Patient-Based Surgical Outcomes of Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Patient Satisfaction Analysis

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2016 Feb;41(3):E148-54. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001188.

Abstract

Study design: A retrospective study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate: (1) patient-based surgical outcomes of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF); (2) correlations between patient-based surgical outcomes and surgeon-based surgical outcomes; (3) factors associated with patient satisfaction.

Summary of background data: There have been no reports of patient-based surgical outcomes of PLIF for lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Methods: Patients who underwent PLIF for L4 degenerative spondylolisthesis between 2006 and 2009 were reviewed (n = 121). Surgical outcomes were assessed 5 years after primary surgery using a questionnaire, a numerical rating scale (NRS) of pain, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA score), and the recovery rate. The original questionnaire consisted of 5 categories, with scoring out of 100 points for surgery, satisfaction, improvement, recommendation to others, and willingness to undergo repeat surgery. Patient-based outcomes were divided into 3 groups according to the questionnaire responses as positive, intermediate, and negative and were compared with the JOA scores.

Results: A total of 103 patients responded, for a response rate of 85%. The average patient-evaluated score for surgery was 82 points. The positive response rate in each category was 78% for satisfaction, 88% for improvement, 74% for recommendation, and 71% for repeat. The average pre- and postoperative JOA scores were 11.2 and 23.2, respectively. The average recovery rate was 68.5%. There were significant correlations between patient-based surgical outcomes and the JOA score. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between patient-based surgical outcomes and the NRS and physical component scores of the SF-36. Postoperative permanent motor loss was a major factor related to a negative response.

Conclusion: The patient-evaluated score for surgery was 82 points. More than 70% of patients gave positive responses in all sections of the questionnaire. There were significant correlations between patient-based and surgeon-based surgical outcomes.

Level of evidence: 2.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spinal Fusion / psychology
  • Spinal Fusion / trends*
  • Spondylolisthesis / epidemiology*
  • Spondylolisthesis / psychology
  • Spondylolisthesis / surgery*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome