Early Percutaneous Dilational Tracheostomy in Trauma Patients After Anterior Cervical Fusion: Propensity-Matched Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Patients with cervical spinal cord injuries (CSCIs) may be required to undergo tracheostomy. However, in patients undergoing anterior cervical fusion (ACF), percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) may be delayed given the risk of cross-contamination. We aimed to evaluate the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) in early PDT in patients with traumatic CSCI after ACF. METHODS: All trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit from 2008 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with CSCIs who underwent both ACF and PDT were identified, with or without posterior cervical fusion. Cases were classified as having undergone early PDT <= 4 days after ACF) versus late PDT (>4 days after ACF). Propensity scores were matched, and outcomes were compared between matched groups to reduce confounding by indication. RESULTS: From a total of 133 enrolled patients, a well-balanced propensity-matched cohort of 68 patients was defined. On the basis of the comparison of outcomes after matching, no significant difference in SSI was observed between both groups. There was no patient with SSI in the early PDT group (0%), whereas there were 2 SSI patients (5.9%) in the late PDT group (P = 0.493): The tracheostomy site was involved in 1, and the posterior approach site was involved in the other. Early PDT was associated with a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.042). There were no significant differences in the length of intensive care unit stay and hospital mortality between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early PDT within 4 days after ACF did not increase the risk of SSI compared with late PDT in patients with traumatic CSCIs.