OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to determine if the preoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, Physical Function (PROMIS PF) score is predictive of immediate postoperative patient pain and narcotics consumption or long-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF).METHODSA prospectively maintained database was retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent primary, single-level MIS TLIF for degenerative pathology were identified and grouped by their preoperative PROMIS PF scores: mild disability (score 40–50), moderate disability (score 30–39.9), and severe disability (score 20–29.9). Postoperative pain was quantified using the visual analog scale (VAS), and narcotics consumption was quantified using Oral Morphine Equivalents. PROMIS PF, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Physical Component Summary (SF-12 PCS), and VAS back and leg pain were collected preoperatively and at 6-week, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. Preoperative PROMIS PF subgroups were tested for an association with demographic and perioperative characteristics using 1-way ANOVA or chi-square analysis. Preoperative PROMIS PF subgroups were tested for an association with immediate postoperative pain and narcotics consumption in addition to improvements in PROMIS PF, ODI, SF-12 PCS, and VAS back and leg pain by using linear regression controlling for statistically different demographic characteristics.RESULTSA total of 130 patients were included in this analysis. Patients were grouped by their preoperative PROMIS PF scores: 15.4% had mild disability, 63.8% had moderate disability, and 20.8% had severe disability. There were no significant differences among the subgroups in terms of age, sex, smoking status, and comorbidity burden. Patients with greater disability were more likely to be obese and to have workers’ compensation insurance. There were no differences among subgroups in regard to operative levels, operative time, estimated blood loss, and hospital length of stay. Patients with greater disability reported higher VAS pain scores and narcotics consumption for postoperative day 0 and postoperative day 1. Patients with greater preoperative disability demonstrated lower PROMIS PF, ODI, SF-12 PCS, and worse VAS pain scores at each postoperative time point.CONCLUSIONSPatients with worse preoperative disability, as assessed by PROMIS PF, experienced increased pain and narcotics consumption, along with less improvement in long-term PROs. The authors conclude that PROMIS PF is an efficient and accurate instrument that can quickly assess patient disability in the preoperative period and predict both short-term and long-term surgical outcomes.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study. Objective: This study evaluates if an association exists between preoperative depression and postoperative outcomes following minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF). Summary of Background Data: Few studies have quantified preoperative depression symptoms using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to predict postoperative outcomes after lumbar fusion, especially MIS TLIF. Methods: A surgical database of patients undergoing primary, single-level MIS TLIF was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were stratified by predefined preoperative PHQ-9 scores: no depression (<5), mild depression (5–9), and moderate to severe depression (≥10). Inpatient pain scores and narcotics use were recorded. Oswestry Disability Index, Veterans RAND-12 Mental Component Score and Physical Component Score, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) back and leg pain scores were collected preoperatively and at 6-week, 12-week, and 6-month follow-up. One-way analysis of variance and χ2 analysis determined if an association existed between PHQ-9 subgroups and baseline characteristics or perioperative outcomes. Multivariate linear regression assessed for an association between PHQ-9 and postoperative patient-reported outcomes. Results: In total, 94 patients were included. Patients with higher PHQ-9 scores were younger, obese, and carried workers’ compensation insurance. Higher PHQ-9 scores were associated with worse preoperative Oswestry Disability Index, Veterans RAND-12 Mental Component Score and Physical Component Score, and VAS back and leg pain scores. Patients with higher PHQ-9 reported greater inpatient VAS pain scores on postoperative day 0 and 1 and demonstrated greater hourly narcotics consumption on postoperative day 0. Furthermore, higher PHQ-9 scores exhibited less improvement in all patient-reported outcomes. Conclusions: Patients with severe depression symptoms reported greater pain, increased narcotics consumption, and less clinical improvement after MIS TLIF. Therefore, patients with greater PHQ-9 scores should be monitored more closely and may benefit from additional counseling with regard to postoperative outcomes to better manage pain control and expectations of recovery.

Study Design. A systematic review. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the association between study outcomes and the presence of a conflict of interest (COI) in the lumbar disc arthroplasty (LDA) literature. Summary of Background Data. Previous studies have evaluated the efficacy of LDA as a surgical alternative to arthrodesis. As investigators may have financial relationships with LDA device companies, it is important to consider the role of COI on study outcomes. Methods. A systematic review was performed to identify articles reporting clinical outcomes of LDA. Any financial COIs disclosed were recorded and confirmed through Open Payments and ProPublica databases. Study outcomes were graded as favorable, unfavorable, or equivocal. Pearson Chi-squared analysis was used to determine an association between COI and study outcomes. Favorable outcomes were tested for an association with study characteristics using Poisson regression with robust error variance. Results. Fifty-seven articles were included, 30 had a financial COI, while 27 did not. Ninety percent of the conflicted studies disclosed their COI in the article. Studies with United States authors were more likely to be conflicted (P = 0.019). A majority of studies reported favorable outcomes for LDA (n = 39). Conflicted studies were more likely to report favorable outcomes than nonconflicted studies (P = 0.020). Articles with COIs related to consultant fees (P = 0.003), research funding (P = 0.002), and stock ownership (P < 0.001) were more likely to report favorable outcomes. Conclusion. This study highlights the importance for authors to accurately report conflicting relationships with industry. As such, orthopedic surgeons should critically evaluate study outcomes with regard to potential conflicts before recommending LDA as a surgical option to their patients. Level of Evidence: 3