Unplanned Readmission Following Early Postoperative Complications After Fusion Surgery in Adult Spine Deformity: A Multicentric Study

Study Design: Multicentric retrospective study, Level of evidence III. Objective: The objective of this multicentric study was to analyze the prevalence and risk factors of early postoperative complications in adult spinal deformity patients treated with fusion. Additionally, we studied the impact of complications on unplanned readmission and hospital length of stay. Methods: Eight spine centers from 6 countries in Latin America were involved in this study. Patients with adult spinal deformity treated with fusion surgery from 2017 to 2019 were included. Baseline and surgical characteristics such as age, sex, comorbidities, smoking, number of levels fused, number of surgical approaches were analyzed. Postoperative complications at 30 days were recorded according to Clavien-Dindo and Glassman classifications. Results: 172 patients (120 females/52 males, mean age 59.4 +/- 17.6) were included in our study. 78 patients suffered complications (45%) at 30 days, 43% of these complications were considered major. Unplanned readmission was observed in 35 patients (20,3%). Risk factors for complications were: Smoking, previous comorbidities, number of levels fused, two or more surgical approaches and excessive bleeding. Hospital length of stay in patients without and with complications was of 7.8 +/- 13.7 and 17 +/- 31.1 days, respectively (P 0.0001). Conclusion: The prevalence of early postoperative complications in adult spinal deformity patients treated with fusion was of 45% in our study with 20% of unplanned readmissions at 30 days. Presence of complications significantly increased hospital length of stay.

Automated summary

This multicentric retrospective study analyzed the prevalence and risk factors of early postoperative complications in adult spinal deformity patients treated with fusion surgery. The study also investigated the impact of complications on unplanned readmission and hospital length of stay. The results showed a 45% prevalence of complications within 30 days, with 20% of patients requiring unplanned readmission. Presence of complications significantly increased hospital length of stay.