Real-Time Location System Assessment of Early Postoperative Recovery After Lumbar Decompression According to Surgical...

Area of Science:

• Spine surgery outcomes
• Minimally invasive techniques
• Patient mobility assessment

Background:

• Lumbar decompression is a common procedure for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.
• Assessing early postoperative mobility is crucial for functional recovery.
• Objective, real-time data can enhance mobility evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To objectively evaluate early postoperative mobility after lumbar decompression using real-time location system (RTLS) metrics.
• To compare mobility patterns between biportal endoscopic decompression and open decompression.
• To identify differences in activity intensity and patterns between surgical approaches.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 323 patients undergoing lumbar decompression.
• Continuous mobility monitoring using RTLS sensors on wristbands (postoperative days 1-4).
• Analysis of walking distance, speed, and active movement ratios; propensity score matching and regression adjustment.

Main Results:

• RTLS detected distinct early postoperative activity patterns between surgical groups.
• Biportal endoscopic decompression showed significantly higher activity intensity, particularly the top 20% activity ratio.
• Differences were more pronounced in multilevel procedures compared to single-level decompression.

Conclusions:

• RTLS provides objective, continuous monitoring of early postoperative mobility after lumbar decompression.
• Biportal endoscopic decompression may lead to quicker or more intense early functional recovery.
• RTLS is a valuable tool for assessing early functional recovery in spine surgery.