The researchers examined the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data for patients who underwent adult spinal deformity surgery between 2001 and 2010. There were 9,133 primary and 850 revision cases included in the study. The researchers found:
1. Average comorbidity indices for both primary and revision patients were similar. The in-hospital mortality was also similar between the two groups.
2. Revision surgery patients reported a higher complication rate than the primary surgery patients. The complication rate for revision patients was 71.97 percent compared with 46.96 percent for the primary patients.
3. The average revision surgery patient stayed in the hospital longer — 7.13 days — than the average primary surgery patient — 6.37 days.
4. Patients in the revision group reported a higher risk of nervous system complications, hematoma/seroma formation, accidental vessel or nerve puncture, wound dehiscence, postoperative infection and ARDS complications.
5. The patients in the primary group were at a decreased risk for GI and GU complications.
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