Risk Factors, Incidence and Mortality of Vertebral Artery Injury in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Corpectomy: A Retrospective Large National Data Base Study

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study Objective: To determine the incidence of vertebral artery injury (VAI), risk factors, intervention, associated complications, and mortality in patients undergoing anterior cervical corpectomy. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the incidence of VAI during anterior cervical corpectomy using the PearlDiver database from 2010-2017. The CPT code 63 081 to identify corpectomy patients. Patient data extracted included, incidence of VAI, demographic factors, intervention, and future complications of death and stroke. The risk were calculated compared with those patients who did not have VAI. Results: 26 126 patients were identified to have undergone cervical corpectomy. Multivariate analysis of risk factors showed that younger age and male sex were associate with higher rate of injury (t = -11.5; P <.0001 and t = 3.8; P =.0001, respectively). Vertebral artery injuries occurred in 78 patients at an incidence of.3%. 11 (14%) VAI patients had a cerebral infarction compared with 1705 (7%) for non-VAI patients (OR = 2.13; 95% CI = [1.18 – 3.85; P =.0179]) during the follow up period. 1-year mortality rates were higher in patients who suffered a VAI (14%) compared to those who did not suffer a VAI (4%; OR = 3.85; CI = [2.04 – 7.14]; P <.0001). Conclusion: Consequence of VAI may not be known for months following the injury. Although the same admission mortality is rare with this injury, there is a significant increase in post-discharge complications. This study suggests that further investigations into long term health risk of VAI is needed.