Early and late hospital readmissions in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective review of a prospectively collected multicenter database.

OBJECTIVES

To identify risk factors for early and late readmission of surgically treated patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Specific risk factors associated with readmission in patients with AIS remain poorly understood.

METHODS

Patients with AIS who were operatively treated from 19 centers specializing in the treatment of pediatric spinal deformity were studied. Data from a minimum 2 years of clinical follow-up and any readmission were available for analysis. Characteristics of patients with no readmission, early readmission (< 90 days), and late readmission (> 90 days) were evaluated. Both univariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors for readmission were performed.

RESULTS

2049 patients were included in our cohort, with 1.6% requiring early readmission and 3.3% late readmission. In the multivariate analysis, greater preoperative coronal imbalance was associated with early readmission. Longer operative time was associated with late readmission. Finally, greater preoperative pain (SRS-22 pain scale) was associated with both early and late readmission. GI complications accounted for a higher proportion of early readmissions than previously reported in the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative counseling of patients with higher levels of pain and coronal imbalance and the implementation of a thorough postoperative bowel regimen may help optimize patient outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.