Immediate Postoperative Imaging Following Elective Lumbar Fusion Provides Little Clinical Utility

We present a retrospective analysis that to our knowledge is the first study reporting on the clinical utility of routine imaging in lumbar fusion patients during the immediate postoperative period. Methods. The medical records of patients who had undergone elective lumbar instrumented fusion for degenerative disease from 2013 to 2018 by neurosurgeons across one regional healthcare system were retrospectively analyzed. Inpatient records and imaging orders for patients were reviewed. Routine immediate postoperative imaging was defined by any lumbar spine imaging prior to discharge in the absence of specific indications. Results. Analysis identified 115 patients who underwent elective lumbar instrumented fusion for degenerative disease. One-hundred-twelve patients received routine postoperative imaging. Routine imaging was abnormal in four patients (4%). There was one instance (
Source: Spine - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: SURGERY Source Type: research