Age as a Risk Factor for Complications Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected registry data using multivariable analyses of imputed data. OBJECTIVE We sought to demonstrate that age would not be associated with complications in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Elderly patients (≥70 yrs) undergoing ACDF are considered a higher risk for complications. However, conclusive evidence is lacking. The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) is a quality improvement collaborative with 30 hospitals across Michigan. METHODS The study included all patients who had 1 to 4 level ACDF (September 2015-August 2019) for 90-day complications. Major and minor complications were defined using a validated classification. Multiple imputations were used to generate complete covariate datasets. Generalized estimating equation model was used to identify associations with complications using the whole cohort and elderly subgroup analyses. Bonferroni correction was used. RESULTS Nine thousand one hundred thirty five patients (11.1% ≥ 70 yrs and 88.9%