Long-term functional outcomes after traumatic spine fractures

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Neurosurgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Traumatic spine fractures are a significant cause of chronic pain, disability, and extended rehabilitation.
• Understanding the long-term functional consequences is crucial for patient recovery and management.
• Both nonoperative and operative treatment strategies are employed for spine fractures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term functional outcomes of patients with traumatic spine fractures.
• To compare outcomes between nonoperative and operative management strategies.
• To identify predictors of functional outcome following traumatic spine fractures.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 488 patients with traumatic spine fractures was identified over 5 years.
• Patients were stratified into nonoperative (n=271) and operative (n=217) groups.
• Functional outcomes were assessed using the Boston Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (BAMC) at a mean follow-up of 5.7 years, with multiple linear regression used for analysis.

Main Results:

• Mean BAMC scores for basic mobility and daily activity were clinically similar between nonoperative and operative groups (P > .05).
• Increasing age was a predictor of decreased basic mobility and daily activity in both groups.
• Thoracic spine fractures (nonoperative) and lower extremity fractures, discharge location, and time to fixation (operative) were associated with poorer outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Patients with traumatic spine fractures experience mild to moderate long-term functional impairment regardless of initial management.
• Age is a universal predictor of reduced functional outcomes after traumatic spine fractures.
• Specific fracture characteristics and treatment-related factors influence functional recovery in both nonoperative and operative cohorts.