A decade's experience in lumbar spine surgery in Belgium: sickness fund beneficiaries, 2000-2009.

PURPOSE: The purpose is to study rates, trends, geographic variations and outcome of lumbar spine surgery in the Belgian population during the last decade. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study using administrative data of the largest Belgian sickness fund from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2009. Cases included lumbar laminectomy, combined discectomy and fusion, posterior interarticular fusion, anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and standard discectomy. The main outcome measures were age- and sex-adjusted rates of lumbar spine surgery, 1-year mortality, 1-year iterative surgery, no return to work (RTW) rate 1 year after surgery and length of hospital stay. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between age, sex, geographic region, type of surgery, year of intervention and duration of pre-operative sick leave on outcome. RESULTS: Spine surgery rates rose 44 % from 2001 through 2009 and data for 2009 showed twofold variations in spine surgery rates among 10 Belgian provinces. Reported 1-year mortality varied from 0.6 to 2.5 % among surgical procedures performed in 2008. The overall 5-year reoperation rate was 12 %. RTW rates 1 year after standard discectomy, ALIF, PLIF and combined discectomy and fusion for the follow-up sample of 2008 were 14.4, 22.7, 26.1 and 30.6 %, respectively. The median length of hospital stay significantly decreased throughout the decade. Type of surgery and geographic region were significantly related to patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Regional variations highlight professional uncertainty and controversy. The study results point to the need for peer comparisons and surgeon feedback.JOURNAL ARTICLEinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Do we have the right PROMs for measuring outcomes in lumbar spinal surgery?

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have become an important part of routine auditing of outcomes in spinal surgery in the UK. PROMs can be used to help assess the quality of care provided by surgical units by determining the comparative health status of patients, before and after surgery. This study was designed to review the PROMs used to assess outcomes in spinal surgery and to determine if they are fit for the purpose.Accepted manuscript, 12 month embarg

Factores de riesgo para la recurrencia de hernia de disco lumbar Fatores de risco de recorrência de hérnia de disco lombar Risk factors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation

OBJETIVO: La recurrencia de hernia del disco lumbar es un padecimiento que implica algunas dificultades en relación con el diagnóstico y tratamiento. Es importante tratar de identificar los factores que puedan influir en la presentación de la recurrencia. MÉTODOS: Se revisaron los casos de pacientes operados por hernia de disco lumbar recurrente entre los años de 2006 y 2008, buscando identificar los factores que tuvieran relación con dicha patología, y también se revisaron los casos de pacientes operados por hernia de disco lumbar en forma primaria. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron los casos de 20 pacientes con hernia discal lumbar recurrente y de 27 con hernia discal lumbar operados en forma primaria. Para los pacientes con recurrencia, se encontró que el 95% de ellos presentaban algún grado de obesidad, determinado por la Fórmula de Quetelet basada en el Índice de Masa Corporal; se observó también que el 75% de los casos tenían protrusión, con resultados excelentes en 35%, y buenos en 55%, el 10% presentó molestias residuales de forma grave. Para los pacientes con hernia primaria se estudiaron 27 casos, en los que se observó que el 92% de ellos se operaron antes de los 6 meses de iniciado el cuadro, 38% tuvieron resultados excelentes, 40% buenos y el 19% malos resultados. Al estudiar las variables, con el índice de Pearson, se encontró relación de la recurrencia con tabaquismo, trabajo, diabetes e hipertensión, y nivel de estudios, no con la obesidad. CONCLUSIONES: es destacable que dos de los factores relacionados son susceptibles de modificación antes del evento quirúrgico o posteriormente a este, lo cual puede beneficiar el desenlace del mismo.<br>OBJETIVO: A hérnia de disco envolve algumas dificuldades com relação ao diagnóstico e tratamento. É importante identificar os fatores que podem influenciar a recorrência. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados casos de pacientes operados de hérnia de disco lombar recidivante entre 2006 e 2008, buscando identificar os fatores que têm relação com a doença; também se analisaram os casos de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia primária de hérnia de disco lombar. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados os casos de 20 pacientes com hérnia de disco lombar recidivante e 27 casos de cirurgia primária de hérnia de disco lombar. Para os pacientes com recorrência, constatou-se que 95% tinham algum grau de obesidade, determinada pela fórmula de Quetelet, baseada no Índice de Massa Corporal; e também foi observado que 75% dos casos eram protrusão do disco com excelentes resultados em 35% e bons em 55%; 10% tiveram problemas residual grave. Foram estudados 27 casos de pacientes com hérnia primária, nos quais se verificou que 92% foram operados antes dos 6 meses do início do quadro, 38% tiveram resultados excelentes, 40%, bom e 19%, resultado ruim. Ao considerar as variáveis com a relação de Pearson encontrou-se relação da recorrência com tabagismo, trabalho, diabetes, hipertensão e escolaridade, mas não com a obesidade. CONCLUSÃO: É importante ressaltar que dois dos fatores estão sujeitos a alteração antes da cirurgia ou depois dela, o que pode beneficiar o resultado do mesmo.<br>OBJECTIVE: Recurrent lumbar disc herniation is a condition that involves some difficulties in relation to diagnosis and treatment. It is important to identify factors that may influence recurrence. METHODS: We reviewed cases of patients operated for recurrent lumbar disc herniation between 2006 and 2008, seeking to identify the factors that have relation with this disease, and also reviewed the cases of patients that underwent primary surgery for herniated lumbar disc. RESULTS: We analyzed the cases of 20 patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation and 27. For patients with recurrence, it was found that 95% had some degree of obesity determined by the Quetelet Index, based on Body Mass Index; it was also observed that 75% of cases were protruding with excellent results in 35% and good in 55%, 10% had severe residual conditions. In patients with primary hernia were studied 27 cases in which it was noted that 92% were operated before 6 months of the onset of the condition, 38% had excellent results, 40% good and 19% poor outcomes. Considering the variables with the Pearson correlation, it was found that the recurrence is related to smoking, work, diabetes and hypertension, and schooling, but not with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: It is remarkable that two of the factors are subject to change before or after the surgery, which can benefit the ir outcomes