The "July Effect" scrutinized: A coarsened-exact match analysis of lumbar fusion outcomes during resident transition.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess for a "July Effect" by comparing exact matched patients undergoing single-level spinal fusions in July or in the latter half of the academic year.

Methods: Data from 2338 patients who underwent single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion at a single, multicenter university hospital system were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcomes were 90-day unplanned hospital readmissions, Emergency Department (ED) evaluations, reoperations, non-home discharge, and all-cause mortality.

Diabetes and heart disease do not affect short-term lumbar fusion outcomes accounting for other risk factors in a matched cohort analysis.

Objectives: Comprehensive preoperative management involves the identification and optimization of medical comorbidities while avoiding excessive healthcare utilization. While diabetes and heart disease are major causes of morbidity that can worsen surgical outcomes, further study is needed to evaluate how well current perioperative strategies mitigate their risks. This study employs an exact matching protocol to isolate the effects of both diabetes and cardiovascular disease on spine surgery outcomes.

Treatment strategies for cervical spondylotic myelopathy-is laminectomy alone a safe and effective option?

Background: Cervical laminectomy may be underutilized in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) due to concerns regarding potential for post-operative instability and/or kyphosis. The purpose of this retrospective, observational study is to assess the short-term clinical and radiological outcomes as well as complications associated with a group of carefully selected patients who underwent laminectomy alone for CSM and compared them to a cohort of patients who underwent laminectomy with fusion.

Methods: Patients with CSM were identified via review of a single surgeon's cases.

The effect of chronic kidney disease on short-term single-level lumbar fusion outcomes.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has an increasing global prevalence and has previously been associated with increased complications and morbidity after spine surgery. Understanding the isolated effect of CKD on short-term patient outcomes is critical for optimizing perioperative risk management and healthcare utilization.

Objective: The aim of this study is to utilize coarsened exact matching (CEM) to analyze the isolated effect of CKD on short-term patient outcomes in single-level posterior lumbar fusion surgery.