Elective lumbar fusion in the United States: national trends in inpatient complications and cost from 2002-2014.

CONCLUSIONS: The number of elective lumbar fusions for degenerative spine disease increased 276% in the United States from 2002-2014 with growing surgeon preference for lateral techniques, and an increasing proportion of combined anterior and posterior approaches. Overall complication rates decreased from 2002-2014, despite an older patient population. After adjusting for inflation, cost was relatively stable across years 2002-2014. Complications by system were associated with increased cost, underscoring the need to address sources of complications and optimize early postoperative recovery in order to reduce healthcare expenditure. PMID: 30942052 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences - Category: Neurosurgery Tags: J Neurosurg Sci Source Type: research