A new study published in Spine examines the reoperation rates for single-level lumbar discectomy.
The study authors gathered data from the PearlDiver software for patients billed with the CPT code for the procedure. Data from 13,654 patients were included in the study. The researchers found:
1. The reoperation rate after single-level discectomy was 3.95 percent within three months of surgery; within four years, the reoperation rate was 12.2 percent.
2. Surgeons performed a spinal fusion on 5.9 percent of the patients within four years of the single-level discectomy.
3. Around 38.4 percent of the patients who underwent re-exploration discectomies within two years of the initial procedure eventually underwent spinal fusion within four years of the second discectomy.
4. The reoperation costs were $11,161 per patient per year on average.
5. Study authors concluded, "This study should enhance the shared decision making process by providing surgeons and patients with valuable data regarding the frequency and nature of reoperations after discectomy."