Effectiveness of postoperative home-exercise compared with usual care on kinesiophobia and physical activity in spondylolisthesis: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of a 12-month exercise therapy on kinesiophobia and physical activity in patients with spondylolisthesis after lumbar spine fusion. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Patients (n = 98) with spondylolisthesis who had undergone lumbar spine fusion. METHODS: All patients (mean age 59 years) had received lumbar spine fusion surgery and identical postoperative instructions. Three months postoperatively, they were randomized into an exercise group (n = 48) or usual care group (n = 50). The exercise group received 12-month progressive home-based training with regular booster sessions, and the usual care group a single session of physiotherapy instruction. Kinesiophobia was assessed with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and physical activity by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) preoperatively, 3 months after lumbar spine fusion, and at the end of the 12-month intervention. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the median (first quartile; third quartile) of TSK was 32.5 (29.0; 37.0) in the exercise group and 30.0 (25.8; 36.0) in the usual care group, changing to 30.0 (25; 36) in the exercise group and to 30.5 (24; 36.3) in the usual care group (between-group p = 0.17). IPAQ metabolic equivalent minutes per week increased from 1,863 (1,040; 3,042) to 3,190 (1,634; 6,485) in the exercise group and from 2,569 (1,501; 4,075) to 3,590 (1,634; 6,484) in the usual care group (between-group p = 0.92). CONCLUSION: Progressive 12-month home-exercise starting 3 months postoperatively was not superior to usual care in decreasing kinesiophobia or increasing physical activity in spondylolisthesis.

The prevalence of depressive symptoms before and after surgery and its association with disability in patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and disability pre-operatively, at 3 months and at 1 year after lumbar spine fusion surgery. METHODS: Data was extracted from a dedicated lumbar spine fusion register, giving 232 patients (mean age 62 years, 158 females) who had undergone instrumented lumbar spine fusion. The frequency of depressive symptoms and disability was evaluated using the Depression Scale (DEPS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were found in 34, 13, and 15 % of the patients pre-operatively, at 3 months and at 1 year after surgery, respectively. The mean DEPS score decreased from 16.2 to 8.6 (p < 0.001) in patients who had depressive symptoms pre-operatively, and from 6.1 to 3.8 (p < 0.001) in those patients without pre-operative depressive symptoms. The mean ODI values pre-operatively, at 3 months and at 1 year after surgery were 53, 30, and 23, respectively, in patients with pre-operative depressive symptoms and 41, 23, and 20 in those patients without pre-operative depressive symptoms. The differences between the groups were statistically significant at all time points (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: One-third of our patients with chronic back pain undergoing spinal fusion had depressive symptoms pre-operatively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms decreased after surgery. Although disability remained higher in those patients who had reported depressive symptoms pre-operatively, disability did decrease significantly in both groups post-operatively. Thus, there is no need to exclude depressive patients from operation, but screening measures and appropriate treatment practises throughout both pre-operative and post-operative periods are encouraged.

Disability and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing spinal fusion: a comparison with a general population sample.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare one-year-follow-up data on disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between spinal fusion patients and age- and sex-matched general population. METHODS: The data on fusion patients were collected prospectively using a spinal fusion data base in two Finnish hospitals. A general population sample matched for age, sex and residential area was drawn from the Finnish Population Register. All participants completed a questionnaire and the main outcome measures were the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36). RESULTS: Altogether 252 (69% females) fusion patients and 682 (67% females) population sample subjects participated in the study. In general population the mean ODI was 15 (SD 17) in females and 9 (SD 13) in males. The corresponding preoperative ODI values were 47 (SD16) and 40 (SD 15) and one year follow-up values 22 (SD 17) and 23 (SD 20). In both sexes the ODI decreased significantly after surgery but remained higher than in the general population, p < 0.001. The physical component summary score (PCS) of the SF-36 was lower in the patients than general population sample both preoperatively and at one-year follow-up (p < 0.001). The mental component summary score (MCS) was lower preoperatively (p < 0.001), but reached the general population level after one year in both men (p = 0.42) and women (p = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: Disability and HRQoL improved significantly after spinal fusion surgery during a one- year follow-up. However, the patients did not reach the level of the general population in the ODI or in the physical component of HRQoL at that time, although in the mental component the difference disappeared.

Decreased disability is associated with improved perceived quality of life following spinal fusion.

PURPOSE: To assess the disability and relationship between functional status and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients in the early recovery phase following spinal fusion. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study. Since 2008 data of spinal fusion patients have been collected prospectively in two Finnish hospitals. In August 2009, complete data of 173 patients were available. The measurement tool of disability was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and it was also examined in the framework of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) using body functions and structures, activities and participation components. RESULTS: Preoperatively the mean total ODI was 45 (SD17) and mean (95% confidence interval) change to 3 months postoperatively was -19 (-22 to -17). When the ODI was linked to the ICF, there was a 55% improvement in the body structure and functions component and a 44% improvement in both the activities and the participation components. However, 25% of the patients still had the total ODI score over 40 three months postoperatively. Preoperatively, the mean (95% CI) Physical Component Summary Score (PCS) of the Short Form 36-questionnaire (SF-36) was 27 (26 to 28) and the mean Mental Component Summary Score (MCS) of SF-36 was 47 (45 to 49). Postoperatively the improvement was 9 (95% CI: 8 to 11) in PCS and 6 (95% CI: 4 to 7) in MCS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Spinal fusion is successful in the early recovery period in terms of reduction of pain and disability. The significant changes in the ODI were seen in all three components of the ICF model. In addition, improvement in functioning was significantly related to positive change in HRQoL. Still there is a subgroup of patients having marked disability needing more intensive rehabilitation and follow-ups.

Pulse-lavage washing is an effective method for defatting of morselized allograft bone in the operating theater.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Incorporation of fresh-frozen allograft bone and safety aspects associated with this procedure can be improved by removing blood and lipids from the bone. We investigated in a quantitative manner how efficient pulse lavage might be for removal of adipose tissue from morselized allograft bone. METHODS: Depending on the study, the washing was performed with an average of 0.8 L or 1.6 L of sterile saline at room temperature. Fat content of the morselized bone samples was determined using hexane elution. The efficiency of pulse lavage alone was compared with that after an additional wash in 12 L of warm water (55 degrees C). Unprocessed controls were also included for comparison. RESULTS: Pulse lavage with 0.8 L saline alone removed 80% of the fat from the bone, whereas 95% of the fat was removed when washing was performed with 1.6 L of saline. The cleansing efficacy was improved further when an additional wash with warm water was used. INTERPRETATION: Our results indicate that pulse-lavage washing alone at room temperature is an effective method for defatting of morselized allograft bone, but an additional wash with warm water improves the cleansing efficiency. Pulse lavage is easily available and simple to use in the operating theater.