Postponing Spinal Surgery in Patients Recovered from COVID-19 based on Coagulation Test Results, Effective or Ineffective Strategy?

Abstract

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has posed numerous challenges across medical disciplines, including laboratory testing. Alterations in blood parameters caused by the virus have raised concerns regarding the reliability of certain laboratory tests. This study aimed to investigate whether relying on hematology test results to postpone surgeries remains a dependable practice, particularly in the context of spinal interventions. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 220 patients who had undergone spinal surgery between October 2021 and June 2023 and whose COVID-19 status was documented. Inclusion criteria encompassed individuals without a history of blood disorders, pregnancy, drug or smoking addiction, or recent surgical procedures. Data were extracted using a checklist and analyzed utilizing SPSS software. Descriptive methods and statistical tests, such as independent samples t-test and chi-square test, were employed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results Among the analyzed patients, 56.4% were male and 43.6% were female. Fusion surgery was performed on 82.7% of individuals, while laminectomy surgery was performed on 17.3%. Approximately 65.9% had no underlying conditions, and 67.3% had a history of prior COVID-19 infection. Postoperative thrombotic complications were observed in 2.2%. Comparisons between patients with and without coagulation complications revealed no significant differences in demographic information, history of COVID-19 infection, or coagulation test results. Furthermore, a comparison of D-dimer test outcomes between individuals with normal D-dimer levels (54 people) and those with levels exceeding 500 (55 people) demonstrated no significant distinction (P > 0.05). Conclusion Based on the findings, this study concludes that for major and extensive spinal surgeries in patients with a history of COVID-19, evaluating D-dimer test results does not offer significant assistance in decision-making.