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Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Evaluation of Classification Systems and Their Correlation With Clinical and Quality-of-life Parameters in Patients
Krishnan Sircar1, Nikolaus Kernich, Christian Herren
1From the Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Clinics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany (Sircar, Kernich, Eysel, and Yagdiran), Clinic for Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Aachen, Germany (Herren), Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany (Bratke), and the Department I of Internal Medicine (Jung), University Clinics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Introduction:
Surgical classifications for spondylodiscitis (SD) typically include radiologic features and the status of neurologic impairment. Clinical factors such as preoperative pain, function/disability, overall quality of life (QoL), and risk of recurrence and mortality, which are necessary for a comprehensive assessment of SD and measurement of treatment success, are not considered. There is a lack of external validation of SD classifications. The aim of this study was to validate classifications of SD and to correlate these classifications with the above clinical factors.
Methods:
One hundred fourteen patients from a prospective SD register (2008-2020) with available imaging, preoperative neurologic status, backpain, function/disability data (Oswestry Disability Index and Core Outcome Measures Index), QoL data (Short Form 36, European Quality-of-life Questionnaire), and a 1-year follow-up were retrospectively classified according to Akbar, Homagk, and Pola classifications. Interrater reliability, correlation among classifications, and correlation between classifications and QoL were calculated.
Results:
Interrater reliability was κ = 0.83 for Akbar, κ = 0.94 for Homagk, and κ = 0.99 for Pola. The correlation of Akbar with Pola and Homagk was moderate (ρ s = 0.47; ρ s = 0.46) and high between Pola and Homagk (ρ s = 0.7). No notable correlation was observed between any of the classifications and preoperative Oswestry Disability Index, Core Outcome Measures Index, QoL, mortality, and recurrence within 1 year. Only a weak correlation was observed between Homagk and preoperative leg pain and back pain.
Conclusion:
Available SD classifications have a very good interrater reliability and moderate-to-high correlation with each other but lack correlation with preoperative pain, function/disability, and overall QoL. Because these factors are important for a comprehensive assessment of SD in severity, decision making, and prognosis, they should be included in future SD classifications. This could allow for more comprehensive treatment algorithms.
Level Of Evidence:
Level II. Diagnostic study = prospective cohort study; development of diagnostic criteria.
Data Availability:
The data sets used and analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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