Clinical outcome analysis in surgical patients enrolled in a Second Opinion Program in spine surgery

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze pain, functional capacity, quality of life, anxiety and depression outcomes in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery following use of the Second Opinion Program, and to present disagreements regarding diagnoses and therapeutic indications between the first and second opinions. Methods A prospective, observational cohort study with 100 patients enrolled in the Second Opinion Program who underwent lumbar spine surgery. Questionnaires addressing pain intensity, level of disability, quality of life, anxiety and depression were applied prior to and within 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of surgery. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed. The following clinical outcomes were analyzed: pain intensity, level of disability, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. Results In this sample, 88% and 12% out of 100 patients were submitted to lumbar decompression and arthrodesis, respectively. Patients reported improvements in function, pain intensity, and quality of life factors following surgery and were able to attain the minimal clinically important difference relative to the preoperative period. Agreement between the first and second opinions was observed in 44% of diagnoses, and in 27% of therapeutic indications. Conclusion Patients had favorable postoperative outcomes regarding pain, disability, and quality of life. These findings and the high rates of diagnostic and therapeutic indication disagreements corroborate the need of a second opinion in cases of spine disease with surgical indications.

Lumbar Decompression Versus Spinal Fusion ina Private Outpatient Setting: A Retrospective Study with Three Years of Follow-up / Descompressão lombar versus fusão espinhal em ambiente ambulatorial privado: Um estudo retrospectivo com três anos de acompanhamento

Abstract Objective To compare pain, function, quality of life and adverse events of lumbar decompression and spinal fusion in patients with degenerative spinal pathologies who participated in a second opinion program for spinal surgeries with a 36-month followup. Methods The data for this retrospective cohort were withdrawn from a private healthcare system between June 2011 and January 2014. The study sample consisted of 71 patients with a lumbar spine surgical referral. The outcomes for the comparisons between lumbar decompression and spinal fusion were quality of life (evaluated through the EuroQoL 5D), pain (measured by the Numerical Rating Scale) and function (assessed through the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire) measured at baseline, and at 12 and 36 months after the surgical procedures. The definitions of recovery were established by the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). The baseline differences between the groups were analyzed by non-paired t-test, and the differences in instrument scores between time points, by generalized mixed models. The results were presented as mean values adjusted by the models and 95% confidence intervals. Results Concerning the surgical techniques, 22 patients were submitted to spinal fusion and 49 patients, to lumbar decompression. As for the comparisons of the findings before and after the surgical interventions, the MCID was achieved in all outcomes regarding quality of life, pain and function at both time points when compared to baseline scores Moreover, concerning the complication rates, only lumbar decompression presented a surgical rate of 4% (n = 3) for recurrence of lumbar disc hernia. Conclusion Patients with degenerative spinal pathologies present improvements in long-term outcomes of pain, function and quality of life which are clinically significant, no matter the surgical intervention.

Resumo Objetivo Comparar a dor, a função, a qualidade de vida e os eventos adversos da descompressão lombar e da fusão espinhal em pacientes com patologias degenerativas da coluna vertebral que participaram de um programa de segunda opinião para cirurgias de coluna com acompanhamento de 36 meses. Métodos Os dados desta coorte retrospectiva foram obtidos de um sistema de saúde privado entre junho de 2011 e janeiro de 2014. A amostra do estudo foi composta por 71 pacientes encaminhados para cirurgia de coluna lombar. Os desfechos para comparações entre a descompressão lombar e a fusão espinhal foram qualidade de vida (avaliada pelo questionário EuroQoL 5D), dor (medida pela Escala Numérica de Classificação de Dor) e função (avaliada pelo Questionário de Incapacidade de Roland Morris) no início do estudo e aos 12 e 36 meses de acompanhamento pós-cirúrgico. As definições de recuperação foram estabelecidas pela diferença mínima clinicamente importante (DMCI). As diferenças basais entre os grupos foram analisadas por teste t não pareado, e as diferenças nas pontuações dos instrumentos entre os momentos, por modelos mistos generalizados. Os resultados foram apresentados como valores médios ajustados pelos modelos e intervalos de confiança de 95%. Resultados No total, 22 pacientes foram submetidos à artrodese, e 49 pacientes, à descompressão lombar. Quanto às comparações de achados antes e depois das intervenções cirúrgicas, a DMCI foi alcançada em todos os desfechos de qualidade de vida, dor e função nos dois pontos de acompanhamento em relação aos escores basais Em relação às complicações, apenas a descompressão lombar apresentou 4% (n = 3) de taxa cirúrgica de recidiva da hérnia de disco lombar. Conclusão Pacientes com patologias espinhais degenerativas apresentam melhoras nos desfechos de dor, função e qualidade de vida em longo prazo que são clinicamente significativas e independentes da intervenção cirúrgica.

McKenzie method for low back pain / Método McKenzie na dor lombar

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Low back pain is a disorder affecting people of all ages, being among major diseases leading individuals to look for health professionals' help. Clinicians agree that back pain is a heterogeneous condition, however there is no uniformity in the choice of most effective methods to manage pain. This study aimed at evaluating the contribution of the McKenzie method to manage low back pain, in addition to checking whether there is comparison of McKenzie with other treatment modalities. CONTENTS: Health Virtual Library and Pubmed portals were queried from November 2013 to March 2014. All studies were analyzed according to quality criteria established by the PEDro scale, in addition to inclusion and exclusion criteria established by the authors. Of 353 studies found, just six were considered eligible. McKenzie method compared to other therapeutic approaches was effective in functional performance and dysfunction indices, however there has been discrepancy of results due to heterogeneous samples of different clinical trials. CONCLUSION: Although having contributed to manage low back pain patients, McKenzie method requires further studies to validate the technique in specific patient groups.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dor lombar é um transtorno que afeta pessoas de todas as idades, estando entre as principais doenças que levam o indivíduo a buscar ajuda de profissionais da área da saúde. Clínicos concordam que a dor lombar é uma condição heterogênea, porém não há uniformidade na escolha dos métodos mais eficazes para o tratamento da dor. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a contribuição do método McKenzie para o tratamento da dor lombar, além de verificar se há comparação do McKenzie com outras abordagens de tratamento. CONTEÚDO: Foram realizadas buscas nos portais da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde e Pubmed no período de novembro de 2013 a março de 2014. Todos os estudos foram analisados de acordo com os critérios de qualidade estabelecidos pela escala de PEDro, além de critérios de inclusão e exclusão estabelecidos pelos autores. Foram encontrados 353 estudos, sendo que apenas 6 foram considerados elegíveis. O método McKenzie ao ser comparado com outras abordagens terapêuticas mostrou-se eficaz em índices desempenho funcional e disfunção, porém houve discrepância de resultados por conta de amostra heterogênea nos diversos ensaios clínicos. CONCLUSÃO: Embora o método McKenzie tenha contribuído para o tratamento de pacientes com dor lombar, é necessário a realização de novos estudos que validem a técnica em grupos específicos de pacientes.