Neurospine (Mar 2024)

Severe Preoperative Disability Is Associated With Greater Mental Health Improvements Following Surgery for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A Cohort Matched Analysis

  • Ishan Khosla,
  • Fatima N. Anwar,
  • Andrea M. Roca,
  • Srinath S. Medakkar,
  • Alexandra C. Loya,
  • Aayush Kaul,
  • Jacob C. Wolf,
  • Vincent P. Federico,
  • Arash J. Sayari,
  • Gregory D. Lopez,
  • Kern Singh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14245/ns.2347080.540
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 1
pp. 253 – 260

Abstract

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Objective To evaluate preoperative disability’s influence on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). Methods DS patients who underwent surgical intervention were retrospectively identified from a single-surgeon spine registry. Cohorts based on Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) < 41 (milder disability) and ≥ 41 (severe disability) were created. Demographic differences were accounted for with 1:1 propensity score matching. For the matched sample, perioperative and PRO data were additionally collected. PROs assessed included mental health, physical function, pain, and disability. Pre- and up to 2-year postoperative PROs were utilized. Average time to final follow-up was 15.7 ± 8.8 months. Improvements in PROs and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) rates were calculated. Continuous variables were compared through Student t-test and categorical variables were compared through chi-square tests. Results Altogether, 214 patients were included with 77 in the milder disability group. The severe disability group had worse postoperative day (POD) 1 pain scores and longer hospital stays (p ≤ 0.038, both). The severe disability group reported worse outcomes pre- and postoperatively (p < 0.011, all), but had greater average improvement in 12-item Short Form health survey mental composite score (SF-12 MCS), 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), visual analogue scale (VAS)-back, and ODI by 6 weeks (p ≤ 0.037, all) and PHQ-9, VAS-back and ODI by final follow-up (p ≤ 0.015, all). The severe disability cohort was more likely to achieve MCID for SF-12 MCS, PHQ-9, and ODI (p ≤ 0.003, all). Conclusion Patients with greater baseline disability report higher POD 1 pain and discharge later than patients with milder disability. While these patients report inferior physical/mental health before and after surgery, they report greater improvements in mental health and disability postoperatively.

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