The study authors analyzed a national insurance database to assess 37,559 patients who underwent primary lumbar fusions between 2007 and the third quarter of 2015.
Three study findings:
1. A total of 4806 patients — 12.8 percent — had 10,281 ED visits within 30 days after surgery. Of these:
- 19.9 percent had three or more visits
- 30.5 percent were admitted to the hospital
2. Almost half — 49.4 percent — of patients were presented to the ED because of cardiorespiratory complaints; 47.7 percent complained of back and/or leg pain.
3. The overall ED cost burden was $6.9 million compared to $10.8 million for hospital readmissions within 30 days.
More articles on spine:
Dr. Douglas Constant performs MIS decompression surgery with Vertiflex device: 4 notes
Spine surgeon reflects on opioid use in the opioid epidemic — 4 insights
The CORE Institute welcomes Dr. Brandon Hirsch: 5 details
