Comorbidities and Complications of Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: General pediatricians and hospitalists are increasingly summoned to optimize the comorbid conditions of children with medical complexity (CMC) undergoing major surgery. We assessed the relationship between specific chronic conditions of CMC and hospital resource use with spinal fusion for scoliosis, an operation with high cost and morbidity. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 7252 children age ≥5 years with an underlying complex chronic condition undergoing spinal fusion between January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2014 in 41 children’s hospitals. Hospital length of stay (LOS), cost, and 30-day readmission rate were compared across comorbid conditions by using linear and logistic regression accounting for demographic characteristics and clustering of patients by hospital. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of children had ≥4 comorbid conditions. As the number of chronic conditions increased from 1–3 to ≥10, median LOS increased 60% (5 [interquartile range (IQR), 4–7] to 8 [IQR, 5–13] days); median hospital cost increased 53% ($52 319 [IQR, $37 937–71 513] to $80 429 [IQR, $58 602–$111 965]); and readmission rates increased 293% (5.4% to 15.8%) (P < .001 for all). In multivariable analysis, conditions strongly associated with LOS and cost were chronic respiratory insufficiency (LOS: +2.1 days; cost: +$12 070; and bladder dysfunction (LOS: +0.8 days; cost: +$4014) (P < .001 for all). Readmission likelihood was highest with bladder dysfunction (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.0) and epilepsy (odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic respiratory insufficiency, bladder dysfunction, and epilepsy had significant associations with hospital resource use for CMC undergoing spinal fusion. Pediatricians, patients, and families may find it useful to consider these conditions when striving to benefit the children’s perioperative health and outcomes.