Complex Spinal Fusion Research Articles

Neurosurgery: A profession or a technical trade?

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), 11 years ago converted its Internal Revenue Code (IRC) tax status from a 501 (c) (3) to a 501 (c) (6) entity. By doing so, the professional medical association, now a trade association, was able to more aggressively lobby, support political campaigns, and pursue business opportunities for its members. In the following decade, major changes were seen in the practice of neurosurgery, especially as it relates to spine surgery. With the majority of neurosurgeons limiting themselves to a spine practice, an increased number of spinal procedures, most noted in the Medicare population, was recorded. For example, a 15-fold increase in complex spinal fusions for spinal stenosis was seen between 2002 and 2007. While the basis for this increase was not readily apparent, it was associated with a reduction in reimbursement per case of about 50%, fueling the belief that the increase in complexity of surgery permitted recovery of fees in complex cases to off-set the loss of reimbursement for simpler cases. Considering the growth of spinal surgery within neurosurgery, and decrease funding for spine surgery, in the future there may be too many surgeons chasing too few dollars. There appears to be within neurosurgery a crisis developing where future manpower projections do not realistically match future anticipated specialty funding.

In-hospital Complications and Mortality After Elective Spinal Fusion Surgery in the United States

Spinal fusion surgery has increased dramatically and patients presenting for surgery are often more medically challenging. We hypothesized that advanced age and coexisting morbidities have increased in the population undergoing spinal fusion and are associated with greater risks for immediate complications and mortality. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was retrospectively reviewed for discharges after a principal procedure code for elective spinal fusion. Total records meeting study inclusion criteria were 254,640. Coexisting morbidities were tabulated using Elixhauser comorbidities and the Charlson comorbidity index. Logistic regression identified risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality and early complications. The largest increase in spinal fusion surgery was in patients >65 years. Overall, those with at least 1 comorbidity increased (49% to 62%; P=0.002), as did mean Charlson index (0.146 to 0.202; P<0.001). In-hospital mortality was 0.13%, but 0.29%, and 0.64% for patients of 65 to 74, and those >or=75 years, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios for complications in 65-year to 74-year olds versus <65 years was 1.78 (95% confidence interval, 1.71-1.84; P<0.001), and for mortality 3.81 (95% confidence interval, 2.62-5.55; P<0.001); risks increased with the number of coexisting morbidities. Congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, coagulopathy, metastatic cancer, renal failure, and weight loss significantly correlated with in-hospital mortality, whereas hypertension or hypothyroidism had, unexpectedly, the opposite effect. Although it is known for some other forms of complex surgery, we showed that elderly and medically complex spinal fusion patients were at increased risk for in-hospital mortality and early complications. The majority of complications were operative, pulmonary, cardiovascular, or genito-urinary. Patient risk correlated with the number and nature of coexisting morbidities.

Utilization Changes Following Market Entry by Physician-owned Specialty Hospitals

Physician ownership of specialty hospitals has become commonplace in recent years in several states where certificate-of-need laws do not exist. The study examines trends in utilization rates for complex and simple spinal fusion procedures performed on injured workers with back/spine disorders in two markets in Oklahoma. During the time period we examine, physician-owned spine or orthopedic specialty hospitals entered both market areas in Oklahoma. Because there were no market areas in Oklahoma without physician-owned spine or orthopedic hospitals to use as a comparison group, we also analyzed trends in utilization for these surgical procedures performed on Medicare beneficiaries. We compared utilization for these procedures in Oklahoma and three other states with a high concentration of physician-owned specialty hospitals (Kansas, South Dakota, and Arizona) to utilization rates for back surgery performed on Medicare patients who reside in the Northeast region. States in the Northeast constitute an appropriate control group because there are no physician-owned specialty hospitals in this region. Both analyses indicate that the entry of the physician-owned specialty hospitals was followed by substantial increases in the market area utilization rates for complex spinal fusion surgery. Conversely, such dramatic changes did not occur in the Northeast where physician-owned specialty hospitals do not exist. After considering but ruling out alternative explanations, the findings imply that the financial incentives linked to ownership coincided with significant changes in physicians' practice patterns.

Evidence of Lung Injury During Reconstructive Surgery for Adult Spinal Deformities With Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring

Observational analyses of 55 adult patients who underwent elective sequential anterior-posterior thoracolumbosacral surgical corrections for spinal deformities were used to evaluate the efficacy of pulmonary artery catheter monitoring. To demonstrate that during complex reconstructive surgery for spinal deformities, pulmonary artery catheter monitoring identifies a subset of patients with pulmonary injury and is essential in their management. Patients who undergo sequential anterior-posterior thoracolumbosacral surgical corrections for spinal deformities experience significant perioperative morbidity. Although the value of pulmonary artery catheter monitoring is controversial, its use in these procedures may help identify potential physiologic complications and improve surgical outcome. All patients were monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter during surgery until at least postoperative day 1. Outcome measurements included blood loss, vertebral levels fused, operative time, postoperative respiratory complications, and days in intensive care. Eight (8/55; 14.5%) patients according to pulmonary artery catheter monitoring demonstrated elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and noncardiac pulmonary edema. These patients had longer operative procedures with greater blood loss and had more postoperative respiratory complications. They were treated appropriately in intensive care and discharged without further complications. Pulmonary artery catheter monitoring of patients who undergo complex spinal fusion facilitates the identification of patients with pulmonary injury and is essential in the management of these patients in the postoperative period. It may, also, be a marker for embolic injury to the lung.

Thoracoscopic surgery: historical perspectives

Recent technical advances have revolutionized the fields of surgical endoscopy, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, and microsurgical spinal endoscopy. The authors discuss the rich history and recent evolution of these techniques. Thoracoscopy had been widely used for the treatment of pleural conditions associated with tuberculosis. It was largely abandoned in the 1950s when effective antituberculosis medications were introduced. In the 1980s the development of video-assisted endoscopic procedures in the fields of general surgery, orthopedics, and otolaryngology provided new impetus to revive thoracoscopy. As a result of these advances thoracoscopy replaced open thoracotomy in many cardiothoracic procedures. These improvements led to the application of these techniques to treat disorders of the spine. By the mid-1990s microsurgical endoscopy was being used effectively to treat thoracic disc disease, perform anterior surgical release procedures for scoliosis, resect tumors, and even to conduct complex spinal fusions and reconstructions. As technology continues to improve, there is no doubt that thoracoscopic surgery will find a permanent place in the armamentarium of techniques used to treat pathological entities of the spine.

DDAVP is not a panacea for children with bleeding disorders.

DDAVP is not a panacea for children with bleeding disorders.

Combined Anterior and Posterior Fusion in Seventy-Three Spinally Deformed Patients

Seventy-three patients with complex spinal deformities undergoing combined staged anterior and posterior fusion were analyzed. The indications for the combined approach were (1) severe kyphosis with or without neural compromise; (2) major thoracolumbar or lumbar curves with trunk imbalance or marked pelvic obliquity; (3) severe congenital scoliotic curves associated with hemivertebrae or anterior unsegmented bars; (4) absent posterior elements, e.g., myelodysplasia, post laminectomy; and (5) failed anterior fusion. In 35 patients with kyphosis, the deformity was reduced on the average from 78 degrees to 48 degrees. In 20 patients with marked trunk decompensation and/or pelvic obliquity due to a major thoracolumbar or lumbar curve, the scoliotic deformity was reduced from an average 85 degrees to 33 degrees. In 18 scoliotic patients with marked vertebral body deformation (hemivertebrae, anterior bars, lateral subluxation), the scoliotic curves were reduced from an average 60 degrees to 46 degrees. Postoperative morbidity was not significantly increased because of the combined procedure. The overall complication rate was high (32/73 patients). In view of this high rate of postoperative morbidity, the combined approach should not be undertaken by the occasional spinal surgeon. In selected far advanced or complex spinal deformities, combined anterior and posterior fusion may be indicated to attain optimal correction of the deformity as well as a solid pain-free fusion.