RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Results in Clinically Significant Improvements in Patients With Preoperative Sleep Difficulties
JF International Journal of Spine Surgery
JO Int J Spine Surg
FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
SP 1046
OP 1053
DO 10.14444/8333
VO 16
IS 6
A1 Lynch, Conor P.
A1 Cha, Elliot D.K.
A1 Patel, Madhav R.
A1 Jacob, Kevin C.
A1 Mohan, Shruthi
A1 Geoghegan, Cara E.
A1 Jadczak, Caroline N.
A1 Singh, Kern
YR 2022
UL https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/16/6/1046.abstract
AB Background Individual items within the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) have not been assessed as predictors of postoperative outcomes. Our objective is to study the relationship between responses to individual PHQ-9 items and achievement of a minimum clinically important difference (MCID) following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).Methods A prospective surgical database was reviewed for primary, single-level ACDF procedures performed for degenerative spinal pathology. Patient demographics, preoperative spinal pathology, and perioperative characteristics were recorded. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) including PHQ-9, visual analog scale (VAS) neck and arm, Neck Disability Index, 12-item Short Form physical component score (SF-12 PCS), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function were administered at preoperative and 6-week, 12-week, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year postoperative timepoints. MCID achievement was determined by comparing postoperative PROM improvement from baseline to previously established values. Logistic regression assessed responses to each individual question of the preoperative PHQ-9 as predictors of MCID achievement in each other PROMs.Results Sixty-six ACDF patients were included with a mean age of 47.2 years. Herniated nucleus pulposus was the most common preoperative spinal diagnosis (95.6%). The mean operative duration was 50.3 minutes, the mean estimated blood loss was 27.5 mL, and most patients were discharged on postoperative day 0 (81.8%). A majority of patients achieved MCID for all measures except SF-12 PCS. PHQ-9 question 3 significantly predicted MCID achievement for VAS neck (P = 0.045), VAS arm (P = 0.049), and SF-12 PCS (P = 0.037). No other PHQ-9 items or overall PHQ-9 scores significantly predicted MCID achievement.Conclusion Question 3 of the PHQ-9 regarding “trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much” significantly predicted clinically meaningful improvement in neck pain, arm pain, and physical function following ACDF, although overall PHQ-9 scores did not. Providers should inform patients experiencing significant sleep-related difficulties that they may be especially likely to benefit from ACDF surgery.Clinical Relevance Evaluation of sleep from the PHQ-9 predicts clinically relevant improvement in neck pain, arm pain, and physical function in patients undergoing ACDF.Level of Evidence 3.