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Researchers develop index to better predict metastatic spine disease survival
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BIRMINGHAM, England — A simple new score researchers developed from existing scores may be a good tool to predict survival in patients with metastatic spine disease.
“Although our score is devised from these previous three scores, it outperforms them in its predictive value,” Specialty Trainee A. Jaiswal, MS, MRCS, at Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Oswestry, United Kingdom, said at the British Orthopaedic Association Congress, here.
The new score that Jaiswal and colleagues developed is the Oswestry Risk Index (OSRI)
At the meeting, he presented results of the prospective study that he and his colleagues conducted and recently had published, which included 199 consecutive patients with spinal metastases – mostly men – with a mean age of 62 years (range 23 to 86 years).
Jaiswal and colleagues did a side-by-side comparison of the Tokuhashi score, the Tomita score and the modified Bauer score.
“Unfortunately they are complex and can be unreliable,” he said.
To create the new OSRI score, the researchers analyzed all items of the three previous scores, including primary tumor grade, which Jaiswal said is most relevant to survival. Then they systematically combined similar items from the other scores that were redundant and completely eliminated others, to model the OSRI score, Jaiswal said.
The researchers performed a Cox regression analysis to determine ability of the OSRI to accurately predict survival in all the patients compared to the available scoring systems.
“We identified a problem that other scores can be unreliable and complex, and developed a new score which is internally validated and outperforms the previous scores,” Jaiswal said.
References:
Balain B. Bone Joint J. 2013;95-B:210-216.
Jaiswal A. The Oswestry Risk Index (OSRI) — An aid in the treatment of metastatic spine disease. Presented at: British Orthopaedic Association Congress. Oct.1-4, 2013. Birmingham, England.
Disclosure: Jaiswal has no relevant financial disclosures.