What are the predictors of emergency department utilization and readmission following extremity bone sarcoma resection?

Investigating readmission rates for patients undergoing oncologic resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction for primary sarcomas and tumors involving bone

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the drivers of readmission in patients undergoing Orthopaedic oncologic resection. The goal of this study was to identify factors independently associated with 90-day readmission for patients undergoing oncologic resection and subsequent prosthetic reconstruction for primary tumors involving bone.

METHODS

This was a retrospective comparative cohort study of patients treated from 2008 to 2019 who underwent endoprosthetic reconstruction for a primary bone tumor or soft tissue tumor involving bone, as well as those who underwent a revision endoprosthetic reconstruction if the primary endoprosthetic reconstruction was performed for an oncologic resection. The primary outcome measure was unplanned 90-day readmission.

RESULTS

A total of 149 patients were identified who underwent 191 surgeries were for a primary bone or soft tissue tumor. The 90-day readmission rate was 28.3%. Female gender, depression, higher tumor grade, vascular reconstruction, longer procedure duration, longer length of stay (LOS), multiple surgeries during an admission and disposition to a Skilled Nursing Facility were associated with readmission (p < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, female sex, higher tumor grade and longer procedure duration were independently associated with risk of readmission (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Readmission rates are high following endoprosthetic reconstruction for Orthopaedic oncologic resections. Further work is necessary to help minimize unplanned readmissions.

Why Do Patients Undergoing Extremity Prosthetic Reconstruction for Metastatic Disease Get Readmitted?

BACKGROUND

Orthopedic oncology patients are particularly susceptible to increased readmission rates and poor surgical outcomes, yet little is known about readmission rates. The goal of this study is to identify factors independently associated with 90-day readmission for patients undergoing oncologic resection and subsequent prosthetic reconstruction for metastatic disease of the hip and knee.

METHODS

This is a retrospective comparative cohort study of all patients treated from 2013 to 2019 at a single tertiary care referral institution who underwent endoprosthetic reconstruction by an orthopedic oncologist for metastatic disease of the extremities. The primary outcome measure was unplanned 90-day readmission.

RESULTS

We identified 112 patients undergoing 127 endoprosthetic reconstruction surgeries. Metastatic disease was most commonly from renal (26.8%), lung (23.6%), and breast (13.4%) cancer. The most common type of skeletal reconstruction performed was simple arthroplasty (54%). There were 43 readmissions overall (33.9%). When controlling for confounding factors, body mass index >40, insurance status, peripheral vascular disease, and longer hospital length of stay were independently associated with risk of readmission (P ≤ .05).

CONCLUSION

Readmission rates for endoprosthetic reconstructions for metastatic disease are high. Although predicting readmission remains challenging, risk stratification presents a viable option for helping minimize unplanned readmissions.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Identifying Modifiable and Non-modifiable Risk Factors of Readmission and Short-Term Mortality in Chondrosarcoma: A National Cancer Database Study

BACKGROUND

Limited data are available to inform the risk of readmission and short-term mortality in musculoskeletal oncology. The goal of this study was to identify factors independently associated with 30-day readmission and 90-day mortality following surgical resection of chondrosarcoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 6653 patients following surgical resection of primary chondrosarcoma in the National Cancer Database (2004-2017). Both demographic and clinicopathologic variables were assessed for correlation with readmission and short-term mortality utilizing univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling.

RESULTS

Of 220 readmissions (3.26%), risk factors independently associated with an increased risk of unplanned 30-day readmission included Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity Index (CDCC) (odds ratio [OR] 1.31; p = 0.027), increasing American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage (OR 1.31; p = 0.004), undergoing major amputation (OR 2.38; p = 0.001), and axial skeletal location (OR 1.51; p = 0.028). A total of 137 patients died within 90 days of surgery (2.25%). Risk factors associated with increased mortality included the CDCC (OR 1.60; p = 0.001), increasing age (OR 1.06; p < 0.001), having Medicaid insurance status (OR 3.453; p = 0.005), living in a zip code with a higher educational attainment (OR 1.59; p = 0.003), increasing AJCC stage (OR 2.32; p < 0.001), longer postoperative length of stay (OR 1.015; p = 0.033), and positive surgical margins (OR 2.75; p = 0.001). Although a majority of the cohort did not receive radiation therapy (88.8%), receiving radiotherapy (OR 0.132; p = 0.010) was associated with a decreased risk of short-term mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Several tumor, treatment, and patient factors can help inform the risk of readmission and short-term mortality in patients with surgically treated chondrosarcoma.

Socioeconomic factors associated with limb salvage versus amputation for adult extremity bone sarcomas in patients with insurance coverage

BACKGROUND

Limb salvage (LS) has become the preferred treatment for adult patients with bone sarcoma of the extremities. The decision to perform LS versus an amputation is often dictated by tumor characteristics, however there may be socioeconomic factors associated with LS. Previously this has been linked to insurance status, however currently there is a paucity of data examining socioeconomic factors in patients with medical insurance at the time of sarcoma diagnosis. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine socioeconomic factors which could be associated with the decision to perform LS versus amputation for adult bone sarcoma patients.

METHODS

Data from Optum Labs Data Warehouse, a national administrative claims database, was analyzed to identify patients with extremity bone sarcomas from 2006 to 2017. Bivariate regression was used to identify factors associated with LS versus amputation.

RESULTS

Of 1,390 (743 males, 647 female) patients, 252 (18%) under amputation while 1,138 (82%) underwent LS. Lower extremity tumors (OR 4.72, p < 0.001), income <$75,000 (OR 1.85, p = 0.03), being treated a public hospital (OR 1.41, p = 0.04) and a hospital with <200 beds (OR 1.90, p = 0.006) were associated with amputation. Income ≥$125,000 (OR 0.62, 0.04) were associated with LS.

CONCLUSION

In adult patients with medical insurance at the time of diagnosis, socioeconomic and hospital factors were associated with an amputation for bone sarcoma, with poorer patients, and those treated at smaller, and public hospitals more likely to undergo amputation.

Identifying Modifiable and Non-modifiable Risk Factors of Readmission and Short-Term Mortality in Osteosarcoma: A National Cancer Database Study

BACKGROUND

There are limited data to inform risk of readmission and short-term mortality in musculoskeletal oncology. The goal of this study was to identify factors independently associated with 30-day readmission and 90-day mortality following surgical resection of osteosarcoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients (n = 5293) following surgical resection of primary osteosarcoma in the National Cancer Database (2004-2015). Univariate and multivariate methods were used to correlate variables with readmission and short-term mortality.

RESULTS

Of 210 readmissions (3.97%), risk factors independently associated with unplanned 30-day readmission included comorbidity burden (odds ratio [OR] 2.4, p = 0.042), Medicare insurance (OR 1.9, p = 0.021), and axial skeleton location (OR 1.5, p = 0.029). A total of 91 patients died within 90 days of their surgery (1.84%). Risk factors independently associated with mortality included age (hazard ratio 1.1, p < 0.001), increasing comorbidity burden (OR 6.6, p = 0.001), higher grade (OR 1.7, p = 0.007), increasing tumor size (OR 2.2, p = 0.03), metastatic disease at presentation (OR 8.5, p < 0.001), and amputation (OR 2.0, p = 0.04). Chemotherapy was associated with a decreased risk of short-term mortality (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Several trends were clear: insurance status, tumor location and comorbidity burden were independently associated with readmission rates, while age, amputation, grade, tumor size, metastatic disease, and comorbidity burden were independently associated with short-term mortality.