Readmissions remain low for patients undergoing outpatient transforaminal decompression, study shows

Study investigators found readmission rates did not increase when transforaminal endoscopic decompression procedures for lumbar foraminal and lateral recess stenosis were performed in outpatient settings, according to International Journal of Spine Surgery.

Advertisement

The study comprised 1,839 patients who on average underwent a follow up at 33 months postoperatively. The endoscopic surgery was performed at 2,076 levels between 2006 and 2015.

Here are three study findings:

1. Based on Macnab criteria, 82.2 percent of patients with extruded disc fragment had excellent and good results after the outpatient surgery.

2. Around 72.7 percent of patients with contained disc herniations had excellent and good results while 75 percent of spinal stenosis patients had good and excellent results following the outpatient transforaminal decompression.

3. Of the 1,839 patients, there were 26 acute care postoperative emergency room visits, with 16 resulting in hospital readmission.

“Transforaminal endoscopic decompression can be successfully carried out in an outpatient surgery center setting,” study authors concluded. “Readmissions due to reherniations, postoperative complications or poor pain control are uncommon.”

More articles on spine:
Drs. Howard Steel, Burak Ozgur & more: 6 spine & neurosurgeons making headlines
5 trends in elective lumbar fusion surgeries
Dr. Burak Ozgur joins ORHub’s medical advisory board: 5 notes

At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Watch On-Demand Webinar

ASC development + private equity: How to build value from day one

Presenters: Andrew HrankaWendy Bruno Thomson, MBA, LHARichard Romero, CVA, ABV, FHFMA, PAHM

Advertisement

Next Up in Spine

Advertisement

Comments are closed.