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SPORT data show effectiveness of lumbar stenosis surgery in elderly patients
Patients 80 years and older who underwent surgical treatment for lumbar stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis saw significant benefits compared with patients who opted for non-surgical treatment, according to study findings.
Researchers analyzed patients with lumbar stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis enrolled in the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT). One hundred and five patients ages 80 years and older were compared with 1,130 patients younger than 80 years of age. No significant baseline differences in primary or secondary patient-reported clinical outcome measures were observed between the two patient age groups.
Fifty-eight patients in the older age group underwent surgery, compared with 749 patients from the younger age group. The researchers determined and compared the differences in improvement from baseline between the operative and non-operative groups during each follow-up visit for up to 4 years.
Results showed significant improvements in all primary outcome measures from baseline, with significantly greater improvements in SF-36 bodily pain, SF-36 physical function and Oswestry Disability Index scores, for the octogenarian age group who opted for surgery.
Compared with patients younger than 80 years, patients in the octogenarian group experienced a significantly smaller treatment effect for SF-36 bodily pain score and statistically similar treatment effect with regard to SF-36 physical function and Oswestry Disability Index scores, according to the researchers.
No significant increases in postoperative complication or mortality rates were reported among patients older than 80 years compared with patients in the younger cohort. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosures: Rihn reports grants from NIH/NIAMS during the conduct of the study. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.