Abstract
Introduction
Many journals require outcome data at 2 years post-operative for the assessment of operative procedures in spinal surgery. This study seeks to clarify the timescale of improvement after surgery to see if a shorter period of assessment will indicate the final outcome.
Methods
Outcome data for 185 consecutive patients who underwent spinal surgery was analysed. All were given a global outcome assessment questionnaire (as used in the Swedish Spinal Fusion study) at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years following surgery. Results were analysed according to the type of spinal surgery undertaken.
Results
Six patients had incomplete data and were excluded. 124 of 179 patients were ‘much better’ or ‘better’ at 6 months. There was no significant change in the outcome of this group at 2 years (p<0.05). Only 18 showed any deterioration at 1 year and 2 years post surgery.
Conclusion
Of the 55 patients who were ‘same’ or ‘worse’ at 6 months, most had no significant improvement in outcome at 2 years. Only 6 showed any significant improvement.
Sixty four patients underwent disc replacement or spinal fusion. Of these, 19 patients improved between 6 months and 2 years follow-up. Eight patients got worse during the same period. Fifty eight patients underwent decompressive surgery. Of these 12 had a better outcome at 2 years than 6 months, and 17 had a worse outcome. Data from the remaining 57 patients was too heterogenous to analyse by subgroup.
