Nationwide analysis of spinal surgery in Japan from 1994 to 2021

In this study, we aimed to compare the latest 2021 survey data with findings from 1994, 2001, and 2011 to elucidate the trends and transformations in spinal surgery over the past quarter-century.

Data from the 2021 survey were compared with retrospective data from previous surveys. The 2021 survey collected data on patient demographics, surgical techniques, and perioperative complications of spinal surgeries performed in November 2021 from 739 facilities. Trends in patient age, disease type, surgical approach, and complication rates were analyzed over time.

The most common age group shifted from 40 to 59 years in 1994 to the 70s by 2011 and 2021. Degenerative diseases, particularly lumbar spinal stenosis, remain prevalent with an increase in trauma and osteoporotic fractures. Surgical techniques have evolved with a decline in anterior approaches and an increase in minimally invasive and posterior surgeries. Complication rates remained stable, ranging from 8.6 to 10.4%, with a slight increase by 2021 (8.8%). However, dural tears have become more common, likely because of the technical demands of minimally invasive and instrumented surgeries.

The aging population of Japan has influenced spinal surgery demographics, and minimally invasive techniques have become more common, underscoring the need for enhanced training, improved techniques, and strategies tailored to older patients to improve future spinal surgery outcomes and support policy development.