Preoperative CONUT Score Stratifies Risk of Readmission After Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion.
Publication/Presentation Date
8-28-2026
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Cohort Study.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes between patients of varying nutritional deficiency status as measured by the CONUT score undergoing posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF).
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Malnutrition is an established risk factor for poor postoperative outcomes. The COntrolling NUTritional status (CONUT) score has emerged as a novel method of assessing a patient's nutritional status.
METHODS: Adult patients undergoing primary, elective PCDF (2017-2023) were identified. Patients were included if they had components of the CONUT score, specifically deficiencies in serum albumin, total cholesterol, or lymphocyte counts, within 6 months preoperatively. Data regarding modified 5-item frailty index, demographic/surgical variables, and postoperative outcomes were collected.
RESULTS: 206 patients were included and stratified into normal nutritional status, mild nutritional deficiency, and moderate/severe nutritional deficiency. Age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and Distressed Community Index differed between cohorts. Length of stay (LOS) correlated with CONUT score (normal: 4.77, mild: 6.20, moderate/severe: 10.0 days; P=0.001). Frequency of inpatient complications (normal: 8.7%, mild: 11.8%, moderate/severe: 33.3%; P=0.017), discharge to home (normal: 84.8%, mild: 82.8%, moderate/severe: 38.1%; P< 0.001), and 31-90 day readmissions (normal: 6.52%, mild: 7.53%, moderate/severe: 38.1%; P=0.001) differed between cohorts. Proportion of frail patients (normal: 79.3%, mild: 86.0%, moderate/severe: 100%; P=0.041) and frailty scores (normal: 1.28, mild: 1.70, moderate/severe: 2.38; P< 0.001) differed between cohorts. A multivariable regression controlling for CONUT nutritional status, frailty score, CCI Age score, DCI, and discharge to SNF found that only moderate/severe nutritional deficiency was associated with 90-day readmissions (OR: 4.99, 95% CI: 1.40-18.75; P=0.014).
DISCUSSION: In patients undergoing PCDF, moderate/severe nutritional deficiency was associated with 90-day readmissions independent of comorbidity burden and frailty score. Thus, further investigation of optimizing nutritional status prior to PCDF may be warranted to minimize postoperative healthcare utilization.
ISSN
1528-1159
Published In/Presented At
Baek, G., Ng, M., Banko, S. J., Green, W., Mathew, J., Lee, Y., Hitchner, M., Eichbaum, Y., Miloh, R., Joh, N., Skiena, A., Fras, T., Uvarov, E. V., Patel, K., Stump, K., Giakas, A., Farooqi, A., Martinazzi, B., Dalton, J., Hilibrand, A. S., … Schroeder, G. D. (2026). Preoperative CONUT Score Stratifies Risk of Readmission After Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion. Spine, 10.1097/BRS.0000000000005846. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000005846
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
42704649
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article