Outcomes of posterolateral lumbar fusion in Utah patients receiving workers' compensation: a retrospective cohort study.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study consisting of a medical record review and a follow-up telephone survey of patients with lumbar fusion, at least 2 years after their surgery, was performed. OBJECTIVE: To identify presurgical correlates and long-term outcomes from posterolateral lumbar fusion in Utah patients receiving workers' compensation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Lumbar fusion has been criticized for its highly variable outcomes, and compensated workers are at particular risk for poor outcomes. Evidence suggests that presurgical psychosocial factors may be important modifiers of back pain reporting and back surgery outcomes. METHODS: The patients in this study were 185 compensated workers in Utah who underwent posterolateral lumbar fusion. Patient medical records were independently reviewed, and medical and sociodemographic variables were coded. A telephone outcome survey was completed with 130 patients (70%) an average of 4.6 years after their surgery. RESULTS: Reported solid fusion, reoperation, and disability rates for the follow-up sample were 74%, 24%, and 25%, respectively. As reported by the patients, 41% experienced no change or a worsened quality of life. Mean scores from the Roland and Morris Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, the Stauffer-Coventry-Index, and the Short-Form 20 Multidimensional Health Survey indicate that many patients experienced postsurgical dysfunction. Presurgical predictors of outcomes were number of prior low back operations, income at time of injury, age, litigation, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of posterolateral lumbar fusion among compensated workers in Utah are inconsistent. Outcomes can be predicted by presurgical sociodemographic variables. Screening for such presurgical risk factors may be important for prudent surgical decisions and rehabilitation planning.

Lumbar motion segment pathology adjacent to thoracolumbar, lumbar, and lumbosacral fusions.

STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-eight patients came to two spinal surgeons with abnormalities adjacent to a previously fused thoracic or lumbosacral segment after they had been asymptomatic for more than 2 years. Radiographs, outcome analysis, analog pain evaluation, patient demographics, and medical indices were analyzed to evaluate risk factors for adjacent segment abnormality. OBJECTIVES: Risk factors for adjacent segment breakdown and pathophysiology of adjacent segment breakdown were analyzed in this longitudinal study. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Fifty-eight patients underwent a thoracolumbar, lumbar, or lumbosacral fusion with an average symptom-free period of 13.1 years before presentation with severe symptomatology necessitating further surgery at the adjacent segment. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with adjacent segment abnormality were analyzed by outcome assessment questionnaire, pain analog evaluation, radiographic studies, demographic factors, and sequential follow-up evaluation. Thirty-seven of these patients have been followed for more than 2 years after their adjacent segment surgery. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients developed spinal stenosis, disc herniation, or instability at a segment adjacent to a previously asymptomatic fusion that was done an average of 13.1 years earlier. Segments adjacent to the adjacent segment itself were as likely to breakdown (58%). Thirty-seven patients were followed for more than 2 years, having outcomes defined as good or excellent in 70.3%. Seven of the 37 patients required an additional surgical procedure. Sagittal and coronal imbalances appeared to play a role in breakdown, although statistical significance was not evident. CONCLUSIONS: This represents the largest series of adjacent segment breakdowns reported in the literature. The segment adjacent to the adjacent segment was almost as likely to breakdown. Sagittal and coronal alignment appeared to play a role in adjacent abnormality. Good outcomes are evident in 70% of cases.

The role of distraction in improving the space available in the lumbar stenotic canal and foramen.

STUDY DESIGN: The terminal event in disc space narrowing and facet subluxation of the lumbar spine can produce clinical symptoms of spinal stenosis. Reversal of this process via distraction was performed on ten cadaveric motion segments with documented stenosis. METHODS: Computerized tomography and caliperic methods for the measurement of canal and foraminal areas were calculated in each segment after 5 and 10 mm of symmetrical distraction. Measurements were done in a blinded manner verified with orthographic software and statistical analysis. RESULTS: Decompression of foraminal space was statistically significant in 7 of 10 cadaveric specimens after 5 mm of distraction and 9 of 10 specimens after 10 mm of distraction. Minimal yet insignificant improvement in stenotic canal area was evident with distraction. CONCLUSION: The presence of posterior vertebral osteophytes was associated uniformly with poor improvement of space available in both stenotic canal and foramen.