Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation Based on Surgeon Specialty

Introduction/Purpose: Orthopaedic, vascular, and general surgeons all perform lower extremity amputations. Previous studies have indicated that outcomes may be related surgeon experience or skill, with a similar study indicating that general surgeons experience worst postoperative outcomes than vasc...

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Main Authors: Paul J. Pottanat MD, Kola D. George MD, MPH, Joshua L. Morningstar BS, Daniel Scott MD, MBA, Christopher E. Gross MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-04-01
Series:Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011424S00055
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author Paul J. Pottanat MD
Kola D. George MD, MPH
Joshua L. Morningstar BS
Daniel Scott MD, MBA
Christopher E. Gross MD
author_facet Paul J. Pottanat MD
Kola D. George MD, MPH
Joshua L. Morningstar BS
Daniel Scott MD, MBA
Christopher E. Gross MD
author_sort Paul J. Pottanat MD
collection DOAJ
description Introduction/Purpose: Orthopaedic, vascular, and general surgeons all perform lower extremity amputations. Previous studies have indicated that outcomes may be related surgeon experience or skill, with a similar study indicating that general surgeons experience worst postoperative outcomes than vascular surgeons. In spite of these studies, there is a paucity of literature investigating the difference in outcomes between amputations performed by orthopaedic and vascular surgeons. This study aims to analyze the effect of surgeon specialty on 30-day complication, readmission, reoperation, and mortality rates following below-knee amputation (BKA) procedures between orthopaedic and vascular surgeons. Methods: The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried from 2010-2019 to identify 28,776 patients undergoing BKA by either orthopaedic, general, or vascular surgeons using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 27880, 27881, and 27882. Patients were stratified into groups based on surgeon specialty with 18,935 (66.4%) cases performed by vascular surgeons, 6,146 (21.6%) cases by general surgeons, and 3,429 (15.3%) cases were performed by orthopaedic surgeons. Demographics, comorbid conditions, hospital length of stay (LOS), and 30-day complications, readmission, reoperation, and mortality rates were compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to examine the associations between outcomes and surgical specialty, while controlling for comorbid conditions as measured by ASA score and 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) score. Results: The cohort was predominantly male (68.4%), white (61.9%), and the mean age was 63.54 (range, 18-90) years. The cohort of patients treated by vascular and general surgeons had significantly higher rates of numerous comorbidities, including mFI-5 score (p <.001) and ASA score (p <.001). When controlling for age, gender, BMI, and comorbid conditions, BKAs performed by vascular and general surgeons experienced an increased risk overall complication (General: Odds ratio [OR]=1.158, 95% confidence Interval [CI]=1.055-1.271; p=.002) (Vascular: OR=1.167, 95%CI=1.074-1.268; p<.001), readmission (General: OR=1.208; p=.011) (Vascular: OR=1.191; p=.009), and reoperation (General: OR=1.71;, p<.001) (Vascular: OR=1.975; p<.001). However, both general (OR=0.361, 95%CI=0.27-0.482; p<.001) and vascular surgeons (OR=0.367, 95%CI= 0.256-0.526; p<.001) surgeons experience decreased risk for organ/space SSI as compared to orthopaedic surgeons. Overall risk of mortality between specialties was not significantly different. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in rates of overall 30-day mortality in patients undergoing between surgical specialties when employing multivariate controls. However, patients undergoing BKA by vascular or general surgeons were found to have an increased risk of overall complication, readmission, and reoperation.
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spelling doaj.art-fd8239f64eea4695b63c771477911b052024-04-12T13:05:15ZengSAGE PublishingFoot & Ankle Orthopaedics2473-01142024-04-01910.1177/2473011424S00055Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation Based on Surgeon SpecialtyPaul J. Pottanat MDKola D. George MD, MPHJoshua L. Morningstar BSDaniel Scott MD, MBAChristopher E. Gross MDIntroduction/Purpose: Orthopaedic, vascular, and general surgeons all perform lower extremity amputations. Previous studies have indicated that outcomes may be related surgeon experience or skill, with a similar study indicating that general surgeons experience worst postoperative outcomes than vascular surgeons. In spite of these studies, there is a paucity of literature investigating the difference in outcomes between amputations performed by orthopaedic and vascular surgeons. This study aims to analyze the effect of surgeon specialty on 30-day complication, readmission, reoperation, and mortality rates following below-knee amputation (BKA) procedures between orthopaedic and vascular surgeons. Methods: The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried from 2010-2019 to identify 28,776 patients undergoing BKA by either orthopaedic, general, or vascular surgeons using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 27880, 27881, and 27882. Patients were stratified into groups based on surgeon specialty with 18,935 (66.4%) cases performed by vascular surgeons, 6,146 (21.6%) cases by general surgeons, and 3,429 (15.3%) cases were performed by orthopaedic surgeons. Demographics, comorbid conditions, hospital length of stay (LOS), and 30-day complications, readmission, reoperation, and mortality rates were compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to examine the associations between outcomes and surgical specialty, while controlling for comorbid conditions as measured by ASA score and 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) score. Results: The cohort was predominantly male (68.4%), white (61.9%), and the mean age was 63.54 (range, 18-90) years. The cohort of patients treated by vascular and general surgeons had significantly higher rates of numerous comorbidities, including mFI-5 score (p <.001) and ASA score (p <.001). When controlling for age, gender, BMI, and comorbid conditions, BKAs performed by vascular and general surgeons experienced an increased risk overall complication (General: Odds ratio [OR]=1.158, 95% confidence Interval [CI]=1.055-1.271; p=.002) (Vascular: OR=1.167, 95%CI=1.074-1.268; p<.001), readmission (General: OR=1.208; p=.011) (Vascular: OR=1.191; p=.009), and reoperation (General: OR=1.71;, p<.001) (Vascular: OR=1.975; p<.001). However, both general (OR=0.361, 95%CI=0.27-0.482; p<.001) and vascular surgeons (OR=0.367, 95%CI= 0.256-0.526; p<.001) surgeons experience decreased risk for organ/space SSI as compared to orthopaedic surgeons. Overall risk of mortality between specialties was not significantly different. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in rates of overall 30-day mortality in patients undergoing between surgical specialties when employing multivariate controls. However, patients undergoing BKA by vascular or general surgeons were found to have an increased risk of overall complication, readmission, and reoperation.https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011424S00055
spellingShingle Paul J. Pottanat MD
Kola D. George MD, MPH
Joshua L. Morningstar BS
Daniel Scott MD, MBA
Christopher E. Gross MD
Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation Based on Surgeon Specialty
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
title Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation Based on Surgeon Specialty
title_full Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation Based on Surgeon Specialty
title_fullStr Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation Based on Surgeon Specialty
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation Based on Surgeon Specialty
title_short Comparison of Outcomes in Below-Knee Amputation Based on Surgeon Specialty
title_sort comparison of outcomes in below knee amputation based on surgeon specialty
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011424S00055
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