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Postoperative complications after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis, assessment using two different data sources
Ole Kristian Alhaug1,2, Filip C Dolatowski3, Simran Kaur4
1The Research Center for Age-Related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, PO Box 68, N-2313, Ottestad, Norway. olekralhaug@hotmail.com.
Acta Neurochirurgica
|April 23, 2024
Summary
Postoperative complications after lumbar spinal stenosis surgery occurred in 22% of patients. Data from patient registries and electronic records showed different complication rates, highlighting the need for accurate data collection in spinal stenosis research.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) surgery is common, but postoperative complications can increase patient morbidity and healthcare costs.
- Accurate complication rates are crucial for understanding surgical outcomes, yet registry data may be incomplete.
- Medical registries offer insights into rare events like surgical complications in large populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To accurately estimate the true prevalence of postoperative complications following lumbar spinal stenosis surgery.
- To compare complication rates recorded in a national spine registry (NORspine) with those documented in electronic patient records (EPR).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 474 patients undergoing LSS surgery between 2015-2016 was analyzed.
- Complications were recorded via the NORspine registry and cross-referenced with patient EPRs.
- Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze complication rates and their association with clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- The overall complication rate, combining both data sources, was 22.4%.
- The NORspine registry reported 15.6% and EPR review 16.0% complication rates, with inconsistencies in complication types.
- Reoperation rates within 90 days varied significantly (0.9% NORspine vs. 3.4% EPR).
Conclusions:
- Postoperative complications affect approximately 22% of patients undergoing lumbar spinal stenosis surgery.
- Discrepancies in complication reporting between registries and electronic records necessitate improved data validation methods.
