• E T Powell, W F Krengel, H A King, and M O Lagrone.
• Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
• Spine. 1994 Jun 1;19(11):1256-9.

Study DesignThis was a retrospective review. Short-term outcomes were compared based on two different surgical techniques.ObjectivesTo determine the safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness of two different surgical techniques of anterior and posterior spinal fusion for pediatric patients with spinal deformity.Summary Of Background DataBrown et al, Floman et al, and Bradford et al have reported on combined anterior and posterior spine fusions with a 1-2-week recovery period between stages. However, advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques combined with the prohibitive cost of prolonged hospitalization and theoretical advantages in pulmonary function and nutrition have led to increasing use of combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion under one anesthetic.MethodsThe authors reviewed records and radiographs of patients with pediatric spinal deformities who underwent anterior spine fusion/posterior spine fusion and instrumentation performed by the senior author (HAK) at one institution.ResultsSame-day sequential anterior spine fusion/posterior spine fusion resulted in less blood loss (575 +/- 275 ml; P < or = 0.0045), shorter hospital stay (8.00 +/- 2.68 days; P < or = 0.0001), and reduced hospital costs ($18,762 +/- $4,925; P < or = 0.0001). Operative time and complication rate were not affected.ConclusionsIn selected patients with pediatric spinal deformity, experienced spinal surgeons can reduce blood loss, hospital stay, and costs by performing anterior and posterior spinal fusions sequentially under one anesthetic.

26 keywords...

hide…