Tag: Urinary retention

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Factors associated with readmission after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

J Neurosurg Spine 38:681–687, 2023

The objective of this study was to identify factors that lead to a prolonged hospital stay or 30-day readmission after minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) at a single institution.

METHODS Consecutive patients who underwent MIS TLIF from January 1, 2016, to March 31, 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data, including age, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, and body mass index, were collected along with operative details, indications, affected spinal levels, estimated blood loss, and operative duration. The effects of these data were evaluated relative to the hospital length of stay (LOS) and 30-day readmission.

RESULTS The authors identified 174 consecutive patients who underwent MIS TLIF at 1 or 2 levels from a prospectively collected database. The mean (range) patient age was 64.1 (31–81) years, 97 were women (56%), and 77 were men (44%). Of 182 levels fused, 127 were done at L4–5 (70%), 32 at L3–4 (18%), 13 at L5–S1 (7%), and 10 at L2–3 (5%). Patients underwent 166 (95%) single-level procedures and 8 (5%) 2-level procedures. The mean (range) procedural duration, defined as the time from incision to closure, was 164.6 (90–529) minutes. The mean (range) LOS was 1.8 (0–8) days. Eleven patients (6%) were readmitted within 30 days; the most frequent causes were urinary retention, constipation, and persistent or contralateral symptoms. Seventeen patients had LOS greater than 3 days. Six of those patients (35%) were identified as widows, widowers, or divorced, and 5 of them lived alone. Six patients with prolonged LOS (35%) required placement in either skilled nursing or acute inpatient rehabilitation. Regression analyses showed living alone (p = 0.04) and diabetes (p = 0.04) as predictors of readmission. Regression analyses revealed female sex (p = 0.03), diabetes (p = 0.03), and multilevel surgery (p = 0.006) as predictors of LOS > 3 days.

CONCLUSIONS Urinary retention, constipation, and persistent radicular symptoms were the leading causes of readmission within 30 days of surgery in this series, which is distinct from data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. The inability to discharge a patient home for social reasons led to prolonged inpatient hospital stays. Identifying these risk factors and proactively addressing them could lower readmission rates and decrease LOS among patients undergoing MIS TLIF.

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Cauda equina syndrome: a review of the current clinical and medico-legal position

Eur Spine J (2011) 20:690–697. DOI 10.1007/s00586-010-1668-3

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a rare condition with a disproportionately high medico-legal profile. It occurs most frequently following a large central lumbar disc herniation, prolapse or sequestration.

Review of the literature indicates that around 50–70% of patients have urinary retention (CES-R) on presentation with 30–50% having an incomplete syndrome (CES-I). The latter group, especially if the history is less than a few days, usually requires emergency MRI to confirm the diagnosis followed by prompt decompression by a suitably experienced surgeon. Every effort should be made to avoid CES-I with its more favourable prognosis becoming CES-R while under medical supervision either before or after admission to hospital. The degree of urgency of early surgery in CES-R is still not in clear focus but it cannot be doubted that earliest decompression removes the mechanical and perhaps chemical factors which are the causes of progressive neurological damage.

A full explanation and consent procedure prior to surgery is essential in order to reduce the likelihood of misunderstanding and litigation in the event of a persistent neurological deficit.

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