Tejas Subramanian, Kasra Araghi, Izzet Akosman, Troy B Amen, Austin C Kaidi, Takashi Hirase, Gregory S Kazarian, Amier Hassan, Eric Mai, Omri Maayan, Chad Z Simon, Tomoyuki Asada, Pratyush Shahi, James E Dowdell, Sheeraz A Qureshi, Sravisht Iyer
{"title":"Spine Surgery Outcomes in Patients With Limited English Proficiency.","authors":"Tejas Subramanian, Kasra Araghi, Izzet Akosman, Troy B Amen, Austin C Kaidi, Takashi Hirase, Gregory S Kazarian, Amier Hassan, Eric Mai, Omri Maayan, Chad Z Simon, Tomoyuki Asada, Pratyush Shahi, James E Dowdell, Sheeraz A Qureshi, Sravisht Iyer","doi":"10.1097/BSD.0000000000001803","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective cohort study.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of language-discordant spine care. Specifically, do non-English speakers (NES) experience (1) increased length of stay? (2) increased rates of complications (ie, intra/perioperative complications, revision surgery, reoperation)?</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>To provide the best care, there exists a growing focus on understanding which patient groups may be at greater risk for poorer outcomes. In the current body of orthopedic and spine literature, there is little data regarding outcomes for patients where there is language discordance between the physician and patient.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent spine surgery at a single institution between 2017 and 2023 were included. Translator usage was used as a proxy for poor English language proficiency. Patient demographic and outcome data were collected from the electronic medical record. Patients were matched on surgical and demographic factors and analyzed for outcome variables. Multivariable logistic regressions were run to assess variables associated with poor outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 214 NES and 9217 English speakers (ES) were reviewed. The final matched cohort resulted in 158 NES and 313 ES with no differences in demographic data. NES patients had significantly more postoperative visits (2.19 vs 1.73; P < 0.001) and increased readmission rates (0.96% vs 4.43%; P = 0.033). On multivariable analysis, NES were predictive of readmission (OR = 4.22; P = 0.039).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patients with low English proficiency experienced significantly higher rates of readmissions following spine surgery. These patients may benefit from increased and more effective preoperative and postoperative communication.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>Level IV.</p>","PeriodicalId":10457,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Spine Surgery","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical Spine Surgery","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/BSD.0000000000001803","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Study design: Retrospective cohort study.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of language-discordant spine care. Specifically, do non-English speakers (NES) experience (1) increased length of stay? (2) increased rates of complications (ie, intra/perioperative complications, revision surgery, reoperation)?
Background: To provide the best care, there exists a growing focus on understanding which patient groups may be at greater risk for poorer outcomes. In the current body of orthopedic and spine literature, there is little data regarding outcomes for patients where there is language discordance between the physician and patient.
Patients and methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent spine surgery at a single institution between 2017 and 2023 were included. Translator usage was used as a proxy for poor English language proficiency. Patient demographic and outcome data were collected from the electronic medical record. Patients were matched on surgical and demographic factors and analyzed for outcome variables. Multivariable logistic regressions were run to assess variables associated with poor outcomes.
Results: A total of 214 NES and 9217 English speakers (ES) were reviewed. The final matched cohort resulted in 158 NES and 313 ES with no differences in demographic data. NES patients had significantly more postoperative visits (2.19 vs 1.73; P < 0.001) and increased readmission rates (0.96% vs 4.43%; P = 0.033). On multivariable analysis, NES were predictive of readmission (OR = 4.22; P = 0.039).
Conclusion: Patients with low English proficiency experienced significantly higher rates of readmissions following spine surgery. These patients may benefit from increased and more effective preoperative and postoperative communication.
期刊介绍:
Clinical Spine Surgery is the ideal journal for the busy practicing spine surgeon or trainee, as it is the only journal necessary to keep up to date with new clinical research and surgical techniques. Readers get to watch leaders in the field debate controversial topics in a new controversies section, and gain access to evidence-based reviews of important pathologies in the systematic reviews section. The journal features a surgical technique complete with a video, and a tips and tricks section that allows surgeons to review the important steps prior to a complex procedure.
Clinical Spine Surgery provides readers with primary research studies, specifically level 1, 2 and 3 studies, ensuring that articles that may actually change a surgeon’s practice will be read and published. Each issue includes a brief article that will help a surgeon better understand the business of healthcare, as well as an article that will help a surgeon understand how to interpret increasingly complex research methodology. Clinical Spine Surgery is your single source for up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations for spine care.