Poorer Preoperative Function Leads to Delayed Return to Work After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Background: The factors that affect return to work (RTW) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) remain unclear, especially in a non-Workers' Compensation setting. We aimed to (1) identify factors that influence RTW in patients undergoing ACDF (2) determine if early RTW plays a role in functional outcomes, quality of life, and satisfaction.

Methods: Prospectively collected data of 103 working adults who underwent primary ACDF for DCM were retrospectively reviewed.

Shoulder Balance Following Correction Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: When Is It Achieved and Does the Type of Construct Matter?

Study Design: This is a retrospective study.

Objective: This study aims to determine (1) when shoulder rebalancing occurs after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) correction surgery and (2) whether shoulder asymmetry was influenced by the use of pedicle screws or hooks.

Summary Of Background Data: Postoperative shoulder imbalance is an important outcome of AIS correction surgery as it may influence a patient's appearance and satisfaction.

Does the Predominant Pain Location Influence Functional Outcomes, Satisfaction, and Return to Work After Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion For Degenerative Spondylolisthesis?

Study Design: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine how different combinations of preoperative back pain (BP) and leg pain (LP) may influence functional outcomes, patient satisfaction and return to work (RTW) in patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Summary Of Background Data: Surgical decision-making is often based on the traditional assumption that the predominance of lower extremity symptoms is a stronger indication for lumbar spine surgery.

Risk Factors of Postoperative Shoulder Imbalance in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: The Role of Sagittal Spinopelvic Parameters and Upper Instrumented Vertebrae Selection.

Study Design: This is a retrospective study.

Objective: To determine (1) the independent risk factors of postoperative shoulder imbalance (PSI) after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) correction surgery; and (2) whether the level of upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) affects postoperative shoulder balance.

Summary Of Background Data: PSI is an important outcome of AIS correction surgery as it influences a patient's appearance and satisfaction.

No Difference in Functional Outcome but Higher Revision Rate Among Smokers Undergoing Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement: Analysis of a Spine Registry.

Background: Smoking is a known predictor of negative outcomes in spinal surgery. However, its effect on the functional outcomes and revision rates after ADR is not well-documented. This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data at a major tertiary center.

Does the Predominant Pain Location Influence Functional Outcomes, Satisfaction and Return to Work After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Radiculopathy?

Study Design: Retrospective review of prospectively-collected registry data.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine how different combinations of preoperative neck pain (NP) and arm pain (AP) influence functional outcomes, patient satisfaction, and return-to-work in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for degenerative cervical radiculopathy (DCR).

Summary Of Background Data: Surgeons often base decisions on the traditional belief that the predominance of radicular upper extremity symptoms is a stronger indication for cervical spine surgery than axial pain.

The patient acceptable symptom state for the Oswestry Disability Index following single-level lumbar fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Background Context: The patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) is a valuable tool for interpreting patient-reported outcomes. Previous studies have attempted to define the PASS in a heterogenous cohort with various lumbar spinal disorders and surgical procedures.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the PASS threshold for the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) specifically for patients undergoing lumbar fusion for spondylolisthesis-associated functional disability.

Women Do Not Have Poorer Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Lumbar Fusion Surgery: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study.

Background: Women undergoing lumbar spine surgery report greater preoperative pain and disability and have less improvement after surgery. There is a paucity of literature on sex-related differences after minimally invasive surgery transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) surgery. We aim to determine whether sex influences outcome after MIS TLIF at 5-year midterm follow-up.

Are Patient-Reported Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Influenced by Preoperative Mental Health?

Study Design: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

Objectives: Few studies have described the relationship between mental health and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after minimally invasive spine surgery. Prior studies on open surgery included small cohorts with short follow-ups.

Defining threshold values on the neck disability index corresponding to a patient acceptable symptom state in patients undergoing elective surgery for degenerative disorders of the cervical spine.

Background Context: The patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) has emerged as a novel tool for interpreting patient-reported outcomes. While the minimal clinically important difference values for various spine outcome instruments have been defined, little is known about the PASS thresholds for these measures.

Purpose: To define threshold values on the neck disability index (NDI) corresponding to a PASS in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative disorders of the cervical spine.

Predictors of Outcomes After Single-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Multivariate Analysis.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study that was carried out using prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify preoperative predictors of outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Summary Of Background Data: Proper patient selection is paramount to achieving good surgical results.

Elderly Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion May Have Similar Clinical Outcomes, Perioperative Complications, and Fusion Rates As Their Younger Counterparts.

Background: Although several studies have suggested that minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) may be especially beneficial in the elderly population due to lower operative morbidity and faster postoperative recovery, there are limited studies investigating the functional outcomes, quality of life, and satisfaction in elderly patients after MIS-TLIF. Furthermore, existing studies had substantial clinical, diagnostic, and surgical heterogeneity.

Questions/purposes: We asked if elderly patients could experience comparable (1) patient-reported pain, disability and quality of life, (2) perioperative complications, and (3) radiological fusion rates as their younger counterparts after MIS-TLIF.

Sagittally Balanced Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Patients With Increased Sacral Slope and Greater Lumbar Lordosis Experience Less Back Pain After Short-Segment Lumbar Fusion Surgery.

Study Design: A retrospective review of prospectively collected registry data.

Objectives: (1) Examine functional outcomes of patients with postoperative sacral slope (SS)<30 degrees versus SS≥30 degrees after single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS); (2) determine the factors associated with SS at the last follow-up.

Summary Of Background Data: Few studies have examined the relationship between spinopelvic parameters and functional outcomes in patients with DS undergoing short-segment TLIF.

Severity of Preoperative Myelopathy Symptoms Affects Patient-reported Outcomes, Satisfaction, and Return to Work After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Study Design: Retrospective review of prospectively-collected registry data.

Objective: To compare the patient-reported outcomes, satisfaction, and return to work among a large cohort of patients stratified by preoperative myelopathy severity undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Summary Of Background Data: Recent clinical practice guidelines noted a lack of studies stratifying their sample based on preoperative disease severity.

The Diagnostic Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Identifying Unsuspected Malignancy in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation for Vertebral Compression Fractures.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the rate of unsuspected malignancy in vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) treated with percutaneous vertebral augmentation procedures (PVAPs).

Methods: From 2004-2015, 410 patients with VCFs underwent PVAPs with biopsy in a single tertiary hospital. All patients had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) read by consultant radiologists and reviewed by the performing surgeon prior to PVAPs.

Perioperative Factors Influencing Postoperative Satisfaction After Lateral Access Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis.

Background: Lateral access surgery (LAS) for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis is a minimally invasive lumbar fusion technique which has been gaining increasing popularity in the recent years. This study aims to identify perioperative factors that influence postoperative satisfaction after LAS for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Methods: From August 2010 to November 2014, 52 patients with lumbar degenerative conditions (16 male: 36 female, mean age 64.

Patients With Poor Baseline Mental Health May Experience Significant Improvements in Pain and Disability After Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A 5-Year Follow-up Study.

Study Design: A retrospective study using prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: Examine the influence of preoperative mental health on outcomes after Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS-TLIF).

Summary Of Background Data: Prior studies investigating the relationship between mental health and outcomes after lumbar spine surgery included small cohorts with short follow-up and heterogenous fusion techniques.

Reduction in foraminal height after lateral access surgery does not affect quality of life: A 2-year outcome study on lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

Introduction: Reduction in neuroforaminal height (FH) may diminish the indirect decompression benefit that lateral access surgery (LAS) provides. However, the relationship between postoperative FH reduction in LAS and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) outcomes remains unclear.

Objectives: To determine whether FH reduction affects HRQoL outcomes at 2-year follow-up.

Poor Baseline Mental Health Does Not Influence Improvement in Patient-reported Outcomes, Satisfaction, and Return to Work Two Years After Single-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective study using prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: The authors examine the influence of preoperative mental health on outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and determine the impact of ACDF on postoperative mental health.

Summary Of Background Data: While studies have reported a negative correlation between preoperative mental health and outcomes following lumbar spine surgery, the influence on outcomes following cervical spine surgery remains relatively understudied.

The Influence of Body Mass Index on Functional Outcomes, Satisfaction, and Return to Work After Single-level Minimally-invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Five-year Follow-up Study.

Study Design: Retrospective study using prospectively collected registry data.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of obesity on patient-reported outcome measures of pain, disability, quality of life, satisfaction, and return to work after single-level minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF).

Summary Of Background Data: MIS-TLIF is an appealing alternative for obese patients with potentially lower complication risk.

Time Taken to Return to Work Does Not Influence Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected registry data.

Objective: To determine factors which influence return-to-work (RTW) in patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) and to determine if early RTW affects functional outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: MIS-TLIF has been associated with accelerated return to work.