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Research ArticleLumbar Spine

Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality in Lumbar Spine Surgery Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Chronic Steroid Use

George Thomas, Jeff F. Zhang, Taimur Chaudhry, Neil D. Almeida, Puneet Gupta, John Thomas, Bennett R. Levy, Nyle C. Almeida and Jonathan H. Sherman
International Journal of Spine Surgery February 2023, 8418; DOI: https://doi.org/10.14444/8418
George Thomas
1 George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
BS
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Jeff F. Zhang
2 Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
BS
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Taimur Chaudhry
1 George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
BS
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Neil D. Almeida
3 Department of Neurosurgery, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
MD
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Puneet Gupta
1 George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
BS
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John Thomas
4 West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WA, USA
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Bennett R. Levy
1 George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
BA
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Nyle C. Almeida
5 University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
BS
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Jonathan H. Sherman
6 Department of Neurosurgery, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
MD
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  • For correspondence: jsherman0620@gmail.com
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    Table 1

    Current Procedural Terminology Codes and Descriptions.

    CodeDescription
    22533Arthrodesis, lateral extracavitary technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace
    22534Arthrodesis, lateral extracavitary technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), additional interspace
    22558Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace
    22585Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), additional interspace
    22612Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single level
    22614Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, additional level
    22630Arthrodesis, posterior interbody technique, including laminectomy and/or discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace
    22632Arthrodesis, posterior interbody technique, including laminectomy and/or discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), additional interspace
    22633Arthrodesis, combined posterior or posterolateral technique with posterior interbody technique including laminectomy and/or discectomy sufficient to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace and segment
    22634Arthrodesis, combined posterior or posterolateral technique with posterior interbody technique including laminectomy and/or discectomy sufficient to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), additional interspace and segment
    • Note: Listing of current procedural terminology codes used to select lumbar spine fusion patients for this study. All codes were referenced through standardized listings prepared by the American Academy of Professional Coders.15

    • View popup
    Table 2

    Preoperative univariate associations by chronic kidney disease stage.

    Stage 1 (n = 76,137)Stage 2 (n = 92,698)Stage 3a (n = 20,926)Stage 3b (n = 7551)Stage 4 (n = 1552)Stage 5 (n = 869)
    VariableSteroid
    (n = 3413)
    No Steroid
    (n = 72,724)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 4351)
    No Steroid
    (n = 88,347)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 1368)
    No Steroid
    (n = 19,558)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 593)
    No Steroid
    (n = 6958)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 155)
    No Steroid
    (n = 1397)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 45)
    No Steroid
    (n = 824)
    P Value
    Sex (women)193135,9784.65E−16278646,801<2.2e−1691611,4557.49E−1037244110.756907990.864132990.343
    Diabetes62511,3493.13E−0581016,1710.60233556420.0005223626200.3104657090.042123390.0612
    Smoker76821,263<2.2E−1657113,8544.06E−0612323270.00094396940.0059111910.0227121490.1665
    Dyspnea3183378<2.2E−164455474<2.2E−1620318481.055E−09797940.1604281770.078794841
    Independent functional status311470,062<2.2E−16407485,548<2.2E−16129718,7250.0343853465280.000258613512660.1427376871
    COPD3443050<2.2E−164834446<2.2E−1617213231.274E−13405690.238817900.043775640.3936
    CHF151270.001853443221.48E−08121580.7545911316470.64512471
    Hypertension187833,571<2.2E−16296555,3109.49E−14109315,8060.414551160600.524413612680.2473426730.04524
    Dialysis2190.24214310.080070210.39620130.617161130.07784386300.2763
    Sepsis1541289<2.2E−16857671.06E−10162291131220.4194830.09684881
    Disseminated cancer3871485<2.2E−161671059<2.2E−16472911.04E−06211160.00321633312160.238
    Superficial wound infection1120.4615051001021001001
    Deep wound infection3510.73963230.1247061031031011
    Weight loss >10%685912.79E−10314250.0444318880.00016710310.0009946190.0320200.6186
    Bleeding disorder121992<2.2E−1615416369.80E−13725891.95E−05342480.012419900.86372720.4194
    Age ≥70 y36951143.88E−15174832,2441.04E−0679810,9040.0631132246441.76E−09948441102240.6047
    Albumin <3.4 g/dL4213029<2.2E−162902410<2.2E−16817610.00412583960.001283242370.631192330.4008
    WBC >11,000/µL5785770<2.2E−165834940<2.2E−161981288<2.2E−16835254.15E−07321420.000445830.8004
    Platelets <150,000/µL2803028<2.2E−1627642621.29E−0510112420.1536525470.4792211510.3489111610.4451
    BUN >23 mg/dL20623272.31E−166589098<2.2E−1652367390.00549840444910.0434113912230.4219426190.003679
    BMI ≥30149834,8251.08E−05207043,2560.092765510,4752.91E−0526538512.29E−06607490.0003443103610.004889
    • Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; CHF, congestive heart failure; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; WBC, white blood cells.

    • Note: Comparison of preoperative variables between lumbar spine fusion patient groups stratified by CKD stage. For each CKD stage, patients with reported chronic steroid use were compared with patients without chronic steroid use using Fisher exact tests. Statistical significance was defined as P value ≤0.05.

    • View popup
    Table 3

    Postoperative univariate associations by chronic kidney disease stage.

    Stage 1 (n = 76,137)Stage 2 (n = 92,698)Stage 3a (n = 20,926)Stage 3b (n = 7551)Stage 4 (n = 1552)Stage 5 (n = 869)
    VariableSteroid
    (n = 3413)
    No Steroid
    (n = 72,724)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 4351)
    No Steroid
    (n = 88,347)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 1368)
    No Steroid
    (n = 19,558)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 593)
    No Steroid
    (n = 6958)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 155)
    No Steroid
    (n = 1397)
    P ValueSteroid
    (n = 45)
    No Steroid
    (n = 824)
    P Value
    Wound infection1011127 8.05E−09 1541281 <2.2E−16 45349 0.000273 161460.30323500.35793420.5019
    Pulmonary event1161060 4.27E−15 1231217 2.68E−12 284260.847629219 0.02978 98914731
    VTE1091117 1.96E−11 1291482 6.18E−09 163640.0738222151 0.02158 3550.2682290.672
    MACE28390 0.03271 58710 0.00042 252920.30365150 0.03277 65311650.2455
    Renal event16128 0.0007748 132880.89131699 0.003718 1586 0.01424 166 0.0113 140.2339
    Death within 30 d73252 <2.2E−16 49403 7.28E−08 91090.57484810.41363380.79190330.4083
    Sepsis54768 0.006418 92766 4.37E−13 31244 0.002941 20110 0.004306 5580.82914290.08541
    UTI811104 0.0002175 1521674 1.88E−11 53548 0.02893 34247 0.01225 76912120.1609
    Transfusion within 72 h78210,356 <2.2E−16 94113,805 <2.2E−16 3303818 5.39E−05 15316700.3422534360.4663113260.05818
    Return to OR1972851 3.23E−07 2653169 3.64E−15 102872 2.09E−06 47324 0.0009916 111210.64831389 0.001095
    LOS ≥10 d5155763 <2.2E−16 4504935 <2.2E−16 1501437 3.95E−06 85617 3.41E−05 343220.7639193330.7562
    • Abbreviations: CKD, chronic kidney disease; LOS, length of stay; MACE, major adverse cardiovascular event; OR, operating room; UTI, urinary tract infection; VTE, venous thromboembolism.

    • Note: Comparison of postoperative variables between lumbar spine fusion patient groups stratified by CKD stage. For each CKD stage, patients with reported chronic steroid use were compared with patients without chronic steroid use using Fisher exact tests. Statistical significance was defined as P value ≤0.05.

    • View popup
    Table 4

    Adjusted OR for postoperative complications by CKD stage.

    Outcome and CKD StageAdjusted OR95% CI P Value
    Wound Infection
     Stage 11.4581.119–1.900 0.00512
     Stage 22.2181.780–2.765 1.33E−12
     Stage 3a1.5771.048–2.3730.0287
     Stage 3b1.1140.542–2.2890.768
     Stage 40.4680.130–1.6860.246
     Stage 51.6890.487–5.8560.408
    Pulmonary Event
     Stage 11.5141.191–1.924 0.000704
     Stage 21.0100.752–1.3560.944
     Stage 3a1.0630.681–1.6610.786
     Stage 3b1.6540.989–2.7660.0550
     Stage 40.8430.398–1.7840.656
     Stage 50.8110.276–2.3770.703
    Venous thromboembolism
     Stage 11.2930.993–1.6840.0561
     Stage 21.4231.110–1.825 0.00540
     Stage 3a0.6240.336–1.1580.135
     Stage 3b2.2091.306–3.735 0.0031
     Stage 40.5500.161–1.8690.338
     Stage 51.7030.366–7.9280.497
    MACE
     Stage 11.2480.7977–1.9520.332
     Stage 21.1480.775–1.7000.489
     Stage 3a0.9290.507–1.7020.814
     Stage 3b0.1270.017–0.9250.0417
     Stage 40.6650.257–1.7190.401
     Stage 50.2360.031–1.7680.160
    Renal event
     Stage 10.7730.320–1.8650.567
     Stage 20.5610.228–1.3810.209
     Stage 3a3.8731.993–7.526 6.44E−05
     Stage 3b1.9220.944–3.9140.0715
     Stage 40.0980.013–0.7320.0235
     Stage 56.34E−080–inf0.998
    Death within 30 d
     Stage 12.1341.528–2.980 8.48E−06
     Stage 21.2520.814–1.9240.305
     Stage 3a1.6500.772–3.5300.196
     Stage 3b0.9730.331–2.8530.960
     Stage 40.6120.170–2.1940.451
     Stage 51.78E−070–inf0.986
    Sepsis
     Stage 10.9400.662–1.3350.731
     Stage 22.2021.634–2.967 2.09E−07
     Stage 3a0.9750.585–1.6260.925
     Stage 3b1.8691.004–3.4790.0483
     Stage 40.9400.360–2.4570.901
     Stage 52.2960.750–7.0220.145
    Urinary tract infection
     Stage 11.0500.775–1.4220.750
     Stage 21.5351.208–1.950 0.000446
     Stage 3a0.9460.635–1.4090.788
     Stage 3b1.8261.130–2.951 0.0138
     Stage 41.1710.508–2.6990.711
     Stage 52.5060.525–11.9460.249
    Transfusion within 72 h
     Stage 11.2701.135–1.422 2.98E−05
     Stage 21.3581.225–1.504 5.09E−09
     Stage 3a1.0460.878–1.2450.611
     Stage 3b0.9610.746–1.2380.761
     Stage 41.2030.833–1.7370.324
     Stage 50.3680.177–0.765 0.00738
    Return to operating room
     Stage 11.1860.973–1.4450.0905
     Stage 21.6871.421–2.002 2.07E−09
     Stage 3a1.2760.948–1.7190.107
     Stage 3b1.1030.684–1.7770.687
     Stage 40.9400.476–1.8560.860
     Stage 53.7441.844–7.602 0.000258
    Length of stay ≥10 d
     Stage 10.9880.854–1.1450.882
     Stage 21.1440.981–1.3340.0853
     Stage 3a0.9700.750–1.2540.820
     Stage 3b1.0310.728–1.4610.859
     Stage 41.0240.659–1.5900.916
     Stage 50.8760.464–1.6560.686
    • Abbreviations: CKD, chronic kidney disease; MACE, major adverse cardiovascular event.

    • Note: Adjusted OR for each postoperative outcome variable stratified by CKD staging. For each CKD stage, multivariate logistic regression modeling used patients without chronic steroid use as the reference group to determine adjusted ORs. Statistical significance was defined as a Bonferroni-adjusted P value ≤0.017.

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International Journal of Spine Surgery: 19 (S2)
International Journal of Spine Surgery
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1 Apr 2025
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Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality in Lumbar Spine Surgery Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Chronic Steroid Use
George Thomas, Jeff F. Zhang, Taimur Chaudhry, Neil D. Almeida, Puneet Gupta, John Thomas, Bennett R. Levy, Nyle C. Almeida, Jonathan H. Sherman
International Journal of Spine Surgery Feb 2023, 8418; DOI: 10.14444/8418

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Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality in Lumbar Spine Surgery Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Chronic Steroid Use
George Thomas, Jeff F. Zhang, Taimur Chaudhry, Neil D. Almeida, Puneet Gupta, John Thomas, Bennett R. Levy, Nyle C. Almeida, Jonathan H. Sherman
International Journal of Spine Surgery Feb 2023, 8418; DOI: 10.14444/8418
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  • chronic kidney disease
  • corticosteroids
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  • spine fusion
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