Comparison of the lumbar disc herniation patients randomized in SPORT to 6,846 discectomy patients from NSQIP: Demographics, perioperative variables, and complications correlate well

Abstract

Background context The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) is a highly referenced clinical trial that randomized patients with lumbar pathology to receive surgery or continued conservative treatment. Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the SPORT lumbar disc herniation cohort and an analogous cohort from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Study design/setting This is a retrospective cohort study comparing a national database population to a randomized clinical trial. Patient sample Elective lumbar discectomies from NSQIP between 2010 and 2012 were used. Outcome measures Demographics were compared between the randomized SPORT cohorts (surgical and nonoperative) and NSQIP. Perioperative factors and complications were then compared between SPORT discectomy patients and NSQIP. Methods Using current procedural terminology and International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision codes, all elective lumbar discectomies from NSQIP between 2010 and 2012 were identified. Where possible based on the published data and variables available in each cohort, the two populations were compared. Results A total of 6,846 NSQIP discectomy patients were compared with the randomized SPORT surgical and nonoperative cohorts. Demographic comparisons showed that NSQIP patients were older (average age 48.2±14.5 years [mean±standard deviation] vs. 41.7±11.8 and 43.0±11.3 years, respectively [p