Factors related to length of stay of laminectomy patients

A retrospective record audit was done to address the following research question: Are there factors associated with the length of hospital stay of laminectomy patients? According to the information on their records, patients with the following characteristics tended to have longer stays: were of the black race, had other medical diagnoses, had cervical region procedure, had "partial" procedure, had "extensive" pathology, and had greater use of pain medications. Those who were employed prior to admission, who were permitted to be more active, and who had muscle spasms had significantly shorter stays. The implications for nursing practice are discussed.