BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spinal cord compression caused by spinal tumors is measured using the epidural spinal cord compression scale, also known as the Bilsky score. Whether Bilsky score predicts short-/long-term outcomes remains unknown. The objectives were to determine the correlation of Bilsky score 0–1 vs 2–3 with regards to (1) preoperative presentation, (2) perioperative variables, and (3) long-term outcomes. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective evaluation of a cohort of patients undergoing metastatic spine surgery was performed between 01/2010 and 01/2021. Multivariable logistic/linear/Cox regression were performed controlling for age, body mass index, race, total decompressed levels, tumor size, other organ metastases, and postoperative radiotherapy/chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of 343 patients with extradural spinal metastasis, 92 (26.8%) were Bilsky 0–1 and 251 (73.2%) were Bilsky 2–3. Preoperatively, patients with Bilsky 2–3 lesions were older (P = .008), presented more with sensory deficits (P = .029), and had worse preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) (P = .002). Perioperatively, Bilsky 2–3 patients had more decompressed levels (P = .005) and transpedicular decompression (P < .001), with similar operative time (P = .071) and blood loss (P = .502). Although not statistically significant, patients with Bilsky 2–3 had more intraoperative neuromonitoring changes (P = .412). Although rates of complications (P = .442) and neurological deficit (P = .852) were similar between groups, patients with Bilsky 2–3 lesions had a longer length of stay (P = .007) and were discharged home less frequently (P < .001). No difference was found in 90-day readmissions (P = .607) and reoperation (P = .510) Long-term: LR (P=.100) and time to LR (log-rank; P=0.532) were not significantly different between Bilsky 0-1 and Bilsky 2-3 lesions. However, patients with Bilsky 2–3 lesions had worse postoperative KPS (P < .001), worse modified McCormick scale score (P = .003), shorter overall survival (OS) (log-rank; P < .001), and worse survival at 1 year (P = .012). Bilsky 2–3 lesions were associated with shorter OS on multivariable Cox regression (hazard ratio = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.27-2.49, P < .001), with no significant impact on time to LR (hazard ratio = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.37-1.44, P = .359). CONCLUSION: Bilsky 2–3 lesions were associated with longer length of stay, more nonhome discharge, worse postoperative KPS/modified McCormick scale score, shorter OS, and reduced survival at 1 year. Higher-grade Bilsky score lesions appear to be at a higher risk for worse outcomes. Efforts should be made to identify metastatic spine patients before they reach the point of severe spinal cord compression..

Study Design. Retrospective case-control study. Objective. In a cohort of patients undergoing metastatic spine surgery, we sought to: (1) identify risk factors associated with unplanned readmission, and (2) determine the impact of an unplanned readmission on long-term outcomes. Summary of Background Data. Factors affecting readmission after metastatic spine surgery remain relatively unexplored. Materials and Methods. A single-center, retrospective, case-control study was undertaken of patients undergoing spine surgery for extradural metastatic disease between 02/2010 and 01/2021. The primary outcome was 3-month unplanned readmission. Preoperative, perioperative, and tumor-specific variables were collected. Multivariable Cox regression was performed, controlling for tumor size, other organ metastasis, and preoperative/postoperative radiotherapy/chemotherapy. Results. A total of 357 patients underwent surgery for spinal metastases with a mean follow-up of 538.7±648.6 days. Unplanned readmission within 3 months of surgery occurred in 64/357 (21.9%) patients, 37 (57.8%) were medical, 27 (42.2%) surgical, and 21 (77.7%) were related to their spine surgery. No significant differences were found regarding demographics and preoperative variables, except for insurance, where most readmitted patients had private insurance compared with nonreadmitted patients (P=0.021). No significant difference was found in preoperative radiotherapy/chemotherapy. Regarding perioperative exposure variables, readmitted patients had a higher rate of postoperative complications (68.8% vs. 24.2%, P<0.001) and worse postoperative Karnofsky Performance Score (P=0.021) and Modified McCormick Scale (P=0.015) at the time of first follow-up. On multivariate logistic regression, postoperative complications were associated with increased readmissions (odds ratio=1.38, 95% CI=1.25–1.52, P<0.001). Regarding the impact of unplanned readmission on long-term tumor control, unplanned readmission was associated with shorter time to local recurrence (log-rank; P=0.029) and reduced overall survival (OS) (log-rank; P<0.001). On multivariate Cox regression, other organ metastasis [hazard ratio (HR)=1.48, 95% CI=1.13–1.93, P=0.004] and 3-month readmission (HR=1.75, 95% CI=1.28–2.39, P<0.001) were associated with worsened OS, with no impact on LR. Postoperative chemotherapy was significantly associated with longer OS (HR=0.59, 95% CI=0.45–0.77, P<0.001). Conclusions. Postoperative complications were associated with unplanned readmission following metastatic spine surgery. Furthermore, 3-month unplanned readmission was associated with a shorter time to local recurrence and decreased OS. These results help surgeons understand the drivers of readmissions and the impact of readmissions on patient outcomes. Level of Evidence. 3.

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