Is Frailty Discouraging Surgeons from Performing Thoracolumbar Fusion? A Retrospective Study.


Journal

Spine
ISSN: 1528-1159
Titre abrégé: Spine (Phila Pa 1976)
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 7610646

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
31 Oct 2024
Historique:
received: 10 06 2024
accepted: 17 10 2024
medline: 1 11 2024
pubmed: 1 11 2024
entrez: 1 11 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

Retrospective cohort study. To evaluate whether frailty scoring is associated with adverse outcomes and management of thoracolumbar fractures (TLF) patients. Trauma patients with TLF often face longer recovery. The Canadian Study of Health and Aging clinical frailty scale (CSHA-CFS) predicts outcomes in older trauma patients. Adult trauma patients admitted from 2017 to 2021 who presented with TLF were included. Frailty was scored using CSHA-CFS. Endpoints were in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, surgery, complications, and discharge disposition. Multivariate analyses adjusting for baseline characteristics were performed. P<0.05 was considered significant. Overall, 1456 patients were included; 1013 fit, 240 pre-frail, and 203 frail. Frail patients underwent fewer surgeries (OR=0.5 [0.32-0.77], P=0.002). TL fusion was associated with lower mortality (OR=0.31 [0.11-0.85], P=0.024). Pre-frailty and frailty were associated with increased risk of pneumonia (OR=2.522 [1.428-4.456], P=0.001; OR=2.93 [1.32-6.54], P=0.008, respectively) and death (OR=3.581 [1.853-6.921], P<0.001; OR=2.46 [1.07-5.67], P=0.035). Pre-frail and frail patients were more likely to discharge to skilled nursing facilities (OR=1.687 [1.024-2.780], P=0.04; OR=4.89 [2.66-9.0]), P<0.001). Pre-frailty and frailty were associated with poor outcomes and higher level of care at discharge. Frail patients were less likely to undergo TL fusion, despite its association with improved survival. This suggests frailty should not discourage surgeons from performing thoracolumbar fusion. Frailty scoring upon admission may help guide management and set realistic expectations for patients and their families.

Sections du résumé

STUDY DESIGN METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether frailty scoring is associated with adverse outcomes and management of thoracolumbar fractures (TLF) patients.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA BACKGROUND
Trauma patients with TLF often face longer recovery. The Canadian Study of Health and Aging clinical frailty scale (CSHA-CFS) predicts outcomes in older trauma patients.
METHODS METHODS
Adult trauma patients admitted from 2017 to 2021 who presented with TLF were included. Frailty was scored using CSHA-CFS. Endpoints were in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, surgery, complications, and discharge disposition. Multivariate analyses adjusting for baseline characteristics were performed. P<0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS RESULTS
Overall, 1456 patients were included; 1013 fit, 240 pre-frail, and 203 frail. Frail patients underwent fewer surgeries (OR=0.5 [0.32-0.77], P=0.002). TL fusion was associated with lower mortality (OR=0.31 [0.11-0.85], P=0.024). Pre-frailty and frailty were associated with increased risk of pneumonia (OR=2.522 [1.428-4.456], P=0.001; OR=2.93 [1.32-6.54], P=0.008, respectively) and death (OR=3.581 [1.853-6.921], P<0.001; OR=2.46 [1.07-5.67], P=0.035). Pre-frail and frail patients were more likely to discharge to skilled nursing facilities (OR=1.687 [1.024-2.780], P=0.04; OR=4.89 [2.66-9.0]), P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Pre-frailty and frailty were associated with poor outcomes and higher level of care at discharge. Frail patients were less likely to undergo TL fusion, despite its association with improved survival. This suggests frailty should not discourage surgeons from performing thoracolumbar fusion. Frailty scoring upon admission may help guide management and set realistic expectations for patients and their families.

Identifiants

pubmed: 39482285
doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000005203
pii: 00007632-990000000-00832
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Auteurs

Benjamin M Linden (BM)

Carver College of Medicine.

Abbygale M Willging (AM)

Carver College of Medicine.

Masoom Chainani (M)

Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery; University Iowa, Iowa 52242.

Kelsey Koch (K)

Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery; University Iowa, Iowa 52242.

Colette Galet (C)

Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery; University Iowa, Iowa 52242.

Patrick W McGonagill (PW)

Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery; University Iowa, Iowa 52242.

Classifications MeSH