Abstract

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is effective for treatment of single level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), but data surrounding multilevel CSM remains controversial. One alternative is laminoplasty, though evidence comparing these strategies remains sparce. In this paper, we retrospectively review readmission and reoperation rates among patients undergoing ACDF or laminoplasty for multilevel CSM from a national longitudinal administrative claims database.We queried the MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database to identify patients who underwent ACDF or laminoplasty for multilevel CSM from 2007-2016. Patients were stratified by operation type. Patients younger than 18 years of age, with a history of tumor or trauma, or underwent an anterior-posterior approach were excluded from this study.A total of 5,445 patients were included, of which 1,521 underwent laminoplasty. A matched cohort who underwent ACDF was identified. The overall 90-day postoperative complication rate was higher in the laminoplasty cohort (OR 1.48 (95% CI 1.18 - 1.86); p < 0.0001). Mean length of stay and 90-day rates of readmission were higher in the laminoplasty cohort. Hospital and total costs of the index hospitalization were higher in the ACDF cohort, as were total payments up to 2 years after the index hospitalization.In this administrative claims database study, there was no difference in reoperation rate between ACDF and laminoplasty. ACDF had fewer complications and readmissions than laminoplasty but was associated with higher costs. Further, prospective research should investigate the factors driving the higher cost of ACDF in this population, and long-term clinical outcomes.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.06.064

View details for PubMedID 34153482