Critical Care in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spine Fusion A Population-Based Study

Background:Data on the utilization of critical care services (CCSs) among patients who underwent spine fusion are rare. Given the increasing popularity of this procedure, information regarding demographics and risk factors for the use of these advanced services is needed in order to appropriately allocate resources, educate clinical staff, and identify targets for future research.Methods:We analyzed hospital discharge data of patients who underwent lumbar spine fusion in approximately 400 US hospitals between 2006 and 2010. Patient, procedure, and health care system-related demographics for those requiring CCS were compared to those who did not. Outcomes such as mortality, complications, disposition status, and hospital charges were compared among groups and risk factors for the utilization of CCS identified.Results:A total of 95 434 entries of patients who underwent posterior lumbar spine fusion surgery between 2006 and 2010 were identified. Approximately 10% of the patients required CCS. On average, pat...