This database was last updated in July 2015 and is based on data from 2009 to 2013. It should only be used as a historical snapshot.

Iowa

    Compare the performance of surgeons practicing at hospitals in this state, in one of the following procedures:

Lumbar Spinal Fusion, Anterior Column, Posterior Approach

Fusing two or more vertebrae in the lower back; performed on the front of the spine, incision in the back (ICD-9-CM code 81.08)

The fusing of two or more vertebrae in the lower back, performed on the front portion of the spine. One of the most common reasons is the narrowing of the space between the vertebrae, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain. It can also be done because of disc degeneration or a condition where one bone in the back slides forward over the bone below it. More information »

16Iowa hospitals performed this procedure on Medicare patients.
3 (19%)have at least one surgeon with a low adjusted complication rate.
Alert stop2 50396a7919fcffb9b54ceb393a298dce637a556b013844b32d7e939e9458f99d4 (25%)have at least one surgeon with a high adjusted complication rate.

Sorted by the surgeon with the lowest adjusted rate of complications at each hospital, along with a measure representing the combined performance of surgeons and hospitals for these procedures.