title: Assessment of quality of life after surgery for spinal metastases: position statement of the Global Spine Tumour Study Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review suitable measures of patient-assessed outcome of surgery for spinal metastases, and suggest the Health-Related Quality of Life measures that are useful and practical for this group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgery for metastatic spinal tumors is becoming more common, but the impact of surgery on the patient, as determined by patient-assessed outcome measures, is not well known. The authors of this article include members of the Global Spine Tumour Study Group: an international group of spinal surgeons who are studying the techniques and outcomes of surgery for spinal tumors. During the development of a research database for the study of patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastases, the different outcome measures were discussed by a panel of spinal surgeons, and quality of life measures were chosen for inclusion, based on expert opinion and literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several different measures are available to assess outcome after spinal surgery for metastatic disease, each with specific advantages and limitations, which are discussed. Our position is to use the EuroQoL EQ-5D questionnaire, because of its simplicity and reliability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend the use of the EQ-5D measure in research for assessment of patient-centered outcomes and calculation of cost effectiveness of surgery for spinal metastases. Routine use of the measure in clinical practice is also encouraged, because it is a simple and quick method to assess overall clinical outcome.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: david.choi@uclh.nhs.uk.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Choi
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Morris
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Crockard
authors: Todd
authors: T
authors: Albert
authors: Cody
authors: C
authors: Bunger
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Fehlings
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Harrop
authors: Norio
authors: N
authors: Kawahara
authors: Juan A
authors: JA
authors: Martin
authors: Eric M
authors: EM
authors: Massicotte
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Mazel
authors: F C
authors: FC
authors: Oner
authors: Wilco
authors: W
authors: Peul
authors: Katsuro
authors: K
authors: Tomita
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: ECOG; EQ-5D; Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group; EuroQoL 5 Dimensions; GSTSG; Global Spine Tumour Study Group; HRQOL; HUI; Health Utilities Index; Health-related quality of life; Quality of life; SF-36; SOSGOQ; Short Form–36; Spine; Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire; Surgery