Cooleykjer1699

Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Objectives To assess for racial differences in opioid utilization prior to and after lumbar fusion surgery for patients with lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis. Methods Clinical records from patients with lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis undergoing primary 1 year after index operation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated Asian patients (OR 0.422, 95% CI 0.191-0.991) were less likely to use opioids following lumbar fusion. Conclusions Racial differences exist in perioperative opioid utilization for patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery for spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis. Future studies are needed corroborate our findings. © The Author(s) 2019.Study Design Retrospective case series. Objectives Both the rate and complexity of spine surgeries in elderly patients has increased. This study reports the outcomes of multilevel spine fusion in elderly patients and provides evidence on the appropriateness of complex surgery in elderly patients. Methods We identified 101 patients older than70 years who had ≥5 levels of fusion. Demographic, medical, and surgical data, and change between preoperative and >500 days postoperative health survey scores were collected. Health surveys were visual analogue scale (VAS), EuroQoL 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire (SRS-30), and Short Form health survey (SF-12) (physical composite score [PCS] and mental composite score [MCS]). Minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) were defined for each survey. Results Complications included dural tears (19%), intensive care unit admission (48%), revision surgery within 2 to 5 years (24%), and death within 2 to 5 years (16%). The percentage of patients who reported an improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of at least an MCID was VAS Back 69%; EQ-5D 41%; ODI 58%; SRS-30 45%; SF-12 PCS 44%; and SF-12 MCS 48%. Improvement after a primary surgery, as compared with a revision, was on average 13 points higher in ODI (P = .007). Patients who developed a surgical complication averaged an improvement 11 points lower on ODI (P = .042). Patients were more likely to find improvement in their health if they had a lower American Society of Anesthesiologists or Charlson Comorbidity Index score or a higher metabolic equivalent score. Conclusions In multilevel surgery in patients older than 70 years, complications are common, and on average 77% of patients attain some improvement, with 51% reaching an MCID. Physiological status is a stronger predictor of outcomes than chronological age. © The Author(s) 2019.Study Design Retrospective radiographic study. Objectives T1 slope is an important parameter of sagittal spinal balance. However, the T1 superior endplate can be difficult to visualize on radiographs due to overlying anatomical structures. C7 slope has been proposed as a potential substitute for T1 slope when the T1 superior endplate is not well visualized. The objective of this study was 2-fold (1) to assess the correlation between C7 and T1 slopes on upright cervical spine radiographs and (2) to evaluate the interrater reliability of C7 slope. Methods Cervical spine radiographs taken between December 2017 and June 2018 at a single institution were reviewed. Two observers measured upper C7 slope, lower C7 slope, and T1 slope. The correlations between upper and lower C7 slope and T1 slope were evaluated, and linear regression analyses were performed. Interrater reliability of C7 slope was also assessed. Results In this cohort of 152 patients, there was a strong correlation between upper C7 slope and T1 slope (r = 0.91, P less then .001), as well as between lower C7 slope and T1 slope (r = 0.90, P less then .001). T1 slope could be estimated from the linear regression equation, T1 slope = 0.87 × C7 slope + 7, with an overall model fit of R 2 = 0.8. There was strong interrater reliability for upper (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.95, P less then .001) and lower C7 slope (ICC = 0.96, P less then .001). Conclusions Both the upper and lower C7 slope are strongly correlated with T1 slope and can be used as a substitute to estimate T1 slope when the superior endplate of T1 is not well visualized. © The Author(s) 2019.Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Objectives To characterize regional variations in maximal nonoperative therapy (MNT) costs in patients suffering from lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis. Methods Medical records from patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis undergoing primary ≤3-level lumbar decompression and fusion procedures from 2007 to 2016 were gathered from a large insurance database. Geographic regions (Midwest, Northeast, South, and West) reflected the US Census Bureau definitions. Records were searchable by International Classification of Diseases diagnosis/procedure codes, Current Procedural Terminology codes, and insurance-specific generic drug codes. Utilization of MNT, defined as cost billed, prescriptions written, and number of units disbursed, within 2-years prior to index surgery was assessed. Results A total of 27 877 patients underwent 1-, 2-, or 3-level lumbar decompression and fusion surgery. Regional breakdown of the study cohort was as follows South 62.3%, Midwest 25.2%, West 10.4%, Northeast 2.1%. Regional variations in the number of patients using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (P less then .0001), opioids (P less then .0001), muscle relaxants (P less then .0001), and lumbar steroid injections (P less then .0001) were detected. A significant difference was identified in the regional MNT failure rates (P less then .0001). The total cost associated with MNT prior to index surgery was $48 411 125 ($1736.60/patient), with the Midwest ($1943.83/patient) responsible for the greatest average spending. Despite comprising 62.3% of the cohort, the South was accountable for 67.5% of NSAID prescriptions, 64.6% of opioid prescriptions, and 71.2% of muscle relaxant prescriptions. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/eidd-1931.html Conclusions Regional differences exist in the costs of MNT in patients with lumbar stenosis and spondylolisthesis prior to surgery. Future studies should focus on identifying patients likely to fail prolonged nonoperative management. © The Author(s) 2019.