Neurologic Deficits Have a Negative Impact on Patient-Related Outcomes in Primary Presentation Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis Surgical Treatment at One-Year Follow-up.
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of prospective, multicenter National Institute of Health clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the rate of neurologic complications and impact of new neurologic deficits on 1-year postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are limited studies evaluating the impact of new neurologic deficits on PROs following surgery for primary presentation adult lumbar scoliosis. METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups: new postoperative neurological deficit (Def) or no deficit (NoDef). Preoperative and 1-year follow-up PROs were analyzed [Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Questionnaire, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form-12 Physical/Mental Health Composite Scores (PCS/MCS), and back/leg pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)]. RESULTS: One hundred forty-one patients: 14 Def (9.9%), 127 NoDef (90.1%). No differences were observed in demographic, radiographic, or PRO data between groups preoperatively. Def group had longer surgical procedures (8.3 vs. 6.9 hours, P = 0.030), greater blood loss (2832 vs. 2606 mL, P = 0.022), and longer hospitalizations (10.6 vs. 7.8 days, P = 0.004). NoDef group reported significant improvement in all PROs from preop to 1-year postoperative. Def group only had improvement in SRS Pain (2.7 preop to 3.4 postop, P = 0.037) and self-image domains (2.7 to 3.6, p = 0.004), and NRS back pain (6.6 to 3.2, P = 0.004) scores with significant worsening of NRS leg pain (4.1 to 6.1, P = 0.045). Group comparisons of 1-year postop PROs found that Def group reported more NRS leg pain (6.1 vs. 1.7, P < 0.001) and worse outcomes than NoDef group for ODI (35.7 vs. 23.1, P = 0.016) and PCS (32.6 vs. 41.9, P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: We found a 9.9% rate of new neurologic deficits following surgery for symptomatic primary presentation adult lumbar scoliosis, much higher than previous studies. Most neurologic deficits improved by 1-year follow-up, but appeared to have a dramatic negative impact on PROs, with increased postoperative leg pain and greater patient-perceived pathology reported in patients experiencing neurological deficits compared with those who did not. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.
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- Treatment Outcome
- Time Factors
- Scoliosis
- Retrospective Studies
- Prospective Studies
- Postoperative Complications
- Orthopedics
- Nervous System Diseases
- Middle Aged
- Male
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Treatment Outcome
- Time Factors
- Scoliosis
- Retrospective Studies
- Prospective Studies
- Postoperative Complications
- Orthopedics
- Nervous System Diseases
- Middle Aged
- Male