Timely completion of spinal fusion: A multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative to improve operating room efficiency.

BACKGROUND: Failure to complete surgery within the scheduled timeframe impairs operating room efficiency leading to patient dissatisfaction and unplanned labor costs. We sought to improve timely completion (within 30 min of scheduled time) of first-case spine fusion surgery (for idiopathic scoliosis) from a baseline of 25%-80% over 12 months. We also targeted timely completion of perioperative stages within predetermined target completion times. METHODS: The project was conducted in three overlapping phases over 16 months. A simplified process map outlining five sequential perioperative stages, preintervention baselines (N = 24) and time targets were defined. A multidisciplinary team conducted a series of tests of change addressing the aims. The key drivers included effective scheduling, team communications, family engagement, data collection veracity, standardized pathways, and situational awareness. Data collected by an independent data collector and from electronic medical records were analyzed using control charts and statistical process control methods. RESULTS: Post-intervention, timely case completion increased from 25% to 68% (N = 49) (95% CI 15.1-62.7), (p = 0.003) and was sustained (N = 14). Implementation of prediction model for case-scheduling decreased difference between scheduled and actual case end-time (33 vs. 53 min [baseline]) and variance [lower/upper control limits ([-26, 51] vs. [-109, 216] min [baseline]). Average start time delay decreased from 6 to 2 min and on-time surgical starts improved from 50% to 70% (95% CI 3.2-41.6%). Timely completion increased for anesthesia induction (60% to 85%), surgical procedure (26% to 48%) and emergence from anesthesia (44% to 80%) but not for intraoperative patient preparation (30% to 25%) perioperative stages. Families reported satisfaction with preoperative processes (N = 14), and no untoward intraoperative safety events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Application of QI methodology reduced time variation of several tasks and improved timely completion of spine surgery. Beyond the study period, sustained team behavior, adaptive changes, and vigilant monitoring are imperative for continued success.

Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pediatric Patients With Scoliosis Preparing for Spinal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Establishing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in elective scoliosis surgery may impact clinical outcomes. The objectives of this study were to document vitamin D status of patients with scoliosis preparing for surgical intervention in order to establish frequency of deficiency and determine characteristics influencing levels. METHODS: Records were queried for patients with scoliosis diagnosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion or initial growing rod placement and had serum vitamin 25 hydroxyvitamin D (D25) recorded in the preoperative period. Demographic data (gender, age, body mass index [BMI], race, scoliosis type, spine surgery procedure, and season of the year) were extracted. Chi-square analysis and multivariate modeling were used to evaluate deficiency status among various demographic categories and determine the demographic factors impacting D25. RESULTS: A total of 217 patients with a mean age of 13.6 ± 3.6 years had vitamin D levels drawn a mean of 38.7 ± 20.6 days prior to surgery. The majority of the sample presented with a diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis (n = 126), and most patients were scheduled for spinal fusion surgery (n = 192). Nearly 75% of the study population (n = 162) demonstrated D25 values below normal. African Americans presented with greater risk of deficiency (p < .0002) compared to Caucasians, as did patients preparing for spinal fusion versus growing rod placement (p < .03). Severe hypovitaminosis D was more common in winter than any other season (p < .005). Patients with neuromuscular scoliosis demonstrated significantly higher D25 levels over the idiopathic diagnosis type (p < .0002). Gender, BMI, and age did not impact D25. CONCLUSION: Low D25 levels are reported in pediatric patients with scoliosis preparing for corrective spinal surgery. Population subsets most at risk for deficiency in this limited study include African American children, those presenting for spinal fusion surgery, and patients admitted in winter season.

Quality Initiative to Introduce Pediatric Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment for Orthopedic and Surgery Patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pediatric hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE) is costly, has high morbidity, and is often preventable. The objective of this quality-improvement effort was to increase the percentage of general surgery and orthopedic patients ≥10 years of age screened for VTE risk from 0% to 80%. METHODS: At a freestanding children's hospital, 2 teams worked to implement VTE risk screening for postoperative inpatients. The general surgery team used residents and nurse practitioners to perform screening whereas the orthopedic team initially used bedside nursing staff. Both groups employed multiple small tests of change. Shared key interventions included refinement of a screening tool, provider education, mitigation of failures, and embedding the risk assessment task into staff workflow. The primary outcome measure, the percentage of eligible patients with a completed VTE risk assessment, was plotted on run charts. Secondary outcome measures for screened patients included the level of risk, the use of appropriate prophylaxis, and VTE events. RESULTS: Median weekly percentage of general surgery patients screened for VTE risk increased from 0% to 86% within 12 months, and median weekly percentage of orthopedic patients screened for VTE risk increased from 0% to 46% within 8 months. Among screened patients, the majority were at low or moderate risk for VTE and received prophylaxis in accordance with or beyond guideline recommendations. No screened patients developed VTE. CONCLUSIONS: Quality-improvement methods were used to implement a VTE risk screening process for postoperative patients. Using providers as screeners, as opposed to bedside nurses, led to a greater percentage of patients screened.

A bleeding assessment tool correlates with intraoperative blood loss in children and adolescents undergoing major spinal surgery.

Screening laboratory studies for bleeding disorders are of little predictive value for operative bleeding risk in adults. Predicting perioperative bleeding in pediatric patients is particularly difficult as younger patients often have not had significant hemostatic challenges. This issue is distinctly important for high bleeding risk surgeries, such as major spinal procedures. The aim of this study was to determine if the score of a detailed bleeding questionnaire (BQ) correlated with surgical bleeding in pediatric patients undergoing major spinal surgery. A total of 220 consecutive pediatric patients (mean age 14.2years) undergoing major spinal surgery were administered the BQ preoperatively, as well as having routine screening laboratory studies (i.e., PT, aPTT, PFA) drawn. A retrospective analysis was conducted to determine if there was a correlation between either the results of the BQ and/or laboratory studies with operative outcomes. A BQ score>2 showed a strong positive correlation with intraoperative bleeding based on both univariate and multivariate analyses. In contrast, abnormalities in screening laboratory studies showed no significant correlation with operative bleeding outcomes. Relying on screening laboratory studies alone is inadequate. The BQ used here correlated with increased intraoperative hemorrhage, suggesting this tool may be useful for assessing pediatric surgical bleeding risk, and may also be useful in identifying a subset of patients with a very low bleeding risk that may not require laboratory screening.

Recent advances in the management of early onset scoliosis.

As the undesired results of early spinal fusion have become apparent, "growth-friendly" management methods for early onset scoliosis have been increasing during recent years. Current literature supports the use of repeated corrective cast applications as the initial management for most early onset progressive spinal deformities as either definitive treatment or as a temporizing measure. If casting is not an option or the deformity cannot be controlled via casting, one of the growth-friendly instrumentation techniques is chosen. Growth-friendly surgical methods and implants have been evolving as understanding of the disease improves.

Dural ectasia in a child with Larsen syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: We present a case of an incidental finding of dural ectasia in a child diagnosed with Larsen syndrome. Larsen syndrome is a rare inherited disorder of connective tissue characterized by facial dysmorphism, congenital joint dislocations of the hips, knees and elbows, and deformities of the hands and feet. Dural ectasia is as an abnormal expansion of the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord and may result in spinal morphologic changes, instability, and spontaneous dislocation. To the best of our knowledge, the presence of dural ectasia in Larsen syndrome has not previously been reported. CASE STUDY: A 6-year-old boy diagnosed with Larsen syndrome presented with an upper thoracic curve measuring 74 degrees, a right thoracic curve measuring 65 degrees, and significant cervicothoracic kyphosis with 50% anterior subluxation of C6 on C7 and C7 on T1. Advanced imaging studies showed dural ectasia (evidenced by spinal canal and dural sac expansion), thinning of pedicles and lamina, and C4 and C6 pars defects with cervical foramen enlargement. The patient received growing rod instrumentation (attached to cervical spine fixation) by a combined anterior/posterior surgical approach using intraoperative halo. Complications included intraoperative medial breach (fully resolved), wound dehiscence, 2 instances of bilateral broken rods, and a broken cervical rod. Following 7 lengthening procedures, the patient underwent definitive fusion. DISCUSSION: Surgeons should be aware of the potential for dural ectasia in patients with Larsen syndrome. Its presence will cause difficulties in the surgical intervention for spinal deformity. Multiple factors must be considered, and surgical approach and technique will require modification to avoid complications. Although dural ectasia confounds surgical intervention in these patients, surgery still appears to outweigh the risks associated with delayed intervention. The presence of dural ectasia should not preclude surgical decompression and stabilization. This report adds to the body of knowledge on the treatment of Larsen syndrome by demonstrating the potential existence of dural ectasia and highlights the importance of careful and thorough preoperative evaluation and diagnostic imaging.

Predictors of emotional functioning in youth after surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with idiopathic scoliosis, although otherwise healthy, often have significant concerns about their self-image and appearance. In a group of juveniles and adolescents, this can impact adjustment in school, functioning in peer groups, and general sense of well-being. There are limited data to help physicians reliably and precisely identify those who are at higher risk of poor emotional adjustment even after spine deformity correction. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of emotional maladjustment in juvenile and adolescent patients after surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: A total of 233 juveniles, mean age 11.26 ± 1.02 (range, 8 to 12) years and 909 adolescents, mean age 14.91 ± 1.61 (range, 13 to 21) years, who underwent surgical correction for idiopathic scoliosis and who were participating in a prospective longitudinal multicenter database, were enrolled in the study. Participants completed the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire before surgery and 2 years postoperatively. Radiographs were used to measure Cobb angle and surface measurements were used to determine decompensation and trunk shift. RESULTS: Adolescents reported poorer mental health preoperatively (P<0.05) and 2 years postoperatively (P<0.001) than juveniles; however, both groups reported improved mental health (P<0.001) and self-image (P<0.01) postoperatively. Mental health 2 years postoperatively was predicted by preoperative self-image (P<0.05), mental health (P<0.001), and main thoracic Cobb angle (P<0.05) in the juvenile group. Within the adolescent group, mental health 2 years postoperatively was predicted by preoperative mental health (P<0.001); self-image 2 years postoperatively was predicted by preoperative mental health (P<0.01) and self-image (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Self-image and mental health are significantly improved after spine deformity correction in juveniles and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. However, consistent with normative development, adolescents are at higher risk for emotional maladjustment than juveniles. Surgical decision making in scoliosis correction should take the emotional status of the patient into consideration.

All-pedicle screw versus hybrid instrumentation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery: a comparative radiographical study with a minimum 2-Year follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN: Comparative analysis of 2 groups of patients who underwent surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). OBJECTIVE: To compare a segmental pedicle screw only system with a hybrid system for the treatment of Lenke type 1 AIS curves. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although previous AIS studies have tried to compare various constructs with the all-pedicle screw fixation, all have failed to address important confounding variables, such as skeletal maturity, preoperative flexibility of the curve, and factors associated with a multicenter or multisurgeon analysis. METHODS: The medical records and spinal radiographs of patients with AIS treated surgically by a single surgeon between 2000 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with Lenke type 1 curves and minimum follow-up of 2 years were divided into 2 groups that were meticulously matched: group 1 consisted of patients in whom the all-pedicle screw construct was used, whereas group 2 included patients who were treated with the hybrid hook-screw system. RESULTS: Group 1 included 34 patients and group 2 included 29 patients. At the last follow-up, thoracic curve correction averaged 70.4% for the all-pedicle screw group and 60% for the hybrid group (P = 0.19). The all-pedicle screw group showed a significantly greater increase in thoracic kyphosis than the hybrid group system (P = 0.04). Global sagittal balance showed greater improvement in the all-pedicle screw group during the immediate postoperative that was lost by the last follow-up. The all-pedicle screw system revealed less intraoperative blood loss but greater operating time than the hybrid construct. After controlling for length of follow-up, no statistical difference in any of the radiographical parameters measured was recorded. CONCLUSION: With the exception of global sagittal balance, the pedicle screw system provided better maintenance of its corrective parameters when followed for greater than two years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.