Usefulness of Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test for Prediction of Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery.

Abstract

Spine surgery rates have increased and the high postoperative morbidity in these patients result in increased costs. Consequently, it is essential to identify patients at risk of adverse outcomes. To assess whether preoperative Timed Up and Go (TUG) test performance can predict high-grade postoperative complications. A prospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective thoracolumbar spine surgery in a tertiary care hospital between 2017 and 2018. Patients were assessed preoperatively and assigned to the slow-TUG group if unable to perform or test performance time was ≥18.4 s. Primary outcome: high-grade postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes: overall complications, length of stay (LOS), discharge to healthcare facility, readmission and emergency department (ED) presentation. Patients were followed-up until 6 wk after surgery. One hundred three patients (mean age 62.95±10.97 yr) were enrolled. Slow-TUG group were more likely to be classified as American Society of Anaesthesiology (ASA) class 3 (74.1% vs 47.4%, P=.02), non-independent (25.9% vs 5.3%, P<.01), and frail (92.3% vs 42.1%, P<.01). TUG was an independent predictor of high-grade complications (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 4.97, 95% CI: 1.18-22.47), overall complications (OR: 3.77, 95% CI: 1.33-11.81), discharge to a skilled-nursing facility (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.00-10.70), readmission within 6 wk of surgery (OR: 9.14, 95% CI: 2.39-41.26) and LOS (adjusted incident rate ratio (IRR): 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16-1.80). Compared to traditional risk factors, TUG is an important predictor of adverse postoperative outcomes and may be used preoperatively to identify high-risk thoracolumbar surgery patients.