n.s), reoperation (0.5% vs 0.4%, n.s), and readmission (0.9% vs 0.8%, p = 0.003). Among patients aged > 40 years, complication rates were < 1.3% for both meniscus repair and meniscectomy. Similar trends and rates were found in patients aged > 40 years undergoing meniscus repair versus meniscectomy: PE (0.38% vs 0.12%, p < 0.001), VTE (1.07% vs 0.46%, p < 0.001), superficial SSI (0.03% vs 0.19%, n.s), deep SSI (0.1% vs 0.06%, n.s), reoperation (0.48% vs 0.43%, n.s), and readmission (1.2% vs 0.85%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic meniscus repair and meniscectomy are both low-risk procedures with 30-day complication rates < 1% overall and < 1.3% among patients aged > 40 years. These findings support meniscus repair whenever feasible in the setting of preserved articular cartilage. Understanding of the short-term complication rates after arthroscopic meniscus repair and meniscectomy can aid surgeons in providing comprehensive preoperative counselling to patients considering such treatments, specifically when discussing the risks and benefits of meniscus repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Primary Spinal Infections in Patients With Hematologic Immunocompromising Conditions: A Systematic Literature Review.

PURPOSE: Primary spinal infections (PSIs) are a group of infectious diseases characterized by inflammation of the end plate-disk unit or its surroundings. PSI is considered more prevalent and aggressive among patients with chronic immunocompromised states. Association of PSIs, immunocompromising cancers, and hemoglobinopathies has not been systematically analyzed. We conducted a systematic review to study characteristics, clinical presentation, and mortality of patients with PSI in the setting of hematologic disease. METHODS: A systematic literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted in April 2022 in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We included retrospective case series and individual case reports. RESULTS: On careful review, 28 articles published between 1970 and 2022 were selected. These studies featured 29 patients who met inclusion criteria (mean age 29 years, age range 1.5 to 67 years; 63.3% male). Lumbar infection was the most common location (65.5%), with Salmonella (24.1%) as the main causative microorganism. Neurologic compromise was present in 41% of patients, and surgical intervention occurred in 48.3%. Average antibiotic duration was 13 weeks. The postoperative complication rate was 21.4%, with a mortality of 6.9%. CONCLUSION: PSI in patients with hematologic disease, while having shorter periods to diagnosis, presents increased rates of neurologic deficit, surgical intervention, and complications.

Intervertebral vacuum phenomenon - prevalence and severity CT-scan analysis in patients older than 50 years: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain secondary to degenerative changes in the spine is a common cause of disability, and disc degeneration is one of the most frequent imaging findings. Intervertebral vacuum phenomenon (IVP) is usually observed in advanced degeneration. Recently, this phenomenon has gained interest due to a relatively new surgical technique called percutaneous discoplasty, aimed at treating low back pain secondary to degenerative disc disease in elderly patients. PURPOSE: To analyze the prevalence and related factors of the vacuum phenomenon in adult patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) for non-spine-related reasons. Age, body mass index, smoking, and CT-based characteristics as presence of IVP, subchondral sclerosis, and facet joint degeneration at the lumbar spine from L1 to the sacrum were included in order to determine the prevalence of the vacuum phenomenon in this population and establish a relationship between this condition and patient demographics and other signs of spine degeneration, such as sclerosis and facet joint disease. RESULTS: A total of 238 patients were included in the study (114 men, 124 women; mean age = 75.6 ± 12.3 years. In total, 91 (38%) patients had at least one level of IVP; 59 (25%) patients exhibited subchondral sclerosis, and 235 (98%) facet joint degeneration. Among risk factors, age, smoking, and subchondral sclerosis were significantly associated with the presence of vacuum. CONCLUSION: IVP was present in 38% of participants. Risk factors associated with vacuum were age, smoking, and subchondral sclerosis.

Utility of the Modified 5-Items Frailty Index to Predict Complications and Mortality After Elective Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Posterior Spine Fusion Surgery: Multicentric Analysis From ACS-NSQIP Database.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of multicentric data. OBJECTIVES: The modified 5-item frailty index is a relatively new tool to assess the post-operative complication risks. It has been recently shown a good predictive value after posterior lumbar fusion. We aimed to compare the predictive value of the modified 5-item frailty index in cervical, thoracic and lumbar surgery. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons - National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) Database 2015-2020 was used to identify patients who underwent elective posterior cervical, thoracic, or lumbar fusion surgeries for degenerative conditions. The mFI-5 score was calculated based on the presence of 5 co-morbidities: congestive heart failure within 30 days prior to surgery, insulin-dependent or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pneumonia, partially dependent or totally dependent functional health status at time of surgery, and hypertension requiring medication. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the independent impact of increasing mFI-5 score on the postoperative morbidity while controlling for baseline clinical characteristics. RESULTS: 53 252 patients were included with the mean age of 64.2 ± 7.2. 7946 suffered medical complications (14.9%), 1565 had surgical complications (2.9%), and 3385 were readmitted (6.3%), 363 died (.68%) within 30 days postoperative (6.3%). The mFI-5 items score was significantly associated with higher rates of complications, readmission, and mortality in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar posterior fusion surgery. CONCLUSION: The modified 5-item frailty score is a reliable tool to predict complications, readmission, and mortality in patients planned for elective posterior spinal fusion surgery.

Surgical treatment in primary spinal infections in a pediatric population: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Primary spinal infections (PSIs) are a group of uncommon but serious infectious diseases that are characterized by inflammation of the endplate-disc unit. Pediatric spinal infection is rare and challenging to diagnose due to vague presenting symptoms. Most cases are conservatively managed with surgery rarely indicated. The authors performed a systematic review to study the baseline characteristics, clinical presentation, and outcomes of pediatric patients with PSIs who underwent surgical treatment. OBSERVATIONS: PSI in pediatric patients might behave differently in terms of epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes when compared with nonpediatric patients. Overall, PSI ultimately managed surgically in pediatric patients is associated with a high rate of localized pain, neurological compromise, and treatment failure when compared with nonsurgically managed pediatric spinal infections. LESSONS: PSIs managed surgically in the pediatric population were found to be caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 74.4% of cases and were associated with higher rates of localized pain, neurological compromise, and treatment failure than nonsurgically managed pediatric spinal infections. Thoracic involvement (71.8%) in the spinal infection was reported most commonly in our review. When omitting the cases involving M. tuberculosis infection, it was revealed that 50% of the pediatric cases involved infection in the cervical region, suggesting increased severity and disease course of cervical spinal infections in the pediatric population. Surgical treatment is indicated only in cases of severe neurological compromise and treatment failure.

Pyogenic spinal infections in patients with chronic liver disease: illustrative case and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Pyogenic spinal infections (PSIs) are a group of uncommon but serious infectious diseases that are characterized by inflammation of the endplate-disc unit. PSIs are considered more prevalent and aggressive among patients with chronic immunocompromised states. Association between PSIs and liver disease has not been systematically analyzed. The authors performed a systematic review to study baseline characteristics, clinical presentation, and mortality of patients with PSI in the setting of chronic liver disease. OBSERVATIONS: The authors presented the case of a 72-year-old female patient with chronic liver disease who presented with severe low back pain and bilateral lower weakness. Imaging studies showed T10-11 spondylodiscitis. The patient received decompression and fusion surgery with partial neurological improvement. The authors performed a systematic literature search of spondylodiscitis and liver disease, and eight published articles met the studies inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies featured a total of 144 patients, of whom 129 met inclusion criteria (mean age, 60.5 years, range 40 to 83 years; 62% males). Lumbar infection was the most common report (67%), with Staphylococcus aureus (48%) as the main causative microorganism. Neurological compromise was present in 69% of patients. Surgical intervention occurred in 70.5% of patients, and the average duration of antibiotic treatment was 69.4 days. Postoperative complication rate was 28.5%, with a 30- and 90-day mortality of 17.2% and 24.8%, respectively. LESSONS: Pyogenic spondylodiscitis in patients with liver disease was associated with a high rate of neurological compromise, postoperative complications, and mortality.

The impact of stratified hypoalbuminemia and dialysis on morbidity/mortality after posterior spinal fusion surgery: An ACS-NSQIP study.

Background: Preoperative optimization in patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion is essential to limit the number and severity of postoperative complications. Here, we, additionally, evaluated the impact of hypoalbuminemia on morbidity and mortality after posterior spinal fusion surgery. Methods: This retrospective analysis was performed using data from a prospective multicentric database (ACSNSQIP:2015-2020) regarding patients undergoing posterior spinal fusions. Factors studied included; baseline demographics and 30-day postoperative complications (i.e., reoperations, readmissions, and mortality rates). Results: There were 6805 patients who met the inclusion criteria. They averaged 62 years of age and had an average BMI of 30.2. Within the 30-day postoperative period, 634 (9.3%) sustained complications; 467 (6.9%) were readmitted, 263 (3.9%) required reoperations, and 37 (0.5%) expired. Although multiple preoperative risk factors were analyzed, hypoalbuminemia, severe hypoalbuminemia, and dialysis were the strongest independent risk factors associated with complications (i.e., reoperations, readmissions, and mortality). Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia, severe hypoalbuminemia, and dialysis were significant predictors for morbidity and mortality after posterior spinal fusion surgery.

Cost analysis comparison between anterior and posterior cervical spine approaches.

Background: The costs of cervical spine surgery have steadily increased. We performed a 5-year propensity scoring-matched analysis of 276 patients undergoing anterior versus posterior cervical surgery at one institution. Methods: We performed propensity score matching on financial data from 276 patients undergoing 1-3 level anterior versus posterior cervical fusions for degenerative disease (2015-2019). Results: We found no significant difference between anterior versus posterior approaches for hospital costs ($42,529.63 vs. $45,110.52), net revenue ($40,877.25 vs. $34,036.01), or contribution margins ($14,230.19 vs. $6,312.54). Multivariate regression analysis showed variables significantly associated with the lower contribution margins included age (ß = -392.3) and length of stay (LOS; ß = -1151). Removing age/LOS from the analysis, contribution margins were significantly higher for the anterior versus posterior approach ($17,824.16 vs. $6,312.54, P = 0.01). Conclusion: Anterior cervical surgery produced higher contribution margins compared to posterior approaches, most likely because posterior surgery was typically performed in older patients requiring longer LOS.

Primary spinal infections in patients with solid organ transplant: a systematic literature review and illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Primary spinal infections (PSIs) are a group of uncommon but serious infectious diseases considered more prevalent and aggressive among patients with chronic immunocompromised states. Association of PSI and solid organ transplant has not been systematically analyzed. The authors performed a systematic review analyzing clinical presentation and mortality of patients with PSI in the setting of solid organ transplant. OBSERVATIONS: PSIs in patients with immunosuppressive therapy, such as those with solid organ transplant, may behave differently in terms of epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes compared with nonimmunosuppressed patients. Overall PSI in solid organ transplant patients is associated with a high rate of neurological compromise, postoperative complications, and mortality. LESSONS: Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of PSI require a multidisciplinary effort. Localized pain is the most frequently reported symptom associated with PSI. As opposed to PSI in patients without transplant, inflammatory and infectious markers such as white blood cells and C-reactive protein are often not elevated. Furthermore, the causative microorganism profile varies significantly when compared to pyogenic spinal infection in patients without transplant. Aspergillus species was responsible for spondylodiscitis in transplant patients in more than 50% of cases, and the incidence of Aspergillus infection is projected to rise in the coming years.

Preoperative hypoalbuminemia and dialysis increase morbidity/mortality after spine surgery for primary pyogenic spinal infections (ACS-NSQIP Study).

Background: We analyzed the role of hypoalbuminemia, dialysis, and other risk factors that increase morbidity/ mortality following surgery for primary pyogenic spinal infections (PSIs). The American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) that included 627 patients was utilized as our database. Methods: Primary spinal surgery for spondylodiscitis was evaluated in a ACS-NSQIP database involving 627 patients between 2010 and 2019. Outcome assessment included evaluation of 30-day postoperative morbidity, and mortality rates. Results: Within 30 postoperative days, complications occurred in 14.6% (92/627) of patients; 59 (9.4%) required readmission, and 39 (6.2%) required additional surgery. The most common complications were: wound infections, pneumonia, septic shock, and death (1.8%). Hypoalbuminemia (i.e., significantly associated with unplanned readmission and reoperation), and dialysis were the two major risk factors contributing to increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: Among 627 ACS-NSQIP patients undergoing primary surgery for PSIs, hypoalbuminemia and dialysis were associated with higher risks of major perioperative morbidity (i.e., within 30 postoperative days - mostly readmissions and reoperations) and mortality.

Management of lumbar spondylolysis in the adolescent athlete: a review of over 200 cases.

BACKGROUND: Spondylolysis is a defect of the pars interarticularis of vertebrae, most commonly seen at L5 and L4. The etiology of spondylolysis and isthmic spondylolisthesis is generally considered to be a result of repetitive mechanical stress to the weak portion of the vertebrae. A higher incidence of spondylolysis is observed in young athletes. Symptomatic spondylolysis can be successfully treated conservatively, but there is currently a limited consensus on treatment modalities and a lack of large-scale clinical trials. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the optimal treatment algorithm for symptomatic spondylolysis in adolescent athletes and evaluate the functional outcomes of those undergoing the nonoperative treatment. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review. PATIENT SAMPLE: Two hundred one adolescent patients ranging from age 10 to 19 involved in athletics OUTCOME MEASURES: Injury characteristics (age, mechanism, time), sports played, bone stimulator use, bony healing at 3 months on computed tomography (CT) scans, return to sports, corticosteroid injection use. METHODS: Two hundred one adolescent athlete patients (62 females and 139 males) diagnosed with spondylolysis between 2007 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnosis was based on plain radiography followed by magnetic resonance imaging. All patients were treated conservatively with cessation of sports activity, thoracolumbosacral orthosis, and external bone stimulator for three months after diagnosis. CT scans were obtained for the 3-month follow-up visits to assess bony healing. Subsequently the patients received 6 weeks of rehabilitation focused on core strengthening. Symptomatic patients after the treatment were referred for steroid injections and continued with the rehabilitation protocol. RESULTS: The most common age of injury was 15 years old, following a strong normal distribution. The most commonly played sport was football, followed by baseball/softball. The primary mechanism of injury was weight training closely followed by a football injury. The first quarter of the calendar year had the highest incidence of injuries with the most injuries occurring in March and the least occurring in December. One hundred fifty-two athletes reported using bone stimulators as prescribed, and these patients showed a significantly higher rate of bony healing on follow-up CT scans than those who did not use bone stimulators. One hundred ninety-seven patients (98%) returned to sports or similar level of activities. Thirty-seven patients (18%) received facet or epidural steroid injections due to continued pain and one patient underwent a surgical procedure. Follow-up CT scans showed 49.8% bony healing. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative treatment of spondylolysis in adolescent athletes with cessation of sports, thoracolumbosacral orthosis, and bone stimulator followed by rehabilitation was associated with excellent outcomes in terms of return to sports.