Can Physical Prehabilitation Reverse Frailty in Elderly Patients Before Spine Surgery? A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Frailty, an age-associated decline in physiological function, is linked to adverse postoperative events in spine surgery patients.
• Preoperative frailty assessment is increasingly vital for aging populations requiring surgical intervention.
• Current prehabilitation strategies for spine surgery primarily focus on pain management, not frailty reversal.

Observation:

• This case report details two frail older adults undergoing spine surgery who participated in a physical prehabilitation program.
• Both patients demonstrated significant subjective improvements in frailty, functional capacity, and quality of life.
• One patient's improved function allowed them to opt out of surgery.

Findings:

• Physical prehabilitation interventions can lead to measurable improvements in frailty indices.
• Prehabilitation may reverse or prevent the progression of frailty in the spine surgery population.
• Observed improvements in functional capacity can influence surgical candidacy.

Implications:

• Physical prehabilitation presents a feasible strategy to mitigate frailty as a risk factor in spine surgery.
• Further research is warranted to establish the efficacy of prehabilitation in improving postoperative outcomes.
• This approach may enhance patient health and quality of life, potentially altering surgical necessity.