title: Defining rates and causes of mortality associated with spine surgery: comparison of 2 data collection approaches through the Scoliosis Research Society.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective review of prospectively collected databases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare 2 approaches for assessment of mortality associated with spine surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Scoliosis Research Society collects morbidity and mortality data from its members. Previously, this included details for all spine cases and all complications. To reduce time burden and improve compliance, collection was changed to focus on a few major complications (death, neurological deficit, and blindness) for specific deformity diagnoses (scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and kyphosis) and only for cases with complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted from the Scoliosis Research Society from 2004-2007 (detailed system) and 2009-2011 (simplified system). As an anchor for comparison, mortality rates were compared between the systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2009 and 2011, the number of deformity cases reported were 87,162, with 131 deaths (1.50/1000 cases). The mean age of these 131 patients was 50, mean American Society of Anesthesiologists grade was 2.8, 10% were smokers, and 18% had diabetes. Rates of death (per 1000 cases) were: idiopathic scoliosis (0.4), congenital scoliosis (1.3), neuromuscular scoliosis (3.6), other scoliosis (3.1), spondylolisthesis (0.6), and kyphosis (4.7). Common causes of mortality included respiratory (48), cardiac (32), sepsis (12), organ failure (9), and blood loss (7). Compared with the detailed system, the simplified system had greater surgeon compliance (79% vs. 62%, P < 0.001), greater number of deformity cases per reporting surgeon per year (139 vs. 90, P < 0.001), and modest but significantly lower mortality rates (1.50 vs. 1.80/1000 cases; P < 0.001). Causes of death were comparable between the 2 systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of the simplified collection system, the rate of mortality for spinal deformity surgery was 1.50 per 1000 cases. Compared with the detailed system, the simplified system had significantly improved compliance and similar mortality rates. Although the simplified system is limited by less data collected, it achieves better compliance and may prove effective, especially if supplemented with focused data collection modules.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA; †Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; ‡Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; §Silicon Valley Spine Institute, Campbell, CA ¶Spine Surgery Associates, Chattanooga, TN; ‖Leatherman Spine Center, Louisville, KY; **Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; and ††Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shaffrey
authors.forename: Justin S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Lawrence G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Lenke
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Polly
authors.forename: Ching-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Coe
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Broadstone
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Glassman
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.forename: Christopher I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Shaffrey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult