title: Comparing the Treatment Algorithm and Complications for Patients Undergoing an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion at a Physician-Owned Specialty Hospital and a University-Owned Tertiary Care Hospital.
abstract: The purpose of this case-control study is to compare the treatment algorithm and complication rate for patients who undergo an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at a physician-owned specialty hospital to those who undergo surgery at a university-owned tertiary care hospital. Two controls were identified for 77 patients, and no differences in demographic data were identified. The median time between the onset of symptoms and surgery was shorter for patients who had surgery at the tertiary care center than for patients who had surgery at the specialty hospital (26.7 weeks vs 32.7 weeks, P = .0004). Furthermore, a higher percentage of patients who had surgery at the specialty hospital attempted nonoperative treatments than patients who underwent surgery at the tertiary care hospital.
authors.affiliation: 1 The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.affiliation: 1 The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kurd
authors.affiliation: 1 The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kepler
authors.affiliation: 1 The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Kris E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Radcliff
authors.affiliation: 1 The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Jeffery A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rihn
authors.affiliation: 1 The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: D Greg
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: 1 The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Alan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hilibrand
authors.affiliation: 1 The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010067:Ownership / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: ACDF; physician-owned hospital; specialty hospital; treatment algorithm