The oswestry disability index in elective single level lumbar fusion: Is 3 months follow up enough?

Prospective, longitudinal collection of patients reported outcomes (PRO) has become an essential metric in orthopedics. Despite the utility of PROs, data collection presents a significant challenge to the healthcare system. There is a need to better understand if serial data collection over a 1 to 2 year postoperative period is truly warranted. The purpose of this study was to determine if continued PRO collection after 3 months postop is needed in patients that underwent lumbar fusion.

This retrospective study utilized 239 patients that underwent an elective single level lumbar fusion between April 1, 2020 and February 1, 2023. Changes in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores over a 1 year period were assessed for all patients. Patients were placed into 1 of 3 study groups, those that improved by 10 points, those that worsened by 10 points, and those that did not change (score change less than 10 points in either direction). Movement between study groups, the minimal clinical important difference (MCID), and patient satisfaction were analyzed for each patient.

Improvement between preoperative and the 3 month postoperative evaluations was noted for most patients. There was limited change in scores after 3 months. Patients in the improved group continued to improve through 1 year postoperative. Patients in the worsened group continued to decline by 1 year postoperative. Patients in the no change group demonstrated the highest potential to change groups.

Patients with substantial improvement or worsening at 3 months have a low likelihood of substantial clinical change thereafter. This subset of patients may not need further evaluation with PROs, but those in the worsened group may benefit from other interventions to potentially alter their course.