For a study, the researchers wanted to determine if back-to-back scoliosis procedures could be done safely without impacting outcomes or the practice’s repeatability across institutions. During the summer, it’s common for spinal surgeons to schedule numerous cases in a single day. The difficulty and demands of spinal fusion surgery raise concerns about its safety. The addition of new operating room personnel, such as anesthesiologists, nurses, and neurologists, may pose new dangers. Index AIS procedures were included in the study from 2009 to 2018. A single surgeon performed procedures in Groups 1, 2, and 3. They were carried out by other institutional surgeons in Group 4. Group 1 includes the first surgery of the day, Group 2 includes the second operation of the day, Group 3 includes the only surgery of the day, and Group 4 includes the only surgery of the day by a different institutional surgeon. After a surgeon was transferred from Institution 1 to Institution 2, more analysis was performed to establish repeatability. A total of 567 patients with AIS were studied. Patients in Group 1 and Group 2 had similar radiological outcomes (P>0.05). The surgical time was similar (P=0.51), but the number of levels fused was much higher (P=0.01). Group 2 had a lower preoperative Cobb (P=0.02), shorter operations (P< 0.001), and shorter duration of stay (P=0.04) than Group 3, but a similar complication rate (P=1). Group 2 had a smaller preoperative Cobb (P<0.001), shorter surgery, and lower complication rate (P=0.03) than Group 4. Institution 2 patients had significantly less blood loss, shorter operations, and shorter periods of stay (P<0.05) when it came to repeatability. Back-to-back AIS operations do not impact radiographic or perioperative results, despite their length and complexity. Changes in the operating crew appear to have little effect on safety, efficiency, or results. The study also discovered that the approach can be replicated across universities.
In AIS Patients, Back-to-Back Surgeries can be Safely Performed without Compromising Radiographic or Perioperative Outcomes
