Four out of 10 pediatric patients face unsafe spine surgery wait times in Canada

A recent report, published on Tuesday, reveals that in Canada, four out of every ten pediatric patients face delays in accessing spinal surgery. This report, supported by the Conference Board of Canada, a non-profit research institute, and Children's Healthcare Canada, a national child health services provider, also estimates that the delay in pediatric spinal surgeries costs the Canadian healthcare system a minimum of $44.6 million.

The report highlights that waiting times for pediatric spinal surgeries in Canada significantly exceed the clinically recommended safe timeframes in several provinces. These delays, in addition to causing emotional distress and physical pain to the children, lead to increased healthcare costs due to disease progression, complications, more complex procedures, prolonged hospital stays, rehospitalizations, and rehabilitation journeys.

The report focuses particularly on the situation of scoliosis, a condition where the spine curves into an "S" or "C" shape. While most cases can be managed with braces and physical therapy, severe cases may require interventions such as spinal fusion surgery. Currently, 2,778 children in Canada are waiting for scoliosis surgery. Despite a clinical recommendation of a six-month timeframe for pediatric spinal surgery, the report reveals that only 38% of pediatric scoliosis patients in Canada receive surgery within that period.

The data also suggests that the situation is most critical in Nova Scotia, where 68% of pediatric patients receive spinal or back surgeries within the recommended six months. Following Nova Scotia, the analysis ranks British Columbia at 45%, Saskatchewan at 44%, New Brunswick at 37%, Ontario at 29%, and Alberta at 13%.

The report emphasizes that long waiting times can result in more severe spinal deformities, complications, and the need for more complex surgical procedures. It estimates that this could cost the healthcare system $44.6 million while creating a negative economic impact of $1.4 million due to caregivers taking leaves of absence to care for the children.

The report explains, "More complex and extensive surgeries increase the potential for side effects and surgical complications, leading to a higher likelihood of long-term hospital stays, rehospitalizations, and additional procedures." These costs will continue to rise with an increasing number of children waiting for surgery.

The recommendations of this report include increased strategic investment in pediatric healthcare, expanding surgical capacity to reduce backlogs, and prioritizing surgeries delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chad Leaver, the Director of Health and Human Capital Conference Board of Canada, stated, "Waitlists and surgical backlogs in pediatrics have persisted for years and have been exacerbated by COVID-19, putting pressure on healthcare in Canada and globally. Until surgeries are performed more quickly than pre-pandemic levels, meaningful reductions in wait times will not be seen."

In Ontario alone, 17,091 children were on the surgical waitlist in 2022, marking a 26% increase from the pre-pandemic period of 2019-2022. In British Columbia, nearly 7,000 children were awaiting surgical procedures as of June 2023.

This first installment of a three-part series of reports is written by the Conference Board of Canada with financial support from Children's Healthcare Canada, a national association of child health service providers.

Emily Gruenwoldt, President and CEO of Children's Healthcare Canada, added, "This research underscores the need for strategic and sustained investments across pediatric healthcare systems to ensure that children and youth across Canada receive the care they deserve when they need it and where they need it. Children's Healthcare Canada thanks the Conference Board for shedding light on the delays our children experience in accessing essential healthcare."

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