Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery Is Associated with Increased Productivity and Decreased Absenteeism from Work and School.
Publication Title
Spine (Phila Pa 1976)
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-25-2021
Keywords
washington; seattle; swedish neurosci
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery would be associated with improved work- and school-related productivity, as well as decreased rates of absenteeism.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: ASD patients experience markedly decreased health-related quality of life along many dimensions.
METHODS: Only patients eligible for 2-year follow-up were included, and those with a history of previous spinal fusion were excluded. The primary outcome measures in this study were SRS-22r questions 9 and 17. A repeated measures mixed linear regression was used to analyze responses over time among patients managed operatively (OP) vs. non-operatively (NON-OP).
RESULTS: In total, 1,188 patients were analyzed. 66.6% were managed operatively. At baseline, the mean percentage of activity at work/school was 56.4% (SD 35.4%), and the mean days off from work/school over the past 90 days was 1.6 (SD 1.8). Patients undergoing ASD surgery exhibited an 18.1% absolute increase in work/school productivity at 2-year follow-up vs. baseline (p < 0.0001), while no significant change was observed for the non-operative cohort (p > 0.5). Similarly, the OP cohort experienced 1.1 fewer absent days over the past 90 days at 2 years vs. baseline (p < 0.0001), while the NON-OP cohort showed no such difference (p > 0.3). These differences were largely preserved after stratifying by baseline employment status, age group, SVA, PI-LL, and deformity curve type.
CONCLUSIONS: ASD patients managed operatively exhibited an average increase in work/school productivity of 18.1% and decreased absenteeism of 1.1 per 90 days at 2-year follow-up, while patients managed non-operatively did not exhibit change from baseline. Given the age distribution of patients in this study, these findings should be interpreted as pertaining primarily to obligations at work or within the home. Further study of the direct and indirect economic benefits of ASD surgery to patients is warranted.Level of Evidence: 3.
Area of Special Interest
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Area of Special Interest
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Specialty/Research Institute
Neurosciences
Specialty/Research Institute
Orthopedics
