• Kavelin Rumalla, Kyle A Smith, and Paul M Arnold.
• School of Medicine, University of Missouri - Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri.
• Neurosurgery. 2018 Apr 1; 82 (4): 441-453.

BackgroundHealthcare readmissions are important causes of increased cost and have profound clinical impact. Thirty-day readmissions in spine surgery have been well documented. However, rates, causes, and outcomes are not well understood outside 30 d.ObjectiveTo analyze 30- and 90-d readmissions for a retrospective cohort of anterior cervical discectomy and fusions (ACDF) and total disc replacement (TDR) for degenerative cervical conditions.MethodsThe Nationwide Readmissions Database approximates 50% of all US hospitalizations with patient identifiers to track patients longitudinally. Patients greater than 18 yr old were identified. Rates of readmission for 30 and 90 d were calculated. Predictor variables, complications, outcomes, and costs were analyzed via univariate and multivariable analyses.ResultsBetween January and September 2013, 72 688 patients were identified. The 30- and 90-d readmission rates were 2.67% and 5.97%, respectively. The most prevalent reason for 30-d readmission was complication of medical/surgical care (20.3%), whereas for 90-d readmission it was degenerative spine etiology (19.2%). Common risk factors for 30- and 90-d readmission included older age, male gender, Medicare/Medicaid, prolonged initial length of stay, and various comorbidities. Unique risk factors for 30- and 90-d readmissions included adverse discharge disposition and mechanical implant-related complications, respectively. When comparing ACDF and TDR, ACDFs were associated with increased 90-d readmissions (6.0% vs 4.3%). The TDR cohort had a shorter length of stay, lower complication rate, and fewer adverse discharge dispositions.ConclusionIdentification of readmission causes and predictors is important to potentially allow for changes in periperative management. Decreasing readmissions would improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

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