Key benchmarks for lumbar spine surgery volume: 4 things to know

A new study published in The Spine Journal examines measuring benchmarks for lumbar spine surgery.

 

The study authors examined the Florida Statewide Inpatient Database and pulled information on spine surgeon volume, complication rate and readmissions, adjusting for covariates. There were 187,185 spine surgical procedures performed by 5,514 spine surgeons at 178 hospitals included in the study. The study authors found:

 

1. According to the Spline analysis, the procedure volume cut points are:

 

• Decompressions: 25
• Discectomy: 40
• Interbody fusion: 43
• Posterolateral fusion: 35

 

2. When surgeons failed to meet the volume metric, researchers reported 63 percent higher risk for complications after decompression. The risk increased 56 percent among discectomy patients and 15 percent for interbody fusion patients. Posterolateral fusion patients were at 47 percent increased risk of complications among surgeons who didn't meet the volume metric.

 

3. Researchers found similar increased rates of readmission among surgeons who didn't meet the volume metric for each procedure.

 

4. Based on the findings, researchers suggest surgeons meet the following volume benchmarks for lumbar spine procedures:

 

• Decompression: one every other week
• Discectomy: four per month
• Interbody fusion: four per month
• Posterolateral fusion: three per month