A new study published in Clinical Spine Surgery examines the patient factors associated with longer lengths of stay and readmission for posterior cervical fusion.
Study authors examined the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for elective posterior cervical fusions performed from 2011 to 2014. There were 2,667 patients included in the study, with three days average length of stay.
The factors associated with longer stays include:
1. Dependent functional status
2. Diabetes mellitus
3. Preoperative anemia
4. American Society of Anesthesiologists Class III or IV
5. Increased number of levels fused
Study authors also examined 2,591 patients for factors related to readmissions. The overall readmission rate was 7.1 percent and factors associated with readmission included:
1. Dependent functional status
2. Increased number of levels fused
The patients who were readmitted reported a longer average length of stay, at 4.24 days.