Rates of Subsequent Lumbar Surgery Following Spinal Fusion in Patients With Parkinson Disease: A Propensity-Score...

Parkinson disease (PD) is frequently characterized by a forward-bent posture that increases biomechanical stress on the lumbar spine, which increases the rate of subsequent lumbar surgeries after spinal fusions. This study aimed to evaluate the rates of additional lumbar surgeries following spinal fusion in patients with PD.

Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of the Republic of Korea were retrospectively analyzed. PD was identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code G20. Patients with PD were matched with those without PD in a 3:1 ratio based on sex, age, and Charlson Comorbidity Index using the greedy nearest neighbor matching method. The primary outcome was the rate of subsequent lumbar surgeries following spinal fusion within the 7-year follow-up period. The timing of these reoperations was also assessed.

A total of 2,287 patients with PD and 6,861 matched patients without PD were included in this study. The prevalence of PD among patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery remained stable throughout the study period. Patients with PD had 1.6-fold higher odds to undergo reoperation compared with the non-PD cohort. No significant difference was observed in the timing of additional surgeries between the groups.

Patients with PD faced 1.6-fold higher odds of subsequent lumbar surgeries following spinal fusion compared to those without the disease. This finding suggests the need for a cautious treatment approach and thorough preoperative optimization when considering lumbar fusion in this population.