The causes and epidemiology of traumatic cervical spine fracture have not been described with sufficient power or recency. Our goal is to describe demographics, incidence, cause, spinal cord injuries ...(SCIs), concurrent injuries, treatments, and complications of traumatic cervical spine fractures.
A retrospective review was carried out of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision E-codes identified trauma cases from 2005 to 2013. Patients with cervical fracture were isolated. Demographics, incidence, cause, fracture levels, concurrent injuries, surgical procedures, and complications were analyzed. t tests elucidated significance for continuous variables and χ2 for categorical variables. Level of significance was P < 0.05.
A total of 488,262 patients were isolated (age, 55.96 years; male, 60.0%; white, 77.5%). Incidence (2005, 4.1% vs. 2013, 5.4%), Charlson Comorbidity Index (2005, 0.6150 vs. 2013, 1.1178), and total charges (2005, $71,228.60 vs. 2013, $108,119.29) have increased since 2005, whereas length of stay decreased (2005, 9.22 vs. 2013, 7.86) (all P < 0.05). The most common causes were motor vehicle accident (29.3%), falls (23.7%), and pedestrian accidents (15.7%). The most frequent fracture types were closed at C2 (32.0%) and C7 (20.9%). Concurrent injury rates have significantly increased since 2005 (2005, 62.3% vs. 2013, 67.6%). Common concurrent injuries included fractures to the rib/sternum/larynx/trachea (19.6%). Overall fusion rates have increased since 2005 (2005, 15.7% vs. 2013, 18.0%), whereas decompressions and halo insertion rates have decreased (all P < 0.05). SCIs have significantly decreased since 2005, except for upper cervical central cord syndrome. Complication rates have significantly increased since 2005 (2005, 31.6% vs. 2013, 36.2%). Common complications included anemia (7.7%), mortality (6.6%), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (6.6%).
Incidence, complications, concurrent injuries, and fusions have increased since 2005. Length of stay, SCIs, decompressions, and halo insertions have decreased. Indicated trends should guide future research in management guidelines.
Background: For cervical deformity (CD) surgery, goals include realignment, improved patient quality of life, and improved clinical outcomes. There is limited research identifying patients most ...likely to achieve all three.
Objective: The objective is to create a model predicting good 1-year postoperative realignment, quality of life, and clinical outcomes following CD surgery using baseline demographic, clinical, and radiographic factors.
Methods: Retrospective review of a multicenter CD database. CD patients were defined as having one of the following radiographic criteria: Cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA) >4 cm, cervical kyphosis/scoliosis >10°° or chin-brow vertical angle >25°. The outcome assessed was whether a patient achieved both a good radiographic and clinical outcome. The primary analysis was stepwise regression models which generated a dataset-specific prediction model for achieving a good radiographic and clinical outcome. Model internal validation was achieved by bootstrapping and calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of the final model with 95% confidence intervals.
Results: Seventy-three CD patients were included (61.8 years, 58.9% F). The final model predicting the achievement of a good overall outcome (radiographic and clinical) yielded an AUC of 73.5% and included the following baseline demographic, clinical, and radiographic factors: mild-moderate myelopathy (Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association >12), no pedicle subtraction osteotomy, no prior cervical spine surgery, posterior lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) at T1 or above, thoracic kyphosis >33°°, T1 slope <16 and cSVA <20 mm.
Conclusions: Achievement of a positive outcome in radiographic and clinical outcomes following surgical correction of CD can be predicted with high accuracy using a combination of demographic, clinical, radiographic, and surgical factors, with the top factors being baseline cSVA <20 mm, no prior cervical surgery, and posterior LIV at T1 or above.
Background: Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) includes craniocervical anomalies, low posterior hairline, and brevicollis, with limited cervical range of motion; however, there remains no consensus on ...inheritance pattern. This study defines incidence, characterizes concurrent diagnoses, and examines trends in the presentation and management of KFS.
Methods: This was a retrospective review of the Kid's Inpatient Database (KID) for KFSpatients aged 0-20 years from 2003 to 2012. Incidence was established using KID-supplied year and hospital-trend weights. Demographics and secondary diagnoses associated with KFS were evaluated. Comorbidities, anomalies, and procedure type trends from 2003 to 2012 were assessed for likelihood to increase among the years studied using ANOVA tests.
Results: Eight hundred and fifty-eight KFS diagnoses (age: 9.49 years; 51.1% females) and 475 patients with congenital fusion (CF) (age: 8.33 years; 50.3% females) were analyzed. We identified an incidence rate of 1/21,587 discharges. Only 6.36% of KFS patients were diagnosed with Sprengel's deformity; 1.44% with congenital fusion. About 19.1% of KFS patients presented with another spinal abnormality and 34.0% presented with another neuromuscular anomaly. About 36.51% of KFS patients were diagnosed with a nonspinal or nonmusculoskeletal anomaly, with the most prevalent anomalies being of cardiac origin (12.95%). About 7.34% of KFS patients underwent anterior fusions, whereas 6.64% of KFS patients underwent posterior fusions. The average number of levels operated on was 4.99 with 8.28% receiving decompressions. Interbody devices were used in 2.45% of cases. The rate of fusions with <3 levels (7.46%) was comparable to that of 3 levels or greater (7.81%).
Conclusions: KFS patients were more likely to have other spinal abnormalities (19.1%) and nonnervous system abnormalities (13.63%). Compared to congenital fusions, KFS patients were more likely to have congenital abnormalities such as Sprengel's deformity. KFS patients are increasingly being treated with spinal fusion.
Level of Evidence: III
STUDY DESIGN.Retrospective analysis.
OBJECTIVE.To improve understanding of the impact of comorbid mental health disorders (MHDs) on long-term outcomes following cervical spinal fusion in cervical ...radiculopathy (CR) or cervical myelopathy (CM) patients.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.Subsets of patients with CR and CM have MHDs, and their impact on surgical complications is poorly understood.
METHODS.Patients admitted from 2009 to 2013 with CR or CM diagnoses who underwent cervical surgery with minimum 2-year surveillance were retrospectively reviewed using New York Stateʼs Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. Patients with a comorbid MHD were compared against those without (no-MHD). Univariate analysis compared demographics, complications, readmissions, and revisions between MHD and no-MHD cohorts. Multivariate binary logistic regression models identified independent predictors of outcomes (covariatesage, sex, Charlson/Deyo score, and surgical approach).
RESULTS.A total of 20,342 patients (MHDn = 4819; no-MHDn = 15,523) were included. MHDs identifieddepressive (57.8%), anxiety (28.1%), sleep (25.2%), and stress (2.9%). CR patients had greater prevalence of comorbid MHD than CM patients (P = 0.015). Two years postoperatively, all patients with MHD had significantly higher rates of complications (specificallydevice-related, infection), readmission for any indication, and revision surgery (all P < 0.05); regression modeling corroborated these findings and revealed combined surgical approach as the strongest predictor for any complication (CR, odds ratio OR3.945, P < 0.001; CM, OR2.828, P < 0.001) and MHD as the strongest predictor for future revision (CR, OR1.269, P = 0.001; CM, OR1.248, P = 0.008) in both CR and CM cohorts.
CONCLUSION.Nearly 25% of patients admitted for CR and CM carried comorbid MHD and experienced greater rates of any complication, readmission, or revision, at minimum, 2 years after cervical spine surgery. Results must be confirmed with retrospective studies utilizing larger national databases and with prospective cohort studies. Patient counseling and psychological screening/support are recommended to complement surgical treatment.Level of Evidence3
Cost-utility analysis, a special case of cost-effectiveness analysis, estimates the ratio between the cost of an intervention to the benefit it produces in number of quality-adjusted life years. ...Cervical deformity correction has not been evaluated in terms of cost-utility and in the context of value-based health care. Our objective, therefore, was to determine the cost-utility ratio of cervical deformity correction.
This is a retrospective review of a prospective, multicenter cervical deformity database. Patients with 1-year follow-up after surgical correction for cervical deformity were included. Cervical deformity was defined as the presence of at least one of the following: kyphosis (C2–C7 Cobb angle >10°), cervical scoliosis (coronal Cobb angle >10°), positive cervical sagittal malalignment (C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis >4 cm or T1–C6 >10°), or horizontal gaze impairment (chin-brow vertical angle >25°). Quality-adjusted life years were calculated by both EuroQol 5D (EQ5D) quality of life and Neck Disability Index (NDI) mapped to short form six dimensions (SF6D) index. Costs were assigned using Medicare 1-year average reimbursement for: 9+ level posterior fusions (PF), 4–8 level PF, 4–8 level PF with anterior fusion (AF), 2–3 level PF with AF, 4–8 level AF, and 4–8 level posterior refusion. Reoperations and deaths were added to cost and subtracted from utility, respectively. Quality-adjusted life year per dollar spent was calculated using standardized methodology at 1-year time point and subsequent time points relying on maintenance of 1-year utility.
Eighty-four patients (average age: 61.2 years, 60% female, body mass index BMI: 30.1) were analyzed after cervical deformity correction (average levels fused: 7.2, osteotomy used: 50%). Costs associated with index procedures were 9+ level PF ($76,617), 4–8 level PF ($40,596), 4–8 level PF with AF ($67,098), 4–8 level AF ($31,392), and 4–8 level posterior refusion ($35,371). Average 1-year reimbursement of surgery was $55,097 at 1 year with eight revisions and three deaths accounted for. Cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained to 1-year follow-up was $646,958 by EQ5D and $477,316 by NDI SF6D. If 1-year benefit is sustained, upper threshold of cost-effectiveness is reached 3–4.5 years after intervention.
Medicare 1-year average reimbursement compared with 1-year QALYdescribed $646,958 by EQ5D and $477,316 by NDI SF6D. Cervical deformity surgeries reach accepted cost-effectiveness thresholds when benefit is sustained 3–4.5 years. Longer follow-up is needed for a more definitive cost-analysis, but these data are an important first step in justifying cost-utility ratio for cervical deformity correction.
Patients with both major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in addition to one or multiple comorbid non-communicable chronic diseases (NCCDs) face unique challenges. ...However, few studies have characterized how the burden of co-occurring MDD and GAD differs from that of only MDD or only GAD among patients with NCCDs.
In this study, we used Medical Expenditures Panel Survey data from 2010-2017 to understand how the economic and humanistic burden of co-occurring MDD and GAD differs from that of MDD or GAD alone among patients with NCCDs. We used generalized linear models to investigate this relationship and controlled for patient sociodemographics and clinical characteristics.
Co-occurring MDD and GAD was associated with increases in mean annual per patient inpatient visits, office visits, emergency department visits, annual drug costs, and total medical costs. Among patients with 3+ NCCDs, MDD or GAD only was associated with lower odds ratios (ORs) of limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs; 0.532 and 0.508, respectively) and social (0.503, 0.526) and physical limitations (0.613, 0.613) compared to co-occurring MDD and GAD. Compared to patients with co-occurring MDD and GAD, having MDD only or GAD only was associated with significantly lower odds of cognitive limitations (0.659 and 0.461, respectively) in patients with 1-2 NCCDs and patients with 3+ NCCDs (0.511, 0.416).
Comorbid MDD and GAD was associated with higher economic burden, lower quality of life, and greater limitations in daily living compared to MDD or GAD alone. Health-related economic and humanistic burden increased with number of NCCDs.
•Multi-segment posterior decompression and fusion patients had worse post-operative alignment without pre-operative planning.•Patients with pre-contoured rods and pre-operative planning demonstrated ...a greater correction of TS-CL after surgery than un-planned cases, though this was limited by the pre-operative difference in cervical-thoracic mismatch between planned and unplanned cases.•Worsening of TS-CL without surgical planning and patient-specific rods for minor cervical deformity patients highlights the attention needed by surgeons for these minor deformities to ensure that cervical alignment does not deteriorate post-operatively.
Patient-specific rods designed based on a particular pre-operative plan are a recent advancement to help achieve desired operative alignment goals. This study investigated the role of pre-operative planning and patient-specific rods on post-operative alignment and outcomes. Patients were grouped according to use of pre-operative planning and patient-specific, pre-contoured rods (PLAN) or absence of planning/rods (NON). Pre-operative and post-operative alignment were measured: cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), cervical lordosis (CL), T1 Slope minus CL (TS-CL). Alignment differences between the groups were assessed using independent and paired samples t-tests. 34 patients were identified (15 PLAN, 19 NON). Pre- and post-operative CL, cSVA and TS were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05), though pre-operative TS-CL was slightly higher in PLAN patients (28.13° versus 18.42°, p = 0.049). There were no improvement differences pre- to post-operative for CL, cSVA and TS between the groups (p > 0.05). However, PLAN patients exhibited a greater correction of TS-CL, with an average of 5.8° decrease versus a 3.5° increase in TS-CL for NON patients (p = 0.015). PLAN patients did not demonstrate a significant change from pre- to post-operative alignment for cSVA or TS-CL (cSVA: 27.5 mm to 31.1 mm, p = 0.255; TS-CL: 28.1° to 22.3°, p = 0.13), though their TS-CL did trend towards significant post-operative improvement. In contrast, NON patients worsened in cSVA and TS-CL post-operatively (cSVA: 21.8 mm to 30.3 mm, p < 0.001; TS-CL: 18.4° to 22.0°, p = 0.035). Multi-segment posterior decompression and fusion patients have the potential to worsen with regards to post-operative alignment without pre-operative planning. Patients with pre-contoured rods and pre-operative planning exhibited a greater correction of TS-CL after surgery than un-planned cases, though limited by the pre-operative difference in cervical-thoracic mismatch between planned and unplanned cases.
III.
Congenital abnormalities when present, according to VACTERL theory, occur nonrandomly with other congenital anomalies. This study estimates the prevalence of congenital spinal anomalies, and their ...concurrence with other systemic anomalies.
A retrospective cohort analysis on Health care Cost and Utilization Project's Kids Inpatient Database (KID), years 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009 was performed. ICD-9 coding identified congenital anomalies of the spine and other body systems.
Overall incidence of congenital spinal abnormalities in pediatric patients, and the concurrence of spinal anomaly diagnoses with other organ system anomalies. Frequencies of congenital spine anomalies were estimated using KID hospital-and-year-adjusted weights. Poisson distribution in contingency tables tabulated concurrence of other congenital anomalies, grouped by body system.
Of 12,039,432 patients, rates per 100,000 cases were: 9.1 hemivertebra, 4.3 Klippel-Fiel, 56.3 Chiari malformation, 52.6 tethered cord, 83.4 spina bifida, 1.2 absence of vertebra, and 6.2 diastematomyelia. Diastematomyelia had the highest concurrence of other anomalies: 70.1% of diastematomyelia patients had at least one other congenital anomaly. Next, 63.2% of hemivertebra, and 35.2% of Klippel-Fiel patients had concurrent anomalies. Of the other systems deformities cooccuring, cardiac system had the highest concurrent incidence (6.5% overall). In light of VACTERL's definition of a patient being diagnosed with at least 3 VACTERL anomalies, hemivertebra patients had the highest cooccurrence of ≥3 anomalies (31.3%). With detailed analysis of hemivertebra patients, secundum ASD (14.49%), atresia of large intestine (10.2%), renal agenesis (7.43%) frequently cooccured.
Congenital abnormalities of the spine are associated with serious systemic anomalies that may have delayed presentations. These patients continue to be at a very high, and maybe higher than previously thought, risk for comorbidities that can cause devastating perioperative complications if not detected preoperatively, and full MRI workups should be considered in all patients with spinal abnormalities.
Level III.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) following adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery is a well-documented complication, but associations between radiographic PJK and cervical ...malalignment onset remain unexplored.
OBJECTIVE
To study cervical malalignment in ASD surgical patients that develop PJK.
METHODS
Retrospective review of prospective multicenter database. Inclusion: primary ASD patients (≥5 levels fused, upper instrumented vertebra UIV at T2 or above, and 1-yr minimum follow-up) without baseline cervical deformity (CD), defined as ≥2 of the following criteria: T1 slope minus cervical lordosis < 20°, cervical sagittal vertical axis < 4 cm, C2-C7 cervical lordosis < 10°. PJK presence (<10° change in UIV and UIV + 2 kyphosis) and angle were identified 1 yr postoperative. Propensity score matching between PJK and nonPJK groups controlled for baseline alignment. Preoperative and 1-yr postoperative cervical alignment were compared between PJK and nonPJK patients.
RESULTS
One hundred sixty-three patients without baseline CD (54.9 yr, 83.9% female) were included. PJK developed in 60 (36.8%) patients, with 27 (45%) having UIV above T7. PJK patients had significantly greater baseline T1 slope in unmatched and propensity score matching comparisons (P < .05). At 1 yr postoperative, PJK patients had significantly higher T1 slope (P < .001), C2-T3 Cobb (P = .04), and C2-T3 sagittal vertical axis (P = .02). New-onset CD rate in PJK patients was 15%, and 16.5% in nonPJK patients (P > .05). Increased PJK magnitude was associated with increasing T1 slope and C2-T3 SVA (P < .05).
CONCLUSION
Patients who develop PJK following surgical correction of ASD have a 15% incidence of development of new-onset CD. Patients developing PJK following surgical correction of ASD tend to have an increased preoperative T1 slope. Increased progression of C2-T3 Cobb angle and C2-T3 SVA are associated with development of PJK following surgical correction of thoracolumbar deformity.
Background
Bariatric surgery (BS) is an increasingly common treatment for morbid obesity that has the potential to effect bone and mineral metabolism. The effect of prior BS on spine surgery outcomes ...has not been well established. The aim of this study was to assess differences in complication rates following spinal surgery for patients with and without a history of BS.
Methods
Retrospective analysis of the prospectively collected New York State Inpatient Database (NYSID) years 2004–2013. BS patients and morbidly obese patients (non-BS) were divided into cervical and thoracolumbar surgical groups and propensity score matched for age, gender, and invasiveness and complications compared.
Results
One thousand nine hundred thirty-nine spine surgery patients with a history of BS were compared to 1625 non-BS spine surgery patients. The average time from bariatric surgery to spine surgery is 2.95 years. After propensity score matching, 740 BS patients were compared to 740 non-BS patients undergoing thoracolumbar surgery, with similar comorbidity rates. The overall complication rate for BS thoracolumbar patients was lower than non-BS (45.8% vs 58.1%,
P
< 0.001), with lower rates of device-related (6.1% vs 23.2%,
P
< 0.001), DVT (1.2% vs 2.7%,
P
= 0.039), and hematomas (1.5% vs 4.5%,
P
< 0.001). Neurologic complications were similar between BS patients and non-BS patients (2.3% vs 2.7%,
P
= 0.62). For patients undergoing cervical spine surgery, BS patients experienced lower rates of bowel issues, device-related, and overall complication than non-BS patients (
P
< 0.05).
Conclusions
Bariatric surgery patients undergoing spine surgery experience lower overall complication rates than morbidly obese patients. This study warrants further investigation into these populations to mitigate risks associated with spine surgery for bariatric patients.
PDF
