Reoperations in Spine Surgery: Why?

Reoperations in spine may be prompted by incomplete initial procedures, incomplete healing or further deterioration of spine segments next to operated-on segments. Reoperations may also be prompted by actual complications. Avoiding necessary reoperations in order to improve statistics may actually harm patients while overly aggressive reinterventions may not be helpful either. Before applying ratings to reinterventions in spine surgery it is helpful to look at the actual data and analyze reasons why surgeons suggest reintervention to their patients.
As reoperations in spinal surgery have been increasingly adopted as a quality of care parameter by third party payors, such as insurance companies and government agencies, a factual review of causes for reoperations as far they are available at this point in time is provided by Drs. Bransford and Lee of the University of Washington.
Richard J. Bransford, MD, Michael J. Lee, MD
9/30/2011