Table 5

Reoperations among patients in Ontario who underwent surgery for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine between Apr. 1, 1995, and Dec. 31, 2001, by demographics and surgeon factors

CharacteristicsReoperation; no. (%)*
6 weeks1 year2 yearsOverall
No. of patients36 (0.6)142 (2.3)297 (4.9)649 (10.6)
Age, mean (range) yr66 (50–81)67 (50–87)67 (50–87)66 (50–87)
Female sex20 (0.6)77 (2.3)165 (4.9)354 (10.5)
Male sex16 (0.6)65 (2.4)132 (4.8)295 (10.7)
Charlson = 024 (0.5)108 (2.4)227 (5.1)506 (11.3)
Charlson ≥ 112 (0.7)34 (2.0)70 (4.2)143 (8.6)
Index operation
 Decompression23 (0.6)108 (2.6)223 (5.3)449 (10.7)
 Fusion13 (0.7)34 (1.8)74 (3.8)200 (10.4)
Surgeon volume
 Low volume9 (0.4)56 (2.4)120 (5.2)255 (11.1)
 High volume27 (0.7)86 (2.2)177 (4.6)394 (10.3)
Surgeon specialty
 Neurosurgery12 (0.5)73 (2.7)134 (5.0)279 (10.4)
 Orthopedic surgery24 (0.7)69 (2.0)163 (4.7)370 (10.8)
  • * Unless otherwise indicated.