Risk factors for thirty-day morbidity and mortality after spinal trauma

The Effectiveness and Safety of Chemoprophylaxis in the Surgical Management of Spinal Trauma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Chemoprophylaxis for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in spine surgery is debated due to effectiveness and safety concerns. Guidelines lack consensus on regimens and timing for spinal trauma. We examined chemoprophylaxis in spine trauma surgery to further guide surgeon decision-making.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis searched PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science until March 14, 2024, for articles on chemoprophylaxis and spine trauma surgery. A random-effects meta-analysis compared VTE events by chemoprophylaxis use and timing.

RESULTS

Fourteen observational studies (n = 13,754 patients; mean age: 41.74 ± 9.09 years; mean follow-up: 76.98 ± 213.45 days) were included. The total VTE prevalence was 6.28% (425/6771). VTE prevalence was 4.08% (143/3502) with chemoprophylaxis and 8.62% (282/3269) without. Meta-analysis showed no significant VTE difference between patients with (n = 516; 3.88%) and without chemoprophylaxis (n = 528; 5.68%) (P = 0.119, relative risk [RR]: 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.99, 1.08]). No significant difference in postoperative bleeding was found between patients with (3.01% of 722 patients) and without chemoprophylaxis (5.74% of 766 patients) (P = 0.549, RR: 1.00; 95% CI: [0.99, 1.02]). Comparing early (n = 305; 5.90%) and late chemoprophylaxis (n = 271; 8.86%) showed no significant VTE difference (P = 0.289, RR: 1.06; 95% CI: [0.96, 1.14]). Postoperative bleeding was also not significantly different between early (n = 305; no complications) and late chemoprophylaxis (2.58%) (P = 0.328, RR: 1.14; 95% CI: [0.88, 1.48]).

CONCLUSIONS

No significant association was found between chemoprophylaxis use or timing and VTE risk after spine trauma surgery, though this finding may be underpowered. Chemoprophylaxis did not appear to significantly increase postoperative bleeding.

Perioperative complications in spinal trauma patients: does timing matter?

BACKGROUND

Early surgery in traumatic spinal fracture treatment may facilitate prompt mobilization, encountering affiliated complications. However, the safety and the benefits of early surgery are being questioned in spinal trauma patients. Therefore, the objective of this retrospective study is to investigate the effect of surgical timing on perioperative complications in these patients.

METHODS

Spinal trauma patients who underwent surgery between 2010 and 2020 in two Dutch Level-I trauma centers were included retrospectively and divided into an early (< 24 h), late (between 24 and 72 h) and delayed (> 72 h) surgical cohort. The primary outcome was the occurrence of peri-operative complications. Besides surgical timing, trauma and patient-specific factors were also analyzed as potential risk factors for the occurrence of complications.

RESULTS

A total of 394 patients were included, of whom 149 received early, 159 late and 86 delayed surgical treatment. The occurrence of perioperative complications was significantly associated with age, body mass index, comorbidities, ASA grade 3 and 4, spinal cord injury (SCI), AO Spine type C injury, additional chest injury, and surgical delay. A multivariable analysis showed that age, ASA category, AO Spine classification and SCI were significantly associated with perioperative complications. Moreover, a subsequent analysis in non-SCI patients demonstrated an association between perioperative complications and delayed surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, delayed surgical treatment is potentially associated with more perioperative complications compared to early surgery in non-SCI patients. Other possible risk factors for the occurrence of perioperative complications may be older age, ASA 3 and 4, AO spine C injury and SCI.

The incidence and risk factors for unplanned readmission within 90 days after surgical treatment of spinal fractures

INTRODUCTION

Unplanned readmissions after spine surgery are undesired, and cause significant functional, and financial distress to the patients and healthcare system. Though critical, knowledge about readmissions after surgery for traumatic spinal injuries (TSI) is scarce and under-evaluated.

METHODS

Consecutive patients surgically treated for TSI and who had unplanned readmission within 90 days post-discharge were studied. Peri-operative demographic and surgical variables, surgical treatment, level of injury, delay in surgery, ASIA score, other organ injuries, peri-operative complications, smoking, ICU stay, co-morbidity, and the length of hospital stay were studied and correlated with the causes for readmission.

RESULTS

Among 884 patients, 4.98% (n = 44) had unplanned readmissions within 90 days of discharge. Notably, 50% (n = 22) patients were readmitted within the first 30 days. The common causes of readmissions were urinary tract related problems (27%, n = 12), pressure ulcers (20.4%, n = 9), respiratory problems (13.6%, n = 6), surgical wound related problems (14%, n = 7,) limb injuries (11.4%, n = 5), and others (11%, n = 5). The total beds lost secondary to readmissions was 314 days, and the mean bed-days lost per patient was 7.2 ± 5.1. Thirteen peri-operative risk factors were associated with unplanned readmissions, among which, smoking (OR 2.2), diabetes (OR 2.4), and pressure sore during index admission (OR 16.7) were strong independent predictors.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of unplanned readmissions after TSI was 5%, which was similar to elective spine surgeries but the causes and risk factors are different. Non-surgical complications related to urinary tract, respiratory care and pressure sores were the most common causes. Pre-operative smoking status, diabetes mellitus and pressure sores noted in the index admission were important independent risk factors.

Traumatic spinal cord injury in South Korea for 13 years (2008-2020)

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) has significant physical, psychological, and socioeconomic impacts. However, the epidemiological characteristics and treatment patterns of TSCI in South Korea remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate TSCI incidence and treatment behaviors in South Korea from 2008 to 2020. We included data from 30,979 newly diagnosed TSCI patients obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Treatment trends, location of surgery, surgical method, comorbidities, factors affecting hospital stay, and risk factors affecting readmission were analyzed. Patients were divided into the surgery group [n = 7719; (25%)] and the non-surgery group [n = 23,260; (75%)]. Surgical cases involved cervical (64%), thoracic (17%), and lumbar/sacral (19%) lesions. Anterior fusion (38%), posterior fusion (54%), and corpectomy (8%) were the surgical methods. Surgical treatments increased annually. Factors influencing hospital stay included male sex, older age, and higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Female sex and higher CCI scores were associated with readmission. In conclusion, a quarter of all TSCI patients underwent surgery, with an upward trend. Risk factors for longer hospital stays were thoracic spine injury, older age, higher CCI, and male sex. Risk factors for readmission included age range of 40-59 years, lumbar/sacral spine injuries, CCI score of 2, and female sex.

Implications of Frailty on Postoperative Health Care Resource Utilization in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery for Spinal Fractures

OBJECTIVE

The rise of spinal surgery for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) necessitates balancing health care costs with quality patient care. Frailty has been independently associated with adverse outcomes and increased costs. This study investigates whether frailty is an independent predictor of poor outcomes after elective surgery for AS.

METHODS

Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, a retrospective study was conducted on adult patients with AS who underwent posterior spinal fusion for fracture between 2016 and 2019. Each patient was assigned a modified frailty index (mFI) score and categorized as prefrail (mFI = 0 or 1), moderately frail (mFI = 2), and highly frail (mFI≥3). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of extended length of stay, non-routine discharge (NRD), and exorbitant admission costs.

RESULTS

Of the 1910 patients, 35.3% were prefrail, 31.2% moderately frail, and 33.5% highly frail. Age was significantly different across groups (P < 0.001), and frailty was associated with increased comorbidities (P < 0.001). Mean length of stay (P = 0.007), NRD rate (P < 0.001), and mean cost of admission (P = 0.002) all significantly increased with increasing frailty. However, frailty was not an independent predictor of extended hospital stay, NRD, or higher costs on multivariate analysis. Instead, predictors included multiple adverse events, number of comorbidities, and race.

CONCLUSIONS

While frailty in patients with AS is associated with older age, greater comorbidities, and increased adverse events, it was not an independent predictor of extended hospital stay, NRD, or higher hospital costs. Further research is required to understand the full impact of frailty on surgical outcomes and develop effective interventions.

Risk factors prediction of 6-month mortality after noncardiac surgery of older patients in China: a multicentre retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Identifying the risk factors associated with perioperative mortality is crucial, particularly in older patients. Predicting 6-month mortality risk in older patients based on large datasets can assist patients and surgeons in perioperative clinical decision-making. This study aimed to develop a risk prediction model of mortality within 6 months after noncardiac surgery using the clinical data from 11 894 older patients in China.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multicentre, retrospective cohort study was conducted in 20 tertiary hospitals. The authors retrospectively included 11 894 patients (aged ≥65 years) who underwent noncardiac surgery between April 2020 and April 2022. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model based on linear regression was used to analyse and select risk factors, and various machine learning methods were used to build predictive models of 6-month mortality.

RESULTS

The authors predicted 12 preoperative risk factors associated with 6-month mortality in older patients after noncardiac surgery. Including laboratory-associated risk factors such as mononuclear cell ratio and total blood cholesterol level, etc. Also including medical history associated risk factors such as stroke, history of chronic diseases, etc. By using a random forest model, the authors constructed a predictive model with a satisfactory accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.97).

CONCLUSION

The authors identified 12 preoperative risk factors associated with 6-month mortality in noncardiac surgery older patients. These preoperative risk factors may provide evidence for a comprehensive preoperative anaesthesia assessment as well as necessary information for clinical decision-making by anaesthesiologists.