Skip to main content
Top
Published in: HSS Journal ® 1/2020

01-11-2020 | SARS-CoV-2 | Response to COVID-19/Original Article

Early Peri-operative Outcomes Were Unchanged in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City

Authors: Philip K. Louie, MD, Lauren A. Barber, MD, Kyle W. Morse, MD, Marie Syku, BS, Sheeraz A. Qureshi, MD, MBA, Virginie Lafage, PhD, Russel C. Huang, MD, Alberto V. Carli, MD

Published in: HSS Journal ® | Special Issue 1/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Healthcare resources have been greatly limited by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic halting non-essential surgical cases without clear service expansion protocols.

Questions/Purposes

We sought to compare the peri-operative outcomes of patients undergoing spine surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to a matched cohort prior to the pandemic.

Methods

We identified a consecutive sample of 127 adult patients undergoing spine surgery between March 9, 2020, and April 10, 2020, corresponding with the state of emergency declared in New York and the latest possible time for 1-month surgical follow-up. The study group was matched one-to-one based on age, gender, and body mass index with eligible control patients who underwent similar spine procedures prior to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Surgeries performed for infectious or oncologic indications were excluded. Intra- and post-operative complication rates, re-operations, hospital length of stay, re-admissions, post-operative visit format, development of post-operative fever and/or respiratory symptoms, and SAR-CoV2 testing.

Results

A total of 254 patients (127 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, 127 matched controls) were included. One hundred fifty-eight were male (62%), and 96 were female (38%). The mean age in the pandemic group was 59.8 ± 13.4 years; that of the matched controls was 60.3 ± 12.3. All patients underwent general anesthesia and did not require re-intubation. There were no significant differences in 1-month post-operative complication rates (16.5% pandemic vs. 12.6% control). There was one death in the pandemic group. No patients tested positive for the virus.

Conclusion

This study represents the first report of post-operative outcomes in a large group of spine surgical patients in an area heavily affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
go back to reference Buvik A, Bergmo TS, Bugge E, Smaabrekke A, Wilsgaard T, Olsen JA. Cost-Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Remote Orthopedic Consultations: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2019;21(2):e11330CrossRef Buvik A, Bergmo TS, Bugge E, Smaabrekke A, Wilsgaard T, Olsen JA. Cost-Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Remote Orthopedic Consultations: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2019;21(2):e11330CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Coccolini F, Perrone G, Chiarugi M, Di Marzo F, Ansaloni L, Scandroglio I, et al. Surgery in COVID-19 patients: operational directives. World J Emerg Surg. 2020;15(1):1-7CrossRef Coccolini F, Perrone G, Chiarugi M, Di Marzo F, Ansaloni L, Scandroglio I, et al. Surgery in COVID-19 patients: operational directives. World J Emerg Surg. 2020;15(1):1-7CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Coimbra R, Edwards S, Kurihara H, Bass GA, Balogh ZJ, Tilsed J, et al. European Society of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ESTES) recommendations for trauma and emergency surgery preparation during times of COVID-19 infection. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-020-01364-7 Coimbra R, Edwards S, Kurihara H, Bass GA, Balogh ZJ, Tilsed J, et al. European Society of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ESTES) recommendations for trauma and emergency surgery preparation during times of COVID-19 infection. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2020. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s00068-020-01364-7
8.
go back to reference Gold JA, Wong KK, Szablewski CM, Patel PR, Rossow J, da Silva J, et al. Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Adult Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19—Georgia, March 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(18):545-550CrossRef Gold JA, Wong KK, Szablewski CM, Patel PR, Rossow J, da Silva J, et al. Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Adult Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19—Georgia, March 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(18):545-550CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Parvizi J, Gehrke T, Krueger CA, Chisari E, Citak M, Van Onsem S, et al. Resuming Elective Orthopaedic Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidelines Developed by the International Consensus Group (ICM). J Bone Joint Surg Am. In press. Parvizi J, Gehrke T, Krueger CA, Chisari E, Citak M, Van Onsem S, et al. Resuming Elective Orthopaedic Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidelines Developed by the International Consensus Group (ICM). J Bone Joint Surg Am. In press.
11.
go back to reference Pastora-Bernal JM, Martín-Valero R, Barón-López FJ, Estebanez-Pérez MJ. Evidence of Benefit of Telerehabitation After Orthopedic Surgery: A Systematic Review. Journal Med Internet Res. 2017;19(4):e142CrossRef Pastora-Bernal JM, Martín-Valero R, Barón-López FJ, Estebanez-Pérez MJ. Evidence of Benefit of Telerehabitation After Orthopedic Surgery: A Systematic Review. Journal Med Internet Res. 2017;19(4):e142CrossRef
14.
go back to reference Seo J, Park JH, Song EH, Lee YS, Jung SK, Jeon SR, et al. Post-operative Nonpathologic Fever After Spinal Surgery: Incidence and Risk Factor Analysis. World Neurosurg. 2017;103:78-83CrossRef Seo J, Park JH, Song EH, Lee YS, Jung SK, Jeon SR, et al. Post-operative Nonpathologic Fever After Spinal Surgery: Incidence and Risk Factor Analysis. World Neurosurg. 2017;103:78-83CrossRef
15.
go back to reference Stahel PF. How to risk-stratify elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic? Patient Saf Surg. 2020;14:8CrossRef Stahel PF. How to risk-stratify elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic? Patient Saf Surg. 2020;14:8CrossRef
19.
go back to reference Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, et al. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 2020;395(10229):1054-1062CrossRef Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, et al. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 2020;395(10229):1054-1062CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Early Peri-operative Outcomes Were Unchanged in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City
Authors
Philip K. Louie, MD
Lauren A. Barber, MD
Kyle W. Morse, MD
Marie Syku, BS
Sheeraz A. Qureshi, MD, MBA
Virginie Lafage, PhD
Russel C. Huang, MD
Alberto V. Carli, MD
Publication date
01-11-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
HSS Journal ® / Issue Special Issue 1/2020
Print ISSN: 1556-3316
Electronic ISSN: 1556-3324
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-020-09797-x

Other articles of this Special Issue 1/2020

HSS Journal ® 1/2020 Go to the issue