Instrumented outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: is it safe? 2012

Courtney S Sheperd, and William F Young
Indiana University Medical School, Fort Wayne Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805, USA.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures are one of the most common procedures performed in spinal surgery. Increasingly they are being performed on an outpatient basis. The primary impetus for performing procedures as an outpatient is potential cost savings. However, there are few studies discussing the safety of performing the procedure in an ambulatory setting. This is a retrospective review of our initial experience in performing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures with instrumentation (ACDFI) in an ambulatory surgery center dedicated to spine surgery. Patients were selected for outpatient surgery if they had limited co-morbidities and the surgery involved only 1 or 2 levels. One hundred fifty-two patients underwent outpatient ACDFI during the study period (2007-2009). Six patients returned to the hospital emergency room after discharge. The reasons for evaluation included 2 for neck pain, 1 for dysphagia, 1 for vocal cord paralysis and dysphagia, 1 for nausea, and 1 for cervical swelling. Only 1 of the 6 patients required admission to the hospital. None of the 6 suffered any long-term sequelae. The overall complication rate was 3.9%. A self-reported survey was completed by 75 patients within 6 months of surgery, and there was a 100% satisfaction rate among responders. ACDFI can be performed safely on an outpatient in selected patients with a high degree of patient satisfaction. Our experience is consistent with those of previous investigators.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007405 Intervertebral Disc Displacement An INTERVERTEBRAL DISC in which the NUCLEUS PULPOSUS has protruded through surrounding ANNULUS FIBROSUS. This occurs most frequently in the lower lumbar region. Disc Herniation,Disc Protrusion,Disc, Herniated,Disk Herniation,Disk Protrusion,Disk, Herniated,Intervertebral Disc Herniation,Intervertebral Disc Protrusion,Intervertebral Disk Displacement,Intervertebral Disk Herniation,Intervertebral Disk Protrusion,Prolapsed Disk,Protruded Disc,Protruded Disk,Slipped Disk,Disk Prolapse,Herniated Disc,Herniated Disk,Prolapsed Disc,Slipped Disc,Disc Displacement, Intervertebral,Disc Herniations,Disc Protrusion, Intervertebral,Disc Protrusions,Disc Protrusions, Intervertebral,Disc, Prolapsed,Disc, Protruded,Disc, Slipped,Discs, Protruded,Disk Displacement, Intervertebral,Disk Herniations,Disk Prolapses,Disk Protrusion, Intervertebral,Disk Protrusions,Disk, Prolapsed,Disk, Protruded,Disk, Slipped,Herniated Discs,Herniated Disks,Herniation, Disc,Herniation, Disk,Herniation, Intervertebral Disc,Herniation, Intervertebral Disk,Intervertebral Disc Displacements,Intervertebral Disc Herniations,Intervertebral Disc Protrusions,Intervertebral Disk Displacements,Intervertebral Disk Herniations,Intervertebral Disk Protrusions,Prolapse, Disk,Prolapsed Discs,Prolapsed Disks,Prolapses, Disk,Protruded Discs,Protruded Disks,Protrusion, Disc,Protrusion, Disk,Protrusion, Intervertebral Disc,Protrusion, Intervertebral Disk,Protrusions, Intervertebral Disk,Slipped Discs,Slipped Disks
D008297 Male Males
D011183 Postoperative Complications Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery. Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011843 Radiculopathy Disease involving a spinal nerve root (see SPINAL NERVE ROOTS) which may result from compression related to INTERVERTEBRAL DISK DISPLACEMENT; SPINAL CORD INJURIES; SPINAL DISEASES; and other conditions. Clinical manifestations include radicular pain, weakness, and sensory loss referable to structures innervated by the involved nerve root. Nerve Root Avulsion,Nerve Root Compression,Nerve Root Disorder,Radiculitis,Nerve Root Inflammation,Radiculopathy, Cervical,Avulsion, Nerve Root,Avulsions, Nerve Root,Cervical Radiculopathies,Cervical Radiculopathy,Compression, Nerve Root,Compressions, Nerve Root,Inflammation, Nerve Root,Nerve Root Avulsions,Nerve Root Compressions,Nerve Root Disorders,Nerve Root Inflammations,Radiculitides,Radiculopathies,Radiculopathies, Cervical
D002574 Cervical Vertebrae The first seven VERTEBRAE of the SPINAL COLUMN, which correspond to the VERTEBRAE of the NECK. Cervical Spine,Cervical Spines,Spine, Cervical,Vertebrae, Cervical
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000556 Ambulatory Surgical Procedures Surgery performed on an outpatient basis. It may be hospital-based or performed in an office or surgicenter. Ambulatory Surgery,Day Surgery,Office Surgery,Outpatient Surgery,Surgery, Office,Surgery, Outpatient,Ambulatory Surgical Procedure,Procedure, Ambulatory Surgical,Procedures, Ambulatory Surgical,Surgery, Ambulatory,Surgery, Day,Surgical Procedure, Ambulatory,Surgical Procedures, Ambulatory,Ambulatory Surgeries,Day Surgeries,Office Surgeries,Outpatient Surgeries,Surgeries, Ambulatory,Surgeries, Day,Surgeries, Office,Surgeries, Outpatient
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D013123 Spinal Fusion Operative immobilization or ankylosis of two or more vertebrae by fusion of the vertebral bodies with a short bone graft or often with diskectomy or laminectomy. (From Blauvelt & Nelson, A Manual of Orthopaedic Terminology, 5th ed, p236; Dorland, 28th ed) Spondylodesis,Spondylosyndesis,Fusion, Spinal,Fusions, Spinal,Spinal Fusions,Spondylodeses,Spondylosyndeses

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