Ambulation on POD#0 Is Associated With Decreased Adverse Events After Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery: Analysis of the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC)

Abstract

Abstract INTRODUCTION The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) is a multicenter quality-improvement collaborative. Using MSSIC, we sought to identify the relationship between ambulation on the day of surgery (POD#0) and 90-d adverse events after lumbar surgery, specifically length of stay (LOS), urinary retention (UR), urinary tract infection (UTI), ileus, readmission, surgical site infection (SSI), PE/DVT, and disposition to a rehab facility. METHODS In 23295 lumbar surgery patients, matching was performed to ensure overlap on patient variables. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) models were run on the matched dataset to further account for patient demographics, medical history, and surgical intensity. RESULTS POD#0 ambulation was associated with decreased LOS (OR 0.83, P < .001), UR (OR 0.73, P = .008), UTI (OR 0.52, P = .001), ileus (OR 0.52, P < .001), 30-d (OR 0.84, P = .035) and 90-d (OR 0.86, P = .009) readmission, and rehab discharge (OR 0.52, P < .001) for all patients. POD#0 ambulation after single-level decompression (6244 patients) decreased LOS (OR 0.72, P < .001), UR (OR 0.73, P = .004), UTI (OR 0.43, P = .003), and rehab discharge (OR 0.18, P < .001). Ambulation after multilevel decompression (5526 patients) was associated with decreased LOS (OR 0.73, P < .001), UR (OR 0.75, P = .04), ileus (OR 0.60, P = .027), and rehab discharge (OR 0.44, P < .001). Ambulation after single-level fusion (5790 patients) decreased LOS (OR 0.85, P < .001), 30-d readmission (OR 0.77, P = .032), and rehab discharge (OR 0.65, P = .004). Ambulation after multilevel fusion (5735 patients) decreased LOS (OR 0.88, P < .001), UTI (OR 0.60, P = .003), ileus (OR 0.51, P = .02), 30-d readmission (OR 0.77, P = .032), and rehab discharge (OR 0.59, P < .001). No change in rate of or DVT/PE was observed for patients who ambulated POD#0. CONCLUSION POD#0 ambulation is associated with a significantly decreased risk for several key adverse events after lumbar spine surgery. Decreasing the incidence of these outcomes would be associated with significant cost savings. As ambulation POD#0 is a modifiable factor in any patient's postoperative care following most spine surgery, it should be encouraged and incorporated into spine-related enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs.