Researchers examined the National Inpatient Sample database for patients undergoing anterior cervical fusion, posterior cervical fusion and posterior cervical decompression between 2002 and 2011. A total of 307,188 cervical spine procedures were performed during that nine-year time span. The researchers found:
• Anterior cervical fusion and posterior cervical fusion numbers had statistically significant increases over time
• There was an uptrend in patient age
• There was an uptrend in the comorbidity burden
• BMP utilization increased throughout the period studied, but demonstrated a decline after peaking in 2007
• Posterior cervical fusion showed the greatest comorbiditiy, length of stay, costs and mortality
• Hospital length of stay and mortality remained flat over time
• Significant increases in costs during this time period were noted, potentially do to advances in surgical technology and instrumentation
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