Global spine journal
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Global spine journal · Aug 2018
Avoidable Emergency Department Utilization Within 6 Months Following Elective Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery for Degenerative Pathologies.
Retrospective study. ⋯ A large percentage of elective thoracolumbar surgery patients returned to the ED within 6 months for avoidable reasons. Patients likely to make avoidable visits could not be identified prior to surgery in a clinically meaningful way. Reasons for patients returning to the ED for avoidable reasons focused on pain management and minor physiological symptoms. Enhanced presurgical education may manage postsurgical expectations helping to prevent avoidable ED visits.