Cervical Spine Surgery Research Articles

Table-mounted Versus Self-retaining Retraction: An Assessment of Postoperative Dysphagia Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.

Retrospective study. To determine whether there are significant differences in postoperative dysphagia when using table-mounted versus self-retaining retractor tools. Retraction of prevertebral structures during anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS) is commonly associated with postoperative dysphagia or dysphonia. Retractors commonly used include nonfixed self-retaining retraction devices or fixed table-mounted retractor arms. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding differences in dysphagia between retractor types. Patients who underwent ACSS and adhered to a minimum of 6-month follow-up were retrospectively evaluated. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were compared between table-mounted and self-retaining retractor groups at the preoperative and final postoperative time points, including the SWAL-QOL survey for dysphagia. Categorical dysphagia was assessed using previously defined values for the minimum clinically important difference (MCID). Overall, 117 and 75 patients received self-retaining or table-mounted retraction. Average follow-up was significantly longer in the self-retaining cohort (14.8±15.0mo) than in the table-mounted group (9.4±7.8, P=0.005). No differences were detected in swallowing function (P=0.918) or operative time (P=0.436), although 3-level procedures were significantly shortened with table-mounted retraction (P=0.005). Multivariate analysis trended toward worse swallow function with increased operative levels (P=0.072) and increased retraction time (P=0.054), although the retractor used did not predict swallowing function (P=0.759). However, categorical rates of postoperative dysphagia were lower with table-mounted retraction (13.3% vs. 27.4%, P=0.033). There was no significant difference observed in long-term swallowing dysfunction between patients who underwent ACSS with self-retaining and table-mounted retractors, although the rate of dysphagia was lower with table-mounted retraction. In addition, the greater number of operated levels per case in the table-mounted group at a similar time suggests improved efficiency.

Impact of incidental dural tears on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND CONTEXTIncidental dural tear (DT) during cervical spine surgery is a feared complication. However, its impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) remains unclear. PURPOSETo determine the influence of DTs on PROs 1 year after cervical spine surgery. STUDY DESIGNRetrospective cohort. PATIENT SAMPLEPatients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery for cervical spondylosis, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), and cervical disc herniation. OUTCOME MEASURESAnalysis included patients’ characteristics, perioperative complications, and PROs both preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively. METHODSThis study enrolled consecutive patients who underwent elective cervical spine surgery at 13 high-volume spine centers. All patients were required to complete questionnaires both preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively, which included PROs such as numerical rating scales of pain or dysesthesia for each part of the body, Neck Disability Index NDI, and Core Outcome Measures Index. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence (DT+) or absence (DT-) of dural injury. Comparisons were made regarding patient background, perioperative complications, and pre and postoperative PROs. Propensity score matching was also utilized to adjust for patient background, and further comparisons were made regarding complication rates and PROs. RESULTSOut of 2,704 patients, dural tears were identified in 97 (3.6%) cases. The DT+ group had a significantly higher proportion of fixation surgeries, upper cervical surgeries, OPLL, and revision surgeries. Perioperative complications were significantly higher in the DT+ group, including intraoperative nerve damage, postoperative paralysis, surgical site infections (SSI), and cerebrovascular complications. Outcomes collected from 2,163 patients (79.9%) revealed significantly more severe neck and upper limb pain in the DT+ group. After propensity score matching, significant differences persisted in postoperative paralysis and SSI in the DT+ group, but no significant differences were observed in PROs. CONCLUSIONSPatients with dural tears showed nearly equivalent postoperative outcomes at 1 year following cervical spine surgery compared to those without dural tears. However, the incidence of perioperative complications was higher, emphasizing the need for careful management.

Cervical Collar Use Following Cervical Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.

The utility and risks associated with the use of cervical collars in the postoperative period after cervical spine surgery have been of debate. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the currently available evidence on the use of cervical collars after cervical spine surgery to assess their impact on outcomes. A literature search of the PubMed database was performed using keywords "cervical collar," "anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)," "posterior cervical decompression and fusion," "laminoplasty," "post-operative orthotic bracing," "cervical decompression," and "cervical orthosis" in all possible combinations. All English studies with the level of evidence of I to IV that were published from May 1, 1986, to December 3, 2023, were considered for inclusion. A total of 25 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and reviewed. Regarding anterior and posterior fusion procedures, cervical collar use demonstrated improved short-term patient-reported outcomes and pain control. While surgeon motivation for collar use was to increase fusion rates, this is not well drawn out in the literature with the majority of studies demonstrated no significant difference in fusion rates between patients who wore a cervical collar and those who did not. Regarding motion-preserving procedures such as cervical laminoplasty, patients with prolonged postoperative cervical collar use demonstrated increased rates of axial neck pain and decreased final range of motion (ROM). Surgeon motivation for postoperative cervical collar immobilization after completion of fusion procedures is to increase fusion rates and improve postoperative pain and disability despite this not being fully drawn out in the literature. After completion of motion-sparing procedures, the benefits of collar immobilization diminish with their prolonged use which could lead to increased rates of axial neck pain and decreased ROM. Cervical collar immobilization in the postoperative period should be considered its own intervention, with its own associated risk-benefit profile. Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Do class III obese patients achieve similar outcomes and satisfaction to nonobese patients following surgery for cervical myelopathy? A QOD study.

The aim of this study was to compare the rate of achievement of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and satisfaction between cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients with and without class III obesity who underwent surgery. The authors analyzed patients from the 14 highest-enrolling sites in the prospective Quality Outcomes Database CSM cohort. Patients were dichotomized based on whether or not they were obese (class III, BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2). PROs including visual analog scale (VAS) neck and arm pain, Neck Disability Index (NDI), modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA), EQ-5D, and North American Spine Society patient satisfaction scores were collected at baseline and 24 months after cervical spine surgery. Of the 1141 patients with CSM who underwent surgery, 230 (20.2%) were obese and 911 (79.8%) were not. The 24-month follow-up rate was 87.4% for PROs. Patients who were obese were younger (58.1 ± 12.1 years vs 61.2 ± 11.6 years, p = 0.001), more frequently female (57.4% vs 44.9%, p = 0.001), and African American (22.6% vs 13.4%, p = 0.002) and had a lower education level (high school or less: 49.1% vs 40.8%, p = 0.002) and a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists grade (2.7 ± 0.5 vs 2.5 ± 0.6, p < 0.001). Clinically at baseline, the obese group had worse neck pain (VAS score: 5.7 ± 3.2 vs 5.1 ± 3.3), arm pain (VAS score: 5.4 ± 3.5 vs 4.8 ± 3.5), disability (NDI score: 42.7 ± 20.4 vs 37.4 ± 20.7), quality of life (EQ-5D score: 0.54 ± 0.22 vs 0.56 ± 0.22), and function (mJOA score: 11.6 ± 2.8 vs 12.2 ± 2.8) (all p < 0.05). At the 24-month follow-up, however, there was no difference in the change in PROs between the two groups. Even after accounting for relevant covariates, no significant difference in achievement of MCID and satisfaction was observed between the two groups at 24 months. Despite the class III obese group having worse baseline clinical presentations, the two cohorts achieved similar rates of satisfaction and MCID in PROs. Class III obesity should not preclude and/or delay surgical management for patients who would otherwise benefit from surgery for CSM.

The risk of intraoperative venous air embolism from neurosurgical procedures performed in the lounging position: an in-depth analysis of detection, management, and outcomes of 1000 consecutive cases

OBJECTIVE The overall benefit of employing a sitting/semisitting position for neurosurgical procedures remains under criticism due to concerns for additional risk, especially the risk of intraoperative venous air embolism (VAE). The aim of this single-center cohort study was to evaluate the frequency and severity of VAEs and associated complications in patients undergoing neurosurgery in the lounging position. METHODS From 2010 to 2020, 1000 patients, including 172 patients with a patent foramen ovale, underwent surgery in the lounging position for different neurosurgical pathologies. All patients were monitored intraoperatively using continuous transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The anesthesia team documented any observed incidences of VAEs and scored their severity according to the Tuebingen classification system (TCS) for VAE (TCS-VAE). The patients’ clinical condition, radiological findings, and hospital course were subsequently analyzed to assess complications in a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. RESULTS In the cohort of 1000 patients, 5 underwent cervical spine surgery and 995 underwent suboccipital craniotomy. VAE was detected by TEE in 51.4% (95% CI 48.4%–54.5%) of patients, with synchronous changes in end-tidal CO2 (grade 2–5 TCS-VAE) noted in 10.2% (95% CI 8.3%–12.3%). None of the patients presented with hemodynamic instability (grade 5 TCS-VAE). Patients with high-grade VAEs were significantly older (p = 0.02) and had lower BMIs (p = 0.001) than the respective mean value of the cohort. VAE grade was not associated with any of the outcome measures such as Karnofsky Performance Scale score, duration of ventilation, length of intensive care unit stay, and length of hospital stay. Postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was diagnosed in 0.3% (95% CI 0.0%–0.7%, n = 3) of all cases, and ARDS was associated with perioperative VAE grade (p = 0.001). No patient suffered a new permanent neurological deficit due to a paradoxical VAE. CONCLUSIONS In this large cohort, the risk of an intraoperative VAE during neurosurgery in the lounging position was assessed, and contrary to the general perception in the field, no permanent sequelae or fatal adverse events attributable to VAEs were observed. Furthermore, the overall incidence of ARDS was very low. This study clearly establishes that experienced interdisciplinary teams can safely use the lounging position for neurosurgical procedures.

The right lymphatic duct: basic anatomy and clinical relevance.

The anatomical variability of the thoracic duct and the right lymphatic duct predisposes them to inadvertent damage following head and neck surgery thereby leading to chyle leak which is an uncommon complication with potentially significant associated morbidity. Although chyle leak is predominately associated with left-sided neck surgery, it also occurs as a complication of the right-sided neck dissection. Variable figures concerning chyle leakage after right-sided neck dissections were reported, ranging from 0 per cent to higher prevalences such as 14%, 24%, 33% and 60% of total cases of chyle leakages associated with neck surgery. The right-sided complications may implicate the right lymphatic duct and right-sided terminations of the thoracic duct into the venous system which occur in about 1-6% of humans. Other clinically relevant conditions involving the right-sided major lymphatic vessels include chyle leaks following right anterior cervical spine surgery, cysts of the right lymphatic duct and dilatation of the right lymphatic duct in the setting of recurrent cervical swelling. This article presents a review of the literature concerning the basic anatomy and the clinical relevance of the right lymphatic duct and the right-sided terminations of the thoracic duct into the venous circulation.

Effectiveness of Auricular Acupressure on Improving Pain and Heart Rate Variability in Patients After Cervical Spine Surgery.

Cervical spine surgery is a common neurosurgical procedure; however, postoperative pain remains a problem. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of auricular acupressure, which is considered a noninvasive, convenient, and safe method for pain reduction and heart rate variability in patients after surgery. A total of 62 patients who underwent cervical spine surgery were randomly divided into experimental (32 patients) and control (30 patients) groups. Both groups received routine care, whereas the experimental group received auricular acupressure three times a day for four days. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire was administered, and heart rate variability measurements were obtained on the first, second, third, and fourth postoperative days. The results indicated that auricular acupressure was effective in reducing pain (P <.05) and improving heart rate variability (P <.05) in patients. Based on the findings, this study suggests that auricular acupressure can be used as a complementary treatment to reduce pain in patients after cervical spine surgery.

P220. Venous thromboembolism and mortality rates have not improved in cervical spine surgery from 2012-2021

P220. Venous thromboembolism and mortality rates have not improved in cervical spine surgery from 2012-2021

P117. Patient reported expectations in elective cervical and lumbar spine surgery: preliminary results in a prospective study

P117. Patient reported expectations in elective cervical and lumbar spine surgery: preliminary results in a prospective study

P92. Is there an optimal time for tracheostomy after anterior cervical spine surgery in patients with cervical fracture?

P92. Is there an optimal time for tracheostomy after anterior cervical spine surgery in patients with cervical fracture?

P66. The impact of perioperative COVID-19 diagnosis on postoperative outcomes following elective cervical spine surgery: a propensity matched analysis

P66. The impact of perioperative COVID-19 diagnosis on postoperative outcomes following elective cervical spine surgery: a propensity matched analysis

6. Effect of elective cervical spine surgery on mental health of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM): a CSORN study

6. Effect of elective cervical spine surgery on mental health of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM): a CSORN study

Pre-Emptive Acetaminophen for Postoperative Pain (PAPP): An Updated Meta-Analysis

PurposePostoperative pain is a common consequence of surgery. Pre-emptive analgesia involves the initiation of analgesics prior to surgical incision. This has been proposed as a simple method to help reduce postoperative pain, which may be more effective in higher-risk populations such as cervical spine surgery. A previous meta-analysis has demonstrated that pre-emptive acetaminophen may be effective in reducing postoperative pain although the certainty of evidence was limited. This present paper is an updated meta-analysis comparing pre-emptive acetaminophen versus postincision acetaminophen in adult patients undergoing surgery. DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis with the inclusion of an unpublished randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. MethodsAn updated meta-analysis was conducted which searched electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials with the same interventions. FindingsWe included 845 participants and 12 studies in the updated meta-analysis. The meta-analysis (including our trial) found reduced 24-hour morphine consumption in the pre-emptive group (mean difference −2.42 mg; 95% confidence interval −4.26 to −0.59 mg), as well as reduced postoperative vomiting (risk ratio 0.56; 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.88). There was no difference between pre-emptive acetaminophen and control groups for time to analgesic request, pain scores at 6 and 24 hours or pruritis. For all outcomes assessed, there was very low certainty of evidence. ConclusionsThis meta-analysis found pre-emptive acetaminophen reduced 24-hour opioid consumption and postoperative vomiting.

Anesthetic Challenges in Hirayama Disease Patients Undergoing Cervical Spine Surgery—A Case Series

AbstractHirayama disease (HD) is a rare disease, resulting from cervical compressive myelopathy, manifesting as upper limb muscular atrophy, and rarely autonomic and upper motor neuron signs. Anesthesia management is challenging—careful neck positioning during bag-mask ventilation and endotracheal intubation, avoidance of drugs that release histamine, multimodal monitoring to avoid delayed recovery, anticipation of hypotension, and blood loss due to autonomic dysfunction—all this is necessary for successful outcome of general anesthesia in HD patients. This case series demonstrates that preexisting autonomic dysfunction in HD patients should alert the anesthesiologists regarding higher likelihood of hemodynamic perturbations and blood loss, compared with patients who have normal autonomic functions, and henceforth take appropriate precautionary measures.

Anatomical study of the C6 pedicle and lateral mass in children aged 0–14 years based on CT imaging

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the anatomical structure of the C6 pedicle and lateral mass in children aged 0–14 years using CT imaging, providing detailed insights into their growth and development.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive measurement of C6. Measurements included width, length, and height of the pedicles, as well as the length, width, and thickness of the lateral masses, and several angular metrics. Regression analysis was performed to understand the growth trends, and statistical analyses were carried out to identify differences between age groups, genders, and sides.ResultsIn children younger than four years, the pedicle width exceeds its height, influencing the diameter of the pedicle screws. By age two to three, the pedicle height and lateral mass thickness reaches 3.0 mm, allowing for the use of 3.0 mm diameter screws. The pedicle transverse angle remains stable. Most parameters showed no significant differences between the left and right sides. Size parameters exhibited significant larger in males than females at ages 0–1, 3–7, and 10–12 years. Regression analysis revealed that the growth trends of size parameters follow cubic or polynomial curves. Most angular metrics follow cubic fitting curves without a clear trend of change with age.ConclusionThis study provides a detailed analysis of the anatomical development of the C6 pedicle and lateral masses in children, offering valuable insights for pediatric cervical spine surgeries. The findings highlight the importance of considering age-specific anatomical variations when planning posterior surgical fixation, specifically at C6. It is necessary for us to perform thin-layer CT scans on children and carefully measure various indicators before surgery.

Frequency and Associated Factors of Venous Thromboembolism in Cervical Spine Surgery.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-known complication after spine surgery. As many cases of cervical spine disease result in severe gait disturbance due to myelopathy, it may harbor a higher risk of VTE than other spinal disorders. However, few studies have focused primarily on cervical spine surgery to date. This investigation sought to determine the prevalence of VTE after cervical spine surgery and identify patient-based risk factors. The medical data of 341 consecutive patients (240 men and 101 women; mean age, 68.1 years) who underwent cervical spine surgery were retrospectively examined. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of postoperative VTE. In this study, 2.6% of cervical spine surgery patients experienced postoperative VTE. In comparisons of VTE and non-VTE groups, significant differences were found for age (79.6 years vs 67.7 years, P < 0.01), 1-week postoperative D-dimer level (10.6 μg/mL vs 2.7 μg/mL, P < 0.01), and cardiovascular disease (44.4% vs 11.1%, P = 0.011). Multivariate analysis identified elevated postoperative D-dimer level and cardiovascular disease as significantly associated with postsurgical VTE with respective odds ratios of 1.54 and 9.52. Postoperative VTE in cervical spine surgery was seen in 2.6% of cases. Patients with elevated postoperative D-dimer level and cardiovascular disease may be at increased risk of VTE and may require additional observation. Spine surgeons should take into account that patients with elevated postoperative D-dimer levels and cardiovascular disease may be at increased risk for VTE.

Biomechanical Effects on the Prostheses and Vertebrae of Three-Level Hybrid Surgery: A Finite Element Study.

Three-level hybrid surgery (HS) consisting of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) has been partly used for the treatment of multi-level cervical degenerative disc disease (CDDD). The complications related to the implants and the collapse of the surgical vertebral bodies had been reported in multi-level anterior cervical spine surgery. Thus, this study aimed to explore the biomechanical effects on the prostheses and vertebrae in three-level HS. A FE model of cervical spine (C0-T1) was constructed. Five surgical models were developed. They were FAF model (ACDF-CDA-ACDF), AFA model (CDA-ACDF-CDA), FFF model (three-level ACDF), SF model (single-level ACDF), and SA model (single-level CDA). A 75-N follower load and 1.0-N·m moment was applied to produce flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Compared with the intact model, the range of motion (ROM) of total cervical spine in FAF model decreased by 34.54%, 54.48%, 31.76%, and 27.14%, respectively, in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, which were lower than those in FFF model and higher than those in AFA model. The ROMs of CDA segments in FAF and AFA models were similar to the intact model and SA model. Compared with the intact model, the ROMs at C3/4 segment in FFF model increased from 5.71% to 7.85%, and increased from 5.31% to 6.81% at C7/T1 segment, following by FAF model, then the FAF model. The maximum interface pressures of the Prestige-LP in FAF model were similar to SA model, however the corresponding values were increased in AFA model. The maximum interface pressures of the Zero-P were increased in FAF and AFA model compared with those in SF and FFF models. The stress was mainly distributed on the screws. In AFA model, the maximum pressures of the ball and trough articulation in superior and inferior Prestige-LP were all increased compared with those in SA and FAF model. In FFF model, the maximum pressures of the vertebrae were higher than those in other models. The stress was mainly distributed on the anterior area of the vertebral bodies. HS seemed to be more suitable than ACDF for the surgical treatment of three-level CDDD in consideration of the biomechanical effects, especially for the two-level CDA and one-level ACDF construct. But a more appropriate CDA prosthesis should be explored in the future.

The Effect of Thrombin-gelatin Matrix Compared With Absorbable Gelatin Sponge on Intraoperative Hemostasis in Unilateral Open-door Laminoplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Prospective, randomized, parallel-controlled trial. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether hrombin-gelatin matrix (TGM) combined with an absorbable gelatin sponge (AGS) could more greatly reduce Intraoperative blood loss (IBL) in unilateral open-door laminoplasty than the sole use of an AGS could. The secondary aims were to evaluate the hemostatic efficiency, amount of postoperative bleeding and safety of the application of TGM combined with an AGS. IBL during cervical laminoplasty is substantial and is a proper indication for the application of hemostatic agents. However, we are unaware of any clinical trials on the application of TGM and an AGS in posterior cervical spine surgery. A total of 80 consecutive patients who underwent unilateral open-door laminoplasty, were enrolled from September 2020 to March 2022. Patients were randomized into two groups, the TGM-AGS group and the AGS group, with 40 patients in each group. The primary outcome was IBL. Other outcomes included the duration of operation, duration of hemostasis, duration of drainage, maximum decrease in hemoglobin(Hb), length of hospital stay, volume of drainage, number of drainage days, occurrence of adverse events, coagulation indicators and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The mean IBL for patients in the TGM-AGS group (75.22mL ±21.83mL) was significantly lower than that in the AGS group(252.43mL ±57.39mL)(mean difference=177.21mL, 95% confidence interval [CI], 157.88mL -196.53mL, t=18.25, P<0.001); the duration of hemostasis, volume of drainage, days of drainage in the TGM group and maximum decrease in Hb were also significantly less than those in the AGS group (P<0.01). The hemostatic efficacy of TGM-AGS is better than that of an AGS alone in IBL. TGM-AGS is also superior to an AGS alone in the evaluation of hemostatic efficiency and postoperative bleeding.

CT Anatomical Analysis of C4 Pedicle and Lateral Mass in Children Aged 0-14 in Southern China.

The C4 is the transition point between the upper and lower cervical vertebrae and plays a pivotal role in the middle of the cervical spine. Currently, there are limited reports on large-scale sample studies regarding C4 anatomy in children, and a scarcity of experience exists in pediatric cervical spine surgery. The current study addresses the dearth of anatomical measurements of the C4 vertebral arch and lateral mass in a substantial sample of children. This study aims to measure the imaging anatomy of the C4 vertebral arch and lateral mass in children under 14 years of age across various age groups, investigate the growth and development of these structures. We measured 12 indicators, including the size (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, and D8) and angle (A, C, D, and E) of the C4 vertebral arch and lateral mass, in 513 children who underwent cervical CT examinations at our hospital. We employed the aggregate function for statistical analysis, conducted t-tests for difference statistics, and utilized the least squares method for regression analysis. Overall, as age increased, there was a gradual increase in the size of the vertebral arch and lateral mass. Additionally, the medial inclination angle of the vertebral arch decreased, and the lateral mass flattened gradually. The rate of change decreased gradually with age. The mean value of D1 increased from 2.31 mm to 3.88 mm, of D2 from 16.75 mm to 29.2 mm, of D3 from 2.21 mm to 4.92 mm, and of D4 from 7.34 mm to 11.84 mm. Meanwhile, the mean value of D5 increased from 5.2 mm to 9.71 mm, of D6 from 10.19 mm to 16.16 mm, of D7 from 2.53 mm to 5.67 mm, and of D8 from 6.11 mm to 11.45 mm. Angle A ranged from 49.12° to 54.97°, angle C from 15.28° to 19.83°, angle D from 39.91° to 53.7°, and angle E from 18.63° to 28.08°. Prior to cervical spine surgery in children, meticulous CT imaging anatomical measurements is essential. The imaging data serves as a reference for posterior C4 internal fixation, aids in designing posterior cervical screws for pediatric patients, and offer morphological anatomical references for posterior cervical spine surgery and screw design in pediatric patients.

Analysis of risk factors for postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery

To investigate the risk factors of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing spine surgery. The basic case data of 566 patients who underwent spine surgery under general anesthesia from January 2021 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 296 males and 270 females with an average age of (71.58 ± 4.21) years old. There were 195 cases of cervical spine surgery, 26 cases of thoracic spine surgery and 345 cases of lumbar spine surgery.According to the occurrence of postoperative delirium, the patients were divided into postoperative delirium group(41 patients) and non-delirium group (525 patients). Univariate analysis was used to analyze the possible influencing factors such as gender, age, weight, smoking history, drinking history, surgical site, preoperative anxiety, intraoperative hypotension times, blood loss and so on, and binary Logistic regression was used to analyze the univariate factors with P<0.05. A total of 41 patients developed postoperative delirium. Univariate analysis showed that age (P=0.000), duration of surgery (P=0.039), preoperative anxiety (P=0.001), blood loss (P=0.000), history of opioid use (P=0.003), history of stroke (P=0.005), C-reactive protein (P=0.000), sodium ion(P=0.000) were significantly different between delirium group and non-delirium group. These factors were included in the binary Logistic regression analysis, and the results showed that age [OR=0.729, 95%CI(0.569, 0.932), P=0.012], opioid use [OR=21.500, 95%CI(1.334, 346.508), P=0.031], blood loss [OR=0.932, 95%CI(0.875, 0.993), P=0.029], C-reactive protein [OR=0.657, 95%CI(0.485, 0.890), P=0.007], preoperative anxiety [OR=23.143, 95%CI(1.859, 288.090), P=0.015], and sodium [OR=1.228, 95%CI(1.032, 1.461), P=0.020] were independent risk factors for the development of delirium after spinal surgery in elderly patients. Age, opioid use, blood loss, preoperative anxiety, elevated c-reactive protein, and hyponatremia are independent risk factors for the development of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery.