title: Comparative analysis of patients with cauda equina syndrome versus an unaffected population undergoing spinal surgery.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine patient demographics, incidence of comorbidities, and procedure-related complications and identify risk factors associated with morbidity and mortality after spinal surgery for cauda equina syndrome (CES).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  To our knowledge, no study has provided nationwide estimates of patient characteristics and procedure-related complication rates after spinal surgery for CES relative to an unaffected population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nationwide Inpatient Sample data collected between 2001 and 2010 were analyzed. Discharges with procedural codes for lumbar spinal fusion, decompression, or discectomy were included. The CES cohort included diagnoses of CES, and the unaffected cohort included lumbar spinal pathology diagnoses. Patient demographics, incidence of comorbidities and procedure-related complications, and risk factors associated with morbidity and mortality were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Discharges for 11,207 CES and 689,799 unaffected patients were identified. Differences between cohorts were found for demographic and hospital data. Average comorbidity indices for the CES cohort were found to be increased (0.23 vs. 0.13, P < 0.0001), as well as the incidence of total procedure-related complications (18.63% vs. 13.12%, P < 0.0001). In-hospital mortality rate was significantly increased for the CES cohort (0.30% vs. 0.08%, P < 0.0001). A number of comorbidities associated with additional risk for morbidity and mortality among the CES cohort were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relative to an unaffected population undergoing similar treatment, patients with CES were more likely to have increased associated comorbidities on presentation, as well as increased complication rates with a prolonged hospital course postoperatively. CES was found to carry an increased incidence of procedure-related complications as well as in-hospital mortality. A number of comorbidities associated with additional risk for morbidity and mortality among the CES cohort were identified. This study provides clinically useful data for surgeons to educate patients at risk for morbidity and mortality as well as direct future research to improve patient outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  3.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Spinal Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Medical Center Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY; and †Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, Biostatistics, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Bryan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Marascalchi
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Passias
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Goz
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Weinreb
authors.forename: Lijin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Errico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology