Incidence of sacral fractures and in-hospital postoperative complications in the United States: an analysis of 2002-2011 data

Abstract

Study design: Retrospective study of an administrative database.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of sacral fractures in the United States and report short-term outcomes after their surgical management.

Summary of background data: The incidence of sacral fractures in the United States is currently unknown, and these lesions have been associated with significant morbidity after their surgical management.

Methods: This study used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for the years 2002-2011. All patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of a sacral fracture with and without a neurological injury were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Patients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis or pathological fracture were excluded. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with an in-hospital complication.

Results: During the study period, 10,177 patients with a nonosteoporotic sacral fracture were identified, of whom 1002 patients underwent surgery. Between 2002 and 2011, the estimated incidence of sacral fractures increased from 0.67 per 100,000 persons to 2.09 (P < 0.001). Similarly, the rate of surgical treatment for sacral fractures increased from 0.05 per 100,000 persons in 2002 to 0.24 per 100,000 in 2011 (P < 0.001). Complications occurred in 25.95% of patients and remained steady over time (P = 0.992). Average length of stay significantly decreased from 11.93 days to 9.66 days in the 10-year period (P = 0.023). The independent factors associated with an in-hospital complication were congestive heart failure (odds ratio, 3.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-11.26), coagulopathy (odds ratio, 3.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.88-6.81), and electrolyte abnormalities (odds ratio, 3.28; 95% confidence interval, 2.14-5.02).

Conclusion: During the examined 10-year period, both the incidence of nonosteoporotic sacral fractures and the surgical treatment of these lesions increased in the United States. Between 2002 and 2011, although patient comorbidity increased, in-hospital complication rates remained stable and length of stay significantly decreased over time.

Level of evidence: 4.