The Impact of Non-Elective Admission on Cost of Care and Length of Stay in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of admission status on patient outcomes and healthcare costs in ACDF. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) non-electively has been associated with higher patient comorbidity burdens. However, the impact of non-elective status on the total cost of hospital stay has yet to be quantified. METHODS Patients undergoing ACDF at a single institution were placed into elective or non-elective cohorts. Propensity score-matching analysis in a 5:1 ratio controlling for insurance type and comorbidities was used to minimize selection bias. Demographics were compared by univariate analysis. Cost of care, length of stay (LOS) and clinical outcomes were compared between groups using multivariable linear and logistic regression with elective patients as reference cohort. All analyses controlled for gender, preoperative diagnosis, ECI, age, length of surgery, number of segments fused, and insurance type. RESULTS Of 708 patients in the final ACDF cohort, 590 underwent an elective procedure and 118 underwent a non-elective procedure. The non-elective group was significantly younger (53.7 vs. 49.5 years; p = 0.0007). Cohorts had similar proportions of private versus public health insurance, although elective had higher rates of commercial insurance (39.22% vs. 15.25%; p < 0.0001) and non-elective had higher rates of managed care (32.77% vs. 56.78%; p < 0.0001). Operation duration was significantly longer in non-elective patients (158 vs. 177 minutes; p = 0.01). Adjusted analysis also demonstrated that admission status independently affected cost (+$6,877, 95% CI: $4,906-$8,848; p < 0.0001) and LOS (+4.9 days, 95% CI: 3.9-6.0; p < 0.0001) for the non-elective cohort. The non-elective cohort was significantly more likely to return to the operating room (OR: 3.39; 95% CI: 1.37-8.36, p = 0.0008) and experience non-home discharge (OR: 10.95; 95% CI: 5.00-24.02, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Patients undergoing ACDF non-electively had higher cost of care and longer LOS, as well as higher rates of postoperative adverse outcomes.Level of Evidence: 3.