Predictors of 30-Day Unplanned Readmissions, Complications, and Mortality Following Operative Management of C2 Fractures

David N. Bernstein, Caroline Thirukumaran, Brandon Raudenbush, Robert W. Molinari, Emmanuel N. Menga, Addisu Mesfin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective database review. Objectives: To determine factors associated with unplanned readmission, complications, and mortality in patients undergoing operative management for C2 fractures. Methods: The American College of Surgeons–National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) was queried between 2007 and 2014. Unplanned readmission, any complication, and mortality were the outcomes of interest. Bivariate statistics were calculated, and multivariate regression models were estimated. Results: A total of 285 patients were enrolled. Readmission data was available for 199 patients and 11 patients (5.5% of 199 patients) had an unplanned readmission. Overall, 60 patients (21% of 285 patients) had at least 1 complication and 15 patients (5.3% of 285 patients) died. Five factors were associated with complications: transferred from another facility (odds ratio [OR] 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]1.51-5.98; P <.01); operative time ≥180 minutes (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.11-5.36; P =.03); at least 1 patient comorbidity (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.01-6.18; P <.05); American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 3 (OR 4.86, 95% CI 1.19-19.88; P =.03); and ASA class 4 (OR 7.24, 95% CI 1.66-31.66; P =.01). The only factor associated with unplanned readmission was having at least one postoperative complication (OR 7.10, 95% CI 1.04-48.59; P <.05), while patients who were partially or totally dependent from a functional standpoint were at increased odds of death (OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.12-14.08; P =.03). Conclusions: Patients with functional limitations have increased odds of death, while patients with postoperative complications have increased odds of unplanned readmission. Being transferred from an outside facility, having an operative time ≥180 minutes, having at least one comorbidity, and being classified as ASA class 3 or 4 increase patient odds of complication.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)130-137
Number of pages8
JournalGlobal Spine Journal
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2020

Funding

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: DNB reports grants from Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), outside the submitted work. ENM reports personal fees from Evolution Spine, personal fees from Globus Medical, outside the submitted work. AM reports grants from Globus, grants from LES Society, grants from Corelink, grants from AO Spine, grants from OMeGA, outside the submitted work. All other authors (CT, BR, RWM) have no disclosures.

Keywords

  • ACS NSQIP
  • C2 Fracture
  • complications
  • mortality
  • outcomes
  • readmission
  • surgery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Predictors of 30-Day Unplanned Readmissions, Complications, and Mortality Following Operative Management of C2 Fractures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this