Secondary gain influences the outcome of lumbar but not cervical disc surgery

Patient expectations impact patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction after lumbar fusion

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Prior studies suggest that patient expectations impact postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROMs). However, no consensus exists on an appropriate expectations tool.

PURPOSE

To examine the impact of patient expectations using a modified version of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction 1 year after lumbar fusion for degenerative pathologies.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective longitudinal cohort.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Adults undergoing 1 to 2 level lumbar fusion were identified from four tertiaty spine centers.

OUTCOME MEASURES

ODI, EuroQol-5D, Numeric rating scales for back and leg pain.

METHODS

Preoperatively, patients completed the ODI, as well as a modified ODI reflecting their expected improvement across the 10 ODI items. For example, item 1 in the ODI asks about Pain Intensity at the moment whereas the Expectations ODI asks "One year after surgery, I expect to have…" The difference between this modified ODI score and the baseline ODI score (Baseine ODI minus Expectations ODI) was defined as the Patient Expectation Score. Patients were stratified into tertiles based on their Expectations score into High (HE), Moderate (ME), and Low (LE) Expectations and compared.

RESULTS

There were 30 patients in the HE, 35 in the ME, and 26 in the LE Group, with similar demographics and surgical parameters. Patients in the HE group had worse ODI scores preoperatively (54.96 vs 41.42, p<.001) and were expecting a greater improvement in ODI (43.8 vs 13.5, p<.001). There were fewer patients in the HE group (13, 43%) who reported that they were satisfied with the results compared to either the ME (20, 71%) or LE group (22, 85%, p=.041) despite having similar ODI scores and change in ODI scores 1 year postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

An expectations tool, linked to a disease-specific measure may provide the clinician with a practical method of assessing a patient's expectation of results after treatment and aid in the shared decision-making during the preoperative surgical process.

Effect of Fusion and Arthroplasty for Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease in Active Duty Service Members Performed at an Overseas Military Treatment Facility: A 2-Year Retrospective Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Among U.S. military active duty service members, cervicalgia, cervical radiculopathy, and myelopathy are common causes of disability, effecting job performance and readiness, often leading to medical separation from the military. Among surgical therapies, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) are options in select cases; however, elective surgeries performed while serving overseas (OCONUS) have not been studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected surgical database from an OCONUS military treatment facility over a 2-year period (2019-2021) was queried. Patient and procedural data were collected to include ACDF or CDA surgery, military rank, age, tobacco use, pre- and post-operative visual analogue scales for pain, and presence of radiographic fusion after surgery for ACDF patients or heterotopic ossification for CDA patients. Chi-square and Student t-test analyses were performed to identify variables associated with return to full duty.

RESULTS

A total of 47 patients (25 ACDF and 22 CDA) underwent surgery with an average follow-up of 192.1 days (range 7-819 days). Forty-one (87.2%) patients were able to return to duty without restrictions; 10.6% of patients remained on partial or limited duty at latest follow-up and one patient was medically separated from the surgical cohort. There was one complication and one patient required tour curtailment from overseas duty for ongoing symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Both ACDF and CDA are effective and safe surgical procedures for active duty patients with cervicalgia, cervical radiculopathy, and cervical myelopathy. They can be performed OCONUS with minimal interruption to the patient, their family, and the military unit, while helping to maintain surgical readiness for the surgeon and the military treatment facility.

Factors associated with return to duty and need for subsequent procedures after calcaneus open reduction internal fixation in the military

INTRODUCTION

Calcaneus fractures can be devastating injuries, and operative treatment is fraught with complications. We are unaware of any studies evaluating all calcaneus fractures, both open and closed, treated operatively in the military. The purpose of this study is to evaluate all calcaneus fractures that required open reduction internal fixation to determine soldiers' ability to return to work and the need for additional surgeries.

METHODS

All active-duty patients undergoing open reduction internal fixation of calcaneus fractures from 2010-2016 were identified utilizing the Military Health System Management Analysis and Reporting Tool (M2). Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA) was utilized to determine comorbid medical conditions, subsequent procedures, surgical outcomes, and duty status within the military.

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy-five active-duty service members who met our inclusion/exclusion criteria were identified. One hundred fifty-one patients (55.1%) sustained their calcaneus fracture as a result of a blast injury. One hundred sixty (59.3%) patients required separation from the military as a result of their injury. Among patients who required a subsequent procedure, thirty-four patients (9.1%) required a subtalar arthrodesis, and thirty-two patients (8.5%) eventually required a below knee amputation. Blast as mechanism of injury was the single most predictive variable for patients requiring separation from the military (Odds Ratio 16.2, p< .001), requiring a subsequent procedure (Odds Ratio 8.4, p < .001), and for requiring a below knee amputation (Odds Ratio 47.3, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Calcaneus fractures treated operatively in the military are often caused by blast injuries, and have a high rate of requiring subsequent procedures, amputation, and separation from the military.

The Effect of Health Insurance Coverage on Orthopaedic Patient-reported Outcome Measures

INTRODUCTION

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are used to assess performance and value. The type of health insurance coverage may influence outcomes scores. The goal of this study was to determine if the type of insurance coverage is associated with the trends in PROMs within an orthopaedic cohort.

METHODS

We reviewed the electronic medical records of 10,745 adult foot and ankle patients who completed PROMs questionnaires from 2015 to 2017. Patients completed the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure, PROMIS Global-Mental, PROMIS Global-Physical, and PROMIS Physical Function Short Form 10a. Descriptive analyses, analysis of variance, and Tukey HSD (honest significant difference) post hoc analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Patients with commercial insurance consistently had the highest outcomes scores, whereas those with Workers Comp/Motor Vehicle and Medicaid had the lowest. PROMs of patients with commercial insurance were statistically significantly higher than the pooled scores of all other patients. Markedly poorer scores were also seen for Workers Comp/Motor Vehicle and Medicaid. In addition, these differences in PROMs for Workers Comp/Motor Vehicle and Medicaid exceeded the minimal clinically important differences. Patients with Medicare or Free Care had generally lower scores than the pooled averages, but these results were not statistically significant.

DISCUSSION

PROMs scores vary between the patients with different insurance types in an orthopaedic foot and ankle cohort. These data suggest that patient insurance type may affect patient-reported outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, Retrospective Cohort.

Editorial Commentary: Hip Arthroscopy in a Military Population: Are the Results Comparable to an Athletic Population?

Hip pain is common in the military population and has led to an increase in hip arthroscopy as a means of therapeutic treatment. Return to duty (RTD) is the measure by which military surgeons tend to judge their outcomes; could the servicemember "get back in the fight?" Return to play (RTP) is a common metric in sports medicine for assessing the effectiveness of a surgical intervention. The results of prior studies of RTD hip arthroscopy in the US military population have been underwhelming when compared with RTP in athletic cohorts. This discrepancy in outcomes likely has more to do with the differences in RTD and RTP as outcome measures than any surgeon, pathology, or demographic factors.

The Effect of Workers' Compensation Status on Outcomes of Cervical Disc Arthroplasty: A Prospective, Comparative, Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Receiving Workers' Compensation benefits has been associated with inferior outcomes after lumbar fusion. The purpose of our study was to compare the outcomes of cervical disc arthroplasty between patients receiving and those not receiving Workers' Compensation.

METHODS

Patient-reported outcomes, reoperations, complications, and return-to-work status were analyzed at one year after surgery in an observational cohort of consecutive patients who underwent single-level or multilevel cervical disc arthroplasty for symptomatic cervical disc conditions, including radiculopathy or discogenic pain with or without radiculopathy, exclusive of myelopathy.

RESULTS

Of the 189 patients who underwent cervical disc arthroplasty, 144 received Workers' Compensation and forty-five did not. The mean scores on all patient-reported measures improved significantly from preoperative baseline to one year after surgery (p < 0.001), and the improvement in patient-reported outcomes did not differ significantly between the Workers' Compensation and the non-Workers' Compensation group (respectively, 22.7 compared with 25.0 for the Neck Disability Index; 8.3 compared with 9.6 for the Short Form (SF)-36 physical component summary; 7.9 compared with 9.6 for the SF-36 mental component summary; 3.5 compared with 3.7 for neck pain; and 2.6 compared with 2.8 for arm pain). The two groups also did not differ significantly in the rate of reoperations (7.6% for those receiving Workers' Compensation compared with 13.3% for those not receiving Workers' Compensation) and complications (2.8% compared with 4.4%, respectively). At one year after surgery, the proportion of patients who had returned to work was comparable (77.7% in the Workers' Compensation group and 79.4% in the non-Workers' Compensation group); however, the patients receiving Workers' Compensation had significantly more days off before returning to work (a mean of 145.2 compared with 61.9 days; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

After cervical disc arthroplasty, patients receiving Workers' Compensation had outcomes that were similar to those of patients not receiving Workers' Compensation in terms of patient-reported outcomes, surgery-related complications, reoperations, and return-to-work status. Patients receiving Workers' Compensation remained off work for a longer interval than did patients not receiving Workers' Compensation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Higher comorbidity rates in unemployed patients may significantly impact the cost of spine surgery

Chronic back pain is commonly associated with physical and mental comorbidities, which create a considerable burden on the healthcare system. We examined the differences in comorbidity rates of 619 spinal surgery patients of employment age, and the impact of comorbidity rates on length of hospital stay and cost. The charts of patients aged >25 years and <65 years were reviewed retrospectively. Type of surgery, employment status, comorbidities, length of stay and hospital charges were studied using chi-square, Fisher, Student's t-test, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test and multivariate analysis. The unemployment rate among employment-aged spinal surgery patients was 44.7%. Unemployed patients who underwent any of the three types of surgery (anterior cervical decompression and fusion, lumbar decompression and fusion, and lumbar microdiscectomy [LMD]) stayed longer in hospital but had higher hospital charges in the minimally invasive LMD group only. There were higher rates of some comorbidities in unemployed compared to employed patients: asthma (12.2% vs. 5.9%), coronary artery disease (20.4% vs. 12.8%), diabetes mellitus (58.0% vs. 47.3%), history of coronary artery bypass surgery or stent placement (18.2% vs. 11.6%), hypothyroidism (14.4% vs. 8.2%), knee joint disease (43.1% vs. 33.6%), chronic renal disease (12.9% vs. 2.9%) and opioid (55.2% vs. 45.9%) antidepressant (37.0% vs. 25.3%) anxiolytic (16.0% vs. 8.9%) use. Charlson comorbidity scores were significantly different (p<0.001) between unemployed (1.72 ± 1.90) and employed patients (1.03 ± 1.55). Multivariate analysis showed that a history of coronary artery bypass/stent procedure, chronic renal disease or preoperative opioid use had a significant impact on length of stay and hospital charges in unemployed spine surgery patients. Thus, unemployment in spinal surgery candidates is associated with higher comorbidity rates with a significant impact on healthcare cost. More research is needed into the relationship between unemployment and consumption of healthcare resources.

Course and prognostic factors for neck pain in workers: results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders

STUDY DESIGN

Best-evidence synthesis.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a best evidence synthesis on the course and prognostic factors for neck pain and its associated disorders in workers.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Knowledge of the course of neck pain in workers guides expectations for recovery. Identifying prognostic factors assists in planning effective workplace policies, formulating interventions and promoting lifestyle changes to decrease the frequency and burden of neck pain in the workplace.

METHODS

The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders (Neck Pain Task Force) conducted a critical review of the literature published between 1980 and 2006 to assemble the best evidence on neck pain and its associated disorders. Studies meeting criteria for scientific validity were included in a best evidence synthesis.

RESULTS

We found 226 articles related to course and prognostic factors in neck pain and its associated disorders. After a critical review, 70 (31%) were accepted on scientific merit; 14 of these studies related to course and prognostic factors in working populations. Between 60% and 80% of workers with neck pain reported neck pain 1 year later. Few workplace or physical job demands were identified as being linked to recovery from neck pain. However, workers with little influence on their own work situation had a slightly poorer prognosis, and white-collar workers had a better prognosis than blue-collar workers. General exercise was associated with better prognosis; prior neck pain and prior sick leave were associated with poorer prognosis.

CONCLUSION

The Neck Pain Task Force presents a report of current best evidence on course and prognosis for neck pain. Few modifiable prognostic factors were identified; however, having some influence over one's own job and being physically active seem to hold promise as prognostic factors.

Predicting outcome in the surgical treatment of lumbar radiculopathy using the Pain Drawing Score, McGill Short Form Pain Questionnaire, and risk factors including psychosocial issues and axial joint pain

BACKGROUND

The surgical decompression of a symptomatic lumbar nerve root is generally regarded as effective treatment for radiculopathy. Nevertheless this straightforward surgical procedure is not universally successful, and the results are often independent of technical factors.

PURPOSE

To identify tools and risk factors that would permit the preoperative determination of the probability for an acceptable surgical result.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective consecutive nonrandomized study evaluating the short-term result (average 12 months follow-up) of the surgical decompression of a single spinal nerve.

PATIENT SAMPLE

110 adult patients who had failed conservative treatment were carefully selected after identification of predominate symptoms secondary to disc herniation, synovial cyst, or foramenal stenosis due to spondylosis.

OUTCOME MEASURES

A combination of 6 measurement tools were used: the visual analogue scale (VAS); the McGill Sensory Score; the McGill Affective Score; the Prolo Economic Score; the Prolo Functional Score; and the Modified Ransford Pain Drawing Score.

METHODS

Preoperatively and at each post-op visit the patients completed the entire battery of outcome tools. Comorbidities were identified preoperatively as risk factors. Patient assessment of outcome was determined in two ways: a 50% or greater reduction in VAS; or using a 4 step scale combining the Prolo scores. Surgeon assessment of outcome was determined subjectively using clinical criteria.

RESULTS

All 6 measurement tools showed statistically significant improvement postoperatively. The change in pain drawing score has not been previously demonstrated in the literature. Correlation testing showed association between compensation claim, psychiatric factor, and high preoperative pain drawing score on several post-op measurements. Stepwise regression analysis revealed preoperative axial joint pain to be a determinant of outcome in addition to the psychosocial issues. Although the distribution of outcome grades was different between surgeon and patient assessment, relative risk analysis showed that the factors predicting outcome were identical, and the rank order of importance in these risk factors was almost identical. Using patient assessment of outcome there was no probability of a good or excellent outcome in the presence of either psychiatric factor or personal injury claim, and only a 23% chance with a compensation case. Axial joint pain is obviously not treatable by nerve root decompression, and if present will also be an important negative risk factor, reducing the probability to 27%. The evaluation of the preoperative pain drawing using a Modified Ransford Score is not useful as a predictor of psychiatric factor nor should it be used as a substitute for psychological evaluation. Nevertheless a preoperative score >or=3 or higher reduced the probability of an excellent or good outcome (as determined by patient assessment using combined Prolo scores) to 55%. Additionally a high preoperative McGill Sensory score >or=17 or a high preoperative McGill Affective Score >or=7 also had profound negative effects, reducing the probability of acceptable outcome to 50% and 42%, respectively. These threshold values for the McGill scores correspond to one standard deviation above the normal range previously validated in the literature.

CONCLUSION

Although psychosocial issues (psychiatric factor, personal injury litigation, compensation claim) are well known to affect outcome, the strength and magnitude of their negative effects was surprising. The short form McGill Pain Questionnaire can be used not only as an outcome tool, but also as a predictor of result. The pain drawing has similar utility, but it should not be used as a substitute for psychiatric evaluation. The numerous issues exerting profound effects on the outcome of a relatively simple operation suggest that specific attention be directed at them when evaluating more complex surgical procedures. Although large randomized samples might obviate this concern, it is possible that some of these factors are too powerful to be ignored.

Obesity and litigation predict workers' compensation costs associated with interbody cage lumbar fusion

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Results of lumbar fusion surgery have been mixed and procedures are costly. Interbody cage lumbar fusion (ICLF) has been advanced to improve arthrodesis and clinical outcomes; however, little attention has been given to ICLF costs or potential predictors of these expenses.

PURPOSE

To depict medical and compensation costs associated with ICLF in a Utah cohort of patients receiving workers' compensation as well as to investigate predictors of costs.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

A retrospective-cohort research design was used involving completion of presurgical and postsurgical medical record reviews and accrual of medical and compensation costs. Presurgical variables included in a regression model were presurgical spinal pathophysiology rating, obesity, and litigation status.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Forty-three consecutive patients who were compensated by the Workers' Compensation Fund of Utah and underwent ICLF.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Total accrued compensation and medical costs.

METHODS

A retrospective review of presurgical variables and total accrued compensation and medical costs was conducted.

RESULTS

Multiple regression analysis indicated that nonpathophysiological factors predicted compensation costs (lawyer involvement [beta=0.40]; obesity [beta=0.34]). Specifically, compensation for those with versus without lawyers was $41,657 versus $24,837, and for those who were obese versus nonobese was $46,152 versus $28,168. Arthrodesis was correlated with medical costs (r=-0.47, p=.002), with incurred costs for patients achieving solid fusion versus pseudarthrosis equaling $38,881 versus $71,655, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Considerable costs were associated with ICLF, particularly for those who were obese, involved in litigation, or failed to achieve solid fusion. With regard to compensation costs, the findings support the importance of assessing nonpathophysiological factors in spinal fusion patients.

Predictors of surgical outcome and their assessment

The relatively high rate of failed back surgery has prompted the search for "risk factors" to predict the result of spinal surgery in a given individual. However, the literature reveals few unequivocal predictors and they often explain a relatively low proportion of variance in outcome. This suggests that we have a long way to go before being able to rest easily, having refused someone surgery on the basis of unfavourable baseline characteristics. The best recommendation is to ensure, firstly, that the indication for surgery is absolutely clear-cut (i.e. that surgically remediable pathology exists) and then to consider the various factors that may influence the "typical" outcome. Consistent risk factors for a poor outcome regarding return-to-work include long-term sick leave/receipt of disability benefit. Hence, every effort should be made to keep the individual in the workforce, despite the ongoing symptoms and plans for surgery. In patients with a particularly heavy job, consultation with occupational physicians might later ease the patient's way back into the workplace. Patients with degenerative disorders and/or comorbidity should be counselled that few of them will have complete/lasting pain relief or a complete return to pre-morbid function. Patients with a high level of distress may benefit from psychological treatment, before and/or accompanying the surgical treatment. The opportunity (time), encouragement (education and positive messages), and resources (referral to appropriate support services) to modify risk factors that are indeed modifiable should be offered, and realistic expectations should be discussed with the patient before the decision to operate is made.

Correlation of Short Form-36 and disability status with outcomes of arthroscopic acetabular labral debridement

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic debridement is the standard of care for the treatment of acetabular labral tears. The Short Form-36 has not been used to measure hip arthroscopy outcomes, and the impact of disability status on hip arthroscopy outcomes has not been reported.

HYPOTHESIS

Short Form-36 subscale scores will demonstrate good correlation with the modified Harris hip score, but patients undergoing disability evaluation will have significantly worse outcome scores.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

The records of active-duty soldiers who underwent hip arthroscopy at the authors' institution were retrospectively reviewed. Forty consecutive patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for the primary indication of labral tear formed the basis of the study group. Patients completed the modified Harris hip score, the Short Form-36 general health survey, and a subjective overall satisfaction questionnaire.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients, with a mean age of 34.6 years, were available for follow-up at a mean of 25.7 months postoperatively. Fourteen (43%) patients were undergoing medical evaluation boards (military equivalent of workers' compensation or disability claim). Pearson correlation coefficients for comparing the Short Form-36 Bodily Pain, Physical Function, and Physical Component subscale scores to the modified Harris hip score were 0.73, 0.71, and 0.85, respectively (P < .001). The mean modified Harris hip score was significantly lower in patients on disability status than in those who were not (92.4 vs 61.1; P < .0001). The Short Form-36 subscale scores were significantly lower in disability patients (P < .02). Patient-reported satisfaction rates (70% overall) were 50% for those undergoing disability evaluations and 84% for those who were not (P < .04). There was no significant difference in outcomes based on patient age, surgically proven chondromalacia, or gender for military evaluation board status.

CONCLUSION

The Short Form-36 demonstrated good correlation with the modified Harris hip score for measuring outcomes after arthroscopic partial limbectomy. Arthroscopic debridement yielded a high percentage of good results when patients undergoing disability evaluations were excluded. Disability status may be a negative predictor of success after hip arthroscopy.

Presurgical biopsychosocial factors predict multidimensional patient: outcomes of interbody cage lumbar fusion

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Interbody cage lumbar fusion (ICLF) has been advanced to improve arthrodesis; however, little attention has been given to quality of life and functional outcomes. Studies suggest that psychosocial factors may be important modifiers of low back surgical outcomes.

PURPOSE

To depict outcomes of ICLF surgery across multiple dimensions and to investigate presurgical biopsychosocial predictors of these outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

A retrospective-cohort research design was used that involved completion of presurgical medical record reviews and postsurgical telephone outcome surveys at least 18 months after surgery. Presurgical variables included in a regression model were age at the time of surgery, spinal pathophysiology rating, smoking tobacco, depression, and pursuing litigation.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Seventy-three patients received ICLF, and of those 56 patients completed the outcome survey an average of 2.6 years after surgery.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcome measures consisted of arthrodesis status, patient satisfaction, back-specific functioning, disability status, and quality of life.

RESULTS

Although arthrodesis occurred in 84% of the patients, nearly half were dissatisfied with their current back condition. Functional status was worse than expected, and 38% were totally disabled at follow-up. Regression analyses revealed tobacco use, depression, and litigation were the most consistent presurgical predictors of poorer patient outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, despite a high rate of arthrodesis, ICLF was not associated with substantial improvements in patient functioning. Presurgical biopsychosocial variables predicted patient outcomes, which may help improve patient selection and possible targeted interventions.

The relations between social support, life stress, and quality of Life following spinal decompression surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Assessed social support, life stress, and quality of life among degenerative spine disease patients.

OBJECTIVE

To examine how social support and life stress relate to quality of life following spinal decompression surgery among patients with degenerative spine disease.

SETTING

Neurosurgical clinic at Saint Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada.

METHODS

A total of 19 patients with degenerative spine disease who had undergone spinal decompression surgery within the past 14 months filled out social support, life stress, and quality of life questionnaires. Correlational techniques were used to assess the relations among the variables.

RESULTS

The correlations between social support scores and health-related and nonhealth-related quality of life scores were r=0.72, P=0.001, and r=0.50, P=0.028, respectively. The correlations between life stress scores and health-related and nonhealth-related quality of life scores were r=-0.83, P<0.001, and r=-0.72, P=0.001, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Degenerative spine disease patients experiencing more social support and less life stress tend to report greater satisfaction in medical outcome and overall quality of life following spinal decompression surgery than those with less social support and more life stress. Assessing social support and life stress in patients with degenerative spine disease and including a consideration of social support and life stress in the management of patients with degenerative spine disease could help to improve patients' satisfaction with their medical outcome and general quality of life following spinal decompression surgery.

Comparing outcomes of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in workman's versus non-workman's compensation population

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an accepted surgical procedure to treat degenerative conditions, including disc herniations and spinal stenosis. The literature on lumbar spine surgery reports that patients with a workman's compensation claim have less successful clinical results. Regarding the cervical spine, however, different conclusions have been drawn.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to directly compare the functional outcomes of ACDF in patients with and without a workman's compensation claim and to determine whether a compensation claim adversely affected the clinical outcome.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective study examining the long-term results of ACDF in the workman's and non-workman's compensation populations.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Eighty consecutive patients undergoing ACDF were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: 30 patients in Group 1 (workman's compensation) and 50 patients in Group 2 (non-workman's compensation). The average age of Group 1 was 45 years (range, 31 to 57) and Group 2 was 45 years (range, 30 to 79). The patients were followed for an average length of 4 years (range, 2 to 7 years).

OUTCOME MEASURES

We evaluated the surgical results using a functional outcome scoring system (Odom's Criteria), visual analog scale and a radiographic grading scale. The questionnaire was independently administered in a standard question-answer format at the 1-year follow-up. Statistical analyses was performed using a Levene's test.

METHODS

All surgeries were performed by the same attending physician. A left-sided approach and Smith-Robinson fusion technique with autograft or allograft without instrumentation was used in all cases. A hard cervical orthosis was used postoperatively for 8 weeks. Radiographic examination including lateral flexion and extension views were obtained at a minimum of 12 months postoperatively. Furthermore, radiographic analysis was performed each subsequent postoperative year. The radiographs were analyzed by two independent physicians in a blind fashion for evidence of radiographic fusion.

RESULTS

At follow-up no discernible difference was noted for functional outcomes. Eighty-three percent of patients in Group 1 and 90% of patients in Group 2 noted excellent or good results. This was not statistically significant (p=.280). In Group 1, 97% of patients returned to work at an average of 18 weeks, whereas 98% of patients in Group 2 returned to work at an average of 10 weeks postoperatively. Upon radiographic evaluation, 64% of patients in Group 1 were determined to have a solid fusion (Grade 3). The fusion rate in Group 2 was 72%. This was not statistically significant. However, the fusion rate among smokers was 50%, and among nonsmokers it was 80%. This was statistically significant (p=.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Workman's compensation claims did not adversely affect the functional outcome of ACDF. It should be noted that a significant increase in pseudarthroses was noted with the smoking population. Patient selection is a critical factor in determining functional outcome, with 83% good to excellent results if the pathology, clinical presentation and radiographic findings correlate

Outcome following anterior cervical discectomy in compensation patients

This is a retrospective study aimed to analyse the clinical outcomes of patients following anterior cervical decompression and fusion for radiculopathy in worker's compensation, third party and non-compensable group. The outcome of 224 cases operated between 1991 to 1998 were analysed. Only patients with radiculopathy due to a cervical disc protrusion and spondylosis were included. There were 140 non-compensable patients, 58 worker's compensation and 26 third party. There was no statistical difference in radiological fusion between the three groups (P=0.46). The worker's compensation and third party claimant groups, had an 'excellent' outcome at 65% and 69% respectively, compared to the non-compensation group at 79% (P=0.042). Rates of poor outcome were high in the worker's compensation group (9%) compared with third party (4%) and the non-compensable group (5%). Financial incentives seem to significantly influence the outcome of cervical disc surgery in our patient population.