30-Day Readmission Following Outpatient Transmetatarsal Amputation in the Geriatric Population: An ACS NSQIP Analysis

Whether secondary to deformity, traumatic injury, infection, neoplasm, or ischemic disease, the transmetatarsal amputation provides a functional means of limb preservation prior to major proximal amputation. With similar readmission rates following inpatient and outpatient surgery, prevention of an unnecessary admission among vulnerable patients, specifically geriatrics, proves beneficial. This investigation examines differences among geriatric patients admitted and not requiring readmission following outpatient transmetatarsal amputation. An ACS NSQIP database analysis following filtering for CPT 28805, specific for transmetatarsal amputations, was performed among geriatric patients. Patient demographic, medical history, operative characteristics, and social/functional determinants were compared between the no admission and readmission cohorts. The threshold for statistical significance was set at p ≤ .05. Overall, a 19% readmission rate was reported among geriatric patients who underwent an outpatient transmetatarsal amputation. No statistically significant difference among patient demographics, past medical history, or surgical presentation was found between cohorts. Geriatric patients that maintained some level of functional dependence were 3.41 times more likely to be readmitted than the nonreadmission cohort (p = .006). Among geriatric patients undergoing outpatient transmetatarsal amputation, function status should be taken into account prior to surgery. Greater consideration should also be given to patients who do not maintain independence during their activities of daily living. As the population continues to age, recognizing social circumstances associated with the geriatric population proves important in preventing readmission.