Model helps predict pain, functional outcomes after lumbar spine surgery

Editor's Note

In this study, researchers used patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores from 15 hospitals in Washington to create a clinical prediction model for spine surgery patients that explains most of the variability in pain reduction and functional improvement after surgery.

The researchers found that after lumbar fusion surgery:

• 58.0% had improvement in disability
• 68.5% had improvement in back pain
• 76.5% had improvement in leg pain.

 These data were then used to create the model, which demonstrated good predictive performance.

 This model may be used when discussing surgical interventions with patients and their chances of achieving meaningful improvement and/or complications, the researchers say.

Question Which patients are most likely to have improvement in function, back pain, and leg pain after lumbar fusion surgery? Findings Using statewide prospective data from 15 hospitals and 1965 adult surgical candidates, 3 prediction tools were generated to predict the likelihood of improvements in function, back pain, and leg pain after lumbar fusion surgery.

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