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Background context Some, smaller studies have investigated the effect of preoperative depression on postoperative improvement in quality of life (QOL). However, they have not used the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) in self-reported depression. Purpose To assess the effect of preoperative depression as measured by the PHQ-9 on postoperative improvement in QOL. Study design A retrospective review at a single tertiary-care referral center. Patient sample Patients who underwent lumbar decompression or fusion between 2008 and 2012. Outcomes measures A self-reported EuroQol five-dimensions (EQ-5D) quality-adjusted life-years Index. Methods Quality of life data were collected using the institutional prospectively collected database of patient-reported health status measures. The EQ-5D questionnare, PDQ, and PHQ-9 were used. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of preoperative depression on QOL improvement. Results Elevated preoperative pain (PDQ, β=−0.0017, p=.0009) and worsened depression (PHQ-9, β=−0.0044, p=.0359) were significantly associated with diminished postoperative improvement in QOL, as measured by the EQ-5D. Furthermore, greater depression (PHQ-9, odds ratio [OR] 0.93, p<.0001) and pain (PDQ, OR 0.99, p=.02) were associated with significantly diminished postoperative improvement exceeding the minimum clinically important difference. Conclusions Increased preoperative pain and depression were shown to be associated with significantly reduced improvement in postoperative QOL, as measured by the EQ-5D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background context C5 nerve root palsy (C5P) is a relatively rare complication after anterior and posterior cervical decompression surgery that leads to a variety of debilitating symptoms. The precise etiology remains obscure, and a clear understanding of preoperative risk factors for C5P development does not exist. Purpose To determine whether postoperative C5P can be predicted from preoperative anteroposterior diameter (APD), foraminal diameter (FD), and/or cord-lamina angle (CLA). Study design Retrospective review. Patient sample Consecutive patients who underwent either anterior or posterior decompression surgery at C4-C5 for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Outcome measures Development of C5P. Methods Blinded reviewers retrospectively assessed magnetic resonance images for each included patient's C4-C5 interspace, including the midline APD, the left and right FDs, and the left and right CLA. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the probability of palsy on the basis of one or more predictors. A jackknife validation was performed to internally validate the model and assess its generalizability. Results A total of 98 patients fit the inclusion criteria; 12% had developed symptoms of C5 palsy postoperatively. Using the three variables in a predictor-model, we found that the odds ratio of having palsy for APD, FD, and CLA was 0.3, 0.02, and 1.4, respectively. For every 1-mm increase in APD and FD, the odds of developing palsy decrease 69% (p<.0001) and decrease 98% (p<.0003), respectively. In contrast, for every 1-degree increase in CLA, the odds of developing palsy increase by 43% (p<.0001). The receiver-operating characteristic curve for this three-variable model predicting development of palsy has an area under the curve (concordance index) of 0.97. After implementing a jackknife validation, the area under the curve was 95%. Conclusions This study is the first to use the combination of APD, FD, and CLA to predict development of postoperative C5 palsy after decompression surgery for patients with spondylotic myelopathy. This prediction formula may allow for better patient selection and to prepare patients that have an increased probability of developing this complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]