Risk factors for post-operative spine surgery complications determined in new study

Many of the individuals currently suffering from back pain as a result of spinal conditions or injuries may find that conservative treatments effectively address their symptoms. Methods of this variety often include physical therapy techniques, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and core stabilization exercises.

With that being said, a large number of patients experiencing the same problems, but with more severe pain, will not find relief through any of those tactics. Generally, when symptoms do not improve or disappear after six weeks or more of conservative back pain treatments, more intensive methods can be recommended and attempted by an orthopedist.

Back surgery is the most aggressive treatment used in orthopedic spine care. Considerable advances in the past few decades have greatly enhanced the techniques and medical equipment used in such operations. As a result, more patients suffering from painful - and sometimes disabling - spinal conditions are undergoing surgical procedures than ever before.

For the majority of patients, spine surgery is entirely effective in eliminating the pain and other symptoms that bring them such extreme discomfort, or reducing them to negligible levels.

Despite this, complications can arise in the wake of orthopedic spinal operations, similar to those associated with any form of surgery. Certain patients will have a greater likelihood of encountering these problems than others. Additionally, the chance of complications is notably contingent on the type of surgery being performed - some have minimal risk, while others are less predictable.

A recent study, just published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, set out to identify precisely what risk factors affected the chances of post-operative complications in spine surgery. According to the conclusions of the study's authors, some attributes that made complications more probable included advanced age, a history of cardiovascular health problems or spinal wound infection, and the use of corticosteroids.

The research supporting these statements involved close examination of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database, maintained by the American College of Surgeons. Study authors focused on 3,475 spine surgery patients who underwent their operations to correct spinal stenosis, disc degeneration or a herniated disc between 2005 and 2008.

Those involved in this study's analysis claimed that they had no intention of undermining the reputation of spine surgery or that of its practitioners. The risk factors they identified, if found early on in a prospective patient for a back operation, could ideally be addressed somehow and allow the operation to proceed to the benefit of all involved.

According to the study's findings, a total of 7.6 percent of the patients whose surgical records were analyzed suffered from complications within 30 days of their operation. These included wound- and sepsis-based infections, vein thrombosis and other, less serious effects such as urinary tract infections.

Other noted risk factors included past instances of sepsis, pre-operative neurological issues, surgeries taking longer than normal to complete and a rating of 3 or more on the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status scaling system.

According to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, back surgery is best employed to treat disc herniations and spinal stenosis if either condition causes serious pain and nerve compression that is detrimental to movement. Minimally invasive spine surgery techniques like endoscopic spine surgery may be recommended by an orthopedist in such cases.

Experts including Dr. Bryan Massoud, a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon and assistant clinical professor at Seton Hall Graduate School of Medicine, state that these methods require minimal incisions - typically only one-quarter of an inch wide - and no general anesthesia. Additionally, they have a low incidence of infection and other complications.