Michael Steinhaus

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.Purpose: We present data assessing the differences in 30-day morbidity, mortality, and postoperative complications between the two surgical remedy options.Overview of Literature: The choice between decompression with fusion or decompression alone for the management of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) remains controversial.Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program database was queried for adults ≥18 years diagnosed with spondylosis with cervical myelopathy (10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases [ICD-10]: M47.12) or spinal stenosis of the cervical region (ICD-10: M48.02) who underwent laminectomy (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT] 63001, 63015, 63045) with or without fusion (CPT 22600) between 2015 and 2020. Patients were stratified into fusion and non-fusion cohorts for comparative review. Estimated 30-day mortality and morbidity, postoperative complications, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification were evaluated using chi-square and analysis of variance tests, and results were further stratified according to ASA classification.Results: Of the 6,412 patients, 3,355 (52%) received laminectomy without fusion, and 3,057 (48%) experienced laminectomy with fusion. Patients undergoing decompression with fusion had higher mean morbidity (estimated probability 0.073 vs. 0.064, p<0.001), unplanned reoperations (4.2% vs. 2.7%, p<0.002), unplanned readmissions (7.6% vs. 6.3%, p<0.014), mean length of stay (5.0±8.9 days vs. 3.4±7.2 days, p<0.001), deep wound infections (0.8% vs. 0.4%, p<0.022), and bleeding risk necessitating transfusion (3.8% vs. 1.6%, p<0.001). Stratification by ASA scores demonstrated an overall higher rate of 30-day postoperative complications with increasing ASA scores in both cohorts, However, the decompression with fusion cohort showed a greater relative increase in complications compared to the decompression-alone cohort with each ASA group.Conclusions: Decompression with fusion is correlated with higher estimated morbidity, unplanned reoperations and readmissions, and 30-day complications postoperatively. Decompression alone is an appealing procedure option for CSM, particularly for patients with higher ASA scores and those at greater risk.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.Purpose: To assess differences in 30-day morbidity and mortality and postoperative complications between two surgical treatment options.Overview of Literature: The choice of decompression with fusion or decompression alone for the management of degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) is controversial.Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program database was queried for laminectomy or laminotomy with and without fusion from 2015 to 2020. The estimated 30-day mortality and morbidity, 30-day complications, and American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification were evaluated through chi-square and analysis of variance tests, with the results further stratified according to the ASA classification.Results: Of the 4,120 patients, 2,384 (58%) underwent a laminectomy or laminotomy without fusion and 1,736 (42%) underwent a laminectomy or laminotomy with fusion. Patients undergoing decompression with fusion had higher mean mortality (estimated probability 0.0034 vs. 0.0027, p<0.001), mean morbidity (estimated probability 0.053 vs. 0.048, p<0.001), mean length of stay (3.62±3.4 days vs. 3.15±4.3 days, p<0.001), and bleeding risk necessitating transfusion (9.5% vs. 7.6%, p =0.038). There was a higher rate of overall 30-day postoperative complications associated with an increasing ASA score for both cohorts.Conclusions: Decompression with fusion was associated with higher estimated mortality, morbidity, and 30-day complications. Decompression alone is an appealing treatment option for lumbar DS, particularly for patients with higher ASA scores and those at higher risk.

Study Design: This is a prospective observational study. Objective: The aim was to record daily opioid use and pain levels after 1-level or 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA). Summary of Background Data: Data to inform opioid prescription guidelines following ACDF or CDA is lacking. Understanding postoperative opioid consumption behaviors is critical to provide appropriate postdischarge prescriptions. Methods: Patients undergoing 1-level or 2-level primary ACDF or CDA were consecutively enrolled at 2 participating institutions between March 2018 and March 2019. Patients with opioid dependence (defined as daily use ≥6 mo before surgery) were excluded. Starting postoperative day 1, daily opioid use and numeric pain rating scale pain levels were collected through a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant, automated text-messaging system. To facilitate clinical applications, opioid use was converted from oral morphine equivalents into “pills” (oxycodone 5 mg equivalents). After 6 weeks or upon patient-reported cessation of opioid use, final survey questions were asked. Refill data were verified from the state prescription registry. Risk factors for patients in top quartile of consumption were analyzed. Results: Of 57 patients, 48 completed the daily queries (84.2%). Mean age of the patient sample was 50.2±10.9 years. Thirty-two patients (66.7%) underwent ACDF and 16 CDA (33.3%); 64.6% one level; 35.4% two levels. Median postdischarge use was 6.7 pills (range: 0–160). Cumulative opioid use did not vary between the 1-level and 2-level groups (median pill consumption, 10 interquartile range: 1.3–31.3 vs. 4 interquartile range: 0–18, respectively, P=0.085). Thirteen patients (27.1%) did not use any opioids after discharge. Of those patients that took opioids after discharge, half ceased opioids by postoperative day 8. Preoperative intermittent opioid use was associated with the top quartile of opioid consumption (9.1% vs. 50%, P=0.006). Conclusion: Given that most patients use few opioids, patients could be offered the option of a 12 oxycodone 5 mg (90 oral morphine equivalents) discharge prescription, accompanied by education on appropriate opioid use and disposal.

Study Design: Case series/systematic review. Objectives: To report on patients undergoing posterior cervical fusion for symptomatic pseudarthrosis following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and to assess outcomes reporting in the literature. Methods: Patients undergoing posterior instrumented fusion for pseudarthrosis after primary ACDF from 2013 to 2018 by a single surgeon were reviewed consecutively. Neck Disability Index (NDI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) arm/neck were recorded at preoperative, 6-month, and 1-year time points. A systematic review of the literature was performed, and outcomes reporting was recorded. Results: NDI scores were 54.4 (SD 19.1), 36.6 (SD 18.1), and 41.2 (SD 19.2) at preoperative, 6-month, and 1-year time points, respectively, with improvement from preoperatively to 6 months ( P = .004). VAS neck scores were 8.1 (SD 1.3), 5.0 (SD 2.9), and 5.8 (SD 2.2) at preoperative, 6-month, and 1-year time points, respectively, with improvement from preoperatively to 6 months ( P = .038). VAS arm scores were 5.1 (SD 4.1), 3.5 (SD 3.2), and 3.6 (SD 2.7) at preoperative, 6-month, and 1-year time points, respectively, with improvement although these did not reach statistical significance ( P = .145). The most common subjective outcomes reported in the literature were general symptoms assessments (43%), ordinal scales (43%), and VAS neck (19%) scales, with the majority of studies (67%) documenting one measure. Conclusions: Patient-reported outcomes demonstrate clinically meaningful improvement within the first 6 months after posterior fusion for pseudarthrosis. Studies demonstrate substantial variability and no standardization in outcomes reporting, limiting the ability to compare results across interventions and pathologies. Standardized reporting will enable comparisons to inform patients and physicians on the optimal approach to treat this difficult problem.

* In the setting of leg-length discrepancy (LLD), functional scoliosis occurs when the lumbar spine compensates for pelvic obliquity to maintain shoulder balance. * Long-standing LLD may result in degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, altered gait mechanics, and low back pain. * Patients with LLD, low back pain, and functional scoliosis should undergo radiographic evaluation with the pelvis leveled using blocks placed under the shorter limb. When the LLD or symptoms are minimal, patients may benefit from a shoe lift. Patients with an LLD of >20 mm may be considered for operative intervention.