Orthostatic Hypotension Following Cervical Spine Surgery: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective case series. Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors for orthostatic hypotension (OH) in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. Methods: Data was collected from records of 190 consecutive patients who underwent cervical spine procedures at our center over 24 months. Statistical comparison was made between patients who developed postoperative OH and those who did not by analyzing characteristics such as age, gender, premorbid medical comorbidities, functional status, mechanism of spinal cord injury, preoperative neurological function, surgical approach, estimated blood loss, and length of stay. Results: Twenty-two of 190 patients (11.6%) developed OH postoperatively. No significant differences in age, gender, medical comorbidities, or premorbid functional status were observed. Based on univariate comparisons, traumatic mechanism of injury (P =.002), poor ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) grades (A, B, or C) (P