A new study published in Spine examines whether a surgeon's experience impacts their complication rates for adult spinal deformity surgery.
The researchers examined the Scoliosis Research Society Morbidity and Mortality database for patients older than 18 years who underwent spinal deformity surgery from 2004 to 2007. There were 5,117 patients involved in the study. Active members of SRS performed 75 percent of the cases whereas candidate members performed 25 percent.
Here are five findings from the study:
1. There were 1,110 revisions — 21.7 percent. The mortality rate was 0.29 percent.
2. There were 681 complications recorded, with 498 for active members and 183 for candidate members.
3. Active members had 21 spinal cord complications — 0.55 percent — whereas candidate members had 14 spinal cord complications — 1.1 percent. Spinal cord complications accounted for 0.68 percent of all cases.
4. The active members reported 82 — 2.1 percent — deep surgical site infection, compared to 36 for the candidate members — 2.8 percent. There were 174 SSI all together.
5. Active members reported 33 — 0.9 percent — superficial SSI. Candidate members had 23 — 1.8 percent — superficial SSI.
"There was statistically significant, two-fold increase in the rate of spinal cord complications and superficial SSI among candidate compared with active members," concluded the study authors. "Overall complication rates were similar between candidate and active members."