Does Hypothyroidism Increase Complications, Lengths of Stay, Readmissions, and Costs Following Primary 1- to 2-Level Lumbar Fusion?

Study Design: Level III—retrospective review. Objective: To evaluate the impact of hypothyroidism in patients undergoing 1- to 2-level lumbar fusion (1–2LF). Summary of Background Data: Hypothyroidism is a common cause of morbidity and mortality following surgery. Studies have demonstrated the effects of hypothyroidism following orthopedic surgery, but not 1–2LF. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing 1–2LF with hypothyroidism were identified within the Medicare population, and served as the study group. Study group patients were randomly matched to controls in a 1:5 ratio by age, sex, and medical comorbidities. Primary outcomes analyzed included in-hospital lengths of stay (LOS), 90-day readmission rates, 90-day medical complications, and costs of care. Pearson χ2 tests were used to compare patient demographics. Logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) for medical complications and readmissions. Welch t test was used to test for significance in cost between the cohorts. An α value
Source: Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques - Category: Surgery Tags: PRIMARY RESEARCH Source Type: research