What Patient Characteristics Could Potentially Affect Patient Satisfaction Scores During Spine Clinic?

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. OBJECTIVE: Assess which patient factors are associated with patient satisfaction scores in the outpatient spine clinic setting. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patient satisfaction has become an important component of quality assessments, and thereby pay-for-performance metrics, made by government, hospitals, and insurance providers. METHODS: During a 7-month period, 200 patients were contacted via phone within 3 weeks of a new patient encounter with 1 of 11 spine providers. A standardized patient satisfaction phone survey consisting of 25 questions, answered using a 1-10 scale, was then administered. Patient demographics, medical/social history, and previous treatment were prospectively recorded. Potential associations between these patient factors and 3 outcomes of interest were investigated: (1) provider satisfaction, (2) overall clinic visit satisfaction, and (3) overall quality of care during clinic visit. RESULTS: Younger age, less formal education, and smoking were associated with diminished provider satisfaction, overall clinic visit satisfaction, and perceived overall quality of care (P ≤ 0.0001). Male patients were significantly less satisfied with their clinic visit compared with females (P = 0.029). Those treated under a worker's compensation claim were significantly less satisfied with their provider and overall quality of care (P ≤ 0.02). Marital status, working status, mental health history, travel distance, pain characteristics, previous treatments, and current narcotic use were not significant determinants of patient satisfaction (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that those patients who were younger, with less formal education, and active smokers had lower patient satisfaction scores. Because patient satisfaction is increasingly being used in assessments of quality of care, it is essential that these factors be considered when evaluating a given provider's practice. This information is important to providers by helping guide individualized patient interactions while in clinic, as well as, the various agencies collecting satisfaction scores allowing them to account for potential sampling bias. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1.

Risk factors for dural tears in the cervical spine.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospective database. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of cervical dural tears (DTs), risk factors for occurrence and failure of treatment, and the effect on clinical outcomes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Only 1 study has specifically investigated the impact of cervical DTs. METHODS: Cervical spine surgical procedures performed by the senior author (K.D.R.) at Washington University from 1995-2012 were evaluated. Demographic data, surgical history, operative data, and complications were recorded prospectively, and retrospectively reviewed. Intraoperative treatment of DTs was noted. Treatment failure was defined by reoperation or delayed lumbar drain placement. Patients who sustained a dural tear (DT group) were compared with those who did not sustain a dural tear (No-DT group) to identify risk factors. Comparison between successful and failed treatments was used to identify risk factors for treatment failure. RESULTS: A total of 3848 cervical surgical procedures were performed, with 38 occurrences (1.0%) of DT. Risk factors for DT were: older age (P < 0.01), rheumatoid arthritis (relative risk [RR] = 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-9.8), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (RR = 19.2, 95% CI = 10.4-35.6), cervical deformity (RR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.6-6.6), longer operative time (P = 0.01), greater number of surgical levels (P < 0.01), worse preoperative neurological status (P < 0.01), and performance of a corpectomy (RR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.1-4.0) or revision laminectomy (RR = 20.0, 95% CI = 8.4-47.4). Initial treatments failed in 12 cases (32%) and hospital readmission was required for 5 patients (13%). Older age and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament were found to be risk factors for failure of the DT treatment. With an average follow-up of 18 months, there were no clinical sequelae from the DTs. CONCLUSION: In the largest series of cervical DTs reported, the incidence of DTs was found to be 1% and several risk factors were identified. Initial treatment failures occurred more often than previously reported. No significant clinical impact was found after successful DT treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Extension of spine fusion to the sacrum following long fusions for deformity correction.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospective database. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term results after extension of previous long spine fusions to the sacrum. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Long spine fusions not involving the sacrum may be complicated by distal degeneration and require subsequent extension to the sacrum. The clinical and radiographical outcomes after such revision remain unknown. METHODS: Patients who had extension of a long fusion (≥5 levels with a thoracic level at the cranial end) to the sacrum between 2002 and 2007 at a single institution were analyzed. Oswestry Disability Index and Scoliosis Research Society scores and/or radiographical parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and 1 year, 2, 3, and/or 5 years postoperatively (PO) and complications were recorded. RESULTS: There were 74 patients with an average age of 49 years (range, 19-76 yr) and average clinical follow-up of 4.5 years (range, 3 mo-10 yr, 82% >2 yr PO). All had degeneration distal to prior fusions and 72% (n = 53) had fixed sagittal imbalance. Sagittal alignment improved at all PO time points from baseline (mean, 78 mm), but worsened between 1 year (mean, 21 mm) and 5 years PO (mean, 44 mm, P = 0.01). Major surgical complications occurred in 30% (n = 22) and there were 17 major reoperations in 15 patients (20%). Significant improvements (P < 0.05) in Oswestry Disability Index and all Scoliosis Research Society domain scores were found at each PO time point with no deterioration from 1 to 5 years PO. Mean outcome scores at 5 years PO were similar in groups with major surgical complications versus without and with major reoperation versus without. CONCLUSION: Extension of long fusions to the sacrum resulted in significant and sustained improvements in Oswestry Disability Index and Scoliosis Research Society scores and alignment during 5 years PO compared with baseline. Major surgical complications occurred in 30% and reoperations were performed in 20%, but outcome scores after treatment were similar to those without complications or reoperations.

Clinical and radiographic outcomes after 3-column osteotomies with 5-year follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospective database. OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term results after 3-column osteotomies (3-CO). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Short-term studies have noted improved outcomes and alignment after 3-CO, but there is a paucity of long-term studies with a large group of patients. METHODS: An analysis of 126 patients who underwent a 3-CO (pedicle subtraction osteotomy [N = 101]/vertebral column resection [N = 25]) with minimum 5-year follow-up was performed at a single institution. The mean age was 48 years (range, 8-79 yr) and average follow-up was for 7 years (range, 5-14 yr). Oswestry Disability Index and Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) scores and radiographical parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 1, 2, 3, and/or 5 years postoperatively and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Sagittal alignment improved at all postoperative time points from baseline (mean, 117 mm), but diminished from 6 weeks (mean, 24 mm) to 5 years (mean, 41 mm; P = 0.03). Average coronal alignment was improved from baseline (27 mm) at 6 weeks (18 mm; P = 0.003) and 5 years postoperatively (19 mm; P = 0.007), with no deterioration between 6 weeks and 5 years postoperatively (P = 0.9). Major surgical complications occurred in 36% (n = 45) and major repeat surgery was performed in 28% (n = 35). Significant improvements (P < 0.05) in Oswestry Disability Index and all SRS domain scores were found at each time point. All mean outcome scores at 5 years postoperatively exceeded minimal clinically important difference thresholds except the SRS function domain. Improvement in outcomes at 5 years postoperatively was similar in groups with major surgical complications versus those without and in those with reoperation versus those without. CONCLUSION: This study of 126 patients undergoing 3-CO found significant and sustained improvements in Oswestry Disability Index and SRS scores and sagittal alignment at a minimum 5 years postoperatively. This demonstrates the durability of these complex spinal reconstructions, even surprisingly in those patients having a major complication and/or revision surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.