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Background: 25-hydroxy Vitamin D (25[OH]D) level has been shown to have antimicrobial and wound healing effects in animal models. Low preoperative 25(OH)D has been shown to correlate with surgical site infection (SSI) in thoracolumbar spine surgery., Methods: This study involved 545 patients undergoing thoracolumbar spine surgery from 2012 to 2019 at an academic medical center. We evaluated the serum 25(OH)D level (i.e., adequate level = level 30-60 ng/dL), along with SSI, body mass index, and smoking status. Statistical analysis was done using bivariate analysis with Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon rank-sum test and multivarible logisitic regression analyses., Results: We included 545 patients in the study, and there were no statistical differences in the average preoperative 25(OH)D between SSI and non-SSI groups. The average 25(OH)D in the non-SSI group was 31.6 ng/dL ± 13.6, and the SSI group was 35.7 ng/dL ± 20.2 ( P = 0.63)., Conclusion: SSI rates following thoracolumbar spine surgery were not affected by preoperative 25(OH)D levels., Competing Interests: Addisu Mesfin MD: Speaker fees Depuy, Grant Nuvasive, Lodging/travel Medtronic., (Copyright: © 2024 Surgical Neurology International.)

Background: National campaigns in the United States, such as Choosing Wisely, emphasize that decreasing low-value office visits maximizes health care value. Although patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are frequently used to quantify postoperative outcomes, they have not been assessed as a tool to help guide clinicians consider alternatives or discontinue in-person follow-up visits. The purpose of this study is to assess the frequency and cost of in-person follow-up visits after patients report substantial improvement defined as 2 consecutive improvements above preoperative Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pain interference (PI) scores., Methods: Retrospective PROMIS PI data were obtained between 2015 and 2020 for common elective foot (n = 759) and ankle (n = 578) surgical procedures. Patients were divided into quartiles according to their preoperative PI score. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate time to substantial improvement. Substantial improvement was defined as having 2 consecutive postoperative minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) above preoperative PROMIS PI scores. MCID was measured using the distribution-based method. Multivariable negative binomial models were used to determine the number of visits and direct associated costs after substantial improvement. The cost to payors was estimated using reimbursement rates., Results: Within 3 months, 12% to 46% of foot and 16% to 61% of ankle patients achieved substantial improvement. Results vary by preoperative pain quartile, with patients who report higher preoperative pain scores achieving earlier improvement. After achieving substantial improvement, foot and ankle patients averaged 3.60 and 4.01 follow-up visits during the remaining 9 months of the year. Visit costs averaged $266 and $322 per foot and ankle patient respectively., Conclusion: Postoperative follow-up visits are time-consuming and costly. Physicians might consider objective measures, such as PROMIS PI, to determine the need, timing, and alternatives for in-person follow-up visits for elective foot and ankle surgeries after patients demonstrate reliable clinical improvement., Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study at a single institution., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Judith Baumhauer, MD, MPH, reports leadership or fiduciary role in other board, society, committee, or advocacy group from PROMIS Health Organization, with no payment. Disclosure forms for all authors are available online.

Objective To explore how socioeconomic status and patient characteristics may be associated with initial self-reports of pain and determine if there was an increased association with undergoing spine surgery. Methods Patients at an academic center between 2015 and 2021 who completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI) questionnaire were included. Multivariable linear regression models were used to determine the association between insurance type and patient factors with initial reports of pain. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association between PI and the likelihood of surgery in two time periods, three and 12 months. Results The study included 9,587 patients. The mean PROMIS-PI scores were 61.93 (SD 7.82) and 63.74 (SD 6.93) in the cervical and lumbar cohorts, respectively. Medicaid and Workers' Compensation insurance patients reported higher pain scores compared to those with private insurance: Medicaid (cervical: 2.77, CI (1.76-3.79), p<0.001; lumbar (2.05, CI (1.52-2.59), p<0.001); Workers' Compensation (cervical: 2.12, CI (0.96-3.27), p<0.001; lumbar: 1.51, CI (0.79-2.23), p<0.001). Black patients reported higher pain compared to White patients (cervical: 1.50, CI (0.44-2.55), p=0.01; lumbar: 1.51, CI (0.94-2.08), p<0.001). Higher PROMIS-PI scores were associated with a higher likelihood of surgery. There was no increased association of likelihood of surgery in Black, Medicaid, or Workers' Compensation patients when controlling for pain severity. Conclusion Black patients and patients with Medicaid and Workers' compensation insurance were likely to report higher pain scores. Higher initial pain scores were associated with an increased likelihood of surgery. However, despite increased pain scores, Black patients and those with Medicaid and Workers' Compensation insurance did not have a higher likelihood of undergoing surgery., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Lawlor et al.)

Background: There has been an increase in posterior-based interbody fusions over the past two decades. Our objective was to evaluate trends in interbody fusion use among the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS) Part II candidates., Methods: The ABOS database from 2003 to 2012 was queried for common procedural terminology (CPT) codes indicating lumbar interbody fusion (22,558 anterior lumbar interbody fusion [ALIF] and 22,630 and 22,633 posterior lumbar interbody fusion [PLIF] or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion [TLIF]). Trends in the use of interbody fusion technique, associated complications, and geographical variation were evaluated. We also queried utilization of the anterior and posterior interbody fusions by the International Classification of Diseases-9 code., Results: 6841 interbody fusion cases were identified (2329 ALIF and 4512 PLIF/TLIF). There was a significantly higher use of PLIF/TLIF than ALIF over the study period ( P < 0.001). As compared to patients in the Midwest, those in the Northwest had significantly higher odds of undergoing PLIF/TLIF (odds ratio [OR]: 4.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.61-6.35, P <0.001), and those in the Southwest had significantly lower odds of PLIF/TLIF (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69-0.95, P = 0.01). The overall complication rate was 22.2% ( n = 1,519). Vascular-related complications were significantly higher among patients undergoing ALIF (31 vs. 1, P <0.001), while those undergoing TLIF/PLIF were more likely to experience unspecified medical complications. On multivariate analysis, patients undergoing PLIF/TLIF had lower odds of experiencing a complication ( P = 0.03, OR 0.87, CI 95%)., Conclusion: Over the 10-year study period, there has been a significantly increased rate of posterior interbody fusion among candidates taking part II ABOS examination., Competing Interests: Addisu Mesfin: Travel/lodging: Medtronic, NuVasive., (Copyright: © 2023 Surgical Neurology International.)

Purpose: (1) Identification of musculoskeletal risk factors for healthcare providers suffering low back pain (LBP) and the creation of risk profiles for those individuals and (2) analyze the impact of a workplace wellness program on healthcare providers who suffer from low back pain., Methods: A total of 3040 employees at an academic healthcare center underwent a computer-adaptive survey of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), biometric tests, and a disability and functional movement assessment as part of the workplace wellness program (WWP). Clinical interventions with a rehabilitation specialist were offered to employees identified as at risk for low back pain. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive methods and multivariable regressions to address the study objectives., Results: Of the 3040 healthcare providers enrolled in this study, 77% identified with non-specific LBP with greater weakness, numbness, reduced flexibility, and physical activity. The major predictive risk factors for LBP were Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pain interference score, PROMIS fatigue, previous work injury, flexibility, numbness, PROMIS social function, level of education, and BMI. Healthcare providers with LBP who completed the WWP improved in most dimensions of HRQOL and disability and functional outcomes., Conclusions: A high proportion of healthcare providers suffer from LBP as a result of the nature of their work. Disability and functional outcomes measurements and PROMIS results quantitatively assess healthcare providers with LBP. Organizations can develop injury mitigation programs to target employees at high risk of LBP using the risk factors we identify. Completion of the WWP was associated with improvements in disability, HRQOL and functional measures., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background Context: The extent to which use of spine surgeries for patients with cervical and lumbar disorders varies by their race/ethnicity and income is currently unknown., Purpose: To assess racial/ethnic and income-based differences in use of spine surgery in New York State (NYS) from 2016 to 2019., Study Design: Retrospective observational analysis using 2016 to 2019 New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) data, direct standardization, and multivariable mixed-effects linear regression models., Methods: A dataset of patients who underwent surgery for cervical and spinal disorders in NYS in the period 2016 to 2019 was used to determine county-level age- and sex-standardized annual cervical and lumbar surgery rates expressed as number of surgeries per 10,000 individuals. Further sub-analysis was performed with the key independent variables being the combination of individual-level race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic individuals) and income (low-/high-income residing in zip codes below/above state median income); and year. We estimated multivariable mixed-effects linear regression models which controlled county-level variables to determine the adjusted rates of spine surgeries for patients belonging to various race/ethnicity and income group combinations., Results: The study included 29,650 and 42,498 patients in the cervical and lumbar cohorts, respectively. In 2019, the county-level mean cervical and lumbar surgery rates were 3.88 and 5.19 surgeries per 10,000 individuals, respectively. There was a five-fold rate variation across NYS. In 2019, the adjusted cervical rates were 4.59 (White low-income), 4.96 (White high-income), 7.20 (Black low-income), 3.01 (Black high-income), 4.37 (Hispanic low-income), and 1.17 (Hispanic high-income). The adjusted lumbar rates were 5.49 (White low-income), 6.31 (White high-income), 9.43 (Black low-income), 2.47 (Black high-income), 4.22 (Hispanic low-income), and 2.02 (Hispanic high-income). The rates for low-income Black or Hispanic patients were significantly higher than their high-income counterparts. Low-income Black patients had the highest rates. Over the study period, the gap/difference increased significantly between high-income Hispanic and White individuals by 2.19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.27, -0.10, p=.04) for cervical surgery; and between low-income Black and White individuals by 2.82 (2.82, 95% CI: 0.59, 5.06, p=.01) for lumbar surgery., Conclusion: There are differences in the rates of spine surgery in New York State, among identifiable groups. Black individuals from poorer zip codes experience relatively higher spine surgery rates. Understanding the drivers of surgical rate variation is key to improving the equitable delivery of spine care. A better understanding of such rate variations could inform health policy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest One or more of the authors declare financial or professional relationships on ICMJE-TSJ disclosure forms., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Current literature describing the riskiness of operating on actively infected COVID-19 patients far outnumbers that on the risk of operating on recovered patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze a single, tertiary referral center experience regarding postoperative complications and readmissions in COVID-19-recovered patients versus COVID-19-naïve (never previously infected) patients undergoing elective and emergency surgery across all surgical subspecialties., Methods: All PCR positive COVID-19 patients that underwent a surgical procedure between February 1, 2020, and November 1, 2020, were included in the COVID-positive cohort. These patients were then matched to COVID-naïve controls that underwent similar procedures within the same time frame. Primary outcomes included 30-day postoperative complications as well as 90-day readmissions. Multivariable analyses were also performed., Results: 112 COVID-positive patients met inclusion criteria and were all matched to COVID-naïve controls. 76 patients (68%) underwent surgery > 30 days from their COVID diagnosis. COVID-positive patients were at significantly higher risk of 30-day complications compared to the COVID-naïve cohort (22% versus 8%, respectively; p < 0.01). Multivariable analyses found ambulatory/asymptomatic infections, undergoing surgery between 30 and 120 days from diagnosis, initial presentation to the emergency department and elevated ASA scores to be significantly associated with 30-day complications. No differences were found for 90-day readmissions., Conclusion: Patients with previous COVID-19 infections carry a higher perioperative risk profile for 30-day complications compared to COVID-naïve counterparts in unvaccinated populations., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Société Internationale de Chirurgie.)

Objectives: Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) was implemented in 2012, but the impact of the MSSP on institutional post-acute care (PAC) use, and by race/ethnicity and payer status is less studied. We studied the impact of hospital participation in the MSSP on institutional PAC use and variations by race/ethnicity and payer status among 3 Medicare patient groups: ischemic stroke, hip fracture, and elective total joint arthroplasty (TJA)., Design: A retrospective analysis of 2010-2016 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files., Setting and Participants: Medicare fee-for-service patients originally admitted for ischemic stroke, hip fracture, or elective TJA in MSSP-participating hospitals or nonparticipating hospitals., Methods: Patient-level linear probability models with difference-in-differences approach were used to compare the changes in institutional PAC use in MSSP-participating hospitals with nonparticipating hospitals as well as to compare the changes in differences by race/ethnicity and payer status in institutional PAC use over time., Results: Hospital participation in MSSP was significantly associated with increased institutional PAC use for the ischemic stroke cohort by 1.5 percentage points [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00-0.3, P < .05] compared with non-MSSP participating hospitals. Regarding variations by race/ethnicity and payer status, for the elective TJA patients, racial minority patients in MSSP-participating hospitals had 3.8 percentage points greater (95% CI 0.01-0.06, P < .01) in institutional PAC use than white patients. Also, for ischemic stroke cohort, dual-eligible patients in MSSP-participating hospitals had 2.0 percentage points greater (95% CI 0.00-0.04, P < .10) in institutional PAC use than Medicare-only patients., Conclusions and Implications: This study found that hospital participation in the MSSP was associated with slightly increased institutional PAC use for ischemic stroke Medicare patients. Also, compared to non-MSSP participating hospitals, MSSP-participating hospitals were more likely to discharge racial minority patients for elective TJA and dual-eligible patients for ischemic stroke to institutional PAC., (Copyright © 2022 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the use of operative rotator cuff repair for rotator cuff pathology in New York State and analyze the racial, ethnic, and income-based disparities in receiving rotator cuff repair., Methods: A retrospective review of the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System Database of New York State was conducted to include patients with a new diagnosis of rotator cuff tear between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2019, with at least 6 months of follow-up. Bivariate analysis using χ 2 tests and multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine racial, ethnic, and income-based disparities in the use of surgical treatment with rotator cuff repair., Results: A total of 87,660 patients were included in the study. Of these, 36,422 patients (41.5%) underwent surgical treatment with rotator cuff repair. Multivariable analysis showed that Black race (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-0.87; P < .001), Hispanic/Latino ethnicity (aOR 0.91; 95% CI 0.85-0.97); P = .004), and Medicaid (aOR 0.75; 95% CI 0.70-0.80; P < .001), or other government insurance (aOR 0.82; 95% CI 0.78-0.86; P < .001) were independently associated with lower rates of rotator cuff repair. Male sex (aOR 1.18; 95% CI 1.14-1.22; P < .001), Asian race (aOR 1.27; 95% CI 1.00-1.62; P = .048), workers' compensation insurance (aOR 1.12; 95% CI 1.07-1.18; P < .001), and greater home ZIP code income quartile (aOR 1.19; 95% CI 1.09-1.30; P < .001) were independently associated with greater rates of operative management. Although race was an independent covariate affecting rate of rotator cuff repair, the effects of race were altered when accounting for the other covariates, suggesting that race alone does not account for the differences in rate of surgery for rotator cuff pathology., Conclusions: In this analysis of all adult patients presenting with rotator cuff tears to New York hospital systems from 2017 to 2019, we identified significant racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in the likelihood of rotator cuff repair surgery for patients with rotator cuff tears. These include lower rates of rotator cuff repair for those Black, Hispanic, and low-income populations as represented by Medicaid insurance and low home ZIP code income quartile., Clinical Relevance: This study reports disparities in the use of rotator cuff repair for individuals with rotator cuff pathology., (Copyright © 2022 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Workplace wellness (WP) programs are an employer strategy to improve employee health and satisfaction. Their impact on productivity and benefit expense remains unclear. This study examines the association of a voluntary WP at an academic health center with both employee metrics and employer costs., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data from January 2016 to April 2018 for employees who voluntarily underwent screening for a WP at an academic medical center. We used their demographic, social, work, and clinical data to address the central research question. The primary outcomes included wellness measures from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), secondary wellness outcomes such as body mass index, job-related outcomes such as job satisfaction, and workers' compensation metrics such as the claim amount. The key independent variables were whether an observation was from before or after the WP. For workers' compensation metrics, additional key independent variables were intervention/control group, and an interaction between the before/after and intervention/control variables. We conducted univariate and bivariate/unadjusted analyses, and estimated multivariable linear, logistic, and gamma regression models that also controlled for confounders., Results: The study included 370 employees. Participation in the program was associated with significant improvements in the PROMIS pain interference, fatigue and sleep quality domains. Hip circumference diminished, and functional movement outcomes were improved. Job satisfaction improved by 4.4 percentage points (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.3-8.5, p = 0.04) and self-reported productivity by 14.5 percentage points (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 9.5-19.5, p < 0.001). The likelihood of a new compensation claim during the 12-month follow-up period fell by 10.1% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: - 15.5 to - 4.7, p < 0.001). However, the value of a new claim was unchanged., Conclusion: Employees who completed a WP at an academic medical center demonstrated improvements in several recognized patient-reported outcome measures, in job satisfaction and self-reported productivity, a decrease in hip circumference, an improvement in functional motion and a decreased rate of compensable injury., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Despite its importance for clinical decisions, the long-term consequences of posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion (PSIF) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), particularly in the lower lumbar spine, remain unclear. This study evaluates the long-term health-related quality of life and the need for a further surgical procedure in patients treated with Harrington instrumentation from 1961 to 1977 according to the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) and in comparison with age-matched norms., Methods: A search was performed to identify and contact the 314 identified patients with AIS treated with PSIF by Dr. L.A. Goldstein. The assessment included identified subsequent spine surgery, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Scoliosis Research Society-7 (SRS-7), EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 (PROMIS-29). The health-related quality of life was compared with U.S. norms and, within the cohort, was compared by patient factors, LIV, and subsequent spine surgery., Results: In this study, 134 patients (42.7%) were identified; 24 (7.6%) had died, 81 (25.8%) consented to participate in the study, and 29 (9.2%) declined participation. The mean follow-up was 45.4 years (range, 40 to 56 years). There were 81 patients who completed the surveys, 77 patients who completed the SRS-7, 77 patients who completed the ODI, and 76 patients who completed the PROMIS-29 and EQ-5D. There were 12.8% of patients with LIV L3 or proximal and 36.4% with LIV L4 or distal who had an additional surgical procedure (odds ratio, 3.98). Comparing the ODI of patients who had undergone an additional surgical procedure with those who had not showed 42% and 73% minimal disability, 53% and 23% moderate disability, and 5% and 2% severe disability. Of the patients who had not undergone an additional surgical procedure, those with LIV L3 or proximal had mean scores of 14.12 points for the ODI and 23.3 points for the SRS-7 and those with LIV L4 or distal had mean scores of 17.9 points for the ODI and 22.7 points for the SRS-7; these differences were not significant. The mean PROMIS-29 and EQ-5D scores were not different from normal U.S. age-based means., Conclusions: Patients with AIS treated with PSIF at a mean 45-year follow-up and LIV L4 or distal had a higher rate of undergoing an additional surgical procedure than those with LIV L3 or proximal. Patients undergoing an additional surgical procedure had lower health-related quality of life than those who did not. Despite this, there was no difference in health-related quality of life for patients with LIV L4 or distal compared with patients with LIV L3 or proximal. This cohort of patients with AIS treated with PSIF demonstrates normal self-reported health-related quality of life compared with the age-matched general population. These long-term outcomes of PSIF for AIS are encouraging., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJS/H27)., (Copyright © 2022 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Objective: To identify a high-need, high-cost (HNHC) group among hospitalized lupus patients and to compare clinical and social factors of the HNHC group with those of other patients with lupus., Methods: All hospitalizations for lupus in a tertiary care center over a 3-year period were recorded. The number of admissions, 30-day readmissions, length of stay (LOS), and cost of admissions were compared for high-risk patients with those of all other hospitalized lupus patients (OHLP) during this period. We then compared clinical measures (double-stranded DNA [dsDNA] levels, complement proteins, body mass index, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index [SDI] scores, and Case Mix Index [CMI] scores) for the HNHC cohort with those of the OHLP group. We additionally differentiated social factors (age, race and ethnicity, poverty, and medication adherence) between the 2 groups., Results: A total of 202 patients with lupus accounted for 467 hospitalizations over the study period. The total cost of admissions was $13,192,346. Forty-four patients had significantly higher admissions, 30-day readmissions, and LOS. Furthermore, the cost for this group was 6-fold that for the OHLP group, confirming the presence of an HNHC cohort. The HNHC group had significantly higher dsDNA levels, SDI scores, and CMI scores compared with the OHLP group. Infections were the most common cause of admission for both groups. Patients in the HNHC group were more likely to be African American, younger, diagnosed with lupus at an earlier age, to have lower medication adherence, and to be significantly more likely to live in areas of poverty., Conclusion: A small group of patients with lupus (the HNHC group) accounts for most of the hospitalizations and cost. The HNHC group has both social and clinical factors significantly different from other patients with lupus., (© 2020 American College of Rheumatology.)

Objectives: Readmissions for Medicare patients initially admitted for stroke are common and costly. Rehabilitation in an institutional postacute care (PAC) setting is an evidence-based component of recovery for stroke. Under current Medicare payment reforms, care coordination across hospitals and PAC providers is key to improving quality and efficiency of care. We examined the causal impact of institutional PAC use on 30-day readmission rates for Medicare fee-for-service patients initially admitted for ischemic stroke., Data Sources: The 2010-2016 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files., Research Design: We used the method of instrumental variable (IV) analysis to control for unobserved differences in the types of patients admitted to each PAC facility. We chose the distance from the patient's residence to the closest institutional PAC provider and the number of PAC providers of each type within a county where the patient resides as IVs., Principal Findings: In the naive model, an increase in institutional PAC use was significantly associated with an increase in 30-day readmission by 0.03 percentage points. However, using IV analysis to control for endogeneity bias, an increase in institutional PAC use was associated with a decrease in 30-day readmission rate by 0.19 percentage points. Our findings indicate that reducing institutional PAC use among patients typically requiring rehabilitation in institutional settings for recovery may potentially lead to adverse postdischarge outcomes that require rehospitalization. Thus, payment incentives to reduce institutional PAC use should be balanced with postdischarge outcomes among ischemic stroke patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Accountable care organizations in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) in the United States attempt to reduce cost and improve quality for their patients by improving care coordination across care settings. We examined the impact of hospital participation in the MSSP on 30-day readmissions for several groups of Medicare inpatients, and by race/ethnicity and payer status., Main Data Source: A 2010-2016 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files., Research Design: With propensity score matched sample of MSSP and non-MSSP-participating hospitals, patient-level linear probability models with difference-in-differences approach were used to compare the changes in readmission rates for Medicare fee-for-service patients initially admitted for ischemic stroke, hip fracture, or total joint arthroplasty in MSSP-participating hospitals with non-MSSP-participating hospitals as well as to compare the changes in disparities in readmission rates over time., Principal Findings: Hospital participation in MSSP was associated with further reduced readmission rate by 1.1 percentage points (95% confidence interval: -0.02 to 0.00, P<0.05) and 1.5 percentage points (95% confidence interval: -0.03 to 0.00, P=0.08) for ischemic stroke and hip fracture cohorts, respectively, compared with non-MSSP-participating hospitals, after the third year of hospital participation in the MSSP. There was no evidence that MSSP had an impact on racial/ethnic disparities, but increased disparity by payer status (dual vs. Medicare-only) was observed. These findings together suggest that MSSP accountable care organizations may take at least 3 years to achieve reduced readmissions and may increase disparities by payer status., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Treatment for upper extremity amputations includes revision amputation or attempted replantation. The rate of digital replantation has been declining in the United States. Prior studies discovered the presence of socioeconomic disparities associated with these injuries. The goals of this study were to investigate yearly trends of traumatic upper extremity amputations and evaluate the presence of disparities with access to care in these injuries., Methods: The 2008 to 2014 New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) inpatient and outpatient databases were utilized to identify patients who had traumatic upper extremity amputations. We queried the database for patient characteristics, resource utilization characteristics, insurance status, major in-hospital complications, and mortality. Patients at low-, medium-, and high-volume institutions were compared. We performed multivariable logistic regressions for the binary variable replantation (yes/no) controlling for age, sex, race, insurance status, amputation level, admission hour, and comorbidities., Results: A total of 2,492 patients met our inclusion criteria: 92.1% sustained digital amputations and 7.9% sustained arm amputations. The annual rate of inpatient finger amputations decreased significantly (1.9 per 100,000 people in 2008 vs 1.4 per 100,000 people in 2014) during the study period while that of outpatient finger amputations increased significantly (12.0 per 100,000 people in 2008 vs 15.5 per 100,000 people in 2014). Multivariable analysis demonstrated incrementally lower odds for replantation with increasing age and increased odds for replantation in patients with private insurance (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-2.50). The number of replantation surgeries at medium-volume institutions decreased by 45% while remaining steady in low- and high-volume institutions., Conclusions: Our findings corroborate the findings of other studies that underscore the existence of disparities with respect to insurance status in these injuries. Replantations occur more frequently at high-volume hospitals and are more common in younger patients with private insurance. This finding suggests that patients with traumatic amputations may benefit from treatment at high-volume institutions. Further research to help improve access to such institutions is warranted., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Prognostic II., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background Context: The prevalence of C2 fractures has increased in recent years. The treatment of these fractures include halo-vest immobilization (HVI), rigid cervical collar, or spinal fusion. There is controversy regarding the management of these fractures with different institutions having their own protocols based on individualized experience. The volume-outcome relationship of HVI use for C2 fractures has not been studied. Evaluation of such relationships are important as they suggest that patients may benefit from referral to and treatment at high-volume institutions., Purpose: To evaluate the volume-outcome relationship in HVI use for C2 fractures in New York State., Study Design: Retrospective analysis of a statewide database., Patient Sample: We queried the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database for the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code 805.02 (closed fracture of second cervical vertebra) and procedure code 029.4 (insertion or replacement of skull tongs or halo traction device) to identify all patients who received HVI for a fracture of the second cervical vertebra between the years 2001 and 2014. Those who had isolated C2 fractures were selected., Outcome Measures: Outcomes of interest included resource utilization characteristics (hospitalization charges and length of stay), perioperative complications, comorbidities, 30-day mortality, any readmission, and any future cervical fusion surgery., Methods: The 2001 to 2014 Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was used to identify patients with C2 fractures who received HVI. Our key independent variable was institution volume modeled as high- (>25 halos/year), medium-, (10-25 halos/year), or low-volume (<10 halos/year) based on the total number of HVI procedures reported by hospitals during the study period. We compared outcomes with respect to hospital volume. We also compared patients by age groups: <40, 40 to 60, 60 to 80, and >80. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed for the binary variables any complication and any readmission while controlling for covariates hospital volume, age, sex, race, insurance status, and Elixhauser comorbidity mean. Statistical significance was set at a value of p<.05 for all analyses., Results: In all, 625 patients with C2 fractures managed with HVI were included. Most patients were male (53%) and Caucasian (76%) with a mean age of 57. Patients at high-volume hospitals were younger (52 vs. 59 and 60 for medium- and low-volume, respectively; p<.01) and had fewer future readmissions (40% vs. 54% and 84% for medium- and low-volume, respectively; p<.01). On multivariable analysis, those with private insurance and worker's compensation had lower likelihood of future readmission compared to Medicaid patients. Patients >80 had higher rates of major in-hospital complications (52% vs. 40%, 18%, and 19% for groups 60-79, 40-59, and <40, respectively; p<.01), mortality (14% vs. 5%, 1%, and 1% for groups 60-79, 40-59, and <40, respectively; p<.01), and readmissions after the initial HVI (62% vs. 50%, 54%, and 37% for groups 60-79, 40-59, and <40, respectively; p<.01). The annual rate of HVI use for C2 fractures decreased significantly from 2001 to 2014 (0.32 to 0.06 HVI procedures per 100,000 people; p<.01) with the rate of decline being less pronounced in high-volume institutions (70% decrease vs. 85% and 90% for medium- and low-volume, respectively)., Conclusions: Halo vest utilization for C2 fractures in New York State has been declining over the past decade, with the decline being less pronounced in high-volume hospitals. Our hospital volume analysis suggests that HVI use in high-volume institutions is associated with a lower rate of future readmissions. This finding suggests that patients with C2 fractures may benefit from treatment at high-volume institutions. Further research to help improve referral of appropriate patients and increase access to such institutions is warranted., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is a paucity of literature examining surgical trends and outcomes in both child and adult cerebral palsy (CP) patients. We aimed to evaluate surgical trends, complications, length of stay, and charges for spinal deformity surgery in CP patients., Methods: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2001 to 2013, patients with CP scoliosis who underwent spinal fusion surgery were identified. Patient characteristics and comorbidities were recorded. Trends in spinal fusion approaches were grouped as anterior (ASF), posterior (PSF), or combined anterior-posterior (ASF/PSF). Complication rates, length of stay, and charges for each approach were analyzed. Bivariate analyses using adjusted Wald tests and multivariate analyses using linear (logarithmic transformation) and logistic regressions were performed., Results: Of the 5191 adult CP patients who underwent spinal fusion the majority underwent PSF (86.5%), followed by the ASF/PSF approach (9.3%). The rate of PSF for cerebral palsy patients with spinal deformity increased significantly per 1 million people in the US population (0.90 to 1.30; P  = .048). Complication rate, hospital length of stay, and charges were higher for patients undergoing ASF/PSF ( P  < .05). The overall complication rate for all surgical approaches was 25.7%. Patient comorbidities and combined ASF/PSF increased the odds of complication. Combined ASF/PSF was also associated with an increased length of stay and charges., Conclusion: Combined ASF/PSF in patients with CP accounted for only 9.3% of surgical cases but was associated with the longest hospital stay, highest charges, and increased complications. Further scrutiny of the surgical indications and preoperative risk stratification should be undertaken to minimize complications, reduce length of stay, and decrease charges for CP patients undergoing spinal fusion., Level of Evidence: IV., Competing Interests: Disclosures and COI: This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Dr Menga reports consulting for Evolution Spine and being Speaker Honoraria for Globus Medical, outside the submitted work. Mr Bernstein has nothing to disclose. Dr Thirukumaran has nothing to disclose. Dr McCormick has nothing to disclose. Dr Rubery reports grants from AOSpine. Dr Mesfin reports grants from LES Society, grants from Corelink, grants from AOSpine, grants from OMeGA, grants from Globus, outside the submitted work., (©International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery 2020.)

Study Design: Retrospective database review., Objectives: To determine factors associated with unplanned readmission, complications, and mortality in patients undergoing operative management for C2 fractures., Methods: The American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) was queried between 2007 and 2014. Unplanned readmission, any complication, and mortality were the outcomes of interest. Bivariate statistics were calculated, and multivariate regression models were estimated., Results: A total of 285 patients were enrolled. Readmission data was available for 199 patients and 11 patients (5.5% of 199 patients) had an unplanned readmission. Overall, 60 patients (21% of 285 patients) had at least 1 complication and 15 patients (5.3% of 285 patients) died. Five factors were associated with complications: transferred from another facility (odds ratio [OR] 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]1.51-5.98; P < .01); operative time ≥180 minutes (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.11-5.36; P = .03); at least 1 patient comorbidity (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.01-6.18; P < .05); American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 3 (OR 4.86, 95% CI 1.19-19.88; P = .03); and ASA class 4 (OR 7.24, 95% CI 1.66-31.66; P = .01). The only factor associated with unplanned readmission was having at least one postoperative complication (OR 7.10, 95% CI 1.04-48.59; P < .05), while patients who were partially or totally dependent from a functional standpoint were at increased odds of death (OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.12-14.08; P = .03)., Conclusions: Patients with functional limitations have increased odds of death, while patients with postoperative complications have increased odds of unplanned readmission. Being transferred from an outside facility, having an operative time ≥180 minutes, having at least one comorbidity, and being classified as ASA class 3 or 4 increase patient odds of complication., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: DNB reports grants from Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), outside the submitted work. ENM reports personal fees from Evolution Spine, personal fees from Globus Medical, outside the submitted work. AM reports grants from Globus, grants from LES Society, grants from Corelink, grants from AO Spine, grants from OMeGA, outside the submitted work. All other authors (CT, BR, RWM) have no disclosures., (© The Author(s) 2019.)

Study Design: Analysis of a national database., Objective: To analyze trends in spinal fusion surgery for neurofibromatosis type I (NF-1) patients and to compare the surgical approaches., Summary of Background Data: The preferred surgical approach for fusion treatment of spinal deformity in NF is not well established., Methods: We identified 548 patients with a diagnosis of NF-1 who had received spinal fusion surgery between 2003 and 2014. We compared posterior spinal fusion (PSF), anterior-posterior spinal fusion (APSF), and anterior spinal fusion with respect to patient demographics, institutional characteristics, in-hospital complications, and hospitalization lengths and costs. Significance was set at a value of p less than .05., Results: The number of spinal fusions for NF-1 significantly increased (p = .02) over the study period. The rate of PSF surgeries increased 2.9-fold, whereas the rate of APSF surgeries decreased 2.2-fold. There was also a significant association between the location of the fusion and surgical approach (p<.01), with 66% of ASF cases being cervical spine cases. Compared with patients undergoing PSF and ASF, patients undergoing APSF were significantly younger (p<.01) and had significantly higher hospitalization lengths and costs (p<.01). APSF costs were $180,714 as compared to $144,027 for PSF and $105,312 for ASF., Conclusions: There have been significant increases in the rate of spinal fusion surgeries for NF-1 patients. Surgical treatment has shifted over the years and is dependent on the location of the deformity. Patients undergoing APSF are significantly younger., Level of Evidence: Level III., (Copyright © 2018 Scoliosis Research Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Workers' compensation status is associated with poor outcomes after rotator cuff repair surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyze a database of geriatric workers' compensation patients after surgical repair of the rotator cuff and identify both medical and nonmedical patient factors that influence the time it takes for them to return to work at full duty, including a comparison of arthroscopic and open techniques., Methods: An all workers' compensation database was queried for rotator cuff claims that were surgically managed using arthroscopic, open, or both approaches from 2003 to 2013 in patients aged ≥60. Primary outcomes were the number of days for return to full work (RTW) following surgery and the total reimbursement for health care. Multivariate analysis was performed, and data are presented as average ± standard deviation., Results: The database yielded 1903 claims for surgically treated rotator cuff conditions (arthroscopic n = 935; open n = 926; both n = 42). In multivariate RTW analyses, we did not find a significant difference between groups (RTW in days was 153 ± 134 for arthroscopy [ P = .81], 160 ± 160 for open [Ref], and 140 ± 82 days for both [ P = .75]). However, multivariate analysis of reimbursement claims found arthroscopic surgery claims to be 13% higher compared to claims for open surgery only (US $29 986 ± 16 259 for arthroscopy vs US $26 495 ± 13 186 for open, P < .001). Patients aged ≥65 had more medical expenses than patients aged 60 to 64 ( P = .03). Potentially modifiable variables that significantly prolonged RTW timing and higher health-care claims included need for vocational rehabilitation services and filing of a legal suit., Conclusions: Return to full-duty work in geriatric workers' compensation patients after rotator cuff repair takes about 5 months regardless of surgical approach and costs significantly more in patients aged ≥65. Arthroscopic repairs generated 13% more cumulative health-care costs than open surgery alone. More efficient vocational rehabilitation services and minimizing legal suits may help get patients back to work sooner and reduce overall costs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Ilya Voloshin is a paid consultant for Zimmer, Arthrex, and Smith & Nephew.

Background Context: There is a paucity of literature describing risk factors for adverse outcomes after geriatric lumbar spinal surgery. As the geriatric population increases, so does the number of lumbar spinal surgeries in this cohort., Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine how safe lumbar surgery is in elderly patients. Does patient selection, type of surgery, length of surgery, and other comorbidities in the elderly patient affect complication and readmission rates after surgery?, Study Design/setting: This is a retrospective cohort study., Patient Sample: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Database was used in the study., Outcome Measures: The outcome data that were analyzed were minor and major complications, mortality, and readmissions in geriatric patients who underwent lumbar spinal surgery from 2005 to 2015., Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from the ACS NSQIP database. Patients over the age of 80 years who underwent lumbar spinal surgery from 2005 to 2013 were identified using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems diagnosis codes and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Outcome data were classified as either a major complication, minor complication, readmission, or mortality. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine risks for developing adverse outcomes in the initial 30 postoperative days., Results: A total of 2,320 patients over the age of 80 years who underwent lumbar spine surgery were identified. Overall, 379 (16.34%) patients experienced at least one complication or death. Seventy-five patients (3.23%) experienced a major complication. Three hundred thirty-eight patients (14.57%) experienced a minor complication. Eighty-six patients (6.39%) were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Ten deaths (0.43%) were recorded in the initial 30 postoperative days. Increased operative times were strongly associated with perioperative complications (operative time >180 minutes, odds ratio [OR]: 3.07 [95% confidence interval {CI} 2.23-4.22]; operative time 120-180 minutes, OR: 1.77 [95% CI 1.27-2.47]). Instrumentation and fusion procedures were also associated with an increased risk of developing a complication (OR: 2.56 [95% CI 1.66-3.94]). Readmission was strongly associated with patients who were considered underweight (body mass index [BMI] <18.5) and who were functionally debilitated at the time of admission (OR: 4.10 [1.08-15.48] and OR: 2.79 [1.40-5.56], respectively)., Conclusions: Elderly patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery have high complications and readmission rates. Risk factors for complications include longer operative time and more extensive procedures involving instrumentation and fusion. Higher readmission rates are associated with low baseline patient functional status and low patient BMI., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate risk factors and complications of cervical spine surgery in elderly patients., Methods: A retrospective study was performed using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Patients ≥65 years old who underwent cervical spine surgery from 2005 to 2013 were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Outcome data were classified as major complication, minor complication, readmission, or mortality., Results: Of 1786 patients ≥65 years old undergoing cervical spine surgery identified, 175 (9.80%) patients experienced at least 1 complication or death. Patients ≥75 years old were at higher risk of developing a complication or death (odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-2.61). Patients with increased operative times (OR 3.54, 95% CI 2.27-5.53), patients who were partially or totally dependent (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.79-5.07), and patients listed as American Society of Anesthesiologists class III/IV/V (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.20-2.94) had increased risks of perioperative complications. Patients 70-74 years old (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.03-3.65) and patients with at least 1 postoperative complication (OR 9.59, 95% CI 5.17-17.80) had increased risks of unplanned readmissions. Patients ≥75 years old undergoing a laminectomy/laminotomy were at higher risk of complications (OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.33-7.70), whereas there was no difference in risk of complications based on age for elderly patients undergoing a fusion., Conclusions: Patient comorbidities and clinical factors, such as longer operating time and emergency cases, impact risk of adverse events. Patients 70-74 years old and patients with at least 1 postoperative complication had an increased risk of unplanned readmission., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study analyzed workers' compensation patients after surgical or nonoperative treatment of clavicle fractures to identify factors that influence the time for return to work and total health care reimbursement claims. We hypothesized that return to work for operative patients would be faster., Methods: The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes and Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to retrospectively query the Workers' Compensation national database. The outcomes of interest were the number of days for return to full work after surgery and total reimbursement for health care-related claims. The primary independent variable was treatment modality., Results: There were 169 claims for clavicle fractures within the database (surgical, n = 34; nonoperative, n = 135). The average health care claims reimbursed were $29,136 ± $26,998 for surgical management compared with $8366 ± $14,758 for nonoperative management (P < .001). We did not find a statistically significant difference between surgical (196 ± 287 days) and nonoperative (69 ± 94 days) treatment groups in their time to return to work (P = .06); however, there was high variability in both groups. Litigation was an independent predictor of prolonged return to work (P = .007) and higher health care costs (P = .003)., Conclusion: Workers' compensation patients treated for clavicle fractures return to work at roughly the same time whether they are treated surgically or nonoperatively, with surgery being roughly 3 times more expensive. There was a substantial amount of variability in return to work timing by subjects in both groups. Litigation was a predictor of longer return to work timing and higher health care costs., (Copyright © 2016 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To identify risk factors of adult patients predisposing them to the most common complications that occur within 30 days after arthroscopic shoulder surgery., Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for arthroscopic shoulder procedures. Complications and their frequency were calculated. Multivariate analysis was used to identify risk factors of adult patients predisposing them to complications. Risk factors for reoperation and characteristics of patients undergoing repair procedures were also analyzed., Results: Among 10,255 cases of shoulder arthroscopy, 119 complications were reported in 103 cases within 30 days of surgery. The rates of any, major, and minor complications were 1%, 0.57%, and 0.53%, respectively. Return to the operating room (29% of all complications) was the most frequent complication. With risk adjustment, the odds of complications developing were higher for patients older than 60 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.47; P = .03), patients with a surgical time greater than 1.5 hours (AOR, 1.93; P = .01), patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; AOR, 2.76; P = .03), patients with an inpatient status (AOR, 2.72; P < .01), patients with disseminated cancer (AOR, 21.9; P < .01), and current smokers (AOR, 1.94; P = .01). The presence of COPD (AOR, 4.67; P = .04) was a significant predictor for reoperation within 30 days. Repair procedures did not increase the risk of complications compared with non-repair. Male patients, patients aged younger than 30 years, nondiabetic patients, and nonsmokers were more likely to undergo repair procedures (P < .05 for all)., Conclusions: Shoulder arthroscopy has a 1.0% thirty-day complication rate, with the most common complication being return to the operating room (29% of all complications). Age older than 60 years, surgical time greater than 90 minutes, COPD, inpatient status, disseminated cancer, and current smoking all increased a patient's risk of complications. Patients undergoing repair procedures were not at increased risk. Pulmonary comorbidity increases the risk of reoperation within 30 days. Patients undergoing repair procedures tend to be younger and carry fewer risk factors for complications., Level of Evidence: Level IV, prognostic case series., (Copyright © 2015 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)