Impact of early unanticipated revision surgery on health-related quality of life after adult spinal deformity surgery

Abstract

Background ContextRevision surgery represents a major event for patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. Previous reports suggest that ASD surgery has minimal or no impact on health-related-quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes. PurposeThe present study aims to investigate the impact of early reoperations within the first year on HRQOL and on the likelihood of reaching the minimally clinically important difference (MCID) after ASD surgery. DesignThis is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from consecutive surgically treated adult deformity surgery patients included in a multicenter, international database. Patient SampleThe present study included 280 patients from a multicenter international prospective database. Outcome MeasureOswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form-36 (SF-36), Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22), MCID were evaluated in this work. MethodsConsecutive surgical patients with ASD recruited prospectively in six different centers from four countries with a minimum 2-year follow-up were stratified into two groups: R (revision surgery within the first year) and NR (no revision). Health-related-quality of life (ODI, SF-36, SRS-22) was assessed and compared at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up stages. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, Student t tests, and linear mixed models. ResultsForty-three patients (R Group) received 46 revision surgeries. Nineteen patients (41.3%) had implant-related complications, 9 patients (19.6%) had deep surgical site infections, 9 patients (19.6%) had proximal junctional kyphosis, 3 patients (6.5%) had hematoma, and 6 patients (13%) had other complications. Baseline characteristics differed between groups.At 6 months, all HRQOL scores improved in both groups, except in the SF-36 Mental Component Summary and SRS-22 mental health domain in the R Group. At 1 year, ODI and SRS-22 improvement was significantly greater in the NR Group, exceeding the reported MCID. At the 2-year follow-up, ODI, SRS-22, SF-36 MCS, and SF-36 PCS improvement was similar in both groups. However, postoperative change was only above the MCID for SF-36 PCS, ODI, and SRS-22 in the NR Group. ConclusionsEarly unanticipated revision surgery has a negative impact on mental health at 6 months and reduces the chances of reaching an MCID improvement in SRS-22, SF-36 PCS, and ODI at the 2-year follow-up.