Outpatient vs inpatient anterior cervical discectomy, fusion

Editor's Note

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) can be performed on an outpatient basis with comparable morbidity, readmission rates, and lower costs as on an inpatient basis, finds this study.

In this analysis of 3,135 outpatient and 46,966 inpatient ACDFs, the mean Charlson comorbidity index, length of stay, and mortality were 0.2, 0.4 days, and 0%, respectively, in the outpatient cohort and 0.4, 1.8 days, and 0.04%, respectively, in the inpatient cohort.

A total of 168 (5.4%) of outpatients presented at the emergency department (ED) within 30 days, 51 (1.6%) were readmitted, and 5 (0.2%) had further surgery.

Of inpatients, 2,607 (5.5%) presented at the ED within 30 days, 1,778 (3.8%) were readmitted, and 200 (0.4%) had further surgery.

Overall charges were significantly lower for outpatients ($33,362 vs $74,667).