2018 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting-581. Effect Of Surgical Treatment On Isolated Acute Traumatic Axis Fractures In Older US Adults

581. Effect Of Surgical Treatment On Isolated Acute Traumatic Axis Fractures In Older US Adults

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Dr. Catalino presents findings from a study conducted by the Gillings School of Public Health and the Comparative Effectiveness Research Team at UNC. The study focuses on axis fractures in older adults and aims to assess the mortality outcomes associated with surgical and non-surgical management of these fractures. Using data from a 20% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries, the study found that surgery was associated with fewer deaths compared to non-surgical management at one year. However, the study also found that the benefits of surgery decrease with increasing age, and in patients aged 75 to 84 and 85 and older, the risk reduction actually crossed into negative values, suggesting that surgery may not be beneficial in these age groups. The study concludes that axis fractures are associated with high mortality in older adults, and while surgical treatment is associated with lower mortality in patients aged 65 to 74, the causal relationship between surgery and better outcomes cannot be determined based on this retrospective analysis.

Asset Caption

Michael P. Catalino, MD, MS

Keywords

axis fractures

older adults

mortality outcomes

surgical management

non-surgical management