title: Patient outcomes after spinal reconstructive surgery in patients > or = 40 years of age.
abstract: This study provides outcome data on the quality of life in 84 patients 40 years of age or older who had spinal reconstructive surgery. A 30-min questionnaire covering the patients' pre- and postoperative functional status, expectations for surgery, medication use, quality of life, and overall satisfaction was administered via telephone by a trained interviewer. Clinical data were obtained from chart and radiographic review. The majority of the patients had back or leg pain as their indication for surgery. Diagnoses included kyphosis, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and failed surgery. Overall satisfaction with functional status and surgical outcome was 81%, and there was significant improvement in most functional measures. This study suggests that improved qualify of life for the majority of appropriately selected spinal reconstruction patients is achievable in this mature population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0728, USA.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holly
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lele
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Averbach
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Bueff
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bradford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000601:surgery*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*