Patient-reported outcome from minimal invasive surgery compared with conventional open surgery for thoracolumbar fractures of the spine

Study design

retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data.

Objective

The treatment guidelines for thoracolumbar spinal fractures are controversial although minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a popular alternative to the traditional open approach (TOA). Limited data exists about outcomes after MIS fracture treatment. The main aim of our study was to evaluate self-reported disability, health-related quality of life, pain, and satisfaction after MIS compared with TOA.

Methods

Of 173 patients operated from 2014 to 2018, 64.7% patients completed the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the EQ-5D-5L, and a tailored clinical follow-up questionnaire on employment status, pain, activity level, and satisfaction with treatment.

Results

Of the 112 patients, 34 had MIS and 78 had TOA. Mean follow-up was 56 months. The two groups were comparable on demographic variables apart from mean age - MIS group was 10 years older. The MIS group had better ODI scores (p = 0.046), but the groups were similar regarding return to work and disability retirement. The EQ-5D-5L index for the MIS were very close (mean −0.033, median +0.049) to the Danish population score, while the TOA showed a greater deviation (mean - 0.125, median −0.040). The MIS used less pain medication than the TOA. Both groups were similarly satisfied with treatment results.

Conclusion

Our data indicates that MIS surgery for thoracolumbar spinal fractures can achieve acceptable self-reported outcomes in terms of disability, health-related quality of life, pain, and satisfaction with treatment. However, a randomized controlled trial is needed to determine whether the MIS approach is superior to TOA.