F.4 Relationship between poor postoperative pain control and surgical outcomes after elective spine surgery

Abstract

Background: Inadequate pain control after spine surgery is common, but its impact on long-term surgical outcomes has not been studied. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between poor postoperative pain control and surgical outcomes. Methods: Consecutive adult patients undergoing elective spine surgery were enrolled. Poor surgical outcome was defined as failure to achieve a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 30% improvement on the Oswestry Disability Index or Neck Disability Index at follow-up (3-months, 1-year, 2-years). Poor pain control was defined as a mean numeric rating scale score of >4 within 24-hours postoperatively. Univariable analyses followed by multivariable random-effects models were used, after adjusting for known risk factors that impact surgical outcomes. Results: 42.8% of 1305 patients failed to achieve MCID at follow-up. 56.9% had poor postoperative pain control. Poor pain control was independently associated with failure to achieve MCID (OR 2.15 [95%CI=1.42-3.25], p<0.001), after adjusting for age (p=0.15), sex (p=0.59), PHQ-9 score (p=0.030), ASA physical status >2 (p<0.001), ≥3 motion segment surgery (p=0.003), revision surgery (p=0.032), and follow-up time (p<0.001). Conclusions: Poor pain control 24-hours after elective spine surgery was an independent risk factor for poor surgical outcome. Perioperative strategies to improve pain control may lead to improved outcomes.