Major spinal surgery in septuagenarians: does it improve patient function?
This study was conducted to evaluate functional outcome in patients 70 years of age or older undergoing major spinal reconstruction and fusion to sacrum. Data pertaining to operative course was retrieved from patient charts, and a validated outcome instrument was administered to the patients before surgery and as long as 24 months after surgery. Results of outcome analysis showed that before surgery 7 of 12 (58%) patients were functioning poorly and 5 of 12 (42%) were at risk of poor outcome. After 24 months of follow-up, only 3 of 12 (25%) patients were functioning poorly, whereas 10 of 12 (83%) registered a psychological profile consistent with risk of poor outcome. However, difference in functional improvement between preoperative and postoperative data was significant. Patients who are candidates for extensive spinal surgery in later life can expect to improve their overall function and activities of daily living.
Knight
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Seattle Spine Group and Division of Orthopaedics, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, USA.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome