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Time to Surgery for Subaxial Cervical Fractures: A Multicenter Study
Guisela Quinteros1, Guillermo Ricciardi2, Ignacio Cirillo3
1Spine Unit, Department of Traumatology, Clínica Alemana, Santiago, Chile; Spine Unit, Orthopedics Department, Hospital Regional de Talca, Talca, Chile.
World Neurosurgery
|October 22, 2024
Summary
Delays in subaxial cervical fracture surgery are significant in Latin America, with most patients waiting over 72 hours for spinal decompression and stabilization.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Subaxial cervical fractures require timely surgical intervention for optimal outcomes.
- Delays in surgical stabilization can lead to increased morbidity and poorer neurological recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the incidence and reasons for delays in surgical stabilization of subaxial cervical fractures in Latin America.
- To analyze factors contributing to delayed surgical treatment in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective multicenter cohort study involving 13 spine centers across Latin America.
- Data collected from January 2014 to January 2023 on patients surgically treated for subaxial cervical fractures.
- Documentation of causes for surgical delays exceeding 24 hours post-admission.
Main Results:
- 529 patients included; 70.9% experienced delays >72 hours, and 48.6% waited over a week for surgery.
- Only 12.5% received surgery within the recommended 24 hours.
- Primary delay reasons: need for other surgeries (34.8%), implant unavailability (13.0%), and patient clinical instability (11.9%).
Conclusions:
- Significant delays in surgical decompression and stabilization for cervical spine fractures are prevalent in Latin America.
- Urgent interventions are often postponed, impacting patient care and recovery.
- Addressing systemic issues like implant availability and multidisciplinary care coordination is crucial.
