Increased rates of spinal fusion surgery in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis: a five-year propensity matched cohort analysis

Object Spinal arthropathy is associated with hereditary hemochromatosis and has been linked to calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate crystal deposition (CPPD) which resembles ankylosing spondylitis on radiograph, yet lacks clinical findings of inflammatory spinal arthritis. The aim of our study was to assess the use of spinal surgery and its outcomes in the US inpatient population with hereditary hemochromatosis from 2012 to 2016 by using the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Methods The observational retrospective cohort study uses the NIS 2012 to 2016. All patients with hereditary hemochromatosis were included using International Classification of Diseases 9th and 10th revisions, Clinical Modification codes. The cohort was stratified according to having undergone spinal surgery and substratified by the type of surgery. The primary outcome was determining the use of spinal surgery in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis. Secondary outcomes were determining length of hospital stay and total hospital charges and costs. Results A total of 39 780 patients with hereditary hemochromatosis were identified and propensity matched to nonhereditary hemochromatosis controls. The mean patient age was 61 years, and 65% were females. For the primary outcome patients with hereditary hemochromatosis underwent significantly more spinal fusion surgery compared to patients without hereditary hemochromatosis odds of 2.13 (P = 0.05). While there was no difference in mean LOS, or costs, patients with hereditary hemochromatosis had higher hospital charges. Conclusion Hereditary hemochromatosis is associated with higher odds of spinal fusion. It is a major complication not improved by phlebotomy, and there are currently no therapies to prevent this joint disease.