The study authors gathered data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database for adults who had scoliosis surgery from 2007 to 2013. There were 1,250 patients who participated. Here are five key findings:
1. The average complication rate was 13.5 percent.
2. The average diagnosis day for the complications was:
• Myocardial infarction: 3.5 days after surgery
• Pulmonary embolism: four days
• Pneumonia: six days
• Urinary tract infection: 11 days
• Sepsis: 12 days
• Deep vein thrombosis: 12 days
• Deep surgical site infection: 18.5 days
• Superficial SSI: 19 days
• Organ space SSI: 21 days
3. Pneumonia, reintubation and myocardial infarction were diagnosed before hospital discharge in more than 70 percent of the cases.
4. Surgical site infection — superficial, deep and organ space — were diagnosed in less than 40 percent of the cases before the patient exited the hospital.
5. The predictors of complications were:
• Older age
• Instrumentation at seven or more levels
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