title: Validation of Using Claims Data to Measure Safety of Lumbar Fusion Surgery.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion operations, comparing rates of repeat spine surgery based on method of ascertainment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report the accuracy of a claims-based approach for reporting repeat surgery compared with medical records abstraction as the "gold standard."
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have reported the validity of a claims-based algorithm for grouping patients by surgical indication and classifying operative features, but their accuracy in measuring surgical quality indicators has not been widely examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified a subset of patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion operations at a single institution from 1996 to 2011, excluding those with spinal fracture, spinal cord injury, or cancer. From the medical record we abstracted the incidence of repeat spine operation or rehospitalization at 1 year. We cross-classified each event record with its corresponding value derived from claims. The sensitivity and specificity of the claims-based approach were calculated for reoperation within 30, 90, and 365 days, and all-cause hospital readmission within 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medical records linked to claims data were obtained for 520 patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion. Reoperation rates based on chart review were 1.0%, 1.3%, 3.6%, compared with 0.8%, 1.7%, and 3.8% based on the final claims methods at 30, 90, and 365 days, respectively. The claims-based algorithm had sensitivities of 80.0%, 100%, and 94.1% and specificities of 100%, 99.6%, 99.2% for repeat surgery within 30, 90, and 365 days, respectively. The sensitivity for all-cause readmission was 50%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care quality improvement efforts often rely on administrative data to report surgical safety. We found that claims-based ascertainment of safety at a single institution was very accurate. However, accuracy depended on careful attention to the timing of outcomes, as well as the definitions and coding of repeat surgery, including how orthopedic device removal codes are classified.
  
  
  METHODS
  3.
authors.affiliation: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH.
authors.forename: Neel K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.
authors.forename: Brook I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.
authors.forename: Jon D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.
authors.forename: Sohail K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mirza
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome