The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Spine Surgeons Worldwide: A One Year Prospective Comparative Study.

Study Design: Survey.

Objective: In March of 2020, an original study by Louie et al investigated the impact of COVID-19 on 902 spine surgeons internationally. Since then, due to varying government responses and public health initiatives to the pandemic, individual countries and regions of the world have been affected differently.

Severe Comorbidity Burden Does Not Influence Postoperative Clinical Outcomes and Trajectory for Back Pain, Leg Pain, Physical Function, or Disability in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Cohort-Matched Analysis.

Objective: To compare perioperative outcomes, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and minimum clinically important difference achievement after single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in patients stratified by preoperative comorbidity burden.

Methods: PROMs were administered preoperatively/postoperatively and included Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and 12-Item Short-Form Physical Composite Score (SF-12 PCS). Patients were grouped according to preoperative Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) <5 (mild to moderate comorbidity) or preoperative CCI ≥5 (severe preoperative comorbidity).

Meeting Patient Expectations and Achieving a Minimal Clinically Important Difference for Back Disability, Back Pain, and Leg Pain May Provide Predictive Utility for Achieving Patient Satisfaction Among Lumbar Decompression Patients.

Objective: Our study evaluates minimum clinically important difference (MCID) achievement for back pain/leg pain/disability and meeting preoperative expectations as predictors of patient satisfaction after minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MIS-LD) surgery.

Methods: Single/multilevel MIS-LD procedures were identified. Patient-reported outcome measures (preoperative/postoperative), expectations (preoperative), and satisfaction (postoperative) were collected for visual analog scale (VAS) back/VAS leg/Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

Mental Health as a Predictor of Preoperative Expectations for Pain and Disability Following Lumbar Fusion.

Objective: To evaluate impact of preoperative mental health on expectations in patients undergoing transforaminal, anterior, or lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

Methods: Demographics, perioperative characteristics, duration of preoperative symptoms, and preoperative mental health scores were collected. Pain and disability were recorded using preoperative visual analog scale (VAS) for back and leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index scores.

Influence of Self-Identified Gender on Clinical Outcomes and Postoperative Patient Satisfaction After Lumbar Decompression: Cohort-Matched Analysis.

Objective: We compared the patient-reported outcomes (PROs), minimal clinically important difference (MCID) achievement, and perceived postoperative satisfaction after minimally invasive lumbar decompression of patients stratified by self-identified gender.

Methods: Patients who had undergone single minimally invasive lumbar decompression were identified. The PRO measures were administered preoperatively and postoperatively and included the PRO measurement information system-physical function, visual analog scale (VAS) for back and leg pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and 12-item short form physical and mental component scores.