Profile of Patients With Spine Tumor Operated in a South American Reference Service. Epidemiological Study

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to conduct an analytical epidemiological study to understand the profile, treatment, and outcome of patients with spinal tumors in a Brazilian Quaternary Hospital of the SUS. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of data from the last five years was performed. It was described qualitative characteristics evaluated by absolute and relative frequencies and quantitative characteristics by sintetized measures. Associations between characteristics were verified using chi-square tests or exact tests. Results: 92 patients met the eligibility criteria. The mean age was 56.1 years (±14.7), with 48 men (52.2%) and 44 women (47.8%). The types of tumors organized in the three proposed groups had 19 multiple myelomas (20.7%), 62 metastases (67.3%), and 11 other tumors (12%). The neurological status measured through the ASIA score was A: 5.4%, B: 22.8%, C: 26.1%, D: 35.9%, E: 9.8%. Karnofsky was prevalent in the 50-70 range with 65.2%. The total hospitalization period had a mean of 22.8±18 days, preoperatively 11.9±9.2 days, and postoperatively 10.9±14 days. Karnofsky presented lower values according to the worst ASIA (p < 0.001). A total of 12 patients (13%) died during hospitalization. The total and postoperative length of stay was longer in patients who died (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides epidemiological data that allow an understanding of the profile of patients with spinal tumors in the Brazilian Public Health System. The severity of the patients is higher when compared to most of the series cases in the literature. The patients with longer hospitalization stay died. Level of evidence IV; Case series.