Comparison of frailty metrics and the Charlson Comorbidity Index for predicting adverse outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for spine metastases.

OBJECTIVE: Frailty-the state defined by decreased physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to physiological stress-is exceedingly common in oncology patients. Given the palliative nature of spine metastasis surgery, it is imperative that patients be healthy enough to tolerate the physical insult of surgery. In the present study, the authors compared the association of two frailty metrics and the widely used Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) with postoperative morbidity in spine metastasis patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of patients who underwent operations for spinal metastases at a comprehensive cancer center were identified. Data on patient demographic characteristics, disease state, medical comorbidities, operative details, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Frailty was measured with the modified 5-item frailty index (mFI-5) and metastatic spinal tumor frailty index (MSTFI). Outcomes of interest were length of stay (LOS) greater than the 75th percentile of the cohort, nonroutine discharge, and the occurrence of ≥ 1 postoperative complication. RESULTS: In total, 322 patients were included (mean age 59.5 ± 12 years; 56.9% of patients were male). The mean ± SD LOS was 11.2 ± 9.9 days, 44.5% of patients had nonroutine discharge, and 24.0% experienced ≥ 1 postoperative complication. On multivariable analysis, increased frailty on mFI-5 and MSTFI was independently predictive of all three outcomes: prolonged LOS (OR 1.67 per point, 95% CI 1.06-2.63, p = 0.03; and OR 1.63 per point, 95% CI 1.29-2.05, p < 0.01, respectively), nonroutine discharge (OR 2.65 per point, 95% CI 1.74-4.04, p < 0.01; and OR 1.69 per point, 95% CI 1.36-2.11, p < 0.01), and ≥ 1 complication (OR 1.95 per point, 95% CI 1.23-3.09, p = 0.01; and OR 1.41 per point, 95% CI 1.12-1.77, p < 0.01). CCI was found to be independently predictive of only the occurrence of ≥ 1 postoperative complication (OR 1.45 per point, 95% CI 1.22-1.72, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty measured with either mFI-5 or MSTFI scores was a more robust independent predictor of adverse postoperative outcomes than the more widely used CCI. Both mFI-5 and MSTFI were significantly associated with prolonged LOS, higher complication rates, and nonroutine discharge. Further investigation in a prospective multicenter cohort is merited.

Impact of Multidisciplinary Intraoperative Teams on Thirty-Day Complications After Sacral Tumor Resection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary intraoperative teams on surgical complications in patients undergoing sacral tumor resection. METHODS: We reviewed all patients with primary or metastatic sacral tumors managed at a single comprehensive cancer center over a 7-year period. Perioperative complication rates were compared between those treated by an unassisted spinal oncologist and those treated with the assistance of at least 1 other surgical specialty. Statistical analysis involved univariable and stepwise multivariable logistic regression models to identify predictors of multidisciplinary management and 30-day complications. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients underwent 132 operations for sacral tumors; 92 operations involved multidisciplinary teams, including 54% of metastatic tumor operations and 74% of primary tumor operations. Patients receiving multidisciplinary management had higher body mass indexes (29.8 vs. 26.3 kg/m2; P = 0.008), larger tumors (258 vs. 55 cm³; P < 0.001), and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists scores (3 vs. 2; P = 0.049). Only larger tumor volume (odds ratio [OR], 1.007 per cm³; P < 0.001) and undergoing treatment for a malignant primary versus a metastatic tumor (OR, 23.4; P < 0.001) or benign primary tumor (OR, 29.3; P < 0.001) were predictive of multidisciplinary management. Although operations involving multidisciplinary teams were longer (467 vs. 231 minutes; P < 0.001) and had higher blood loss (1698 vs. 774 mL; P = 0.004), 30-day complication rates were similar (37 vs. 27%; P = 0.39). On multivariable analysis, only larger tumor volume (OR, 1.004 per cm³; P = 0.005) and longer surgical duration (OR, 1.002 per minute; P = 0.03) independently predicted higher 30-day complications. CONCLUSIONS: Although patients managed with multidisciplinary teams had larger tumors and worse baseline health, 30-day complications were similar. This finding suggests that the use of multidisciplinary teams may help to mitigate surgical morbidity in those with high baseline risk.

Sacrectomy for sacral tumors: perioperative outcomes in a large-volume comprehensive cancer center.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Sacral tumors are incredibly rare lesions affecting fewer than one in every 10,000 persons. Reported perioperative morbidity rates range widely, varying from 30% to 70%, due to the relatively low volumes seen by most centers. Factors affecting perioperative outcome following sacrectomy remain ill-defined. PURPOSE: To characterize perioperative outcomes of sacral tumor patients undergoing sacrectomy and identify independent risk factors of perioperative morbidity STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective cohort study at a single comprehensive cancer center PATIENT SAMPLE: Consecutively treated sacral tumor patients (primary or metastatic) undergoing sacrectomy for oncologic resection between April 2013 and April 2020 OUTCOME MEASURES: Perioperative complications, hospital length of stay, non-home discharge, 30-day readmission, and 30-day reoperation METHODS: Details were gathered about tumor pathology and morphology, surgery performed, baseline medical comorbidities, preoperative lab data, and patient demographics. Stepwise multivariable regressions were conducted to identify independent risk factors of perioperative outcomes while evaluating predictive accuracy. RESULTS: 57 sacral tumor patients were included (mean age 55.5±13.0 years; 60% female). The complication, non-home discharge, 30-day readmission, and 30-day reoperation rates were 39%, 56%, 16%, and 14%, respectively. Independent predictors of perioperative complications included ASA>2 (OR=10.7; 95%CI [1.3, 86.0]; p=0.026), radicular pain (OR=10.9; p=0.014), platelet count (OR=0.989 per 10³/µL; p=0.049), and instrumentation (OR=10.7; p=0.009). Independent predictors of length of stay included iliac vessel involvement (ß=15.8; p=0.005), larger tumor volume (ß=0.027 per cm³; p<0.001), a staged procedure (ß=10.0; p=0.018), and S1 nerve root sacrifice (OR=15.8; p=.011). The optimal model predictive of non-home discharge included bilateral S3-S5 or higher nerve root sacrifice (OR=3.9; p=0.054), instrumentation (OR=8.6; p=0.005), and vertical rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap closure (OR=5.3; p=0.067). 30-day readmission was independently predicted by history of chronic kidney disease (OR=26.7; p=0.021), radicular pain (OR=8.1; p=0.039), and preoperative saddle anesthesia (OR=12.6; p=0.026). All multivariable models achieved good discrimination (AUC>0.8 and R2>0.7). CONCLUSION: Clinical and operative factors were important predictors of complications and 30-day readmission, while tumor-related and operative factors accounted for most of the variability in length of stay and non-home discharge.