Short-Term Outcomes of Staged Versus Same-Day Surgery for Adult Spinal Deformity Correction

Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.ObjectivesAssess differences between staged (<= 3 days) and same-day surgery in perioperative factors, radiographic measures, and complications.Summary of Background DataSurgical adult spinal deformity correction may require combined anterior and posterior approaches. To modulate risk, some surgeons perform surgery that is expected to be longer and/or more complex in two stages. Prior studies comparing staged (>= 7 days) and same-day surgery demonstrated mixed results and none have examined results with shorter staging intervals.MethodsRetrospective review of adults undergoing combined anterior/posterior approaches for spinal deformity over a 3-year period at a single institution (n=92). Univariate differences between staged and same-day surgery were assessed with chi-squared, Fisher exact, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Generalized estimating equations assessed whether differences in perioperative outcomes between groups remained after adjusting for differences in demographic and surgical characteristics.ResultsIn univariate analyses, staged surgery was associated with a length of stay (LOS) 3 days longer than same-day surgery (9.2 vs. 6.3 days, p < .001), and greater operative time, blood loss, transfusion requirement, and days in intensive care unit (p < .001 for each). Staged surgery had a higher rate of thrombotic events (p = .011) but did not differ in readmission rates or other complications. Radiographically, improvements in Cobb angle (average 13 degrees vs. 17 degrees, p = .028), lumbar lordosis (average 14 degrees vs. 23 degrees, p = .019), and PI-LL mismatch (average 10 degrees vs. 2 degrees p = .018) were greater for staged surgery, likely related to more extensive use of osteotomies in the staged group.After risk adjustment, taking into account the procedural specifics including longer fusion constructs and greater number of osteotomies, LOS no longer differed between staged and same-day surgery; however, the total operative time was 98 minutes longer for staged surgery (p < .001). Differences in blood loss between groups was accounted for by differences in operative time and patient and surgical characteristics.ConclusionsAlthough univariate analysis of our results were in accordance with previously published works, multivariate analysis allowing individual case risk adjustment revealed that LOS was not significantly increased in the staged group as reported in previous studies. There was no difference in infection rates as previously described but an increase in thrombotic events was observed.Level of EvidenceLevel III.