Discharge within 1 day following elective single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: a propensityscore-matched analysis of predictors, complications, and readmission.

Study design: This was a retrospective case-control study using 8 years of data from a nationwide database of surgical outcomes in the United States.

Purpose: This study aimed to improve our understanding of the risk factors associated with a length of stay (LOS) >1 day and aid in reducing postoperative hospitalization and complications.

Overview of literature: Despite the proven safety of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), some patients face prolonged postoperative hospitalization.

Methods: Data were collected from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset from 2011 to 2018. The cohort was divided into patients with LOS up to 1 day (LOS ≤1 day), defined as same day or next-morning discharge, and patients with LOS >1 day (LOS >1 day). Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate predictors of LOS >1 day. Propensity-score matching was performed to compare pre- and postdischarge complication rates.

Results: A total of 12,664 eligible patients with TLIF were identified, of which 14.8% had LOS ≤1 day and 85.2% had LOS >1 day. LOS >1 day was positively associated with female sex, Hispanic ethnicity, diagnosis of spondylolisthesis, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification 3, and operation length of >150 minutes. Patients with LOS >1 day were more likely to undergo intraoperative/postoperative blood transfusion (0.3% vs. 4.5%, p<0.001) and reoperation (0.1% vs. 0.6%, p=0.004). No significant differences in the rates of postdischarge complications were found between the matched groups.

Conclusions: Patients with worsened preoperative status, preoperative diagnosis of spondylolisthesis, and prolonged operative time are more likely to require prolonged hospitalization and blood transfusions and undergo unplanned reoperation. To reduce the risk of prolonged hospitalization and associated complications, patients indicated for TLIF should be carefully selected.