Healthcare Disparities in Spine Oncology: A Systematic Review

Metastatic spine tumors are the most common site of skeletal metastasis, leading to substantial morbidity from pain, fractures, and spinal cord compression. Despite advancements in surgical techniques and multidisciplinary care, disparities in treatment access and outcomes remain. This systematic review synthesizes the literature on disparities in surgical management of metastatic spine tumors.

Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science for English-language studies published between May 2000 and May 2024. Studies included adult patients with metastatic spine tumors and evaluated disparities by race/ethnicity, insurance status, socioeconomic status (SES), or hospital-related factors. Study quality was assessed using the MINORS tool.

Ten studies (n = 227,592) were included. Six studies identified racial disparities: Black patients were less likely to undergo surgery (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.62-0.82, p < 0.001, vs. White) and had higher odds of complications and non-home discharge. Five studies showed insurance-related disparities, with Medicaid or uninsured patients experiencing increased in-hospital mortality (up to OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.20-5.89, vs. Medicare/private). Lower SES and treatment at low-volume hospitals were associated with poorer outcomes. Notably, patients from neighborhoods with higher educational attainment had shorter hospital stays (median 9.3 vs. 12.2 days, p = 0.0058). Safety-net institutions reported minimal disparities, suggesting that equitable care models can mitigate these gaps.

Persistent disparities in metastatic spine tumor care are driven by systemic and structural factors. Policy reform and equity-focused care pathways are necessary to reduce inequities and improve outcomes in spine oncology.