Utility of Routine Preoperative Urinalysis in Elective Lumbar Spine Fusion Surgery

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Urology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Preoperative assessment is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes in elective lumbar fusion surgery (ELFS).
• The utility of routine preoperative urinalysis in predicting postoperative complications following ELFS remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the predictive value of routine preoperative urinalysis for postoperative complications after ELFS.
• To inform preoperative assessment guidelines and patient counseling for ELFS.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 493 patients undergoing ELFS for degenerative pathology (2018-2022).
• Patients categorized into No Urinalysis, Negative Urinalysis, and Positive Urinalysis groups.
• Analysis of postoperative complications, emergency department visits, and return to operating room within 3 months.

Main Results:

• Patients with positive urinalysis had significantly higher rates of postoperative urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• No significant differences observed in other complications (pneumonia, bacteremia, wound infections) or outcomes (return to OR/ED, catheterization duration, length of stay).
• Higher rates of preoperative antibiotics in the positive urinalysis group.

Conclusions:

• Routine preoperative urinalysis appears to have a limited role in predicting most postoperative complications following ELFS.
• Findings suggest potential for refining preoperative assessment protocols and patient counseling for ELFS.