2020
High, As Well As Low, Preoperative Platelet Counts Correlate With Adverse Outcomes After Elective Posterior Lumbar Surgery.
Malpani R, Gala RJ, Adrados M, Galivanche AR, Clark MG, Mercier MR, Pathak N, Mets EJ, Grauer JN. High, As Well As Low, Preoperative Platelet Counts Correlate With Adverse Outcomes After Elective Posterior Lumbar Surgery. Spine 2020, 45: 349-356. PMID: 32045405, DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000003248.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosterior lumbar surgeryPreoperative platelet countLow platelet countPlatelet countLumbar surgeryAdverse outcomesAdverse eventsHospital lengthNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseLow preoperative platelet countPreoperative low platelet countQuality Improvement Program databaseHigh platelet groupLonger hospital lengthLumbar surgery patientsPerioperative adverse outcomesMinor adverse eventsPostoperative adverse eventsImprovement Program databaseRetrospective cohort studyHigher platelet countsLarger patient populationPostoperative complicationsCohort studyPlatelet group
2018
Thromboembolic Events After Traumatic Vertebral Fractures
Samuel AM, Diaz-Collado PJ, Gala RJ, Webb ML, Lukasiewicz AM, Basques BA, Bohl DD, Kim HJ, Grauer JN. Thromboembolic Events After Traumatic Vertebral Fractures. Spine 2018, 43: 1289-1295. PMID: 29538240, DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000002634.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVenous thromboembolism eventsTraumatic vertebral fracturesVertebral fracturesSpinal cord injuryOdds ratioCord injuryRisk factorsNational Trauma Data Bank Research Data SetLonger inpatient lengthPulmonary embolism eventsDeep vein thrombosisHigh-energy injuriesVertebral fracture patientsLength of stayAdditional risk factorsMultivariate logistic regressionSuch adverse outcomesOverall rateThromboembolism eventsHospital courseThromboembolic eventsFracture patientsVein thrombosisLonger LOSTrauma patientsIncidence and considerations of 90-day readmissions following posterior lumbar fusion
Cui JJ, Gala RJ, Ondeck NT, McLynn RP, Bovonratwet P, Shultz B, Grauer JN. Incidence and considerations of 90-day readmissions following posterior lumbar fusion. The Spine Journal 2018, 19: 631-636. PMID: 30219360, DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.09.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosterior lumbar fusionDays of dischargeReadmission ratesBaseline readmission ratesHuman Investigation CommitteeAdmission ratesDay readmissionLumbar fusionUtilization Project Nationwide Readmissions DatabaseAverage daily admission rateBaseline admission rateBundled payment plansNationwide Readmissions DatabaseHospital admission dataAverage admission rateDaily admission ratesCalendar yearCurrent quality metricsPLF patientsPatient demographicsPostoperative dayRetrospective studyPatient counselingPatient outcomesSpine surgeryDifferent Fusion Approaches for Single-level Lumbar Spondylolysis Have Similar Perioperative Outcomes
Gala RJ, Bovonratwet P, Webb ML, Varthi AG, Daubs MD, Grauer JN. Different Fusion Approaches for Single-level Lumbar Spondylolysis Have Similar Perioperative Outcomes. Spine 2018, 43: e111-e117. PMID: 28591074, DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000002262.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransforaminal lumbar interbody fusionAnterior lumbar interbody fusionPosterior spinal fusionPerioperative adverse eventsAdverse eventsLong-term outcomesLumbar interbody fusionLumbar spondylolysisPerioperative outcomesOperative timeSurgical approachFusion groupInterbody fusionSurgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement databaseNational Surgical Quality Improvement databasePerioperative adverse event ratesSimilar long-term outcomesPropensity scoreMinor adverse eventsPrevious cohort studiesSerious adverse eventsSimilar perioperative outcomesAdverse event ratesIndividual adverse eventsQuality improvement database
2017
Outpatient elective posterior lumbar fusions appear to be safely considered for appropriately selected patients
Bovonratwet P, Ottesen TD, Gala RJ, Rubio DR, Ondeck NT, McLynn RP, Grauer JN. Outpatient elective posterior lumbar fusions appear to be safely considered for appropriately selected patients. The Spine Journal 2017, 18: 1188-1196. PMID: 29155341, DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.11.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAgedAmbulatory Surgical ProceduresBlood TransfusionCohort StudiesDatabases, FactualElective Surgical ProceduresFemaleHumansInpatientsLumbar VertebraeMaleMiddle AgedPatient ReadmissionPatient SelectionPostoperative ComplicationsPropensity ScoreQuality ImprovementRetrospective StudiesSpinal FusionYoung AdultConceptsPosterior lumbar fusionPerioperative complicationsPostoperative complicationsNSQIP databaseInterbody fusionLumbar fusionNational Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseSurgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databaseElective posterior lumbar fusionQuality Improvement Program databasePropensity score-matched comparisonLower blood transfusionMost perioperative complicationsPostoperative adverse eventsRetrospective cohort comparison studyImprovement Program databaseRate of readmissionCareful patient selectionCohort comparison studyPotential confounding factorsInpatient cohortPLF casesHospital lengthPerioperative courseSelect patientsValue of Upright X-Rays in Diagnosis ofACJoint Injuries in Polytrauma Patients.
Gala RJ, Varthi AG, Medvecky MJ. Value of Upright X-Rays in Diagnosis ofACJoint Injuries in Polytrauma Patients. Connecticut Medicine 2017, 81: 111-115. PMID: 29738157.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPolytrauma patientsUpright radiographsAC jointAC joint injuriesCommon orthopedic problemAC joint separationsUpright x-rayOperative interventionClinical courseMultiple injuriesTreatment recommendationsJoint injuryFurther managementSupine positionOrthopedic problemsPatientsInjuryHigh-degree injuriesJoint separationStandard protocolRadiographsX-rayAmount of displacementAcromioclavicularDiagnosis