The Effect of Varying Preoperative Hemoglobin Levels on the Risk of Major Complications and Surgical Site Infections After Single Level Lumbar Fusion.

Introduction: Blood transfusions are associated with an increased risk of complications after lumbar fusion, and current anemia hemoglobin thresholds are not surgery specific. We aimed to calculate single-level lumbar fusion-specific preoperative hemoglobin strata that observe the likelihood of 90-day transfusion and evaluate whether these strata are associated with increased risk of 90-day complications and 2-year infections.

Methods: A national database identified patients undergoing primary single-level lumbar fusion with preoperative hemoglobin values (g/dL).

Bone Mineral Density T-Score is an Independent Predictor of Major Blood Loss in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of low bone mineral density (BMD), as assessed by preoperative Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, on intraoperative blood loss following adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery.

Methods: Patients who received spinal fusion for ASD (>5 levels fused) at a single academic center from 2010-2018 were included in this study.

The Pathologic Fracture Mortality Index: A Novel Externally Validated Tool for Predicting 30-day Postoperative Mortality.

Introduction: Current mortality predictive tools, in the setting of completed or impending pathologic fractures, are nonspecific. Clinical decision making and mortality prediction in research would benefit from creation of a high-fidelity scoring system for calculating the risk of 30-day postoperative mortality. The purpose of this study is to develop a validated research and clinical tool that is superior to existing methods in estimating postoperative mortality risk after fixation of pathologic fractures.

Decreased rates of 30-day perioperative complications following ASD-corrective surgery: A modified Clavien analysis of 3300 patients from 2010 to 2014.

The Clavien-Dindo grading allows for broad comparison of perioperative surgical complications, and a temporal analysis of complications following ASD-corrective surgery. NSQIP database was utilized from 2010 to 2014 to isolate patients. Complications were stratified by Clavien complication (Cc) grade, and patients grouped by highest Cc grade: I, II, III, IV, V.

A novel treatment approach to infected nonunion of long bones without systemic antibiotics.

Infected nonunion of long bones may require intravenous antibiotics over a lengthy period which may result in a high rate of complications. This study aims to assess the efficacy of local antibiotics used as a replacement to prolonged intravenous therapy. Thirteen patients with infected nonunion of long bones who failed at least one previous surgery were included.