Two AIS Cases, 2 Surgeons, 1 Operating Room, 1 Day: Faster and Safer Than 1 Case in a Day

Abstract

Background: To lessen surgical times for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) undergoing posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion (PSIF), our department developed a quality improvement initiative where 2 AIS cases were completed in 1 day by the same 2 surgeons operating together in 1 operating room (OR). We describe the results of this initiative, comparing operative times and outcomes to cases of these surgeons operating individually. Methods: From 2017 to 2023, patients aged 10 to 18 years with AIS undergoing PSIF were prospectively enrolled for “Two Spine Tuesday.” Patients were matched by age, sex, curve severity, and number of levels fused to historical AIS controls. Outcomes included surgery time, total OR time, estimated blood loss (EBL), volume of cell saver transfused, allogenic blood transfusion, length of stay, 90-day readmissions, Clavien-Dindo-Sink Complication Classification System complication rates, and percentage who achieved the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for SRS-22. Results: Fifty-five patients composing the 2-spine group (group 2) were compared with 55 historical sex-matched and age-matched controls (group 1). Major coronal curve and average number of levels fused were similar between groups. Overall surgery time (203 vs. 296 min, P<0.001), total OR time (P<0.001), and EBL (400 vs. 550 mL, P<0.001) were lower for group 2. Group 2 had fewer complications [n=17 (31%) vs. n=28 (51%), P=0.03]. Conclusions: Performing 2 AIS cases in 1 OR by 2 surgeons the same day resulted in shorter surgery times, less total time in the operating room, lower complication rates, and less blood loss compared with single-surgeon matched controls. Level of Evidence: Level III—retrospective comparative study.