Few studies have established the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for physical function and ...pain.
To establish MCID for physical function and pain patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for MIS-TLIF through anchor- and distribution-based methods using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) as the anchor.
Ninety-eight patients undergoing primary MIS-TLIF with preoperative and 1-year postoperative ODI scores were identified. MCID was calculated using anchor- and distribution-based methods. ODI responders were classified as patients who decreased by 1 disability classification. PROMs of Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), 12-Item Short Form Physical Component Score (SF-12 PCS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) back/leg, and ODI were collected preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively. Anchor-based methods were average change, minimum detectable change, change difference, receiver operating characteristic curve, and cross-sectional analysis. Distribution-based methods were standard error of measurement, receiver change index, effect size, and 0.5 ∗ ΔSD.
Anchor-based methods ranged from 4.2 to 11.9 for PROMIS-PF, 6.0 to 15.8 for SF-12 PCS, 1.8 to 4.6 for VAS back, and 2.1 to 4.0 for VAS leg. The area under the curve for receiver operating characteristic analysis ranged from 0.66 to 0.81. Distribution-based methods ranged from 1.1 to 3.9 for PROMIS-PF, 1.6 to 10.4 for SF-12 PCS, 0.5 to 1.6 for VAS back, and 0.6 to 1.8 for VAS leg.
Patients undergoing MIS-TLIF had a wide range of MCID values. The receiver operating characteristic curve was selected as the most clinically appropriate method. The corresponding MCID values were 4.2 for PROMIS-PF, 6.8 for SF-12 PCS, 1.8 for VAS back, and 2.4 for VAS leg.
Purpose
Few studies examine the clinical outcomes in patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) versus lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for ...adjacent segment disease (ASD). We aim to compare the postoperative clinical trajectory through patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in patients undergoing MIS-TLIF versus LLIF for ASD.
Methods
Patients were stratified into two cohorts based on surgical technique for ASD: MIS-TLIF versus LLIF. PROMs of 12-Item Short Form Physical Component Score (SF-12 PCS), visual analog scale (VAS) back, VAS leg, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were collected at preoperative and postoperative 6-week/12-week/6-month/1-year time points. MCID attainment was calculated through comparison to established thresholds. Cohorts were compared through nonparametric inferential statistics.
Results
Fifty-four patients were identified, with 22 patients undergoing MIS-TLIF after propensity score matching. Patients undergoing MIS-TLIF for ASD demonstrated significant postoperative improvement up to 1-year VAS back, up to 1-year VAS leg, and 6-month through 1-year ODI (
p
≤ 0.035, all). Patients undergoing LLIF demonstrated significant postoperative improvement in 6-month SF-12 PCS, 6-month through 1-year VAS back, 12-week through 6-month VAS leg, and 6-month to 1-year ODI (
p
≤ 0.035, all). No significant differences were calculated between surgical techniques for PROMs or MCID achievement rates.
Conclusion
Patients undergoing either MIS-TLIF or LLIF for adjacent segment disease demonstrated significant postoperative improvement in pain and disability outcomes. Additionally, patients undergoing LLIF reported significant improvement in physical function. Both MIS-TLIF and LLIF are effective for the treatment of adjacent segment disease.
Purpose
We aim to examine the preoperative factors associated with increased postoperative length of stay in patients undergoing LLIF in the hospital setting.
Methods
Patient demographics, ...perioperative characteristics, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected from a single-surgeon database. Patients undergoing LLIF in the hospital setting were separated into postoperative LOS <48 h (H) and LOS ≥ 48H. Univariate analysis for preoperative characteristics was utilized to determine covariates for multivariable logistic regression. Multivariable logistic regression was then utilized to determine significant predictors of extended postoperative length of stay. Secondary univariate analysis of inpatient complications, operative, and postoperative characteristics were calculated to determine postoperative factors associated with prolonged hospitalization.
Results
Two-hundred and forty patients were identified with 115 patients’ LOS ≥ 48H. Univariate analysis identified age/Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score/gender/insurance type/number of contiguous fused levels/preoperative PROMs of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) back/VAS leg/Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-PF)/Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)/degenerative spondylolisthesis diagnoses/foraminal stenosis/central stenosis for multivariable logistic regression. Multivariable logistic regression calculated significant positive predictors of LOS ≥ 48H to be age/3-level fusion/preoperative ODI scores. Negative predictors of LOS ≥ 48H were the diagnosis of foraminal stenosis/preoperative PROMIS-PF/male gender. The secondary analysis determined that patients with longer operative time/estimated blood loss/transfusion/postoperative day 0 and 1 pain and narcotic consumption/complications of altered mental status/postoperative anemia/fever/ileus/urinary retention were associated with prolonged hospitalization.
Conclusion
Older patients undergoing LLIF with greater preoperative disability and 3-level fusion were more likely to require prolonged hospitalization. Male patients with higher preoperative physical function and who were diagnosed with foraminal stenosis were less likely to require prolonged hospitalization.
Workers' compensation (WC) status tends to negatively affect patient outcomes in spine surgery. This study aims to evaluate the potential effect of WC status on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after ...cervical disc arthroplasty (CDR) at an ambulatory surgical center (ASC).
A single-surgeon registry was retrospectively reviewed for patients who had undergone elective CDR at an ASC. Patients with missing insurance data were excluded. Propensity score-matched cohorts were generated by the presence or lack of WC status. PROs were collected preoperatively and at 6-week, 12-week, 6-month, and 1-year time points. PROs included the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), visual analog scale (VAS) neck and arm pain, and Neck Disability Index. PROs were compared within and between groups. Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) achievement rates were compared between groups.
Sixty-three patients were included, with 36 without WC (non-WC) and 27 with WC. The non-WC cohort demonstrated postoperative improvement in all PROs at all time points, with the exception of VAS arm past the 12-week point (P ≤ 0.030, all). The WC cohort demonstrated postoperative improvement in VAS neck at 12-week, 6-month, and 1-year time points (P ≤ 0.025, all). The WC cohort improved in VAS arm and Neck Disability Index at the 12-week and 1-year points as well (P ≤ 0.029, all). The non-WC cohort reported superior PRO scores in every PRO at one or more postoperative time points (P ≤ 0.046, all). The non-WC cohort demonstrated higher rates of minimum clinically important difference achievement in PROMIS-PF at 12 weeks (P ≤ 0.024).
Patients with WC status undergoing CDR at an ASC may report inferior pain, function, and disability outcomes compared with those with private or government-provided insurance. Perceived inferior disability in WC patients persisted into the long-term follow-up period (1 year). These findings may aid surgeons in setting realistic preoperative expectations with patients at risk of inferior outcomes.
Background
Limited spine literature has studied the strength of association of mental health with other outcomes at time of survey collection. We aim to evaluate the degree to which mental health ...correlates with outcomes in patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) at several postoperative periods.
Methods
Patients having undergone elective MIS-TLIF were searched within a retrospective single-surgeon database. Five hundred eighty-five patients were included. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS PF), 12-item Short Form Physical Component Score (SF-12 PCS) and Mental Component Score (SF-12 MCS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) back and leg pain, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were collected preoperatively and at 6-week, 12-week, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year periods. Pearson’s correlation tests were used to evaluate the association between both SF-12 MCS and PHQ-9 scores to other PROs at each period.
Results
SF-12 MCS correlated with PROMIS PF (|
r
|= 0.308–0.531), SF-12 PCS (|
r
|= 0.207–0.328), VAS back (|
r
|= 0.279–0.474), VAS leg (|
r
|= 0.178–0.395), and ODI (|
r
|= 0.450–0.538) at all time points (
P
≤ 0.021, all) except for preoperative SF-12 PCS and 1-year VAS leg. PHQ-9 correlated with PROMIS PF (|
r
|= 0.366–0.701), SF-12 PCS (|
r
|= 0.305–0.568), VAS back (|
r
|= 0.362–0.714), VAS leg (|
r
|= 0.319–0.694), and ODI (|
r
|= 0.613–0.784) at all periods (
P
< 0.001, all).
Conclusion
Poor mental health scores were correlated with lower physical function, elevated pain scores, and higher disability. PHQ-9 scores demonstrated stronger correlation in all relationships compared to SF-12 MCS. Optimization of patient mental health may lead to improved patient perception regarding function, pain, and disability following MIS-TLIF.
We sought to assess correlational relationship between mental health and outcomes following lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF).
Patients who had undergone LLIF were identified. Patients with ...indications for surgery including infection, trauma, or malignancy were excluded. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) included short-form (SF)-12 Mental Component Score (MCS)/Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9/Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System−Physical Function (PROMIS-PF)/12-Item Short-Form Physical Component Score (SF-12 PCS)/Visual Analog Scale (VAS) back and leg pain/Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and were collected preoperatively and at several postoperative time points extending to 1 year. Pearson correlation tests were used to compare the 12-item Short Form Mental Component Score (SF-12 MCS) and PHQ-9 with the other PROs.
We included 124 patients. SF-12 MCS positively correlated with PROMIS-PF at 6 months (r = 0.466) and SF-12 PCS preoperatively (r = 0.287) and at 6 months (r = 0.419) (P ≤ 0.041, all). SF-12 MCS negatively correlated with VAS back preoperatively (r = −0.315), at 12 weeks (r = −0.414), and at 6 months (r = −0.746); VAS leg at 12 weeks (r = −0.378); and ODI preoperatively (r = −0.580) (P ≤ 0.023, all). PHQ-9 negatively correlated with PROMIS-PF at all periods except 12 weeks (range: r = −0.357 to −0.566, P ≤ 0.017, all) and SF-12 PCS preoperatively, at 6 weeks, and at 6 months (range: r = −0.363 to −0.562, P ≤ 0.022, all). PHQ-9 positively correlated with VAS back at all periods before 1-year (range: r = 0.415–0.690, P ≤ 0.001, all), VAS leg at 12-weeks (r = 0.467) and 6-months (r = 0.402) (P ≤ 0.028, both), and ODI at all periods except 6-months (range: r = 0.413–0.637, P ≤ 0.008, all).
Better mental health scores correlated with superior physical function, pain, and disability scores when measured by both SF-12 MCS and PHQ-9. PHQ-9 more consistently reported significant correlation to all outcomes measured when compared to SF-12 MCS.
The effect of prolonged symptom duration in patients undergoing ambulatory MIS-TLIF on postoperative clinical outcomes has not been well studied. We aim to compare symptom duration of pain and/or ...weakness on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing outpatient MIS-TLIF.
Patients undergoing outpatient MIS-TLIF were gathered in a single-surgeon database. Exclusion criteria were patients missing onset of symptoms, date of surgery, or diagnosis of malignancy, trauma, or infection. Patients were grouped by symptoms <1 year or symptoms ≥1 year. Propensity score matching for demographics was utilized. Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) achievement was calculated by comparing change in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to previously established values. Inferential statistics for demographics, perioperative characteristics, PROMs, and MCID were utilized to compare between groups and/or postoperative improvement.
After matching, there were a total of 56 patients, with 30 patients with symptoms <1-year. The <1-year cohort reported significant improvement in all time points in VAS back/leg and 12-week/6-months in ODI. The ≥1-year cohort demonstrated significant improvement in 6-month Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement-Information System Physical Function, 6-week to 1-year VAS back, 6-week VAS leg, and 6-month ODI. The <1-year cohort had higher MCID attainment rates in 1-year VAS back/leg.
Independent of symptom duration, patients reported significant improvement in back pain at all postoperative periods. Patients presenting with shorter symptom duration consistently reported significant improvement in leg pain postoperatively. Patients with shorter symptom duration demonstrated greater MCID achievement in back and leg pain. Patients indicated for outpatient MIS-TLIF may benefit more from earlier intervention following onset of symptoms.
Background
The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) has not been established in lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). Our study aims to establish MCID for patient-reported outcome ...measures (PROMs) of physical function and pain for LLIF through anchor-based and distribution-based approaches.
Methods
Patients undergoing LLIF with preoperative and 6-month postoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were identified. PROMs of Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), 12-Item Short Form Physical Component Score (SF-12 PCS), Veterans RAND 12-Item Short Form Physical Component Score (VR-12 PCS), visual analog scale (VAS) back, and VAS leg were collected at preoperative and 6-month postoperative time points. Anchor-based MCID calculations were average change, minimal detectable change, change difference, receiver operating characteristic curve, and cross-sectional analysis using ODI as the anchor. Distribution-based calculations were standard error of measurement, reliable change index, effect size, and 0.5 ∗ ΔSD.
Results
Fifty patients were included. Anchor-based approaches MCID ranges were PROMIS-PF 1.1–9.6, SF-12 PCS 6.4–16.5, VR-12 PCS 5.9–12.9, VAS Back 1.4–4.6, and VAS Leg 1.3–4.3. The area under curve for receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis ranged from 0.63 to 0.71. Distribution-based MCID ranges were PROMIS-PF 1.4–4.5, SF-12 PCS 1.9–12.7, VR-12 PCS 2.0–6.6, VAS Back 0.4–1.4, and VAS Leg 0.5–2.0.
Conclusion
MCID thresholds varied widely depending on the calculation method. The closest to (0,1) ROC approach was the most clinically appropriate MCID calculation. The corresponding MCID values for LLIF were PROMIS-PF at 7.8, SF-12 PCS at 6.4, VR-12 PCS at 9.3, VAS Back at 4.6, and VAS Leg at 4.3.
Background
Studies have demonstrated the influence of preoperative mental health on outcomes following spine surgery, but prior literature has not assessed the influence of mental health at time of ...outcome survey collection.
Methods
Patients who underwent elective anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) were identified from a prospective registry. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were collected preoperatively and up to 1 year postoperatively. Mental health measures studied included 12-item Short Form (SF-12) Mental Component Score (MCS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), SF-12 Physical Component Score (PCS), visual analog scale (VAS) back and leg pain, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were compared to the mental health measures by Pearson’s correlation tests.
Results
A total of 166 patients were included. SF-12 MCS demonstrated positive correlation to PROMIS-PF preoperatively (|
r
|= 0.379) and at 6 weeks (|
r
|= 0.387) (
p
≤ 0.016, all). SF-12 MCS demonstrated negative correlation to VAS back at 6 months (|
r
|= 0.359), VAS leg at 6 weeks (|
r
|= 0.475) and 12 weeks (|
r
|= 0.422), and ODI up to 6 months postoperatively (|
r
|= 0.417–0.526) (
p
≤ 0.037, all). PHQ-9 negatively correlated with PROMIS-PF at all periods studied (|
r
|= 0.425–0.587) and SF-12 PCS up to 6 months postoperatively (|
r
|= 0.367–0.642) (
p
≤ 0.016, all). PHQ-9 positively correlated to VAS back at 6 weeks (|
r
|= 0.408) and 6 months (|
r
|= 0.411), VAS leg at 6 weeks (|
r
|= 0.344), and ODI up to 6 months postoperatively (|
r
|= 0.321–0.669) (
p
≤ 0.034, all).
Conclusion
Inferior mental health correlated with inferior pain, function, and disability scores at one or more periods postoperatively. This finding was most consistent for correlation between mental health scores and disability. Optimization of mental health may positively influence outcomes, especially regarding disability, following ALIF.
To examine the impact of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance (PROMIS-SD) on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing lumbar decompression.
Patients ...undergoing lumbar decompression with preoperative PROMIS-SD scores were retrospectively included. Patients were separated into 2 cohorts: none to slight sleep disturbance (PROMIS-SD <55) and mild to severe sleep disturbance (PROMIS-SD ≥55). Patient-reported outcome measures including PROMIS Physical Function, PROMIS Anxiety, PROMIS Pain Interference, PROMIS SD, 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, visual analog scale back/leg, and Oswestry Disability Index were collected preoperatively and up to 1 year postoperatively.
Of 87 patients identified, 48 patients had PROMIS-SD scores ≥55. Regardless of preoperative PROMIS-SD score, patients reported significant improvement in physical function, anxiety, pain interference, depression, pain, and disability outcomes in at least 1 time point. Patients in the PROMIS-SD ≥55 cohort reported postoperative improvement in sleep disturbance. Patients in the PROMIS-SD <55 cohort reported superior preoperative patient-reported outcome measures in all domains and superior postoperative improvement in pain interference and sleep disturbance. Minimum clinically important difference attainment rates were higher in the PROMIS-SD ≥55 cohort in physical function, anxiety, pain interference, sleep disturbance, and pain.
Patients undergoing lumbar decompression demonstrated significant postoperative improvement in most clinical outcomes regardless of preoperative sleep disturbance. Patients with mild to severe sleep disturbance had higher minimum clinically important difference attainment rates for physical function, mental function, and pain. Patients undergoing lumbar decompression with greater preoperative sleep disturbance may experience more clinically noticeable improvement.
