Intraoperative Death During Cervical Spinal Surgery: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

TitleIntraoperative Death During Cervical Spinal Surgery: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsWang JC, Buser Z, Fish DE, Lord EL, Roe AK, Chatterjee D, Gee EL, Mayer EN, Yanez MY, McBride OJ, Cha PI, Arnold PM, Fehlings MG, Mroz TE, K Riew D
JournalGlobal Spine J
Volume7
Issue1 Suppl
Pagination127S-131S
Date Published2017 Apr
ISSN2192-5682
Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: Routine cervical spine surgeries are typically associated with low complication rates, but serious complications can occur. Intraoperative death is a very rare complication and there is no literature on its incidence. The purpose of this study was to determine the intraoperative mortality rates and associated risk factors in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery.

METHODS: Twenty-one surgical centers from the AOSpine North America Clinical Research Network participated in the study. Medical records of patients who received cervical spine surgery from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2011, were reviewed to identify occurrence of intraoperative death.

RESULTS: A total of 258 patients across 21 centers met the inclusion criteria. Most of the surgeries were done using the anterior approach (53.9%), followed by posterior (39.1%) and circumferential (7%). Average patient age was 57.1 ± 13.2 years, and there were more male patients (54.7% male and 45.3% female). There was no case of intraoperative death.

CONCLUSIONS: Death during cervical spine surgery is a very rare complication. In our multicenter study, there was a 0% mortality rate. Using an adequate surgical approach for patient diagnosis and comorbidities may be the reason how the occurrence of this catastrophic adverse event was prevented in our patient population.

DOI10.1177/2192568217694005
Alternate JournalGlobal Spine J
PubMed ID28451484
PubMed Central IDPMC5400200