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Study Design.

Retrospective cohort.

Objective.

A national population-based database was queried to investigate the incidence of sentinel events in cervical spine surgery as well as the associated perioperative outcomes.

Summary of Background Data.

Sentinel events in cervical spine surgery are potentially catastrophic complications. The incidence and perioperative outcomes associated with sentinel events in cervical spine surgery have not been well characterized.

Methods.

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried from 2002 to 2011. Patients who underwent elective cervical spinal surgery were identified. Sentinel events including esophageal perforation, vascular injury, nerve injury, retention of foreign objects, and wrong-site surgery were identified. Patient demographics, comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index), surgical procedures, length of stay, total hospital costs, and postoperative outcomes were …