Saniya S. Godil

Extent of Preoperative Depression Is Associated with Return to Work After Lumbar Fusion for Spondylolisthesis

BACKGROUND The ability to understand factors associated with an increased duration of missed work postoperatively could be used to more effectively select patients with the greatest opportunity for a successful outcome. We set out to determine the effect of preoperative depression on postoperative return to work in patients undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis. METHODS Fifty-eight patients undergoing TLIF for symptomatic grade I degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis were included in this analysis. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, indications for surgery, radiologic studies, and operative variables were assessed for each case. Patient-assessed outcome measures were obtained prospectively at baseline and 2 years postoperatively. To understand the factors associated with prolonged return to work, univariate linear regression analysis and stepwise multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used. RESULTS All patient-reported outcomes assessed were significantly improved 2 years after TLIF (P < 0.001). Of the 32 patients working preoperatively, 26 (81%) returned to work postoperatively. Median time to return to work was 56 days (range, 10-150 days). Independent of patient age; preoperative pain, disability, and quality of life; and extent of postoperative improvement, increased preoperative Zung depression score remained associated with prolonged return to work (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Independent of postoperative improvement in pain, disability, and quality of life, the extent of preoperative depression was an independent predictor of time to return to work in patients undergoing TLIF for spondylolisthesis, suggesting that regardless of how successful TLIF surgery may be at improving a patients pain, disability, or quality of life, greater depression will delay or prohibit their ability to return to work postoperatively.

Reduction of surgical site infection in spine surgery: an opportunity for quality improvement and cost reduction.

COMMENTARY ON Savage JW, Anderson PA. An update on modifiable factors to reduce the risk of surgical site infections. Spine J 2013;13:1017–1029 (in this issue).

Comprehensive Assessment of 1-Year Outcomes and Determination of Minimum Clinically Important Difference in Pain, Disability, and Quality of Life After Suboccipital Decompression for Chiari Malformation I in Adults

BACKGROUND To date, there has been no study to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of suboccipital craniectomy (SOC) for Chiari malformation I (CMI) using validated patient-reported outcome measures. OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness and minimum clinically important difference thresholds of SOC for the treatment of adult patients with CMI using patient-reported outcome metrics. METHODS Fifty patients undergoing first-time SOC and C1 laminectomy for CMI at a single institution were followed up for 1 year. Baseline and 1-year postoperative pain, disability, quality of life, patient satisfaction, and return to work were assessed. Minimum clinically important difference thresholds were calculated with 2 anchors: the Health Transition Index and North American Spine Society satisfaction questionnaire. RESULTS The severity of headaches improved in 37 patients (74%). Improvement in syrinx size was seen in 12 patients (63%) and myelopathy in 12 patients (60%). All patient-reported outcomes showed significant improvement 1 year postoperatively (P < .05). Of the 38 patients (76%) employed preoperatively, 29 (76%) returned to work postoperatively at a median time of 6 weeks (interquartile range, 4-12 weeks). Minimum clinically important difference thresholds after SOC for CMI were 4.4 points for numeric rating scale for headache, 0.7 points for numeric rating scale for neck pain, 13.8 percentage points for Headache Disability Index, 14.2 percentage points for Neck Disability Index, 7.0 points for Short Form-12 Physical Component Summary, 6.1 points for Short Form-12 Mental Component Summary, 4.5 points for Zung depression, 1.7 points for modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association, and 0.34 quality-adjusted life-years for Euro-Qol-5D. CONCLUSION Surgical management of CMI in adults via SOC provides significant and sustained improvement in pain, disability, general health, and quality of life as assessed by patient-reported outcomes. This patient-centered assessment suggests that suboccipital decompression for CMI in adults is an effective treatment strategy.