Seniors waiting longer for spinal surgery, Toronto study say
Research has found that patients over the age of 65 are waiting nearly twice as long as younger patients to receive spinal cord surgery after injury.
The new study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, reveals that older patients wait 37 hours on average for surgery, compared to just 19 hours for their younger counterparts.
Using data compiled by the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry of 1,440 Canadians, the research also found it took twice as long for over 65-year-olds to arrive at a specialist spinal care centre following an injury.
The findings are particularly concerning considering that the number of people with traumatic spine injuries over 70 years old has risen significantly in recent years and is expected to continue to grow.
“These delays may be due to delays in recognizing the less severe injuries in seniors or they may reflect a potential age related therapeutic bias,” said Dr. Henry Ahn of Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, who conducted the research alongside a number of other physicians on behalf of the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry Network.
The study’s task was not to establish the reasons why wait times for older patients are far lengthier, although Dr. Ahn was able to provide an educated guess.
The physician suggested the “perceived heightened risk” of invasive surgery in older patients and lack of firm management guidelines regarding spinal cord injuries could be the cause.