Resident Involvement in Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion is Associated With Increased Readmissions and Operative Time, But No Increased Short-term Risks

Study Design:

A retrospective cohort study.

Objective:

The aim was to compare rates of adverse events and additional posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) cases assisted by residents versus cases performed solely by an orthopedic attending.

Summary of Background Data:

PLIF is a widely accepted surgical technique for the management of a variety of spinal conditions requiring spinal stabilization and fusion. However, no published studies have assessed the effects of resident involvement on intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in PLIF.

Methods:

This retrospective study utilized the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) registry from 2007 to 2012 to identify patients who underwent PLIF procedures. A propensity score matching model was utilized to reduce patient cohort variances. The perioperative data and outcomes in the matched population were analyzed using paired t test and the McNemar test in order to assess, based on resident presence, the rates of postoperative adverse events, readmission, reoperation within 30 days, and operative time.

Results:

In total, 1633 patients undergoing PLIF were included in the study, with 24.62% involving resident participation. The propensity score matching algorithm yielded 396 well-matched resident and nonresident pairs. Patients undergoing PLIF involving a resident were associated with a higher rate of readmission (1.77% vs. 0.00%; P=0.008), and longer o...

Source: Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques - July 1, 2021 Category: Surgery Tags: Primary Research Source Type: research