RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Association of Elevated Perioperative Blood Glucose With Complications and Postoperative Outcomes Following Traumatic Spine Surgery
JF International Journal of Spine Surgery
JO Int J Spine Surg
FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
SP 8627
DO 10.14444/8627
A1 Bakaes, Yianni
A1 Spitnale, Michael
A1 Gauthier, Chase
A1 Kung, Justin E.
A1 Edelman, David
A1 Bidwell, Richard
A1 Shahid, Michel
A1 Grabowski, Gregory
YR 2024
UL https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/early/2024/08/08/8627.abstract
AB Background Perioperative blood glucose control has been demonstrated to influence outcomes following spine surgery, though this association has not been fully elucidated in patients with traumatic spine injuries. This study sought to determine the association between perioperative blood glucose levels and complications or outcomes in patients undergoing spine surgery due to injury.Methods A retrospective review was conducted to identify patients who underwent spine surgery due to traumatic injuries between 1 March 2020 and 29 September 2022 at a single academic institution. Descriptive factors, complications, and outcomes were compared between those with a postoperative blood glucose level of <200 mg/dL and those with a preoperative glucose of <200 mg/dL.Results Patients with a post- and preoperative blood glucose of ≥200 mg/dL had significantly higher odds of respiratory complications (OR = 2.1, 2.1, P = 0.02, 0.03), skin/wound complications (OR = 2.2, 2.8, P = 0.04, 0.03), and increased hospital length of stay (OR = 9.6, 12.1, P = 0.02, 0.03) compared with those with blood glucose of <200 mg/dL. Those with postoperative glucose ≥200 mg/dL also had significantly higher odds of inpatient mortality (OR = 4.5, P = 0.04) when controlling for confounding factors. Neither pre- nor postoperative blood glucose of ≥200 mg/dL was associated with an improvement in American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale score at the final follow-up when controlling for multiple confounding factors (P = 0.44, 0.06).Conclusion Elevated blood glucose both pre- and postoperatively was associated with an increased rate of postoperative complications and negative postoperative outcomes. However, there was no association between elevated blood glucose levels and neurological recovery following traumatic spinal injury.Level of Evidence 3.