Abstract
Background:
Long-Term Follow-Up Of Lung Function And Quality Of Life (Qol) In Those Undergoing Combined Anterior And Posterior Spinal Fusion (A/Psf) For Ais Is Not Well Documented With Only One Study Extending Beyond 2 Years.
Aim:
To Evaluate Long-Term Change In Pulmonary Function And Qol Following A/Psf For Ais.
Methods:
Patients Who Underwent A/Psf For Ais From 2005–2007 Were Prospectively Studied (2011/2012). Lung Function [Forced Expiratory Volume In 1 Second (Fev1) And Forced Vital Capacity (Fvc)] Was Performed Along With Qol (Srs-22 Questionnaire). Paired T-Test Was Used To Compare Pre- And Post-A/Psf Data.
Results:
Paired Pre- And Post-A/Psf Data Were Available For 12 Patients Who Underwent A/Psf At Mean(Range) 13.8(11.8–15) Years. 9/12 Were Female. Mean(Range) Follow-Up Was 5.8(4.1–6.7) Years Post-Operatively.
Height Increased From Mean (Sd) 169(9) Cm. Pre-Operatively To 175(5) Cm. At Follow-Up (P<0.01). Scoliosis Corrected From 100(15) To 29(11) Degrees (P<0.001). %Predicted Fev1 Was 60(19) Pre-Operatively Versus 62(19) Post-Operatively (P=0.32); And Fvc Was 62(19) Pre-And 64(13) Post-A/Psf (P=0.67).
Overall Srs-22 Scores Improved From Baseline Mean(Sd) 3.6(0.3) To 4.6(0.4) Post-Operatively (P<0.001). Improvements In Srs-22 Domains For Function [3.9(0.2) Vs. 4.9(0.2), P<0.001], Pain [3.5(0.4) Vs. 4.5(0.5), P<0.001], Self-Image [3.3(0.3) Vs. 4.4(0.5), P<0.001] And Mental Health [3.7(0.5) Vs. 4.4(0.6), P<0.001] Were Also Noted. High Patient Satisfaction Rates [4.8(0.3)] Were Recorded. No Correlation Was Noted Between Changes In Fev1 (R=0.08, P=0.8) Or Fvc (R=0.01, P=0.97) And Change In Srs-22 Score.
Conclusion:
Long-Term Follow-Up Of Ais Patients Suggests No Deficit In Pulmonary Function, Whilst Quality Of Life And Patient Satisfaction Are High 6 Years After Combined A/Psf.
Conflict Of Interest Statement: No conflict of interest.
