Isolated thoracic and lumbar transverse process fractures: Do they need spine surgeon evaluation? a high volume level I trauma center experience with cost analysis.

Background: Transverse process fractures (TPF) of the thoracic and lumbar spine have become increasingly identified due to CT imaging. Spine service consultation is common for further evaluation and management. There are several studies that demonstrate no difference in clinical outcome with or without spine service intervention. However, no study to our knowledge provides an additional cost analysis. We hypothesize that isolated thoracolumbar TPF are stable injuries. Furthermore, spine service consultation and evaluation results in increased health care costs.

Methods: Patients were identified using trauma registry data at Saint Louis University (SLU) from January 2012 to August 2018. Chart and imaging review was performed to determine if additional spine fractures were identified by the spine team which were not included in the initial radiology report. TPF associated with other spinal injuries were defined as one or more thoracic and/or lumbar TPF in addition to any other acute fracture or dislocation in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. A separate cost analysis with institution-specific charges was also performed.

Results: Six hundred eighty-two patients with TPF from January 2012 to August 2018 were identified. Two hundred twenty-eight patients met the criteria to be included in this study. Additional spinal pathology that was not included in the initial radiology report was identified in 5 (2.19%) patients, none of which required surgical intervention. Cost analysis demonstrated additional costs associated with spine service intervention totaled $1,725,360.28. Average cost per patient in our cohort summed to $2,529.85.

Conclusions: These data support that isolated TPF of the thoracic and lumbar spine are stable injuries that likely do not require spine service intervention and in fact may represent unnecessary financial burden. Foregoing unnecessary consultation can alleviate time constraints within spine service practices and reduce health care costs by eliminating costly extraneous interventions from the patient's care.