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Final Program


Final Program

1602 - A Multi-center Retrospective Review of Hospital Readmission Rates for Patients with Post-Traumatic Hydrocephalus

Thursday, February 27, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MST

    Presenting Author(s)

  • KL

    Kathleen LeFiles, BS

    Medical Student
    University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
    Phoenix, Arizona, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • JS

    Joseph Spear, BA

    Medical Student
    University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix
    Phoenix, Arizona, United States

  • AG

    Abigail Gentzler, BS

    Medical Student
    University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
    Tucson, Arizona, United States

  • MO

    Milan Oxspring, BS

    Medical Student
    University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix
    Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Objectives: Post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is a sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) wherein altered dynamics to cerebrospinal fluid flow result in fluid accumulation, increased intracranial pressures, and higher morbidity/mortality rates. Existing literature has established hospital readmission rates among TBI patients following discharge after initial insult, but specific readmission rates for PTH patients remain unreported. This study aims to determine the rates of hospital readmission in patients with PTH, and how these rates are affected by initial discharge disposition and neurosurgical intervention.

Design: Retrospective chart review of patients with ICD-10 code G91.3 (PTH) and hospital admission for TBI between 01/01/2016 and 12/31/2023 was conducted. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, readmission ≤180 days from discharge, and CT/MRI imaging demonstrating PTH. Data was analyzed using chi-squared tests.

Results:

Of the 58 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 50 (86%) developed PTH. Thirty-four patients (59%) had a readmission, 15 (44%) specifically for PTH and 8 incidentally had PTH diagnosed during readmission.

Disposition to long-term acute care (LTAC) or a skilled nursing facility (SNF) had no significance in PTH readmission rates. Discharge to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) was statistically significant in reduced PTH readmissions, with a p-value of 0.013.

Fifty (86%) patients underwent neurosurgical intervention during initial admission, including the 23 readmitted with PTH. Overall, surgical intervention during initial admission was not found to be significant for readmission rates.

Conclusions: Compared to reported TBI readmission rates of 35%, 59% of PTH patients were readmitted based on this review. Neurosurgical interventions had no significant association with readmission rates and among all disposition settings, IRF placement was associated with a significant decrease in readmissions. These results highlight the importance that post-acute care settings may have on PTH patient outcomes. Further research may better characterize additional factors associated with PTH morbidity and the impact of rehabilitation on these patients.