Spinal fusion complications & readmissions in Pennsylvania: 5 insights

Approximately, 21,393 adults underwent spinal fusion in 2014, a 67.2 percent increase from the 12,794 spinal fusion patients in 2004, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.

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Here are five insights on spinal fusions:

 

1. Around 3.3 percent of patients who underwent spinal fusion experienced a surgical complication during the hospitalization.

 

2. Wound complications such as post-operative infection, accumulation of fluid and accidental punctures or tears of the membrane covering the spinal cord were the top reason for in-hospital complications.

 

3. Nearly 2.3 percent of patients who underwent spinal fusion were readmitted to an acute-care hospital for a surgical complication within 30 days or 90 days of discharge.

 

4. Around 5.4 percent were readmitted to an acute-care hospital for an unplanned reason within 30 days of discharge.

 

5. Surgical complications were the most common reason for unplanned readmissions, followed by heart-related reasons, bloodstream infections and blood clot in the lung.

 

More articles on spine:
Dr. Scott Ellison performs 1st cervical disc replacement in Murrells Inlet, SC region: 4 things to know
HSS’ Dr. Roger Widmann encourages early detection of scoliosis in children: 6 points
Do elderly patients with ASP benefit from non-fusion dynamic stabilization surgery after lumbar fusion? 6 takeaways

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