Long-term quality of life outcome after spondylodiscitis treatment

Spondylodiscitis is the most common spinal infection of which the incidence has increased and the peak prevalence is between 50 and 70 years of age. Spondylodiscitis is often a complication of a distant infection. Early diagnosis can be challenging, and although improvements in diagnostic techniques and modern therapy have diminished the mortality of the disease, current literature about the outcome of spondylodiscitis is scarce.

To evaluate the long-term clinical outcome of patients who suffered from spondylodiscitis.

A two-center cross-sectional study.

Patients with spondylodiscitis in two large teaching hospitals in the Netherlands between 2003 and 2017.

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for back pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for function, and Short Form 36 (SF-36) for general quality of life of spondylodiscitis patients.

Eligible patients were identified from electronic patient databases and completed multiple patient reported outcome measures after obtaining informed consent. General demographic and clinical information (age, sex, medical history) were extracted from the patient records. SF-36 domain scores of spondylodiscitis patients were compared with a nationwide population sample.

183 patients were treated for spondylodiscitis; additional questionnaires were received from 82 patients. After a median follow-up of 63 months, the overall mortality was 28%. The mean VAS for back pain was 3.5, and the mean ODI score was 22. In all SF-36 domains a significantly lower score was found in the spondylodiscitis group compared with a normative national Dutch cohort. There was a strong correlation between back pain and ODI scores (ρ=0.81, p<.05).

Our study confirms that spondylodiscitis is a disease causing a profound impact on back pain, function and quality of life. The results suggest that chronic back pain is a debilitating problem, as it has an extensive influence on daily activities and social and psychological well-being, causing significant disability.